Native Instruments Maschine+

used to install the OS and factory
sounds, meaning the SD card slot
handles all user storage. Maschine+
is also equipped with Wi-Fi. Bluetooth
is also teased via a small logo on the
box, but plays no role as yet.
As with Akai’s standalone MPCs,
there are limitations to what
Maschine+ can run via its onboard
OS compared to the desktop version.
The Maschine 2 software itself ports
over in full, including its Bass Synth,
six Drum Synth modules and line-up
of effect processors, but currently
only a handful of NI plugins and no
third-party tools can be used away
from a computer. The NI instruments
currently compatible with standalone
mode are Massive, Monark, FM8,
Prism, Retro Machines and ‘Factory
Selection’ versions of Kontakt and
Reaktor, all supplied with the
hardware. On the effect front
Maschine+ brings the Phasis phaser
module and Raum ‘creative reverb’.
There’s no getting around the fact this
is a fairly dated selection of
instruments. Of the synths, the
Minimoog-inspired Monark is the
precisely what you’re editing at times,
meaning editing sounds often
descends into blind twiddling.
Users can import synth and effect
presets from the desktop plugin
counterparts though, meaning there’s
a nice workfl ow in designing complex
custom patches using a computer
then sending them over to Maschine+
to jam out patterns in standalone
mode. It’s possible to import your own
Kontakt patches too, which adds
considerably to the fl exibility.
Since we reviewed the Maschine
Mk 3, there have been a few
developments to the overall
capabilities, all of which benefi t
Maschine+. Recent years have seen
NI fi nally incorporate audio into the
Maschine workfl ow, and as well as
simple sampling and looping, it’s now
possible to record full takes of stereo
audio that can then be edited using
the fairly comprehensive set of tools
in the sample editing window.
The Maschine software’s
arrangement tools have evolved
somewhat too, now encompassing a
system that uses individual Ideas and
most recent release, despite being
nearly eight years old, and there’s no
sign of recent offerings like Massive X
or Form. On the fl ipside, these
instruments – Massive and FM8, in
particular – are stone cold classics.
Producers in any electronic genre
could happily churn out plenty of
music before running out of
inspiration. And that’s before even
touching on the bundled expansions
[see below] or the ability to import,
record or sample audio.
Implementation of these synths
and effects works as it does when
using the Mk3 controller hardware,
whereby the eight parameter knobs
below the screens can be used to
tweak a varying assortment of macros
and core parameters. For the most
part you don’t quite get full access to
the sound engine, but there’s enough
depth to tweak and tailor sounds to
suit your needs.
These controls are better
implemented for some devices than
others. Given the open-ended and
shapeshifting nature of Reaktor, it
can be a little confusing working out
LIBRARY AND EXPANSIONS
Maschine+ comes pre-installed with an 8GB factory sound library, as well as offering
access to fi ve pre-selected Maschine expansion packs, along with a voucher to pick up two
more of your choice. You’ll need to hook the unit up to a Wi-Fi connection to initially
register it, but when you do all of these sounds can be downloaded using a slick on-device
library. The selected expansions cover a decent range, touching on hip-hop, R&B, melodic
club sounds and moody techno. On the whole, the quality of NI’s expansion packs is high
and, while they’re a little
pricey, they’re well curated
and tend to include plenty
of usable and inspiring
sounds. Once purchased,
these are available to
download through NI’s
Native Access application,
and can be used with or
without Maschine, so you
can load them into the
DAW or sampler of your
choice too. In all it’s a
solid crop of sounds to get
you going, and new users
are unlikely to feel short
on material to be played
around with.
THE ALTERNATIVES
Akai MPC Live
II £1,035
B oasts a
rechargeable battery,
onboard speaker and
better I/O than
Maschine+, but NI’s
synths and software
have more pedigree.
akaipro.com
Native
Instruments
Maschine Mk3
£499
E ssentially offers the
same workfl ow as
the standard
Maschine Mk3.
Given that the latter
is less than half the
price, consider if you
need standalone
capabilities.
native-instruments.com
Pioneer DJ
T or aiz SP-16
£850
Pioneer’s standalone
sampler fi ts neatly
into a modern DJ
setup, making it a
good choice for
electronic live
performers.
pioneerdj.com
Reviews | Native Instruments Maschine+
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FMU363.rev_ni.indd 78 05/10/2020 14:10