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Maschine 3 interface is too dark and hard to read

Gliv

Hi,

I recently upgraded to Maschine 3 and I find the new interface much harder to read than Maschine 2.

The overall design is extremely dark, with too much black and not enough contrast in some areas. After a while, it becomes visually tiring and uncomfortable to use, especially during longer sessions. Maschine 2 had a dark grey interface that felt much clearer and easier on the eyes.

Is there any way to change the theme, adjust the brightness, or switch back to a grey/classic Maschine 2 style interface?

I looked through the preferences but could not find any option for this.

Native Instruments is a serious company, so I doubt they simply forgot something this obvious. An interface this dark is clearly going to be a problem for some users, so I assume I must be the one missing the setting somewhere.

Thanks.

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BeatPlatoon

I won't argue about readability. Personally, I like the dark theme, but something like the following would help in the right direction.

Gliv

Thanks, but for me this does not really solve the issue. It may make the 4/4 grid separation slightly clearer, but the overall interface remains almost unreadable to me.

I constantly feel like I have to force my eyes, or increase the screen brightness when using Maschine 3, then lower it again as soon as I switch to another application. Going from Maschine 3 to a white interface, a browser, or Google is really harsh on the eyes.

I doubt Native Instruments would ignore this kind of feedback or miss such a basic usability issue. It seems like something that should be fairly simple to address from a UI point of view.

So if someone knows where the theme, brightness, or classic grey interface option is hidden, that would be very much appreciated.

BeatPlatoon

It is a fact that new display technologies are favored by dark themes due to power saving where there is a dark color-pixel. In this dimension it may mean that there is a direction towards touch screens in the design of the future of the Maschine ecosystem since the OLED technology is mainly found in mobile devices. In order to be able to coexist a more readable version of the user interface with a more responsible design, new solutions will have to be made like the example I gave you. Graphic designers speak with these basic principles and the solution you are looking for is called contrast. I understand the problem and I agree with it.

Gliv

Yes, contrast may be part of the issue, but I think the real solution is simply to give users proper display options.

I personally prefer clear interfaces, but I can live with a dark one when it is readable. Maschine 3, however, does not feel merely dark to me. It feels like it was designed at the bottom of the Mariana Trench during a power cut.

Something like Ableton’s theme system would make much more sense: let users choose between different colour modes, or at least offer a brighter grey/classic option closer to Maschine 2.

I understand that some users enjoy the ultra-dark aesthetic, and that is perfectly fine. But for long production sessions, I find it more tiring than comfortable. At some point I am not making music anymore, I am trying to locate buttons in a tasteful German cave.

So yes, contrast may help, but I still think Maschine 3 really needs proper theme options: colour modes, contrast, brightness, or a classic Maschine 2-style grey interface.

And to be honest, since some MIDI plugins seem to work in Maschine 2 but not in Maschine 3, and since I also find the new interface uncomfortable to use, I do not really see the point of staying on Maschine 3 for now. I will probably go back to Maschine 2 until these issues are addressed.

LostInFoundation

”I doubt Native Instruments would ignore this kind of feedback”

Sorry to delude you, but they are in facts exactly ignoring it from day 1 of Maschine 3 release.

It is one of the first things users noticed (and reported), but they don’t seem to be convinced

PK The DJ

"one of the first things users noticed"

Yes, because it's the most obvious difference - but apart from those early remarks, there have been few since (once people got used to it I guess). It's not as if there's been a constant stream of complaints.

IMO the complaints also tend to be exaggerated e.g. there's "too much black" when in fact there's hardly any. Most of it is dark grey. Akai's MPC software is very similar.

I do agree though that a choice would be best, and the contrast could be improved.

BeatPlatoon

For NI, skins that showcase milestones, such as the 25th Anniversary or 10 Years of Maschine, could be a great way to present some designs.

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