NAMM 2025: Introducing the NKS Hardware Partner Program

Unfortunately and AKAI users enjoy humiliating Maschine users then it affects many Maschine users to feel like Team Native has given up on Maschine Hardware and that vibe spreads across the internet.

Back to AKAI users, not only are they getting more and more announcements about the software that will be available to them, but there is also "insiders" information that is having a demoralizing effect on many Maschine users but not in the sense of the fans' attitude, but in the predictions that it is a slow transition of NI into Software Company, which rejects many at the start but also affects the others by now thinking that they should to switch to AKAI as soon as possible.

In general, the announcement reached us in another mocking way, not the official way.

That is my observation, I don't know what to think because I have work to do and I am enjoying working with Maschine. I don't mind that software will be available for other Hardware because in a sense it has been the whole time but it is making me wonder about the future but still it's not something that's stopping me from working I would just like to have NI hardware in the future.

I understand the business and NI team knows what is reality, what is happening and what is the plan.

PS. I couldn't think about buying anything because I was waiting for an update for better M Hardware compatibility with the Software at least.

😃 I choose Maschine with the reason and I am more than happy.

NAMM coverage.

Console 1 with Softube as a partner next, please. And the obvious future Master Fader controller could have a screen with FX controls for Mastering, Reverbs, Delays and other effects (just me guessing). Hopefully they start adopting NKS again.

SSL already has a one fader controller SSL UF1 which is a prime candidate for NKS implementation with a screen and four rotary knobs. Maybe NI has already talked to them. :) They may be ahead on Softube, hopefully some competition helps speed up the process for both companies.

I could see Softube do something similar with their own future Master fader (single fader controller) - but the UX to access the plugins needs to be good with a DAW (do not like the effect chain management on the Komplete Kontrol plugin, and the Console 1 plugin has similar limitations in a DAW, integration with the DAW mix console would be nice).

My thought also. If hardware competitors like SSL adds it to their hardware eco system, which they should, it might push them to pivot back into supporting NKS. If more third party hardware makers start adding it, it will probably be an expected feature and push more effects plugins to support it too. Also I dont think we haven't seen another popular competitive semiopen standard like NKS so until then this is the option out there.

Softube recently added Midi CC to the hardware eco system, which is baseline expected, but it is very very basic, pretty wonky solution and still lack a midi cc editor, making it a bit too messy to practically use (which they may like, just to sell their own plugins) - I cannot even reorder the Midi CC on the faders on the hardware.

To be honest midi cc custom configs should be a last resort to control effects plugins, and should always be supported, but another control layer standard on software and hardware, like NKS, makes sense to streamline the use cases.

Fingers crossed Softube starts to integrate NKS in the software and update the hardware to support it this year.

Ableton Push 3 should have a mode to integrate NKS on 3rd Party VST.
That + an arrangement view integration & better control for arrangement mode would be incredible.

I also hope that NI & Ableton will work together in order to provide a less cumbersome Maschine integration.
At the moment, it still feels like 1999 when one has to route all those tracks (a dedicated protocole is what I am thinking about)

Reselling Maschine Groove sample expansions for another platform is just bad customer relations.

I get that you have to do it for products released on a new platform that require extensive development - like a NI synth released for a standalone platform, then you may have to sell it as a new SKU (although it should be cheaper if you own the regular version). But accessing your simple groove samples (which you can convert with third party software) on new platforms should be free (if I purchased the Maschine version of a groove sample license, the groove sample license for the Akai MPC should be free to access). This would also make NI sample sound design products even more valuable.

I suspect we may see new Maschine products if they can find a suitable edge over the competitors. Otherwise sound design is the obvious edge (they should just stop messing with their loyal customers by reselling samples).