OK, so this is probaly not going to go over well on this forum, but Have you guys seen the MPC Live III that just came out??? I mean, new maschine hardware is painfully overdue. Any one have any insight?
Nobody here knows but it does look unlikely given NIs new business models.
What are those new business models. I am asking because, I have invested into the NI ecosystem, but its getting a bit long in the tooth, want to know if I should make a move over to AKAI who is clearly innovating in this space. So whats happening with NI business wise? thanks for the reply
I don't think there's any new Maschine hardware arriving in the near future. Out of interest, what would you be expecting in a hardware update?
in terms of design Maschine is almost perfect, it just needs a more powerful internals (for Plus) and new screen from new Komplete Kontrol series, and may be some new extra buttons. don't like new MPC at all, it look ugly and clunky to me, but maybe because I never used one, Maschine workflow forever. we need to see MK4 or Plus MK2 someday
NI don't go crickets and at least start the process of developing the next generation of device (if not already). Until then, I can only create AI-slop MK4s.
LEAP. I won't buy any LEAP expansions; just some loops, although maybe using my own loops may be interesting. But I am just upset how NI put time and energy into providing some expansions to AKAI but seems to give less love to us.
Is it LEAP? Always cool to have some construction kits; game changer! š
To be fair, if you have only used MK3, the M+ is a slick upgrade, too expensive now to be honest, but the build quality absolutely chunks comparably priced units from others, it is a lovely piece of kit to the touch.
In the UK the Maschine+ is available for half the price of the new Akai MPC everyone's raving about. Not that much more than a full price Maschine MK3. I reckon it's a bargain.
its also āon saleā second handā¦ you can get a newish maschine+ for 500-600 euros, which is a great deal imo.
Why so anxious? Actually MK3/+ design is pretty good still for the times going. Maybe there is still room for improvement in terms of firmwareā¦ like a more intelligent screen design, including feedback from i.e. Compressor GR, EQ/filter graphic.
Hardware is not the issue for NI. Software/firmware is. The pace and quality of "updates" is just sad, it feels like they throw a new intern at the Maschine codebase every 6 months, to figure it all out, again, over and over again. Anyway, to me the real USP's of NI are Kontakt and Reaktor. If NI wants to play a part in the "standalone music making device" world, they need to deliver a M++ that is able to run Kontakt libraries and Reaktor ensembles, including custom ones. With added USB-C 2 way multi-track audio streaming, and MIDI support for Reaktor ensembles. This is the way.
The latest Traktor controllers (X1 MK3 and Z1 MK2) both have a height of 56mm, while the F1 and Maschine MK3 (together with the previous X1 and Z1) are 41mm tall.
For anyone building a hybrid DJ setup using Traktor and Maschine hardware together, this height difference shows how the newer gear aligns differently than the older models.
I suspect Native Instruments will eventually release updated versions of the F1 and Maschine that match the 56mm height standard, realigning the gear with this updated setup.
good catch. the slightly deeper dimension would be needed to fit the new screen from the kontrol series mk3.
If they make it bigger I hope they put more CPU heft and a battery in it. It is on the edge of āportableā IMO but adding an internal battery so you donāt have an annoying dongle connected to it would be a welcome trade off if they make it bigger. I may be a minority here, but having experienced Ableton Move, the convenience of internal battery portability is far more impactful than I thought.
As is it is still pretty tight in some backpacks or briefcases. Too much bigger and it will likely live on my desk which makes my upgrade to a M+ mk2 less likely than its non-standalone sibling or sticking to my current M+.
