Native Instruments Maschine Mikro MK1 Operation Manual v2.8

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: 2.8 (02/2019)

Hardware version: MASCHINE MIKRO MK1

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

© NATIVE INSTRUMENTS GmbH, 2019. All rights reserved.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

1	Welcome to MASCHINE .............................................................................................				23
	1.1	MASCHINE Documentation ..........................................................................................................			24
	1.2	Document Conventions ...............................................................................................................			25
	1.3	New Features in MASCHINE 2.8 ..................................................................................................			26
	1.4	New Features in MASCHINE 2.7.10 .............................................................................................			28
	1.5	New Features in MASCHINE 2.7.8 ...............................................................................................			28
	1.6	New Features in MASCHINE 2.7.7 ...............................................................................................			29
	1.7	New Features in MASCHINE 2.7.4 ...............................................................................................			31
	1.8	New Features in MASCHINE 2.7.3 ...............................................................................................			33
2	Quick Reference ........................................................................................................				35
	2.1	Using Your Controller		..................................................................................................................	35
		2.1.1	Controller Modes and Mode Pinning ..........................................................................		35
		2.1.2	Controlling the Software Views from Your Controller .................................................		38
	2.2	MASCHINE Project Overview ........................................................................................................			41
		2.2.1	Sound Content ...........................................................................................................		41
		2.2.2	Arrangement ..............................................................................................................		43
	2.3	MASCHINE Hardware Overview ...................................................................................................			46
		2.3.1	MASCHINE MIKRO Hardware Overview .......................................................................		46
			2.3.1.1	CONTROL Section .......................................................................................	47
			2.3.1.2	TRANSPORT Section ...................................................................................	51
			2.3.1.3	PADS Section .............................................................................................	52
	2.4	MASCHINE Software Overview .....................................................................................................			56
		2.4.1	Header .......................................................................................................................		57
		2.4.2	Browser .....................................................................................................................		59
		2.4.3	Arranger ....................................................................................................................		61

MASCHINE MIKRO - Manual - 4

			Table of Contents
	2.4.4	Control Area ...............................................................................................................	64
	2.4.5	Pattern Editor ............................................................................................................	65
3 Basic Concepts		.........................................................................................................	67
3.1	Important .................................................................................................Names and Concepts		67
3.2	Adjusting .....................................................................................the MASCHINE User Interface		70
	3.2.1 .............................................................................	Adjusting the Size of the Interface	70
	3.2.2 ...........................................................	Switching between Ideas View and Song View	71
	3.2.3 ......................................................................................	Showing/Hiding the Browser	72
	3.2.4 .................................................................................................	Minimizing the Mixer	72
	3.2.5 ..............................................................................	Showing/Hiding the Control Lane	73
3.3	Common Operations ...................................................................................................................		74
	3.3.1 ...............................................................................	Pinning a Mode on the Controller	74
	3.3.2 ........................................................................	Adjusting Volume, Swing, and Tempo	75
	3.3.3 .................................................................................................................	Undo/Redo	80
	3.3.4 ................................................................................	Focusing on a Group or a Sound	81
	3.3.5 ...........................................	Switching Between the Master, Group, and Sound Level	86

3.3.6Navigating Channel Properties, Plug-ins, and Parameter Pages in the Control Area . 87

	3.3.7	Navigating the Software Using the Controller ............................................................	93
	3.3.8	Using Two or More Hardware Controllers ...................................................................	94
3.4	Native Kontrol Standard .............................................................................................................		96
3.5	Stand-Alone and Plug-in Mode ...................................................................................................		97
	3.5.1	Differences between Stand-Alone and Plug-in Mode .................................................	98
	3.5.2	Switching Instances ..................................................................................................	99
	3.5.3	Controlling Various Instances with Different Controllers ...........................................	100
3.6	Preferences .................................................................................................................................		100
	3.6.1	Preferences – General Page .......................................................................................	101

MASCHINE MIKRO - Manual - 5

			Table of Contents
	3.6.2	Preferences – Audio Page ..........................................................................................	105
	3.6.3	Preferences – MIDI Page ............................................................................................	108
	3.6.4	Preferences – Default Page .......................................................................................	111
	3.6.5	Preferences – Library Page ........................................................................................	115
	3.6.6	Preferences – Plug-ins Page .....................................................................................	123
	3.6.7	Preferences – Hardware Page ....................................................................................	128
	3.6.8	Preferences – Colors Page .........................................................................................	131
3.7	Integrating MASCHINE into a MIDI Setup ....................................................................................		134
	3.7.1	Connecting External MIDI Equipment ........................................................................	134
	3.7.2	Sync to External MIDI Clock .......................................................................................	134
	3.7.3	Send MIDI Clock .........................................................................................................	135
4 Browser ....................................................................................................................			137
4.1	Browser Basics ...........................................................................................................................		137
	4.1.1	The MASCHINE Library ...............................................................................................	137
	4.1.2	Browsing the Library vs. Browsing Your Hard Disks ...................................................	138
4.2	Searching and Loading Files from the Library ............................................................................		139
	4.2.1	Overview of the Library Pane .....................................................................................	139
	4.2.2	Selecting or Loading a Product and Selecting a Bank from the Browser ....................	143
	4.2.3	Selecting a Product Category, a Product, a Bank, and a Sub-Bank ...........................	147
		4.2.3.1 Selecting a Product Category, a Product, a Bank, and a Sub-Bank on the
		Controller ...................................................................................................	151
	4.2.4	Selecting a File Type ..................................................................................................	152
	4.2.5	Choosing Between Factory and User Content .............................................................	153
	4.2.6	Selecting Type and Character Tags ...........................................................................	154
	4.2.7	Performing a Text Search ...........................................................................................	159
	4.2.8	Loading a File from the Result List ............................................................................	159

MASCHINE MIKRO - Manual - 6

			Table of Contents
4.3	Additional Browsing Tools ..........................................................................................................		165
	4.3.1	Loading the Selected Files Automatically ..................................................................	165
	4.3.2	Auditioning Instrument Presets .................................................................................	166
	4.3.3	Auditioning Samples .................................................................................................	168
	4.3.4	Loading Groups with Patterns ...................................................................................	169
	4.3.5	Loading Groups with Routing ....................................................................................	170
	4.3.6	Displaying File Information ........................................................................................	170
4.4	Using Favorites in the Browser ...................................................................................................		171
4.5	Editing the Files’ Tags and Properties ........................................................................................		175
	4.5.1	Attribute Editor Basics ..............................................................................................	176
	4.5.2	The Bank Page ...........................................................................................................	177
	4.5.3	The Types and Characters Pages ...............................................................................	178
	4.5.4	The Properties Page ...................................................................................................	180
4.6	Loading and Importing Files from Your File System ....................................................................		181
	4.6.1	Overview of the FILES Pane ........................................................................................	181
	4.6.2	Using Favorites ..........................................................................................................	183
	4.6.3	Using the Location Bar ..............................................................................................	184
	4.6.4	Navigating to Recent Locations .................................................................................	185
	4.6.5	Using the Result List .................................................................................................	186
	4.6.6	Importing Files to the MASCHINE Library ...................................................................	189
4.7	Locating Missing Samples ..........................................................................................................		191
4.8	Using Quick Browse ....................................................................................................................		193
5 Managing Sounds, Groups, and Your Project ...............................................................			196
5.1	Overview of the Sounds, Groups, and Master ..............................................................................		196
	5.1.1	The Sound, Group, and Master Channels ...................................................................	197
	5.1.2	Similarities and Differences in Handling Sounds and Groups ...................................	198

MASCHINE MIKRO - Manual - 7

			Table of Contents
	5.1.3	Selecting Multiple Sounds or Groups .........................................................................	199
5.2	Managing Sounds .......................................................................................................................		204
	5.2.1	Loading Sounds .........................................................................................................	206
	5.2.2	Pre-listening to Sounds .............................................................................................	207
	5.2.3	Renaming Sound Slots ..............................................................................................	208
	5.2.4	Changing the Sound’s Color ......................................................................................	209
	5.2.5	Saving Sounds ...........................................................................................................	210
	5.2.6	Copying and Pasting Sounds .....................................................................................	212
	5.2.7	Moving Sounds ..........................................................................................................	215
	5.2.8	Resetting Sound Slots ...............................................................................................	216
5.3	Managing Groups .......................................................................................................................		218
	5.3.1	Creating Groups ........................................................................................................	219
	5.3.2	Loading Groups .........................................................................................................	221
	5.3.3	Renaming Groups ......................................................................................................	222
	5.3.4	Changing the Group’s Color .......................................................................................	223
	5.3.5	Saving Groups ...........................................................................................................	224
	5.3.6	Copying and Pasting Groups .....................................................................................	226
	5.3.7	Reordering Groups .....................................................................................................	230
	5.3.8	Deleting Groups .........................................................................................................	231
5.4	Exporting MASCHINE Objects and Audio .....................................................................................		232
	5.4.1	Saving a Group with its Samples ...............................................................................	232
	5.4.2	Saving a Project with its Samples .............................................................................	234
	5.4.3	Exporting Audio .........................................................................................................	236
5.5	Importing Third-Party File Formats .............................................................................................		242
	5.5.1	Loading REX Files into Sound Slots ...........................................................................	242
	5.5.2	Importing MPC Programs to Groups ...........................................................................	243

MASCHINE MIKRO - Manual - 8

			Table of Contents
6 Playing on the Controller ...........................................................................................			247
6.1	Adjusting the Pads .....................................................................................................................		247
	6.1.1	The Pad View in the Software ....................................................................................	247
	6.1.2	Choosing a Pad Input Mode .......................................................................................	249
	6.1.3	Adjusting the Base Key ..............................................................................................	252
	6.1.4	Using Choke Groups ..................................................................................................	253
	6.1.5	Using Link Groups .....................................................................................................	255
6.2	Adjusting the Key, Choke, and Link Parameters for Multiple Sounds ..........................................		257
6.3	Playing Tools ..............................................................................................................................		259
	6.3.1	Mute and Solo ............................................................................................................	259
	6.3.2	Choke All Notes ..........................................................................................................	264
	6.3.3	Groove .......................................................................................................................	264
	6.3.4	Level, Tempo, Tune, and Groove Shortcuts on Your Controller ....................................	267
6.4	Performance Features .................................................................................................................		270
	6.4.1	Overview of the Perform Features ..............................................................................	270
	6.4.2	Selecting a Scale and Creating Chords .....................................................................	273
	6.4.3	Scale and Chord Parameters .....................................................................................	273
	6.4.4	Creating Arpeggios and Repeated Notes ...................................................................	286
	6.4.5	Swing on Note Repeat / Arp Output ...........................................................................	288
7 Working with Plug-ins ...............................................................................................			289
7.1	Plug-in Overview ........................................................................................................................		289
	7.1.1	Plug-in Basics ...........................................................................................................	289
	7.1.2	First Plug-in Slot of Sounds: Choosing the Sound’s Role ...........................................	293
	7.1.3	Loading, Removing, and Replacing a Plug-in ............................................................	294
	7.1.4	Adjusting the Plug-in Parameters .............................................................................	302
	7.1.5	Bypassing Plug-in Slots ............................................................................................	302

MASCHINE MIKRO - Manual - 9

				Table of Contents
	7.1.6	Using Side-Chain ......................................................................................................		305
	7.1.7	Moving Plug-ins ........................................................................................................		305
	7.1.8	Alternative: the Plug-in Strip .....................................................................................		306
	7.1.9	Saving and Recalling Plug-in Presets .......................................................................		306
		7.1.9.1	Saving Plug - in Presets ..............................................................................	307
		7.1.9.2	Recalling Plug - in Presets ..........................................................................	308
		7.1.9.3 Removing a Default Plug-in Preset ............................................................		309
7.2	The Sampler Plug-in		...................................................................................................................	310
	7.2.1	Page 1: Voice .................................................................................Settings / Engine		312
	7.2.2	Page 2: Pitch ............................................................................................/ Envelope		314
	7.2.3	Page 3: FX ....................................................................................................../ Filter		317
	7.2.4	Page 4: Modulation ....................................................................................................		318
	7.2.5	Page 5: LFO ...............................................................................................................		320
	7.2.6	Page 6: Velocity ....................................................................................../ Modwheel		322
7.3	Using Native Instruments ........................................................................and External Plug-ins			323
	7.3.1	Opening/Closing .............................................................................Plug-in Windows		324
	7.3.2	Using the .......................................................................VST/AU Plug-in Parameters		327
	7.3.3	Setting Up ......................................................................Your Own Parameter Pages		328
	7.3.4	Using VST/AU ....................................................................................Plug-in Presets		333
	7.3.5	Multiple-Output .................................................Plug-ins and Multitimbral Plug-ins		335
8 Using the Audio Plug-in .............................................................................................				337
8.1	Loading a Loop into the ........................................................................................Audio Plug-in			341
8.2	Editing Audio in the ..............................................................................................Audio Plug-in			342
8.3	Using Loop Mode ........................................................................................................................			343
8.4	Using Gate Mode ........................................................................................................................			345

MASCHINE MIKRO - Manual - 10

			Table of Contents
9 Using the Drumsynths ................................................................................................			347
9.1	Drumsynths – General Handling .................................................................................................		348
	9.1.1	Engines: Many Different Drums per Drumsynth .........................................................	348
	9.1.2	Common Parameter Organization ..............................................................................	348
	9.1.3	Shared Parameters ....................................................................................................	351
	9.1.4	Various Velocity Responses .......................................................................................	351
	9.1.5	Pitch Range, Tuning, and MIDI Notes ........................................................................	351
9.2	The Kicks	....................................................................................................................................	352
	9.2.1 .................................................................................................................	Kick – Sub	354
	9.2.2 ..............................................................................................................	Kick – Tronic	356
	9.2.3 ..............................................................................................................	Kick – Dusty	359
	9.2.4 .................................................................................................................	Kick – Grit	360
	9.2.5 ............................................................................................................	Kick – Rasper	363
	9.2.6 ............................................................................................................	Kick – Snappy	364
	9.2.7 ................................................................................................................	Kick – Bold	366
	9.2.8 ..............................................................................................................	Kick – Maple	368
	9.2.9 ...............................................................................................................	Kick – Push	369
9.3	The Snares ..................................................................................................................................		371
	9.3.1 ...............................................................................................................	Snare – Volt	373
	9.3.2 ................................................................................................................	Snare – Bit	375
	9.3.3 ..............................................................................................................	Snare – Pow	377
	9.3.4 ...........................................................................................................	Snare – Sharp	378
	9.3.5 ...............................................................................................................	Snare – Airy	380
	9.3.6 .........................................................................................................	Snare – Vintage	382
	9.3.7 .........................................................................................................	Snare – Chrome	384
	9.3.8 ...............................................................................................................	Snare – Iron	386

MASCHINE MIKRO - Manual - 11

			Table of Contents
	9.3.9	Snare – Clap .............................................................................................................	388
	9.3.10	Snare – Breaker .........................................................................................................	390
9.4	The Hi-hats .................................................................................................................................		392
	9.4.1	Hi - hat – Silver ...........................................................................................................	393
	9.4.2	Hi - hat – Circuit .........................................................................................................	395
	9.4.3	Hi - hat – Memory ........................................................................................................	397
	9.4.4	Hi - hat – Hybrid ..........................................................................................................	399
	9.4.5	Creating a Pattern with Closed and Open Hi - hats .....................................................	401
9.5	The Toms	....................................................................................................................................	402
	9.5.1 ..............................................................................................................	Tom – Tronic	404
	9.5.2 ............................................................................................................	Tom – Fractal	406
	9.5.3 ................................................................................................................	Tom – Floor	410
	9.5.4 ................................................................................................................	Tom – High	412
9.6	The Percussions ..........................................................................................................................		413
	9.6.1 ..................................................................................................	Percussion – Fractal	415
	9.6.2 ....................................................................................................	Percussion – Kettle	418
	9.6.3 ..................................................................................................	Percussion – Shaker	420
9.7	The Cymbals ...............................................................................................................................		424
	9.7.1 .........................................................................................................	Cymbal – Crash	426
	9.7.2 ...........................................................................................................	Cymbal – Ride	428
10 Using the Bass .................................................................................................Synth			431
10.1	Bass Synth ..................................................................................................– General Handling		432
	10.1.1 .............................................................................................	Parameter Organization	432
	10.1.2 .............................................................................................	Bass Synth Parameters	434
11 Working with Patterns ...............................................................................................			436
11.1	Pattern Basics ............................................................................................................................		436

MASCHINE MIKRO - Manual - 12

			Table of Contents
	11.1.1	Pattern Editor Overview .............................................................................................	437
	11.1.2	Navigating the Event Area .........................................................................................	440
	11.1.3	Following the Playback Position in the Pattern ..........................................................	442
	11.1.4	Jumping to Another Playback Position in the Pattern .................................................	443
	11.1.5	Group View and Keyboard View ..................................................................................	445
	11.1.6	Adjusting the Arrange Grid and the Pattern Length ...................................................	448
	11.1.7	Adjusting the Step Grid and the Nudge Grid ..............................................................	451
11.2	Recording Patterns in Real Time ................................................................................................		456
	11.2.1	Recording Your Patterns Live .....................................................................................	456
	11.2.2	The Record Prepare Mode ..........................................................................................	459
	11.2.3	Using the Metronome .................................................................................................	460
	11.2.4	Recording with Count-in ............................................................................................	461
	11.2.5	Quantizing while Recording .......................................................................................	463
11.3	Recording Patterns with the Step Sequencer ..............................................................................		464
	11.3.1	Step Mode Basics ......................................................................................................	464
	11.3.2	Editing Events in Step Mode ......................................................................................	467
11.4	Editing Events ............................................................................................................................		468
	11.4.1	Editing Events with the Mouse: an Overview .............................................................	468
	11.4.2	Creating Events/Notes ...............................................................................................	471
	11.4.3	Selecting Events/Notes ..............................................................................................	472
	11.4.4	Editing Selected Events/Notes ...................................................................................	476
	11.4.5	Deleting Events/Notes ...............................................................................................	479
	11.4.6	Cut, Copy, and Paste Events/Notes ............................................................................	482
	11.4.7	Quantizing Events/Notes ...........................................................................................	484
	11.4.8	Quantization While Playing ........................................................................................	486
	11.4.9	Doubling a Pattern ....................................................................................................	487

MASCHINE MIKRO - Manual - 13

			Table of Contents
	11.4.10	Adding Variation to Patterns .....................................................................................	488
11.5	Recording and Editing Modulation .............................................................................................		492
	11.5.1	Which Parameters Are Modulatable? .........................................................................	493
	11.5.2	Recording Modulation ................................................................................................	494
	11.5.3	Creating and Editing Modulation in the Control Lane ................................................	496
11.6	Creating MIDI Tracks from Scratch in MASCHINE .......................................................................		501
11.7	Managing Patterns .....................................................................................................................		503
	11.7.1	The Pattern Manager and Pattern Mode ....................................................................	504
	11.7.2	Selecting Patterns and Pattern Banks .......................................................................	506
	11.7.3	Creating Patterns ......................................................................................................	509
	11.7.4	Deleting Patterns .......................................................................................................	511
	11.7.5	Creating and Deleting Pattern Banks ........................................................................	512
	11.7.6	Naming Patterns .......................................................................................................	515
	11.7.7	Changing the Pattern’s Color ....................................................................................	517
	11.7.8	Duplicating, Copying, and Pasting Patterns ..............................................................	518
	11.7.9	Moving Patterns ........................................................................................................	521
	11.7.10	Adjusting Pattern Length in Fine Increments .............................................................	523
11.8	Importing/Exporting Audio and MIDI to/from Patterns ................................................................		523
	11.8.1	Exporting Audio from Patterns ...................................................................................	523
	11.8.2	Exporting MIDI from Patterns .....................................................................................	525
	11.8.3	Importing MIDI to Patterns ........................................................................................	527
12 Audio Routing, Remote Control, and Macro Controls ....................................................			536
12.1	Audio Routing in MASCHINE .......................................................................................................		537
	12.1.1	Sending External Audio to Sounds .............................................................................	538
	12.1.2	Configuring the Main Output of Sounds and Groups .................................................	543
	12.1.3	Setting Up Auxiliary Outputs for Sounds and Groups .................................................	548

MASCHINE MIKRO - Manual - 14

			Table of Contents
	12.1.4	Configuring the Master and Cue Outputs of MASCHINE .............................................	552
	12.1.5	Mono Audio Inputs .....................................................................................................	557
		12.1.5.1 Configuring External Inputs for Sounds in Mix View ..................................	558
		12.1.5.2 Configuring External Inputs for Sounds in MASCHINE MIKRO ....................	561
12.2	Using MIDI Control and Host Automation ....................................................................................		561
	12.2.1	Triggering Sounds via MIDI Notes ..............................................................................	562
	12.2.2	Triggering Scenes via MIDI ........................................................................................	569
	12.2.3	Controlling Parameters via MIDI and Host Automation ..............................................	570
	12.2.4	Selecting VST/AU Plug - in Presets via MIDI Program Change .....................................	578
	12.2.5	Sending MIDI from Sounds ........................................................................................	579
12.3	Creating Custom Sets of Parameters with the Macro Controls ...................................................		583
	12.3.1	Macro Control Overview .............................................................................................	584
	12.3.2	Assigning Macro Controls Using the Software ...........................................................	585
13 Controlling Your Mix ..................................................................................................			592
13.1	Mix View Basics ..........................................................................................................................		592
	13.1.1	Switching between Arrange View and Mix View .........................................................	592
	13.1.2	Mix View Elements .....................................................................................................	593
13.2	The Mixer	....................................................................................................................................	595
	13.2.1 ..................................................................	Displaying Groups vs. Displaying Sounds	596
	13.2.2 ........................................................................................	Adjusting the Mixer Layout	598
	13.2.3 ...........................................................................................	Selecting Channel Strips	599
	13.2.4 .......................................................................	Managing Your Channels in the Mixer	600
	13.2.5 ...................................................................	Adjusting Settings in the Channel Strips	602
	13.2.6 .....................................................................................................	Using the Cue Bus	607
13.3	The Plug- .......................................................................................................................in Chain		609
13.4	The Plug- ........................................................................................................................in Strip		610

MASCHINE MIKRO - Manual - 15

				Table of Contents
		13.4.1	The Plug-in Header ....................................................................................................	612
		13.4.2	Panels for Drumsynths and Internal Effects ..............................................................	614
		13.4.3	Panel for the Sampler ................................................................................................	615
		13.4.4	Custom Panels for Native Instruments Plug-ins ........................................................	618
		13.4.5	Undocking a Plug-in Panel (Native Instruments and External Plug-ins Only) ............	622
14	Using Effects .............................................................................................................			625
	14.1	Applying Effects to a Sound, a Group or the Master ....................................................................		625
		14.1.1	Adding an Effect ........................................................................................................	625
		14.1.2	Other Operations on Effects .......................................................................................	634
		14.1.3	Using the Side-Chain Input .......................................................................................	636
	14.2	Applying Effects to External Audio ..............................................................................................		639
		14.2.1	Step 1: Configure MASCHINE Audio Inputs ................................................................	639
		14.2.2	Step 2: Set up a Sound to Receive the External Input ................................................	642
		14.2.3	Step 3: Load an Effect to Process an Input ................................................................	644
	14.3	Creating a Send Effect ...............................................................................................................		646
		14.3.1	Step 1: Set Up a Sound or Group as Send Effect ........................................................	646
		14.3.2	Step 2: Route Audio to the Send Effect ......................................................................	650
		14.3.3	A Few Notes on Send Effects ......................................................................................	652
	14.4	Creating Multi-Effects ................................................................................................................		653
15	Effect Reference ........................................................................................................			656
	15.1	Dynamics ....................................................................................................................................		657
		15.1.1	Compressor ...............................................................................................................	657
		15.1.2	Gate ...........................................................................................................................	661
		15.1.3	Transient Master .......................................................................................................	664
		15.1.4	Limiter .......................................................................................................................	666
		15.1.5	Maximizer ..................................................................................................................	671

MASCHINE MIKRO - Manual - 16

				Table of Contents
15.2	Filtering Effects ..........................................................................................................................			674
	15.2.1	EQ ..............................................................................................................................		674
	15.2.2	Filter ..........................................................................................................................		677
	15.2.3	Cabinet ......................................................................................................................		681
15.3	Modulation Effects .....................................................................................................................			683
	15.3.1	Chorus .......................................................................................................................		683
	15.3.2	Flanger ......................................................................................................................		685
	15.3.3	FM .............................................................................................................................		687
	15.3.4	Freq Shifter ................................................................................................................		688
	15.3.5	Phaser .......................................................................................................................		690
15.4	Spatial and Reverb Effects .........................................................................................................			691
	15.4.1	Ice .............................................................................................................................		691
	15.4.2	Metaverb ...................................................................................................................		693
	15.4.3	Reflex ........................................................................................................................		694
	15.4.4	Reverb (Legacy) .........................................................................................................		696
	15.4.5	Reverb .......................................................................................................................		698
		15.4.5.1	Reverb Room .............................................................................................	698
		15.4.5.2	Reverb Hall ................................................................................................	701
		15.4.5.3	Plate Reverb ..............................................................................................	704
15.5	Delays	.........................................................................................................................................		705
	15.5.1 .................................................................................................................	Beat Delay		705
	15.5.2 ................................................................................................................	Grain Delay		708
	15.5.3 .............................................................................................................	Grain Stretch		711
	15.5.4 ..................................................................................................................	Resochord		712
15.6	Distortion ........................................................................................................................Effects			714
	15.6.1 ...................................................................................................................	Distortion		714

MASCHINE MIKRO - Manual - 17

			Table of Contents
	15.6.2	Lofi ............................................................................................................................	717
	15.6.3	Saturator ...................................................................................................................	719
15.7	Perform FX ..................................................................................................................................		722
	15.7.1	Filter ..........................................................................................................................	723
	15.7.2	Flanger ......................................................................................................................	725
	15.7.3	Burst Echo .................................................................................................................	728
	15.7.4	Reso Echo ..................................................................................................................	730
	15.7.5	Ring ...........................................................................................................................	733
	15.7.6	Stutter .......................................................................................................................	735
	15.7.7	Tremolo ......................................................................................................................	738
	15.7.8	Scratcher ...................................................................................................................	741
16 Working with the Arranger .........................................................................................			744
16.1	Arranger Basics ..........................................................................................................................		744
	16.1.1	Navigating Song View ................................................................................................	747
	16.1.2	Following the Playback Position in Your Project .........................................................	749
	16.1.3	Performing with Scenes and Sections using the Pads ...............................................	750
16.2	Using Ideas View ........................................................................................................................		754
	16.2.1	Scene Overview ..........................................................................................................	754
	16.2.2	Creating Scenes ........................................................................................................	755
	16.2.3	Assigning and Removing Patterns .............................................................................	756
	16.2.4	Selecting Scenes .......................................................................................................	759
	16.2.5	Deleting Scenes .........................................................................................................	761
	16.2.6	Creating and Deleting Scene Banks ..........................................................................	762
	16.2.7	Clearing Scenes .........................................................................................................	763
	16.2.8	Duplicating Scenes ....................................................................................................	763
	16.2.9	Reordering Scenes .....................................................................................................	765

MASCHINE MIKRO - Manual - 18

			Table of Contents
	16.2.10	Making Scenes Unique ..............................................................................................	766
	16.2.11	Appending Scenes to Arrangement ............................................................................	767
	16.2.12	Naming Scenes ..........................................................................................................	768
	16.2.13	Changing the Color of a Scene ..................................................................................	769
16.3	Using Song View .........................................................................................................................		771
	16.3.1	Section Management Overview ..................................................................................	771
	16.3.2	Creating Sections ......................................................................................................	773
	16.3.3	Assigning a Scene to a Section ..................................................................................	774
	16.3.4	Selecting Sections and Section Banks .......................................................................	775
	16.3.5	Reorganizing Sections ...............................................................................................	779
	16.3.6	Adjusting the Length of a Section ..............................................................................	781
		16.3.6.1 Adjusting the Length of a Section Using the Software ...............................	782
		16.3.6.2 Adjusting the Length of a Section Using the Controller .............................	783
	16.3.7	Clearing a Pattern in Song View ................................................................................	784
	16.3.8	Duplicating Sections .................................................................................................	784
		16.3.8.1 Making Sections Unique ............................................................................	785
	16.3.9	Removing Sections ....................................................................................................	786
	16.3.10	Renaming Scenes ......................................................................................................	788
	16.3.11	Clearing Sections ......................................................................................................	789
	16.3.12	Creating and Deleting Section Banks ........................................................................	790
	16.3.13	Working with Patterns in Song view ...........................................................................	790
		16.3.13.1 Creating a Pattern in Song View ................................................................	790
		16.3.13.2 Selecting a Pattern in Song View ...............................................................	791
		16.3.13.3 Clearing a Pattern in Song View ................................................................	791
		16.3.13.4 Renaming a Pattern in Song View .............................................................	791
		16.3.13.5 Coloring a Pattern in Song View ................................................................	791

MASCHINE MIKRO - Manual - 19

			Table of Contents
		16.3.13.6 Removing a Pattern in Song View ..............................................................	792
		16.3.13.7 Duplicating a Pattern in Song View ...........................................................	792
	16.3.14	Enabling Auto Length ................................................................................................	792
	16.3.15	Looping ......................................................................................................................	794
		16.3.15.1 Setting the Loop Range in the Software .....................................................	794
		16.3.15.2 Setting the Loop Range Using the Controller .............................................	795
16.4	Playing with Sections .................................................................................................................		796
	16.4.1	Jumping to another Playback Position in Your Project ...............................................	796
16.5	Triggering Sections or Scenes via MIDI .......................................................................................		798
16.6	The Arrange Grid .........................................................................................................................		800
16.7	Quick Grid	...................................................................................................................................	802
17 Sampling and Sample Mapping ..................................................................................			803
17.1	Opening the Sample Editor .........................................................................................................		803
17.2	Recording Audio .........................................................................................................................		805
	17.2.1	Opening the Record Page ..........................................................................................	806
	17.2.2	Selecting the Source and the Recording Mode ...........................................................	807
	17.2.3	Arming, Starting, and Stopping the Recording ..........................................................	815
	17.2.5	Checking Your Recordings .........................................................................................	819
	17.2.6	Location and Name of Your Recorded Samples ..........................................................	823
17.3	Editing a Sample ........................................................................................................................		823
	17.3.1	Using the Edit Page ...................................................................................................	824
	17.3.2	Audio Editing Functions .............................................................................................	830
17.4	Slicing a Sample ........................................................................................................................		838
	17.4.1	Opening the Slice Page ..............................................................................................	839
	17.4.2	Adjusting the Slicing Settings ...................................................................................	840
	17.4.3	Live Slicing ................................................................................................................	845

MASCHINE MIKRO - Manual - 20

			Table of Contents
		17.4.3.1 Live Slicing Using MASCHINE MIKRO .........................................................	845
		17.4.3.2 Delete All Slices .........................................................................................	846
	17.4.4	Manually Adjusting Your Slices .................................................................................	847
	17.4.5	Applying the Slicing ...................................................................................................	852
17.5	Mapping Samples to Zones ........................................................................................................		858
	17.5.1	Opening the Zone Page ..............................................................................................	858
	17.5.2	Zone Page Overview ...................................................................................................	859
	17.5.3	Selecting and Managing Zones in the Zone List ........................................................	861
	17.5.4	Selecting and Editing Zones in the Map View ............................................................	866
	17.5.5	Editing Zones in the Sample View .............................................................................	870
	17.5.6	Adjusting the Zone Settings ......................................................................................	873
	17.5.7	Adding Samples to the Sample Map ..........................................................................	880
18 Appendix: Tips for Playing Live ..................................................................................			883
18.1	Preparations ...............................................................................................................................		883
	18.1.1	Focus on the Hardware ..............................................................................................	883
	18.1.2	Customize the Pads of the Hardware .........................................................................	883
	18.1.3	Check Your CPU Power Before Playing .......................................................................	883
	18.1.4	Name and Color Your Groups, Patterns, Sounds and Scenes .....................................	884
	18.1.5	Consider Using a Limiter on Your Master ...................................................................	884
	18.1.6	Hook Up Your Other Gear and Sync It with MIDI Clock ................................................	884
	18.1.7	Improvise ...................................................................................................................	884
18.2	Basic Techniques .......................................................................................................................		885
	18.2.1	Use Mute and Solo .....................................................................................................	885
	18.2.2	Create Variations of Your Drum Patterns in the Step Sequencer ................................	885
	18.2.3	Use Note Repeat ........................................................................................................	885
	18.2.4	Set Up Your Own Multi-effect Groups and Automate Them ........................................	885

MASCHINE MIKRO - Manual - 21

				Table of Contents
	18.3	Special Tricks .............................................................................................................................		886
		18.3.1	Changing Pattern Length for Variation ......................................................................	886
		18.3.2	Load Long Audio Files and Play with the Start Point ..................................................	886
19	Troubleshooting		........................................................................................................	887
	19.1	Knowledge Base .........................................................................................................................		887
	19.2	Technical Support .......................................................................................................................		887
	19.3	Registration Support ..................................................................................................................		888
	19.4	User Forum .................................................................................................................................		888
20	Glossary ...................................................................................................................			889
	Index	........................................................................................................................		897

MASCHINE MIKRO - Manual - 22

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 MIKRO - Manual - 23

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 MIKRO - Manual - 24

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 MIKRO - Manual - 25

Welcome to MASCHINE

New Features in MASCHINE 2.8

▪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.

1.3New Features in MASCHINE 2.8

The following new features have been added to MASCHINE:

MASCHINE MIKRO - Manual - 26

Welcome to MASCHINE

New Features in MASCHINE 2.8

Sounds.com Integration

▪Browse on Sounds.com, create your own collections of loops and one-shots and send them directly to the MASCHINE browser.

Improvements to the Browser

▪Samples are now cataloged in separate Loops and One-shots tabs in the Browser.

▪Previews of loops selected in the Browser will be played in sync with the current project. When a loop is selected with Prehear turned on, it will begin playing immediately in-sync with the project if transport is running. If a loop preview starts part-way through the loop, the loop will play once more for its full length to ensure you get to hear the entire loop once in context with your project.

▪Filters and product selections will be remembered when switching between content types and Factory/User Libraries in the Browser.

▪Browser content synchronization between multiple running instances. When running multiple instances of MASCHINE, either as Standalone and/or as a plug-in, updates to the Library will be synced across the instances. For example, if you delete a sample from your User Library in one instance, the sample will no longer be present in the other instances. Similarly, if you save a preset in one instance, that preset will then be available in the other instances, too.

▪Edits made to samples in the Factory Libraries will be saved to the Standard User Directory.

For more information on these new features, refer to the following chapter ↑4, Browser.

Improved Support for A-Series Keyboards

▪When Browsing with A-Series keyboards, you can now jump quickly to the results list by holding SHIFT and pushing right on the 4D Encoder.

▪When Browsing with A-Series keyboards, you can fast scroll through the Browser results list by holding SHIFT and twisting the 4D Encoder.

▪Mute and Solo Sounds and Groups from A-Series keyboards. Sounds are muted in TRACK mode while Groups are muted in IDEAS.

MASCHINE MIKRO - Manual - 27

Welcome to MASCHINE

New Features in MASCHINE 2.7.10

▪Adjust Pattern Length with A-Series keyboards. Push the 4D Encoder on a Pattern in IDEAS. Twist for 1 bar increments, or hold SHIFT and twist for finer increments. Press again to set.

▪Clear patterns from A-Series keyboards by holding SHIFT and pressing STOP.

1.4New 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.

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.

1.5New Features in MASCHINE 2.7.8

The following new features have been added to MASCHINE:

New Hardware Support

▪ Support for KOMPLETE KONTROL S88 MK2

MASCHINE MIKRO - Manual - 28

Welcome to MASCHINE

New Features in MASCHINE 2.7.7

▪ Support for MASCHINE MIKRO MK3 hardware

1.6New 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).

▪The Take Recording workflow has been improved by muting the previously-playing Take when you trigger a new recording so you're not distracted hearing the old Take while trying to record a new one. If you abort the recording, the previously-playing Take will be restored.

▪The Pattern Recording workflow has been improved by muting the previously-playing Pattern when you trigger a new recording so you're not distracted hearing the old Pattern while trying to record a new one. If you abort the recording, the previously-playing Pattern will be restored.

▪When you drag a bounced audio file from the Pattern Editor dragger to a Sound Slot or Group, MASCHINE will now load this into an Audio plug-in instead of a Sampler.

▪When Exporting loop content from MASCHINE, the Project Tempo will now be written into the files. MASCHINE will read this tempo when later loading this file into the Audio plugin.

▪MASCHINE now writes both the Tempo and Loop tags to recordings made with Loop mode. Tempo is attached to recordings made in Sync mode. These recordings will therefore always be in sync with the project when loading them into an Audio plug-in.

MASCHINE MIKRO - Manual - 29

Welcome to MASCHINE

New Features in MASCHINE 2.7.7

Pattern Editor

▪The number of tools available in the software for editing the Patterns has been reduced due to redundant functionality. Instead of an arrow, a pencil, and an eraser, there is now just a pencil tool which can be toggled on and off. When the pencil is off, the mouse will behave as it did when using the arrow tool (and the mouse will look like a normal arrow in this mode). When the pencil is on, this enables the same pencil/paint functionality as before (and the mouse will look like a pencil when in this mode). For more information, see ↑11.4.1, Editing Events with the Mouse: an Overview.

▪There are some changes to keyboard shortcut behavior as they relate to view switching in the pattern editor:

◦W = toggle between Group view and Keyboard view

◦S = toggle Sampling view on/off

◦E = toggle Pencil/Paint on/off

Recording

▪You can now engage count-in recording from the software while the playhead is moving via Command + Shift + Space (macOS) or Ctrl + Shift + Space (Windows).

General Improvements

▪There are now previews of all Groups/Kits and Sounds in the MASCHINE Factory Library. In order for the previews to be available, you must first install the Factory Library v1.3.2 update.

▪The "Use latest version of NI plug-ins" preference has had its functionality extended to project loading (previously, it was limited to the loading of presets). For example, if you made a project that used REAKTOR 5 but you also have REAKTOR 6 installed, enabling this preference will cause REAKTOR 6 to be loaded in all instances when loading up the project. When running in Standalone mode, a dialog box will be presented showing which plug-ins were updated. This function will also happen automatically if you only have the newest plug-in version installed, regardless of whether the preference is enabled or not, to ensure you can load the older project rather than getting the annoying "Could not load 1 or more plug-ins" error. For more information, see ↑3.6.6, Preferences – Plug-ins Page.

MASCHINE MIKRO - Manual - 30