Maschine+ stability in 2022

Unfortunatly the latest mashine update brickwalls the m+ to connecting in controller mode as you have found out. You will need to roll back to the last version found here https://drive.google.com/file/d/1L9fvudKM5T_rySkm7LNVmCe3HidKUnDm/view?usp=sharing

Currently, the m+ in my opinion is not suitable for proffesional live use as a standalone instrument. It is however very powerfull and reliable as a midi sequencer for other gear, and as a sampler. However, frustratingly, the midi clock send is very unreliable. In short, loading it with vst's and extensive fx racks eats up its limited cpu very quickly.

My advice would be to roll the software back, give it another go, be midfull of the fact that a lot of expansions are very fx rack heavy, consider sampling any vst's and clearing them out of the project in order to maintain as low a cpu strain as possible. And if your still not happy, check out the returns policy from where you bought it. In the uk it's 28 days return full fefund for any reason.

Go into settings > audio and turn the interface knob. Even if you're not using an external interface.

I’ve had my M+ since the week of its release and I must say that the current fw is MUCH more stable. The audio crackling thingy is such a small issue for me atm that I’ve kinda automated my behavior to start with me pushing a few pads before pressing play and a twist of the knob before I start working with it. After that I can still get the occasional “fatigue” symptoms (after a few hours), by the M+ getting slow or like, play at a slower bpm even tho I haven’t changed the tempo. But that is solved again by the magical knob. The midi sync clock is still unreliable but works most of times for me.

I wouldn’t perform my live sets with it yet, that’s what I’m waiting for still.

But you can’t deny it’s strengths once you get to know it. It’s a very powerful piece of kit, calling it a “sound toy” is diminishing what it truly is despite its minor issues that are being solved one by one, both for creating and composing and also for live performance once it’s stable. It’s the instrument of instruments, especially now that the autosampler will come with the next update.

You did not get a sled. You paid for a car and you got a car, with malfunctioning keys to unlock the door, but it still drives like hell and extremely usable on the road.

I’ve also had 80-90% of cpu going and it’s been flowing anyway. I just wish for the stability to be 99,9% at least so I can do live stuff, which is why I have the jam and m32, it’s all so seamless. I finish most of my project in M+ before importing to logic x to finish it. Eq mixing mastering and automations, that’s it. The whole creative and creating process is in the +. All scenes of a track and everything is in the project ready for live usage :) I save all my groups with patterns as trackname-a, trackname-b so I can easily import my groups and patterns in my gigantic live-set project. I love my M+. Wouldn’t change it for any unit existing today. Just gimme the stability. I don’t care/need many more special functions, at least not for my usage, but I do want stability. If I get that I can die happy. Haha

I would say I have had mine since November 2021 and it's way more stable than it was back then. The audio interface knob turn fixes the crackle issue but honestly if I turn my M+ on 20 times I might get the crackle once or twice. My biggest issue was when my M+ would crash during a project. It was a buzz kill but then I started treating it more like a console and setup fx buses through auxiliary routing, also created a "Master Sum" bus. After that I stopped crashing it during use. Occasionally I'll get it stuck when browsing my SSD but if Im patient it normally starts responding in 15- 30 seconds. All in all I Love my M+, I love being able to be away from my studio. I have a Mk3 and a M+ so my M+ is used expressly in stand-alone.

Ps I created a template for the M+ in standalone which I don't mind sharing. If anyone would like a copy respond to this and I'll either dm you a template or post it in the thread. 🤙🏾

I have attached my template that I use in standalone mode. The following is an explanation of the layout and if anyone has questions after/ during use hit me with a mention or a DM and I'll do my best to provide the required info

• Layer 1: Groups A-H are used for instruments. I deleted the instruments so you won't get any not found errors, but I left the Groups named A- Keys B- Counter Melody - C- Pads etc.
• Layer 2 : Buses. I have a melody bus, FX bus , Automation bus(perform fx), and Master Sum bus. I added the Master sum bus so you can have visual representation of your master inside the MIXER view.
• This template can be improved and moved around however you like. I just recommend always keeping the buses. Also the reason the instruments are in different groupings is to make arrangement easier.
• Scene Mode you will see that the scenes are already named based on an 8bar pattern size and allowing you to add variety every 8bars.
• FX Buses : To utilize FX buses click the Chanel button then navigate to "OUTPUT" then flip to page 2/3 using arrow buttons. Use Aux 1 or Aux 2 dest to select your desired FX ( if you would like different FX modules just load them on a sound in the FX bus group)

I am in no way perfect nor is this template but hopefully it will help everyone with a good starting point.

Also due to Master bus routing the solo button does not function properly. It solos but since the audio is being routed to the Bus on layer 2 you get no sound. Its a tradeoff you can undue the routing if you would prefer SOLO option over Master sum Bus visibility in the MIXER