Maschine MKII

Native Instruments Intros Maschine MKII

Native Instruments has introduced Maschine MKII, the next generation of its hardware/software beatmaking workstation.

Here’s what’s new with Maschine MKII:

• Each one of the 16 touch-pads can be assigned a different color to easily separate and identify sounds, patterns, groups, and scenes.
  
• With the new Maschine, you can timestretch and pitch shift your samples directly from the hardware, eliminating the need to jump back and forth from host systems.
  
• The Maschine MKII controller now has a master push encoder with grid, and 47 all-click-buttons that help to speed up the workflow.
  
• The Maschine MKII’s high contrast displays have a higher viewing angle that will help keep things visible, even with some difficult live performance placements.
  
• The new Maschine also allows for Host Transport Control, meaning that the hardware’s transport controls can be used to control the host DAW when the unit is being used as a VST, Audio Unit or RTAS plug-in.
  
• There are also some new effects such as Transient Master, Tape and Tube Saturators; and
  
• A full version of the Massive synthesizer is included.
  

Details and video demo below.

Software Enhancements in Version 1.8

• MK2 controller support
  
• Colors for Groups, Sounds, Scenes, and Patterns
  
• Full version of MASSIVE synthesizer
  
• Offline time stretching and pitch shifting
  
• New effect: Transient Master
  
• New effect: Tape and Tube Saturators
  
• Save group with samples feature
  
• Host Transport Control: If Maschine is run as a plug-in, the hardware transport controls can be used with the host
  
• Sample play position indicator on the waveform (hardware and software)
  
• AutoWrite pinning
  
• AutoWrite on Maschine Mikro
  
• Improved handling of missing samples
  
• Pre-hear samples from the hardware browser before loading them
  
• Choke all playing sampler voices feature (“panic button”: Shift + Mute)
  
• Revised select page (hardware) with access to note length
  
• Quick select events of a sound in a pattern (Shift + Select + Pad)
  
• Quick erase events of a sound in a pattern (Erase + Select + Pad)
  

The MASCHINE MKII Controller:

• Multi-color pads, now refined and even more touch sensitive
  
• Colors freely assignable to Sounds, Patterns, Groups and Scenes
  
• Master push encoder with grid, and 47 all-new click-buttons
  
• Timestretch and pitch shifting capability
  
• Improved high contrast displays with higher viewing angle
  
• Host Transport Control: hardware transport controls can be used to control host
  
• New effects: Transient Master, Tape and Tube Saturators
  
• Numerous workflow improvements for an even more intuitive and faster workflow
  
• Customizable Mk2 hardware with removable magnetic faceplate for optional MASCHINE CUSTOM KITS
  
• Now also available in white
  

The Maschine MKII is available for pre-order now for 599 Euro. Shipment is expected to begin on October 1st.

The only interest I've ever had in Maschine would be for the hardware pads, which I've heard have great sensitivity. Honestly this seems like a gimmick, the biggest selling feature is the addition of colour pads... the rest seems like software/firmware upgrades which should be either free, or available to all current Maschine owners for a steep discount. I must say bundling in Massive is a cool addition though, that combined with Maschine's sound library should get one well on their way to making some solid beats.