Native Instruments Maschine 2.0 MK3 Operation Manual v2.7.10

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MASCHINE MK3 MANUAL

Disclaimer

The information in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on the part of Native Instruments GmbH. The software described by this document is subject to a License Agreement and may not be copied to other media. No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced or otherwise transmitted or recorded, for any purpose, without prior written permission by Native Instruments GmbH, hereinafter referred to as Native Instruments.

“Native Instruments”, “NI” and associated logos are (registered) trademarks of Native Instruments GmbH.

ASIO, VST, HALion and Cubase are registered trademarks of Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH.

All other product and company names are trademarks™ or registered® trademarks of their respective holders. Use of them does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement by them.

Document authored by: David Gover and Nico Sidi. Software version: 2.7.10 (10/2018)

Hardware version: MASCHINE MK3

Special thanks to the Beta Test Team, who were invaluable not just in tracking down bugs, but in making this a better product.

Contact

NATIVE INSTRUMENTS GmbH

Schlesische Str. 29-30 D-10997 Berlin Germany

www.native-instruments.de

NATIVE INSTRUMENTS K.K.

YO Building 3F

Jingumae 6-7-15, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0001

Japan www.native-instruments.co.jp

NATIVE INSTRUMENTS FRANCE SARL

113 Rue Saint-Maur

75011 Paris France

www.native-instruments.com

NATIVE INSTRUMENTS North America, Inc.

6725 Sunset Boulevard 5th Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90028 USA www.native-instruments.com

NATIVE INSTRUMENTS UK Limited

18 Phipp Street London EC2A 4NU UK

www.native-instruments.co.uk

SHENZHEN NATIVE INSTRUMENTS COMPANY Limited

5F, Shenzhen Zimao Center

111 Taizi Road, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong

China www.native-instruments.com

Table of Contents

1	Welcome to MASCHINE .............................................................................................				25
	1.1	MASCHINE Documentation ..........................................................................................................			26
	1.2	Document Conventions ...............................................................................................................			27
	1.3	New Features in MASCHINE 2.7.10 .............................................................................................			29
	1.4	New Features in MASCHINE 2.7.8 ...............................................................................................			30
	1.5	New Features in MASCHINE 2.7.7 ...............................................................................................			30
	1.6	New Features in MASCHINE 2.7.4 ...............................................................................................			32
	1.7	New Features in MASCHINE 2.7.3 ...............................................................................................			34
2	Quick Reference ........................................................................................................				37
	2.1	Using Your Controller		..................................................................................................................	37
		2.1.1	Controller Modes and Mode Pinning ..........................................................................		37
		2.1.2	Controlling the Software Views from Your Controller .................................................		39
	2.2	MASCHINE Project Overview ........................................................................................................			42
		2.2.1	Sound Content ...........................................................................................................		43
		2.2.2	Arrangement ..............................................................................................................		44
	2.3	MASCHINE Hardware Overview ...................................................................................................			47
		2.3.1	MASCHINE Hardware Overview ..................................................................................		47
			2.3.1.1	Control Section ..........................................................................................	49
			2.3.1.2	Edit Section ...............................................................................................	52
			2.3.1.3	Performance Section ..................................................................................	53
			2.3.1.4	Group Section ............................................................................................	55
			2.3.1.5	Transport Section ......................................................................................	55
			2.3.1.6	Pad Section ...............................................................................................	57
			2.3.1.7	Rear Panel .................................................................................................	62
	2.4	MASCHINE Software Overview .....................................................................................................			64

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	2.4.1	Header .......................................................................................................................	65
	2.4.2	Browser .....................................................................................................................	67
	2.4.3	Arranger ....................................................................................................................	69
	2.4.4	Control Area ...............................................................................................................	72
	2.4.5	Pattern Editor ............................................................................................................	73
3 Basic Concepts		.........................................................................................................	75
3.1	Important .................................................................................................Names and Concepts		75
3.2	Adjusting .....................................................................................the MASCHINE User Interface		78
	3.2.1 .............................................................................	Adjusting the Size of the Interface	78
	3.2.2 ...........................................................	Switching between Ideas View and Song View	79
	3.2.3 ......................................................................................	Showing/Hiding the Browser	80
	3.2.4 .................................................................................................	Minimizing the Mixer	80
	3.2.5 ..............................................................................	Showing/Hiding the Control Lane	81
3.3	Common Operations ...................................................................................................................		82
	3.3.1 .......................................................................	Using the 4 - Directional Push Encoder	82
	3.3.2 ...............................................................................	Pinning a Mode on the Controller	83
	3.3.3 ........................................................................	Adjusting Volume, Swing, and Tempo	84
	3.3.4 .................................................................................................................	Undo/Redo	87
	3.3.5 ...........................................................................................	List Overlay for Selectors	89
	3.3.6 ..........................................................................................	Zoom and Scroll Overlays	90
	3.3.7 ................................................................................	Focusing on a Group or a Sound	91
	3.3.8 ...........................................	Switching Between the Master, Group, and Sound Level	96

3.3.9Navigating Channel Properties, Plug-ins, and Parameter Pages in the Control Area . 97

	3.3.9.1 Extended Navigate Mode on Your Controller ..............................................	102
3.3.10	Navigating the Software Using the Controller ............................................................	105
3.3.11	Using Two or More Hardware Controllers ...................................................................	106

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	3.3.12	Touch Auto-Write Option ............................................................................................	108
3.4	Native Kontrol Standard .............................................................................................................		110
3.5	Stand-Alone and Plug-in Mode ...................................................................................................		111
	3.5.1	Differences between Stand-Alone and Plug-in Mode .................................................	112
	3.5.2	Switching Instances ..................................................................................................	113
	3.5.3	Controlling Various Instances with Different Controllers ...........................................	114
3.6	Host Integration ..........................................................................................................................		114
	3.6.1	Setting up Host Integration .......................................................................................	115
		3.6.1.1 Setting up Ableton Live (macOS) ...............................................................	115
		3.6.1.2 Setting up Ableton Live (Windows) ............................................................	116
		3.6.1.3 Setting up Apple Logic Pro X ......................................................................	116
	3.6.2	Integration with Ableton Live .....................................................................................	117
	3.6.3	Integration with Apple Logic Pro X .............................................................................	119
3.7	Preferences .................................................................................................................................		120
	3.7.1	Preferences – General Page .......................................................................................	121
	3.7.2	Preferences – Audio Page ..........................................................................................	126
	3.7.3	Preferences – MIDI Page ............................................................................................	130
	3.7.4	Preferences – Default Page .......................................................................................	133
	3.7.5	Preferences – Library Page ........................................................................................	137
	3.7.6	Preferences – Plug-ins Page .....................................................................................	145
	3.7.7	Preferences – Hardware Page ....................................................................................	150
	3.7.8	Preferences – Colors Page .........................................................................................	154
3.8	Integrating MASCHINE into a MIDI Setup ....................................................................................		156
	3.8.1	Connecting External MIDI Equipment ........................................................................	156
	3.8.2	Sync to External MIDI Clock .......................................................................................	157
	3.8.3	Send MIDI Clock .........................................................................................................	158

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3.9	Syncing MASCHINE using Ableton Link .......................................................................................		159
	3.9.1	Connecting to a Network ............................................................................................	159
	3.9.2	Joining and Leaving a Link Session ...........................................................................	159
3.10	Using a Pedal with the MASCHINE Controller ..............................................................................		160
3.11	File Management on the MASCHINE Controller ...........................................................................		161
4 Browser ....................................................................................................................			163
4.1	Browser Basics ...........................................................................................................................		163
	4.1.1	The MASCHINE Library ...............................................................................................	163
	4.1.2	Browsing the Library vs. Browsing Your Hard Disks ...................................................	164
4.2	Searching and Loading Files from the Library ............................................................................		165
	4.2.1	Overview of the LIBRARY Pane ...................................................................................	165
	4.2.2	Selecting or Loading a Product and Selecting a Bank from the Browser ....................	170
		4.2.2.1 Browsing by Product Category Using MASCHINE MK3 ................................	174
		4.2.2.2 Browsing by Product Vendor Using MASCHINE MK3 ...................................	175
	4.2.3	Selecting a Product Category, a Product, a Bank, and a Sub-Bank ...........................	175

4.2.3.1Selecting a Product Category, a Product, a Bank, and a Sub-Bank on the

		Controller ...................................................................................................	179
	4.2.4	Selecting a File Type ..................................................................................................	180
	4.2.5	Choosing Between Factory and User Content .............................................................	181
	4.2.6	Selecting Type and Mode Tags ...................................................................................	182
	4.2.7	List and Tag Overlays in the Browser .........................................................................	188
	4.2.8	Performing a Text Search ...........................................................................................	190
	4.2.9	Loading a File from the Result List ............................................................................	190
4.3	Additional Browsing Tools ..........................................................................................................		195
	4.3.1	Loading the Selected Files Automatically ..................................................................	195
	4.3.2	Auditioning Instrument Presets .................................................................................	197

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	4.3.3	Auditioning Samples .................................................................................................	198
	4.3.4	Loading Groups with Patterns ...................................................................................	199
	4.3.5	Loading Groups with Routing ....................................................................................	200
	4.3.6	Displaying File Information ........................................................................................	200
4.4	Using Favorites in the Browser ...................................................................................................		201
4.5	Editing the Files’ Tags and Properties ........................................................................................		207
	4.5.1	Attribute Editor Basics ..............................................................................................	207
	4.5.2	The BANK Page ..........................................................................................................	209
	4.5.3	The TYPES and MODES Pages ....................................................................................	210
	4.5.4	The PROPERTIES Page ...............................................................................................	212
4.6	Loading and Importing Files from Your File System ....................................................................		213
	4.6.1	Overview of the FILES Pane ........................................................................................	213
	4.6.2	Using Favorites ..........................................................................................................	215
	4.6.3	Using the Location Bar ..............................................................................................	216
	4.6.4	Navigating to Recent Locations .................................................................................	217
	4.6.5	Using the Result List .................................................................................................	218
	4.6.6	Importing Files to the MASCHINE Library ...................................................................	221
4.7	Locating Missing Samples ..........................................................................................................		223
4.8	Using Quick Browse ....................................................................................................................		225
5 Managing Sounds, Groups, and Your Project ...............................................................			229
5.1	Overview of the Sounds, Groups, and Master ..............................................................................		229
	5.1.1	The Sound, Group, and Master Channels ...................................................................	230
	5.1.2	Similarities and Differences in Handling Sounds and Groups ...................................	231
	5.1.3	Selecting Multiple Sounds or Groups .........................................................................	232
5.2	Managing Sounds .......................................................................................................................		237
	5.2.1	Loading Sounds .........................................................................................................	239

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	5.2.2	Pre-listening to Sounds .............................................................................................	240
	5.2.3	Renaming Sound Slots ..............................................................................................	241
	5.2.4	Changing the Sound’s Color ......................................................................................	241
	5.2.5	Saving Sounds ...........................................................................................................	243
	5.2.6	Copying and Pasting Sounds .....................................................................................	245
	5.2.7	Moving Sounds ..........................................................................................................	248
	5.2.8	Resetting Sound Slots ...............................................................................................	249
5.3	Managing Groups .......................................................................................................................		251
	5.3.1	Creating Groups ........................................................................................................	252
	5.3.2	Loading Groups .........................................................................................................	253
	5.3.3	Renaming Groups ......................................................................................................	255
	5.3.4	Changing the Group’s Color .......................................................................................	255
	5.3.5	Saving Groups ...........................................................................................................	257
	5.3.6	Copying and Pasting Groups .....................................................................................	259
	5.3.7	Reordering Groups .....................................................................................................	262
	5.3.8	Deleting Groups .........................................................................................................	263
5.4	Exporting MASCHINE Objects and Audio .....................................................................................		264
	5.4.1	Saving a Group with its Samples ...............................................................................	265
	5.4.2	Saving a Project with its Samples .............................................................................	266
	5.4.3	Exporting Audio .........................................................................................................	268
5.5	Importing Third-Party File Formats .............................................................................................		274
	5.5.1	Loading REX Files into Sound Slots ...........................................................................	274
	5.5.2	Importing MPC Programs to Groups ...........................................................................	275
6 Playing on the Controller ...........................................................................................			279
6.1	Adjusting the Pads .....................................................................................................................		279
	6.1.1	The Pad View in the Software ....................................................................................	279

MASCHINE - Manual - 9

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	6.1.2	Choosing a Pad Input Mode .......................................................................................	281
	6.1.3	Adjusting the Base Key ..............................................................................................	284
	6.1.4	Using Choke Groups ..................................................................................................	286
	6.1.5	Using Link Groups .....................................................................................................	288
6.2	Adjusting the Key, Choke, and Link Parameters for Multiple Sounds ..........................................		290
6.3	Playing Tools ..............................................................................................................................		291
	6.3.1	Mute and Solo ............................................................................................................	292
	6.3.2	Choke All Notes ..........................................................................................................	296
	6.3.3	Groove .......................................................................................................................	297
	6.3.4	Level, Tempo, Tune, and Groove Shortcuts on Your Controller ....................................	299
	6.3.5	Tap Tempo .................................................................................................................	303
6.4	Performance Features .................................................................................................................		304
	6.4.1	Overview of the Perform Features ..............................................................................	304
	6.4.2	Selecting a Scale and Creating Chords .....................................................................	307
	6.4.3	Scale and Chord Parameters .....................................................................................	307
	6.4.4	Creating Arpeggios and Repeated Notes ...................................................................	320
	6.4.5	Swing on Note Repeat / Arp Output ...........................................................................	325
6.5	Using Lock Snapshots ................................................................................................................		326
	6.5.1	Creating a Lock Snapshot ..........................................................................................	326
	6.5.2	Using Extended Lock ..................................................................................................	327
	6.5.3	Updating a Lock Snapshot .........................................................................................	327
	6.5.4	Recalling a Lock Snapshot ........................................................................................	328
	6.5.5	Morphing Between Lock Snapshots ...........................................................................	328
	6.5.6	Deleting a Lock Snapshot ..........................................................................................	329
	6.5.7	Triggering Lock Snapshots via MIDI ...........................................................................	330
6.6	Using the Smart Strip .................................................................................................................		331

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	6.6.1	Pitch Mode .................................................................................................................		332
	6.6.2	Modulation Mode .......................................................................................................		332
	6.6.3	Perform Mode ............................................................................................................		332
	6.6.4	Notes Mode ................................................................................................................		333
7 Working with Plug-ins ...............................................................................................				334
7.1	Plug-in Overview ........................................................................................................................			334
	7.1.1	Plug-in Basics ...........................................................................................................		334
	7.1.2	First Plug-in Slot of Sounds: Choosing the Sound’s Role ...........................................		338
	7.1.3	Loading, Removing, and Replacing a Plug-in ............................................................		339
		7.1.3.1 Browser Plug-in Slot Selection ...................................................................		345
	7.1.4	Adjusting the Plug-in Parameters .............................................................................		348
	7.1.5	Bypassing Plug-in Slots ............................................................................................		348
	7.1.6	Using Side-Chain ......................................................................................................		350
	7.1.7	Moving Plug-ins ........................................................................................................		350
	7.1.8	Alternative: the Plug-in Strip .....................................................................................		352
	7.1.9	Saving and Recalling Plug-in Presets .......................................................................		352
		7.1.9.1	Saving Plug-in Presets ..............................................................................	353
		7.1.9.2	Recalling Plug-in Presets ..........................................................................	354
		7.1.9.3 Removing a Default Plug-in Preset ............................................................		355
7.2	The Sampler Plug-in ...................................................................................................................			356
	7.2.1	Page 1: Voice Settings / Engine .................................................................................		358
	7.2.2	Page 2: Pitch / Envelope ............................................................................................		360
	7.2.3	Page 3: FX / Filter ......................................................................................................		363
	7.2.4	Page 4: Modulation ....................................................................................................		365
	7.2.5	Page 5: LFO ...............................................................................................................		367
	7.2.6	Page 6: Velocity / Modwheel ......................................................................................		369

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7.3	Using Native Instruments and External Plug-ins ........................................................................		371
	7.3.1	Opening/Closing Plug - in Windows .............................................................................	371
	7.3.2	Using the VST/AU Plug - in Parameters .......................................................................	374
	7.3.3	Setting Up Your Own Parameter Pages ......................................................................	375
	7.3.4	Using VST/AU Plug - in Presets ....................................................................................	380
	7.3.5	Multiple - Output Plug - ins and Multitimbral Plug - ins .................................................	382
8 Using the Audio Plug-in .............................................................................................			384
8.1	Loading a Loop into the Audio Plug-in ........................................................................................		388
8.2	Editing Audio in the Audio Plug-in ..............................................................................................		389
8.3	Using Loop Mode ........................................................................................................................		390
8.4	Using Gate Mode ........................................................................................................................		392
9 Using the Drumsynths ................................................................................................			394
9.1	Drumsynths – General Handling .................................................................................................		395
	9.1.1	Engines: Many Different Drums per Drumsynth .........................................................	395
	9.1.2	Common Parameter Organization ..............................................................................	395
	9.1.3	Shared Parameters ....................................................................................................	398
	9.1.4	Various Velocity Responses .......................................................................................	398
	9.1.5	Pitch Range, Tuning, and MIDI Notes ........................................................................	398
9.2	The Kicks	....................................................................................................................................	399
	9.2.1 .................................................................................................................	Kick – Sub	401
	9.2.2 ..............................................................................................................	Kick – Tronic	403
	9.2.3 ..............................................................................................................	Kick – Dusty	406
	9.2.4 .................................................................................................................	Kick – Grit	407
	9.2.5 ............................................................................................................	Kick – Rasper	410
	9.2.6 ............................................................................................................	Kick – Snappy	411
	9.2.7 ................................................................................................................	Kick – Bold	413

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	9.2.8	Kick – Maple ..............................................................................................................	415
	9.2.9	Kick – Push ...............................................................................................................	416
9.3	The Snares ..................................................................................................................................		418
	9.3.1	Snare – Volt ...............................................................................................................	420
	9.3.2	Snare – Bit ................................................................................................................	422
	9.3.3	Snare – Pow ..............................................................................................................	424
	9.3.4	Snare – Sharp ...........................................................................................................	425
	9.3.5	Snare – Airy ...............................................................................................................	427
	9.3.6	Snare – Vintage .........................................................................................................	429
	9.3.7	Snare – Chrome .........................................................................................................	431
	9.3.8	Snare – Iron ...............................................................................................................	433
	9.3.9	Snare – Clap .............................................................................................................	435
	9.3.10	Snare – Breaker .........................................................................................................	437
9.4	The Hi-hats .................................................................................................................................		439
	9.4.1	Hi - hat – Silver ...........................................................................................................	440
	9.4.2	Hi - hat – Circuit .........................................................................................................	442
	9.4.3	Hi - hat – Memory ........................................................................................................	444
	9.4.4	Hi - hat – Hybrid ..........................................................................................................	446
	9.4.5	Creating a Pattern with Closed and Open Hi - hats .....................................................	448
9.5	The Toms	....................................................................................................................................	449
	9.5.1 ..............................................................................................................	Tom – Tronic	451
	9.5.2 ............................................................................................................	Tom – Fractal	453
	9.5.3 ................................................................................................................	Tom – Floor	457
	9.5.4 ................................................................................................................	Tom – High	459
9.6	The Percussions ..........................................................................................................................		460
	9.6.1 ..................................................................................................	Percussion – Fractal	462

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			Table of Contents

	9.6.2	Percussion – Kettle ....................................................................................................	465
	9.6.3	Percussion – Shaker ..................................................................................................	467
9.7	The Cymbals ...............................................................................................................................		471
	9.7.1	Cymbal – Crash .........................................................................................................	473
	9.7.2	Cymbal – Ride ...........................................................................................................	475
10 Using the Bass Synth .................................................................................................			478
10.1	Bass Synth – General Handling ..................................................................................................		479
	10.1.1	Parameter Organization .............................................................................................	479
	10.1.2	Bass Synth Parameters .............................................................................................	481
11 Working with Patterns ...............................................................................................			483
11.1	Pattern Basics ............................................................................................................................		483
	11.1.1	Pattern Editor Overview .............................................................................................	484
	11.1.2	Navigating the Event Area .........................................................................................	490
	11.1.3	Following the Playback Position in the Pattern ..........................................................	492
	11.1.4	Jumping to Another Playback Position in the Pattern .................................................	493
	11.1.5	Group View and Keyboard View ..................................................................................	495
	11.1.6	Adjusting the Arrange Grid and the Pattern Length ...................................................	497
	11.1.7	Adjusting the Step Grid and the Nudge Grid ..............................................................	501
11.2	Recording Patterns in Real Time ................................................................................................		505
	11.2.1	Recording Your Patterns Live .....................................................................................	505
	11.2.2	The Record Prepare Mode ..........................................................................................	508
	11.2.3	Using the Metronome .................................................................................................	509
	11.2.4	Recording with Count-in ............................................................................................	510
	11.2.5	Quantizing while Recording .......................................................................................	512
11.3	Recording Patterns with the Step Sequencer ..............................................................................		512
	11.3.1	Step Mode Basics ......................................................................................................	512

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	11.3.2	Editing Events in Step Mode ......................................................................................	515
	11.3.3	Recording Modulation in Step Mode ..........................................................................	517
11.4	Editing Events ............................................................................................................................		518
	11.4.1	Editing Events with the Mouse: an Overview .............................................................	518
	11.4.2	Creating Events/Notes ...............................................................................................	521
	11.4.3	Selecting Events/Notes ..............................................................................................	522
	11.4.4	Editing Selected Events/Notes ...................................................................................	530
	11.4.5	Deleting Events/Notes ...............................................................................................	536
	11.4.6	Cut, Copy, and Paste Events/Notes ............................................................................	539
	11.4.7	Quantizing Events/Notes ...........................................................................................	542
	11.4.8	Quantization While Playing ........................................................................................	544
	11.4.9	Doubling a Pattern ....................................................................................................	545
	11.4.10	Adding Variation to Patterns .....................................................................................	545
11.5	Recording and Editing Modulation .............................................................................................		550
	11.5.1	Which Parameters Are Modulatable? .........................................................................	551
	11.5.2	Recording Modulation ................................................................................................	552
	11.5.3	Creating and Editing Modulation in the Control Lane ................................................	554
11.6	Creating MIDI Tracks from Scratch in MASCHINE .......................................................................		559
11.7	Managing Patterns .....................................................................................................................		561
	11.7.1	The Pattern Manager and Pattern Mode ....................................................................	562
	11.7.2	Selecting Patterns and Pattern Banks .......................................................................	564
	11.7.3	Creating Patterns ......................................................................................................	567
	11.7.4	Deleting Patterns .......................................................................................................	569
	11.7.5	Creating and Deleting Pattern Banks ........................................................................	570
	11.7.6	Naming Patterns .......................................................................................................	572
	11.7.7	Changing the Pattern’s Color ....................................................................................	574

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	11.7.8	Duplicating, Copying, and Pasting Patterns ..............................................................	575
	11.7.9	Moving Patterns ........................................................................................................	578
	11.7.10	Adjusting Pattern Length in Fine Increments .............................................................	579
11.8	Importing/Exporting Audio and MIDI to/from Patterns ................................................................		580
	11.8.1	Exporting Audio from Patterns ...................................................................................	580
	11.8.2	Exporting MIDI from Patterns .....................................................................................	581
	11.8.3	Importing MIDI to Patterns ........................................................................................	584
12 Audio Routing, Remote Control, and Macro Controls ....................................................			593
12.1	Audio Routing in MASCHINE .......................................................................................................		594
	12.1.1	Sending External Audio to Sounds .............................................................................	595
	12.1.2	Configuring the Main Output of Sounds and Groups .................................................	600
	12.1.3	Setting Up Auxiliary Outputs for Sounds and Groups .................................................	605
	12.1.4	Configuring the Master and Cue Outputs of MASCHINE .............................................	609
	12.1.5	Mono Audio Inputs .....................................................................................................	614
		12.1.5.1 Configuring External Inputs for Sounds in Mix View ..................................	615
12.2	Using MIDI Control and Host Automation ....................................................................................		618
	12.2.1	Triggering Sounds via MIDI Notes ..............................................................................	619
	12.2.2	Triggering Scenes via MIDI ........................................................................................	626
	12.2.3	Controlling Parameters via MIDI and Host Automation ..............................................	627
	12.2.4	Selecting VST/AU Plug-in Presets via MIDI Program Change .....................................	635
	12.2.5	Sending MIDI from Sounds ........................................................................................	636
12.3	Creating Custom Sets of Parameters with the Macro Controls ...................................................		640
	12.3.1	Macro Control Overview .............................................................................................	641
	12.3.2	Assigning Macro Controls Using the Software ...........................................................	642
	12.3.3	Assigning Macro Controls Using the Controller ..........................................................	648

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				Table of Contents

13	Controlling Your Mix ..................................................................................................			650
	13.1	Mix View Basics ..........................................................................................................................		650
		13.1.1	Switching between Arrange View and Mix View .........................................................	650
		13.1.2	Mix View Elements .....................................................................................................	651
	13.2	The Mixer	....................................................................................................................................	653
		13.2.1 ..................................................................	Displaying Groups vs. Displaying Sounds	654
		13.2.2 ........................................................................................	Adjusting the Mixer Layout	656
		13.2.3 ...........................................................................................	Selecting Channel Strips	657
		13.2.4 .......................................................................	Managing Your Channels in the Mixer	658
		13.2.5 ...................................................................	Adjusting Settings in the Channel Strips	660
		13.2.6 .....................................................................................................	Using the Cue Bus	664
	13.3	The Plug- .......................................................................................................................in Chain		666
	13.4	The Plug- ........................................................................................................................in Strip		667
		13.4.1 ....................................................................................................	The Plug - in Header	669
		13.4.2 ..............................................................	Panels for Drumsynths and Internal Effects	671
		13.4.3 ................................................................................................	Panel for the Sampler	672
		13.4.4 ........................................................	Custom Panels for Native Instruments Plug - ins	675
		13.4.5 ............	Undocking a Plug - in Panel (Native Instruments and External Plug - ins Only)	679
	13.5	Controlling .....................................................................................Your Mix from the Controller		681
		13.5.1 .....................................................................	Navigating Your Channels in Mix Mode	682
		13.5.2 ..................................................................	Adjusting the Level and Pan in Mix Mode	683
		13.5.3 ........................................................................................	Mute and Solo in Mix Mode	684
		13.5.4 ..........................................................................................	Plug - in Icons in Mix Mode	684
14	Using Effects .............................................................................................................			685
	14.1	Applying Effects ....................................................................to a Sound, a Group or the Master		685
		14.1.1 ........................................................................................................	Adding an Effect	685

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			Table of Contents

	14.1.2	Other Operations on Effects .......................................................................................	694
	14.1.3	Using the Side - Chain Input .......................................................................................	696
14.2	Applying Effects to External Audio ..............................................................................................		699
	14.2.1	Step 1: Configure MASCHINE Audio Inputs ................................................................	699
	14.2.2	Step 2: Set up a Sound to Receive the External Input ................................................	702
	14.2.3	Step 3: Load an Effect to Process an Input ................................................................	704
14.3	Creating a Send Effect ...............................................................................................................		705
	14.3.1	Step 1: Set Up a Sound or Group as Send Effect ........................................................	706
	14.3.2	Step 2: Route Audio to the Send Effect ......................................................................	710
	14.3.3	A Few Notes on Send Effects ......................................................................................	712
14.4	Creating Multi-Effects ................................................................................................................		713
15 Effect Reference ........................................................................................................			716
15.1	Dynamics	....................................................................................................................................	717
	15.1.1 ...............................................................................................................	Compressor	717
	15.1.2 ...........................................................................................................................	Gate	721
	15.1.3 .......................................................................................................	Transient Master	725
	15.1.4 .......................................................................................................................	Limiter	727
	15.1.5 ..................................................................................................................	Maximizer	731
15.2	Filtering Effects ..........................................................................................................................		734
	15.2.1 ..............................................................................................................................	EQ	734
	15.2.2 ..........................................................................................................................	Filter	737
	15.2.3 ......................................................................................................................	Cabinet	741
15.3	Modulation .....................................................................................................................Effects		742
	15.3.1 .......................................................................................................................	Chorus	742
	15.3.2 ......................................................................................................................	Flanger	744
	15.3.3 .............................................................................................................................	FM	746

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				Table of Contents

	15.3.4	Freq Shifter ................................................................................................................		747
	15.3.5	Phaser .......................................................................................................................		749
15.4	Spatial and Reverb Effects .........................................................................................................			751
	15.4.1	Ice .............................................................................................................................		751
	15.4.2	Metaverb ...................................................................................................................		753
	15.4.3	Reflex ........................................................................................................................		754
	15.4.4	Reverb (Legacy) .........................................................................................................		756
	15.4.5	Reverb .......................................................................................................................		758
		15.4.5.1	Reverb Room .............................................................................................	758
		15.4.5.2	Reverb Hall ................................................................................................	761
		15.4.5.3	Plate Reverb ..............................................................................................	764
15.5	Delays	.........................................................................................................................................		766
	15.5.1 .................................................................................................................	Beat Delay		766
	15.5.2 ................................................................................................................	Grain Delay		769
	15.5.3 .............................................................................................................	Grain Stretch		771
	15.5.4 ..................................................................................................................	Resochord		773
15.6	Distortion ........................................................................................................................Effects			775
	15.6.1 ...................................................................................................................	Distortion		775
	15.6.2 ............................................................................................................................	Lofi		778
	15.6.3 ...................................................................................................................	Saturator		779
15.7	Perform ..................................................................................................................................FX			783
	15.7.1 ..........................................................................................................................	Filter		784
	15.7.2 ......................................................................................................................	Flanger		786
	15.7.3 .................................................................................................................	Burst Echo		789
	15.7.4 ..................................................................................................................	Reso Echo		791
	15.7.5 ...........................................................................................................................	Ring		794

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			Table of Contents

	15.7.6	Stutter .......................................................................................................................	796
	15.7.7	Tremolo ......................................................................................................................	799
	15.7.8	Scratcher ...................................................................................................................	802
16 Working with the Arranger .........................................................................................			805
16.1	Arranger Basics ..........................................................................................................................		805
	16.1.1	Navigating Song View ................................................................................................	808
	16.1.2	Following the Playback Position in Your Project .........................................................	810
	16.1.3	Performing with Scenes and Sections using the Pads ...............................................	811
16.2	Using Ideas View ........................................................................................................................		815
	16.2.1	Scene Overview ..........................................................................................................	815
	16.2.2	Creating Scenes ........................................................................................................	817
	16.2.3	Assigning and Removing Patterns .............................................................................	817
	16.2.4	Selecting Scenes .......................................................................................................	821
	16.2.5	Deleting Scenes .........................................................................................................	822
	16.2.6	Creating and Deleting Scene Banks ..........................................................................	824
	16.2.7	Clearing Scenes .........................................................................................................	824
	16.2.8	Duplicating Scenes ....................................................................................................	825
	16.2.9	Reordering Scenes .....................................................................................................	826
	16.2.10	Making Scenes Unique ..............................................................................................	828
	16.2.11	Appending Scenes to Arrangement ............................................................................	829
	16.2.12	Naming Scenes ..........................................................................................................	830
	16.2.13	Changing the Color of a Scene ..................................................................................	831
16.3	Using Song View .........................................................................................................................		832
	16.3.1	Section Management Overview ..................................................................................	832
	16.3.2	Creating Sections ......................................................................................................	837
	16.3.3	Assigning a Scene to a Section ..................................................................................	838

MASCHINE - Manual - 20

				Table of Contents

	16.3.4	Selecting Sections and Section Banks .......................................................................		839
	16.3.5	Reorganizing Sections ...............................................................................................		843
	16.3.6	Adjusting the Length of a Section ..............................................................................		844
		16.3.6.1	Adjusting the Length of a Section Using the Software ...............................	845
		16.3.6.2	Adjusting the Length of a Section Using the Controller .............................	847
	16.3.7	Clearing a Pattern in Song View ................................................................................		847
	16.3.8	Duplicating Sections .................................................................................................		848
		16.3.8.1	Making Sections Unique ............................................................................	849
	16.3.9	Removing Sections ....................................................................................................		850
	16.3.10	Renaming Scenes ......................................................................................................		852
	16.3.11	Clearing Sections ......................................................................................................		853
	16.3.12	Creating and Deleting Section Banks ........................................................................		854
	16.3.13	Working with Patterns in Song view ...........................................................................		854
		16.3.13.1 Creating a Pattern in Song View ................................................................		854
		16.3.13.2 Selecting a Pattern in Song View ...............................................................		854
		16.3.13.3 Clearing a Pattern in Song View ................................................................		855
		16.3.13.4 Renaming a Pattern in Song View .............................................................		855
		16.3.13.5 Coloring a Pattern in Song View ................................................................		855
		16.3.13.6 Removing a Pattern in Song View ..............................................................		856
		16.3.13.7 Duplicating a Pattern in Song View ...........................................................		856
	16.3.14	Enabling Auto Length ................................................................................................		856
	16.3.15	Looping	......................................................................................................................	857
		16.3.15.1 Setting the Loop Range in the Software .....................................................		858
16.4	Playing with Sections .................................................................................................................			859
	16.4.1	Jumping to ...............................................another Playback Position in Your Project		859
16.5	Triggering Sections or .......................................................................................Scenes via MIDI			860

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			Table of Contents

16.6	The Arrange Grid .........................................................................................................................		862
16.7	Quick Grid	...................................................................................................................................	864
17 Sampling and Sample Mapping ..................................................................................			866
17.1	Opening the Sample Editor .........................................................................................................		866
17.2	Recording Audio .........................................................................................................................		867
	17.2.1	Opening the Record Page ..........................................................................................	867
	17.2.2	Selecting the Source and the Recording Mode ...........................................................	869
	17.2.3	Arming, Starting, and Stopping the Recording ..........................................................	872
	17.2.5	Using the Footswitch for Recording Audio .................................................................	875
	17.2.6	Checking Your Recordings .........................................................................................	876
	17.2.7	Location and Name of Your Recorded Samples ..........................................................	880
17.3	Editing a Sample ........................................................................................................................		880
	17.3.1	Using the Edit Page ...................................................................................................	881
	17.3.2	Audio Editing Functions .............................................................................................	886
17.4	Slicing a Sample ........................................................................................................................		894
	17.4.1	Opening the Slice Page ..............................................................................................	895
	17.4.2	Adjusting the Slicing Settings ...................................................................................	897
	17.4.3	Live Slicing ................................................................................................................	902
		17.4.3.1 Live Slicing Using the Controller ................................................................	902
		17.4.3.2 Delete All Slices .........................................................................................	903
	17.4.4	Manually Adjusting Your Slices .................................................................................	903
	17.4.5	Applying the Slicing ...................................................................................................	910
17.5	Mapping Samples to Zones ........................................................................................................		916
	17.5.1	Opening the Zone Page ..............................................................................................	916
	17.5.2	Zone Page Overview ...................................................................................................	917
	17.5.3	Selecting and Managing Zones in the Zone List ........................................................	919

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			Table of Contents

	17.5.4	Selecting and Editing Zones in the Map View ............................................................	924
	17.5.5	Editing Zones in the Sample View .............................................................................	928
	17.5.6	Adjusting the Zone Settings ......................................................................................	931
	17.5.7	Adding Samples to the Sample Map ..........................................................................	938
18 Appendix: Tips for Playing Live ..................................................................................			941
18.1	Preparations ...............................................................................................................................		941
	18.1.1	Focus on the Hardware ..............................................................................................	941
	18.1.2	Customize the Pads of the Hardware .........................................................................	941
	18.1.3	Check Your CPU Power Before Playing .......................................................................	941
	18.1.4	Name and Color Your Groups, Patterns, Sounds and Scenes .....................................	942
	18.1.5	Consider Using a Limiter on Your Master ...................................................................	942
	18.1.6	Hook Up Your Other Gear and Sync It with MIDI Clock ................................................	942
	18.1.7	Improvise ...................................................................................................................	942
18.2	Basic Techniques .......................................................................................................................		942
	18.2.1	Use Mute and Solo .....................................................................................................	942
	18.2.2	Use Scene Mode and Tweak the Loop Range ..............................................................	943
	18.2.3	Create Variations of Your Drum Patterns in the Step Sequencer ................................	943
	18.2.4	Use Note Repeat ........................................................................................................	943
	18.2.5	Set Up Your Own Multi-effect Groups and Automate Them ........................................	943
18.3	Special Tricks .............................................................................................................................		944
	18.3.1	Changing Pattern Length for Variation ......................................................................	944
	18.3.2	Using Loops to Cycle Through Samples .....................................................................	944
	18.3.3	Using Loops to Cycle Through Samples .....................................................................	944
	18.3.4	Load Long Audio Files and Play with the Start Point ..................................................	944
19 Troubleshooting		........................................................................................................	945
19.1	Knowledge Base .........................................................................................................................		945

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		Table of Contents
19.2	Technical Support .......................................................................................................................	945
19.3	Registration Support ..................................................................................................................	946
19.4	User Forum .................................................................................................................................	946
20 Glossary ...................................................................................................................		947
Index	........................................................................................................................	955

MASCHINE - Manual - 24

Welcome to MASCHINE

1Welcome to MASCHINE

Thank you for buying MASCHINE!

MASCHINE is a groove production studio that implements the familiar working style of classical groove boxes along with the advantages of a computer based system. MASCHINE is ideal for making music live, as well as in the studio. It’s the hands-on aspect of a dedicated instrument, the MASCHINE hardware controller, united with the advanced editing features of the MASCHINE software.

Creating beats is often not very intuitive with a computer, but using the MASCHINE hardware controller to do it makes it easy and fun. You can tap in freely with the pads or use Note Repeat to jam along. Alternatively, build your beats using the step sequencer just as in classic drum machines.

Patterns can be intuitively combined and rearranged on the fly to form larger ideas. You can try out several different versions of a song without ever having to stop the music.

Since you can integrate it into any sequencer that supports VST, AU, or AAX plug-ins, you can reap the benefits in almost any software setup, or use it as a stand-alone application. You can sample your own material, slice loops and rearrange them easily.

However, MASCHINE is a lot more than an ordinary groovebox or sampler: it comes with an inspiring 7-gigabyte library, and a sophisticated, yet easy to use tag-based Browser to give you instant access to the sounds you are looking for.

What’s more, MASCHINE provides lots of options for manipulating your sounds via internal effects and other sound-shaping possibilities. You can also control external MIDI hardware and 3rd-party software with the MASCHINE hardware controller, while customizing the functions of the pads, knobs and buttons according to your needs utilizing the included Controller Editor application. We hope you enjoy this fantastic instrument as much as we do. Now let’s get going!

—The MASCHINE team at Native Instruments.

MASCHINE - Manual - 25

Welcome to MASCHINE

MASCHINE Documentation

1.1MASCHINE Documentation

Native Instruments provide many information sources regarding MASCHINE. The main documents should be read in the following sequence:

1.MASCHINE Getting Started: This document provides a practical approach to MASCHINE via a set of tutorials covering easy and more advanced tasks in order to help you familiarize yourself with MASCHINE.

2.MASCHINE Manual (this document): The MASCHINE Manual provides you with a comprehensive description of all MASCHINE software and hardware features.

Additional documentation sources provide you with details on more specific topics:

▪Controller Editor Manual: Besides using your MASCHINE hardware controller together with its dedicated MASCHINE software, you can also use it as a powerful and highly versatile MIDI controller to pilot any other MIDI-capable application or device. This is made possible by the Controller Editor software, an application that allows you to precisely define all MIDI assignments for your MASCHINE controller. The Controller Editor was installed during the MASCHINE installation procedure. For more information on this, please refer to the Controller Editor Manual available as a PDF file via the Help menu of Controller Editor.

▪Online Support Videos: You can find a number of support videos on The Official Native Instruments Support Channel under the following URL: https://www.youtube.com/NIsupportEN. We recommend that you follow along with these instructions while the respective application is running on your computer.

Other Online Resources: If you are experiencing problems related to your Native Instruments product that the supplied documentation does not cover, there are several ways of getting help:

▪Knowledge Base

▪User Forum

▪Technical Support

▪Registration Support

You will find more information on these subjects in the chapter Troubleshooting.

MASCHINE - Manual - 26

Welcome to MASCHINE

Document Conventions

MASCHINE documents are available in PDF. You can also access these documents from the application’s Help menu or the following location:

www.native-instruments.com.

Please check the Native Instruments website regularly for up-to-date and localized versions of these documents.

1.2Document Conventions

This section introduces you to the signage and text highlighting used in this manual. This manual uses particular formatting to point out special facts and to warn you of potential issues. The icons introducing these notes let you see what kind of information is to be expected:

This document uses particular formatting to point out special facts and to warn you of potential issues. The icons introducing the following notes let you see what kind of information can be expected:

The speech bubble icon indicates a useful tip that may often help you to solve a task more efficiently.

The exclamation mark icon highlights important information that is essential for the given context.

The red cross icon warns you of serious issues and potential risks that require your full attention.

Furthermore, the following formatting is used:

▪Text appearing in (drop-down) menus (such as Open…, Save as… etc.) in the software and paths to locations on your hard disk or other storage devices is printed in italics.

▪Text appearing elsewhere (labels of buttons, controls, text next to checkboxes etc.) in the software is printed in blue. Whenever you see this formatting applied, you will find the same text appearing somewhere on the screen.

MASCHINE - Manual - 27

Welcome to MASCHINE

Document Conventions

▪Text appearing on the displays of the controller is printed in light grey. Whenever you see this formatting applied, you will find the same text on a controller display.

▪Text appearing on labels of the hardware controller is printed in orange. Whenever you see this formatting applied, you will find the same text on the controller.

▪Important names and concepts are printed in bold.

▪References to keys on your computer’s keyboard you’ll find put in square brackets (e.g., “Press [Shift] + [Enter]”).

►Single instructions are introduced by this play button type arrow.

→Results of actions are introduced by this smaller arrow.

Naming Convention

Throughout the documentation we will refer to MASCHINE controller (or just controller) as the hardware controller and MASCHINE software as the software installed on your computer.

The term “effect” will sometimes be abbreviated as “FX” when referring to elements in the MASCHINE software and hardware. These terms have the same meaning.

Button Combinations and Shortcuts on Your Controller

Most instructions will use the “+” sign to indicate buttons (or buttons and pads) that must be pressed simultaneously, starting with the button indicated first. E.g., an instruction such as:

“Press SHIFT + PLAY” means:

1.Press and hold SHIFT.

2.While holding SHIFT, press PLAY and release it.

3.Release SHIFT.

Unlabeled Buttons on the Controller

The buttons and knobs above and below the displays on your MASCHINE controller do not have labels.

MASCHINE - Manual - 28

Welcome to MASCHINE

New Features in MASCHINE 2.7.10

The unlabeled buttons and knobs on the MASCHINE controller.

For better reference, we applied a special formatting here: throughout the document, the elements are capitalized and numbered, so the buttons above the displays are written Button 1 to Button 8, while the knobs under the displays are written Knob 1 to Knob 8. E.g., whenever you see an instruction such as “Press Button 2 to open the EDIT page,” you’ll know it’s the second button from the left above the displays.

1.3New Features in MASCHINE 2.7.10

The following new features have been added to MASCHINE:

New Hardware Support

▪ Support for KOMPLETE KONTROL A-Series keyboards.

MASCHINE - Manual - 29

Welcome to MASCHINE

New Features in MASCHINE 2.7.8

Audio Plug-in Improvements

▪Added Edit Tab to Audio plug-in: Like the Sampler plug-in, you can now perform destructive audio edits to loops loaded into the Audio plug-in via the new Edit tab.

▪Added Usable Play Range for Audio plug-in: in the Edit tab of the Audio plug-in, there are now Playable Range Start and End markers which can be used to isolate only a portion of the loaded audio file that you wish to loop. The timeline along the top of the waveform now shows musical units rather than samples.

For more information on editing audio, refer to ↑8, Using the Audio Plug-in.

General Improvements

▪ Items can now be dragged from the Browser to external locations.

1.4New Features in MASCHINE 2.7.8

The following new features have been added to MASCHINE:

New Hardware Support

▪Support for KOMPLETE KONTROL S88 MK2

▪Support for MASCHINE MIKRO MK3 hardware

1.5New Features in MASCHINE 2.7.7

The following new features have been added to MASCHINE:

Audio plug-in Improvements

▪Added a Formant mode to the Audio plug-in which preserves formants when pitching an audio loop up or down. This can be particularly useful when working with vocal material. For more information, refer to ↑8, Using the Audio Plug-in.

▪The Engine Modes are now listed in order of CPU load, from lowest (Re-pitch) to highest (Formant).

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