Maschine Jam MKII (2023)

ENZORU

Are there any official rumors or plans for a next gen Maschine Jam? Did this device not sell well enough? Why did they stop selling it?

If they created a second gen, what features would you be most interested in? I think it'd be great to see a Maschine Jam+ standalone mixer with some built in FX and sequencer to compete with the TX-6 Field Mixer from Teenage Engineering or the Polyend Play.

Kubrak

I guess Jam did not sell well. And it did not sell well because NI has mainly targeted and advertised for use by DJs. Not so much as an extension to Maschine...

NI people said several times at this forum that there are no plans for MK2, so far. M+ even did not support Jam at the time of release. And NI said it will not as Jam is EOL. They made it EOL few months before M+ release. But one of NI developers showed video with proof of concept M+ driver for Jam.... And NI users demanded be it integrated....

So, M+ finally got Jam support....

I do not have M+, but still I hope Jam MK2, or something like that will come one day...

Flexi

The Jam was near enough the original NI team, this is not really the same company and priorities have shifted to align with the new owners (which is how ALL business works, they are not doing anything wrong)

Right now new hardware of any kind is not likely, the new owners are very software oriented and will have more interest in that IP than hardware.

Even M+ "Could" be seen as an annoyance to the new company owners, it has a bunch of software on board that could possibly go legacy and not be updated for future sales (Massive etc) so keeping Massive alive just for M+ could become a major problem, you cant have it on + but not on desktop, you cant have it on desktop and not update for Mac, which is near enough an entire rebuild every year.

So any hardware is a pain to maintain for a mostly software concern, never mind releasing new.

ozon

I would expect a JAM Mk2 to actually have less standalone features and to work only as an extension to the Maschine Mk3/Plus. To avoid any redundant functionality and provide as much additional hardware control as possible without losing any of the existing JAM functions.

Otherwise, if redundant functions are preserved, it would be very welcome if the JAM could have its own focus.

Kubrak

I agree, it would do if Jam MK2 is an extension of Maschine. As well there could be extension block with jog wheel and few dedicated buttons and possibly display to convert MK3/M+ to Studio....

Drummer-4D

Hello everyone 🙋‍♂️ this is my first post:

As a owner of a Maschine Jam, I frankly never considered it for its primary use as intended for DJs and Beat Makers. Instead I love it as a MIDI Controller, Midi CCs, PGs etc. For example for controlling Plugins, in particular from Spitfire Audio (e.g. Strings). Touch strips are the best middle point between noisy and expensive to repair Flying-Faders and static faders. The thing is potentially universally capable of controlling anything MIDI but as we all know, it has poor connections and it has been condemned to be solely DAW dependant, so no "Stand-alone" capabilities, which is what I currently need as I recently built a DAW-less very powerful setup, with the MPC Live at its core (Master Clock). DAW-only is the biggest downside to Maschine Jam in my opinion and what actually made it become a failure.

I am honestly disappointed with NI and considering what it costed me in the first place, I will not buy any Maschine Jam Mk2, Mk3 or whatever, in case of it will be released some day. At the same time, I refuse to let my Maschine Jam die because of its limitations and it also makes no sense to sell it for just a few bucks, as it has been discontinued.

INSTEAD I WILL DO THIS: with Black Friday around the corner, I will buy a mini PC for around €100 (to be used as a USB host just as a CC real time editor) with a tiny screen (big enough for reading the editor, e.g. Rasberry PI type of screen that I already have tested) + mini keyboard. I'll then connect to the mini PC a small MIDI USB interface with 5-pin MIDI I/Os, which is currently sitting around doing nothing (Zoom U-44 or even an old Emagic Unitor8 Mk II). I will also connect other USB-only devices that have similar limitations (e.g. Arturia Beatstep, also with its editor open ready for real time editing). That will bring those devices to a brand new level of stand-alone capabilities and justice will be finally done! It will serve me well for many more years and I'll be finally able to use Maschine Jam at the fullest, controlling any MIDI device I like, as if it were a real standalone (I'll probably hide the mini PC under it and build a dedicated wooden support to make the whole system look as a one entire device/rig).

If anyone is interested, I will post my results and pictures once the mini but powerful setup is ready. I am sure it will also look cool with its dedicated mini display as an integrated extention 🎚️🎛️🖥️ Cheers!

6xes

@ Drummer-4D

would love to see how you utilise the MaschineJAM unit... and how you have integrated it.

i personally have integrated my maschine Jams (plural) into a Reaper template which i consider extremely powerful in terms of both the maschine Jam midi integration AND incoming audio, routing and FX manipulation!

that said... i would love to see how you intergrate the Jam unit

manolo.floyd

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/37054#Comment_37054

Great idea, please share the results!

August Alchemy

I would love a JAM with Knobs. If they did that I would get an additional one.

I mainly only use it now with my Slate and Ash products. The eight sliders are a great replacement for not having a mpe controller.

Ed M

Unfortunately, and as stated here already, NI does not seem to be really focussed on hardware at the moment. Aside from the M+ nothing has come out for several years, and no signs or rumors of anything new for the near future. I guess we can still hope. The way that NI made hardware work with its software, was and still is kind of unique.

All I can say, if ever NI would come with a new Jam, I'll probably buy it right away.

Kubrak

NI people has stated several times no Jam 2 in the NI kitchen.

I hope, they will come with some sort of modular system. Would be nice to expand MK3 to Studio and also add Jam like section.

Percivale

Standalone Jam+ (please make it work with other synth gear). Some screens would be nice.

Barth Visser

The best part of the Maschine + Jam combination is the Jam! It highly amplifies the process of experimenting with patterns and finding new combinations in a very tactile way. Maschine without Jam is severely handicapped in my opinion and takes away a lot of the fun. :-(

Olihop

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/48474#Comment_48474

it is true that the matrix of 64 pads is an undeniable asset

jolly Dodger

Velocity/aftertouch pads, like force/push/Launchpad(new one)

Rico010

I hope Maschine Jam MK2 comes true some day... asap... in 2023 maybe? I want it for M+, like some other people. But I don't want to buy a heavy used old Jam. And there are not so many good condition old Jams in sale. I would buy one if I find new... but it's out of stock. To be honest, I don't even need an MK2... just the old Jam new stock... it will work. Just need it, want it, will buy it.

Hope NI makes a decision to produce it again, in favor of M+ workflow.