The idea of the Maschine workflow is to have an intuitive way to create, with the fine-tuning handled by a traditional DAW later on. Fine-tuning, complex automation, and mixing cannot be undertaken on Maschine, which is by design. Maschine has never been a full DAW, however, and the Plus is no different. The Plus doesn’t depart far from its laptop-based relatives on this front, and I could see many Maschine lovers easily adopting it. This workflow is much-loved amongst the many producers who use Maschine. The knob bank and upper button bank functions are controlled via screen view (for example, the plug-in view assigns the knobs to various effect parameters.) In addition to the four pad modes doubling as screen modes, there are also several other screen views for tweaking effects, browsing instruments and samples, editing the mixer on a per-sound or per-group basis, and altering settings. The dual screens also have multiple modes. The MASCHINE+ also offers Ableton-style clip launching modes, in addition to a multitude of different organizational systems for switching between different MIDI loops and clips. Chord, which plays multiple notes with a single pad.Keyboard, which can play different notes in a selected scale (like chromatic or aeolian) for the selected pad.Pad Mode, which correlates each slot to each pad.The 16 pads have four different functions: The unit’s workflow stays true to the classic Maschine experience, based around eight different pad banks with 16 slots for instruments and samples each. CV outputs would also help transform the Maschine into a central brain for a massive DAW-less setup, and while there are USB devices that can be connected to the device capable of outputting CV, I would have loved tightly integrated sequencing for other gear. Many Maschine users incorporate vinyl sampling into their workflow, and a preamp would be a nice nod to these users. Two things that would greatly improve the functionality of the device would be a phono preamp and CV outputs. This caused my cable to dangle over the unit. One hiccup I found here, though, was having the headphone out on the back of the unit. The power supply has a twist-to-lock function, which is very reassuring for preventing unplugging, and an SD slot can be found on the left side for loading in user samples. I don’t quite understand why every connection is 1/4 inch only, as the unit’s budget and dimensions certainly allow for at least a few combo or RCA jacks. The MASCHINE+ is fairly decent in terms of connectivity: a single 1/4 inch headphone output, dual 1/4 inch master jacks, two 1/4 inch line inputs, one 1/4 inch mic input, 5-pin MIDI in and out connectors, a 1/4 inch footswitch connector, a USB-B port for computer connection, and two USB-A ports for class-compliant audio interfaces and controllers. Worth noting, though, that this is only a slight nitpick. The singular slight fault I found with the unit’s build was the 4d selection dial, which felt light and almost slightly wobbly. The eight touch-sensitive knobs on the unit feel out of this world, with an inert and buttery-smooth feel. The buttons are all rubber and have a pleasant click to them. The pads are superb, rivaling the infamous Akai pads easily. The top and bottom plates of the unit are coated in metal, which is ideal for durability. The MASCHINE+’s build quality is fantastic. However, its current price and CPU efficiency are slightly concerning factors. The Plus takes advantage of this and offers a completely computer-free installment, sporting access to the entire NI library of plugins and packs. The MASCHINE+ functions just like other Maschine controllers, which are so in-depth that their users seldom even glance at their computer screens. However, that finally changes with the MASCHINE+: a standalone version of the Maschine MK3. Until now, all Maschine units required a laptop to function, serving as highly in-depth MIDI controllers for the Maschine software. Native Instruments‘ Maschine range is a series of “beatmakers” – production hubs designed for sketching and fleshing out tracks in a simplified workflow.
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