MASCHINE MIKRO MK3 MANUAL
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 MK3
Disclaimer
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
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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
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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 .............................................................................................
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 ............................................................................................... 29
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 ........................................................................................................
2.1 MASCHINE Project Overview ........................................................................................................ 35
2.2 MASCHINE Hardware Overview ................................................................................................... 40
2.3 MASCHINE Software Overview ..................................................................................................... 51
2.1.1 Sound Content ........................................................................................................... 35
2.1.2 Arrangement .............................................................................................................. 37
2.2.1 MASCHINE MIKRO Hardware Overview ....................................................................... 40
2.2.1.1 Browser Section .........................................................................................41
2.2.1.2 Edit Section ...............................................................................................42
2.2.1.3 Performance Section ..................................................................................43
2.2.1.4 Transport Section ......................................................................................45
2.2.1.5 Pad Section ...............................................................................................46
2.2.1.6 Rear Panel .................................................................................................50
2.3.1 Header ....................................................................................................................... 52
2.3.2 Browser ..................................................................................................................... 54
2.3.3 Arranger .................................................................................................................... 56
23
35
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2.3.4 Control Area ............................................................................................................... 59
2.3.5 Pattern Editor ............................................................................................................ 60
3 Basic Concepts .........................................................................................................
3.1 Important Names and Concepts ................................................................................................. 62
3.2 Adjusting the MASCHINE User Interface ..................................................................................... 65
3.3 Common Operations ................................................................................................................... 68
3.4 Native Kontrol Standard ............................................................................................................. 85
3.5 Stand-Alone and Plug-in Mode ................................................................................................... 86
3.6 Preferences .................................................................................................................................88
3.2.1 Adjusting the Size of the Interface ............................................................................. 65
3.2.2 Switching between Ideas View and Song View ........................................................... 66
3.2.3 Showing/Hiding the Browser ...................................................................................... 67
3.2.4 Showing/Hiding the Control Lane .............................................................................. 67
3.3.1 Adjusting Volume, Swing, and Tempo ........................................................................ 68
3.3.2 Undo/Redo ................................................................................................................. 71
3.3.3 Focusing on a Group or a Sound ................................................................................ 73
3.3.4 Switching Between the Master, Group, and Sound Level ........................................... 77
3.3.5 Navigating Channel Properties, Plug-ins, and Parameter Pages in the Control Area . 77
3.3.6 Navigating the Software Using the Controller ............................................................ 82
3.3.7 Using Two or More Hardware Controllers ................................................................... 82
3.3.8 Loading a Recent Project from the Controller ............................................................ 84
3.5.1 Differences between Stand-Alone and Plug-in Mode ................................................. 86
3.5.2 Switching Instances .................................................................................................. 88
3.6.1 Preferences – General Page ....................................................................................... 89
3.6.2 Preferences – Audio Page .......................................................................................... 93
3.6.3 Preferences – MIDI Page ............................................................................................ 95
62
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3.7 Integrating MASCHINE into a MIDI Setup .................................................................................... 117
3.8 Syncing MASCHINE using Ableton Link ....................................................................................... 120
3.6.4 Preferences – Default Page ....................................................................................... 97
3.6.5 Preferences – Library Page ........................................................................................ 101
3.6.6 Preferences – Plug-ins Page ..................................................................................... 109
3.6.7 Preferences – Hardware Page .................................................................................... 114
3.6.8 Preferences – Colors Page ......................................................................................... 114
3.7.1 Connecting External MIDI Equipment ........................................................................ 117
3.7.2 Sync to External MIDI Clock ....................................................................................... 117
3.7.3 Send MIDI Clock ......................................................................................................... 118
3.7.4 Using MIDI Mode ........................................................................................................ 119
3.8.1 Connecting to a Network ............................................................................................ 121
3.8.2 Joining and Leaving a Link Session ........................................................................... 121
4 Browser ....................................................................................................................
4.1 Browser Basics ........................................................................................................................... 123
4.2 Searching and Loading Files from the Library ............................................................................ 125
4.1.1 The MASCHINE Library ............................................................................................... 123
4.1.2 Browsing the Library vs. Browsing Your Hard Disks ................................................... 124
4.2.1 Overview of the Library Pane ..................................................................................... 125
4.2.2 Selecting or Loading a Product and Selecting a Bank from the Browser .................... 128
4.2.3 Selecting a Product Category, a Product, a Bank, and a Sub-Bank ........................... 133
4.2.3.1 Selecting a Product Category, a Product, a Bank, and a Sub-Bank on the
123
Controller ...................................................................................................137
4.2.4 Selecting a File Type .................................................................................................. 137
4.2.5 Choosing Between Factory and User Content ............................................................. 138
4.2.6 Selecting Type and Character Tags ........................................................................... 138
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4.3 Additional Browsing Tools .......................................................................................................... 148
4.4 Using Favorites in the Browser ................................................................................................... 152
4.5 Editing the Files’ Tags and Properties ........................................................................................ 155
4.6 Loading and Importing Files from Your File System .................................................................... 161
4.7 Locating Missing Samples .......................................................................................................... 171
4.8 Using Quick Browse .................................................................................................................... 173
4.2.7 Performing a Text Search ........................................................................................... 142
4.2.8 Loading a File from the Result List ............................................................................ 143
4.3.1 Loading the Selected Files Automatically .................................................................. 148
4.3.2 Auditioning Instrument Presets ................................................................................. 149
4.3.3 Auditioning Samples ................................................................................................. 150
4.3.4 Loading Groups with Patterns ................................................................................... 150
4.3.5 Loading Groups with Routing .................................................................................... 151
4.3.6 Displaying File Information ........................................................................................ 151
4.5.1 Attribute Editor Basics .............................................................................................. 155
4.5.2 The Bank Page ........................................................................................................... 157
4.5.3 The Types and Characters Pages ............................................................................... 157
4.5.4 The Properties Page ................................................................................................... 160
4.6.1 Overview of the FILES Pane ........................................................................................ 161
4.6.2 Using Favorites .......................................................................................................... 163
4.6.3 Using the Location Bar .............................................................................................. 164
4.6.4 Navigating to Recent Locations ................................................................................. 165
4.6.5 Using the Result List ................................................................................................. 166
4.6.6 Importing Files to the MASCHINE Library ................................................................... 169
5 Managing Sounds, Groups, and Your Project ...............................................................
175
5.1 Overview of the Sounds, Groups, and Master .............................................................................. 175
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5.2 Managing Sounds .......................................................................................................................181
5.3 Managing Groups ....................................................................................................................... 194
5.4 Exporting MASCHINE Objects and Audio ..................................................................................... 208
5.5 Importing Third-Party File Formats ............................................................................................. 218
5.1.1 The Sound, Group, and Master Channels ................................................................... 176
5.1.2 Similarities and Differences in Handling Sounds and Groups ................................... 177
5.1.3 Selecting Multiple Sounds or Groups ......................................................................... 178
5.2.1 Loading Sounds ......................................................................................................... 183
5.2.2 Pre-listening to Sounds ............................................................................................. 184
5.2.3 Renaming Sound Slots .............................................................................................. 185
5.2.4 Changing the Sound’s Color ...................................................................................... 186
5.2.5 Saving Sounds ........................................................................................................... 187
5.2.6 Copying and Pasting Sounds ..................................................................................... 189
5.2.7 Moving Sounds .......................................................................................................... 192
5.2.8 Resetting Sound Slots ............................................................................................... 193
5.3.1 Creating Groups ........................................................................................................ 196
5.3.2 Loading Groups ......................................................................................................... 197
5.3.3 Renaming Groups ...................................................................................................... 198
5.3.4 Changing the Group’s Color ....................................................................................... 199
5.3.5 Saving Groups ........................................................................................................... 200
5.3.6 Copying and Pasting Groups ..................................................................................... 202
5.3.7 Reordering Groups ..................................................................................................... 206
5.3.8 Deleting Groups ......................................................................................................... 207
5.4.1 Saving a Group with its Samples ............................................................................... 208
5.4.2 Saving a Project with its Samples ............................................................................. 210
5.4.3 Exporting Audio ......................................................................................................... 212
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5.5.1 Loading REX Files into Sound Slots ........................................................................... 218
5.5.2 Importing MPC Programs to Groups ........................................................................... 219
6 Playing on the Controller ...........................................................................................
6.1 Adjusting the Pads ..................................................................................................................... 223
6.2 Adjusting the Key, Choke, and Link Parameters for Multiple Sounds .......................................... 227
6.3 Playing Tools .............................................................................................................................. 229
6.4 Performance Features ................................................................................................................. 236
6.5 Using Lock Snapshots ................................................................................................................ 257
6.1.1 The Pad View in the Software .................................................................................... 223
6.1.2 Choosing a Pad Input Mode ....................................................................................... 225
6.1.3 Adjusting the Base Key .............................................................................................. 226
6.3.1 Mute and Solo ............................................................................................................ 229
6.3.2 Choke All Notes .......................................................................................................... 233
6.3.3 Groove ....................................................................................................................... 233
6.3.4 Level, Tempo, Tune, and Groove Shortcuts on Your Controller .................................... 235
6.3.5 Tap Tempo ................................................................................................................. 235
6.4.1 Overview of the Perform Features .............................................................................. 236
6.4.2 Selecting a Scale and Creating Chords ..................................................................... 239
6.4.3 Scale and Chord Parameters ..................................................................................... 240
6.4.4 Creating Arpeggios and Repeated Notes ................................................................... 253
6.4.5 Swing on Note Repeat / Arp Output ........................................................................... 257
6.5.1 Creating a Lock Snapshot .......................................................................................... 257
7 Working with Plug-ins ...............................................................................................
223
259
7.1 Plug-in Overview ........................................................................................................................ 259
7.1.1 Plug-in Basics ........................................................................................................... 259
7.1.2 First Plug-in Slot of Sounds: Choosing the Sound’s Role ........................................... 263
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7.2 The Sampler Plug-in ................................................................................................................... 277
7.3 Using Native Instruments and External Plug-ins ........................................................................ 289
7.1.3 Loading, Removing, and Replacing a Plug-in ............................................................ 264
7.1.4 Adjusting the Plug-in Parameters ............................................................................. 270
7.1.5 Bypassing Plug-in Slots ............................................................................................ 270
7.1.6 Using Side-Chain ...................................................................................................... 272
7.1.7 Moving Plug-ins ........................................................................................................ 272
7.1.8 Alternative: the Plug-in Strip ..................................................................................... 273
7.1.9 Saving and Recalling Plug-in Presets ....................................................................... 273
7.1.9.1 Saving Plug-in Presets ..............................................................................274
7.1.9.2 Recalling Plug-in Presets ..........................................................................275
7.1.9.3 Removing a Default Plug-in Preset ............................................................276
7.2.1 Page 1: Voice Settings / Engine ................................................................................. 279
7.2.2 Page 2: Pitch / Envelope ............................................................................................ 281
7.2.3 Page 3: FX / Filter ...................................................................................................... 283
7.2.4 Page 4: Modulation .................................................................................................... 285
7.2.5 Page 5: LFO ............................................................................................................... 286
7.2.6 Page 6: Velocity / Modwheel ...................................................................................... 288
7.3.1 Opening/Closing Plug-in Windows ............................................................................. 289
7.3.2 Using the VST/AU Plug-in Parameters ....................................................................... 292
7.3.3 Setting Up Your Own Parameter Pages ...................................................................... 293
7.3.4 Using VST/AU Plug-in Presets .................................................................................... 298
7.3.5 Multiple-Output Plug-ins and Multitimbral Plug-ins ................................................. 300
8 Using the Audio Plug-in .............................................................................................
302
8.1 Loading a Loop into the Audio Plug-in ........................................................................................ 306
8.2 Editing Audio in the Audio Plug-in ..............................................................................................307
MASCHINE MIKRO - Manual - 10
8.3 Using Loop Mode ........................................................................................................................ 308
8.4 Using Gate Mode ........................................................................................................................ 310
9 Using the Drumsynths ................................................................................................
9.1 Drumsynths – General Handling ................................................................................................. 313
9.2 The Kicks .................................................................................................................................... 317
9.3 The Snares ..................................................................................................................................336
9.1.1 Engines: Many Different Drums per Drumsynth ......................................................... 313
9.1.2 Common Parameter Organization .............................................................................. 313
9.1.3 Shared Parameters .................................................................................................... 316
9.1.4 Various Velocity Responses ....................................................................................... 316
9.1.5 Pitch Range, Tuning, and MIDI Notes ........................................................................ 316
9.2.1 Kick – Sub ................................................................................................................. 319
9.2.2 Kick – Tronic .............................................................................................................. 321
9.2.3 Kick – Dusty .............................................................................................................. 324
9.2.4 Kick – Grit ................................................................................................................. 325
9.2.5 Kick – Rasper ............................................................................................................ 328
9.2.6 Kick – Snappy ............................................................................................................ 329
9.2.7 Kick – Bold ................................................................................................................ 331
9.2.8 Kick – Maple .............................................................................................................. 333
9.2.9 Kick – Push ............................................................................................................... 334
9.3.1 Snare – Volt ............................................................................................................... 338
9.3.2 Snare – Bit ................................................................................................................ 340
9.3.3 Snare – Pow .............................................................................................................. 342
9.3.4 Snare – Sharp ........................................................................................................... 343
9.3.5 Snare – Airy ............................................................................................................... 345
9.3.6 Snare – Vintage ......................................................................................................... 347
Table of Contents
312
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9.4 The Hi-hats .................................................................................................................................357
9.5 The Toms .................................................................................................................................... 367
9.6 The Percussions ..........................................................................................................................378
9.7 The Cymbals ............................................................................................................................... 389
9.3.7 Snare – Chrome ......................................................................................................... 349
9.3.8 Snare – Iron ............................................................................................................... 351
9.3.9 Snare – Clap ............................................................................................................. 353
9.3.10 Snare – Breaker ......................................................................................................... 355
9.4.1 Hi-hat – Silver ........................................................................................................... 358
9.4.2 Hi-hat – Circuit ......................................................................................................... 360
9.4.3 Hi-hat – Memory ........................................................................................................ 362
9.4.4 Hi-hat – Hybrid .......................................................................................................... 364
9.4.5 Creating a Pattern with Closed and Open Hi-hats ..................................................... 366
9.5.1 Tom – Tronic .............................................................................................................. 369
9.5.2 Tom – Fractal ............................................................................................................ 371
9.5.3 Tom – Floor ................................................................................................................ 375
9.5.4 Tom – High ................................................................................................................ 377
9.6.1 Percussion – Fractal .................................................................................................. 380
9.6.2 Percussion – Kettle .................................................................................................... 383
9.6.3 Percussion – Shaker .................................................................................................. 385
9.7.1 Cymbal – Crash ......................................................................................................... 391
9.7.2 Cymbal – Ride ........................................................................................................... 393
10 Using the Bass Synth .................................................................................................
396
10.1 Bass Synth – General Handling .................................................................................................. 397
10.1.1 Parameter Organization ............................................................................................. 397
10.1.2 Bass Synth Parameters ............................................................................................. 399
MASCHINE MIKRO - Manual - 12
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11 Working with Patterns ...............................................................................................
11.1 Pattern Basics ............................................................................................................................ 401
11.2 Recording Patterns in Real Time ................................................................................................ 416
11.3 Recording Patterns with the Step Sequencer .............................................................................. 422
11.4 Editing Events ............................................................................................................................ 425
11.1.1 Pattern Editor Overview ............................................................................................. 402
11.1.2 Navigating the Event Area ......................................................................................... 404
11.1.3 Following the Playback Position in the Pattern .......................................................... 406
11.1.4 Jumping to Another Playback Position in the Pattern ................................................. 407
11.1.5 Group View and Keyboard View .................................................................................. 408
11.1.6 Adjusting the Arrange Grid and the Pattern Length ................................................... 410
11.1.7 Adjusting the Step Grid and the Nudge Grid .............................................................. 413
11.2.1 Recording Your Patterns Live ..................................................................................... 417
11.2.2 Using the Metronome ................................................................................................. 419
11.2.3 Recording with Count-in ............................................................................................ 420
11.3.1 Step Mode Basics ...................................................................................................... 422
11.3.2 Editing Events in Step Mode ...................................................................................... 424
11.4.1 Editing Events with the Mouse: an Overview ............................................................. 425
11.4.2 Creating Events/Notes ............................................................................................... 428
11.4.3 Selecting Events/Notes .............................................................................................. 429
11.4.4 Editing Selected Events/Notes ................................................................................... 431
11.4.5 Deleting Events/Notes ............................................................................................... 434
11.4.6 Cut, Copy, and Paste Events/Notes ............................................................................ 436
11.4.7 Quantizing Events/Notes ........................................................................................... 439
11.4.8 Quantization While Playing ........................................................................................ 441
11.4.9 Doubling a Pattern .................................................................................................... 442
401
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11.5 Recording and Editing Modulation ............................................................................................. 443
11.6 Creating MIDI Tracks from Scratch in MASCHINE ....................................................................... 452
11.7 Managing Patterns ..................................................................................................................... 454
11.8 Importing/Exporting Audio and MIDI to/from Patterns ................................................................ 470
11.4.10 Adding Variation to Patterns ..................................................................................... 442
11.5.1 Which Parameters Are Modulatable? ......................................................................... 444
11.5.2 Recording Modulation ................................................................................................ 446
11.5.3 Creating and Editing Modulation in the Control Lane ................................................ 447
11.7.1 The Pattern Manager and Pattern Mode .................................................................... 455
11.7.2 Selecting Patterns and Pattern Banks ....................................................................... 456
11.7.3 Creating Patterns ...................................................................................................... 459
11.7.4 Deleting Patterns ....................................................................................................... 460
11.7.5 Creating and Deleting Pattern Banks ........................................................................ 461
11.7.6 Naming Patterns ....................................................................................................... 463
11.7.7 Changing the Pattern’s Color .................................................................................... 465
11.7.8 Duplicating, Copying, and Pasting Patterns .............................................................. 466
11.7.9 Moving Patterns ........................................................................................................ 469
11.8.1 Exporting Audio from Patterns ................................................................................... 470
11.8.2 Exporting MIDI from Patterns ..................................................................................... 472
11.8.3 Importing MIDI to Patterns ........................................................................................ 474
12 Audio Routing, Remote Control, and Macro Controls ....................................................
483
12.1 Audio Routing in MASCHINE ....................................................................................................... 484
12.1.1 Sending External Audio to Sounds ............................................................................. 485
12.1.2 Configuring the Main Output of Sounds and Groups ................................................. 489
12.1.3 Setting Up Auxiliary Outputs for Sounds and Groups ................................................. 494
12.1.4 Configuring the Master and Cue Outputs of MASCHINE ............................................. 497
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12.2 Using MIDI Control and Host Automation .................................................................................... 506
12.3 Creating Custom Sets of Parameters with the Macro Controls ................................................... 527
12.1.5 Mono Audio Inputs ..................................................................................................... 502
12.1.5.1 Configuring External Inputs for Sounds in Mix View ..................................503
12.2.1 Triggering Sounds via MIDI Notes .............................................................................. 507
12.2.2 Triggering Scenes via MIDI ........................................................................................ 513
12.2.3 Controlling Parameters via MIDI and Host Automation .............................................. 514
12.2.4 Selecting VST/AU Plug-in Presets via MIDI Program Change ..................................... 522
12.2.5 Sending MIDI from Sounds ........................................................................................ 523
12.3.1 Macro Control Overview ............................................................................................. 527
12.3.2 Assigning Macro Controls Using the Software ........................................................... 528
13 Controlling Your Mix ..................................................................................................
13.1 Mix View Basics .......................................................................................................................... 535
13.2 The Mixer .................................................................................................................................... 537
13.3 The Plug-in Chain .......................................................................................................................551
13.4 The Plug-in Strip ........................................................................................................................ 552
13.1.1 Switching between Arrange View and Mix View ......................................................... 535
13.1.2 Mix View Elements ..................................................................................................... 536
13.2.1 Displaying Groups vs. Displaying Sounds .................................................................. 539
13.2.2 Adjusting the Mixer Layout ........................................................................................ 541
13.2.3 Selecting Channel Strips ........................................................................................... 542
13.2.4 Managing Your Channels in the Mixer ....................................................................... 543
13.2.5 Adjusting Settings in the Channel Strips ................................................................... 545
13.2.6 Using the Cue Bus ..................................................................................................... 549
13.4.1 The Plug-in Header .................................................................................................... 554
13.4.2 Panels for Drumsynths and Internal Effects .............................................................. 556
535
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13.4.3 Panel for the Sampler ................................................................................................ 557
13.4.4 Custom Panels for Native Instruments Plug-ins ........................................................ 560
13.4.5 Undocking a Plug-in Panel (Native Instruments and External Plug-ins Only) ............ 564
14 Using Effects .............................................................................................................
14.1 Applying Effects to a Sound, a Group or the Master .................................................................... 567
14.2 Applying Effects to External Audio .............................................................................................. 578
14.3 Creating a Send Effect ............................................................................................................... 580
14.4 Creating Multi-Effects ................................................................................................................ 584
14.1.1 Adding an Effect ........................................................................................................ 567
14.1.2 Other Operations on Effects ....................................................................................... 574
14.1.3 Using the Side-Chain Input ....................................................................................... 575
14.2.1 Step 1: Configure MASCHINE Audio Inputs ................................................................ 578
14.2.2 Step 2: Set up a Sound to Receive the External Input ................................................ 579
14.2.3 Step 3: Load an Effect to Process an Input ................................................................ 579
14.3.1 Step 1: Set Up a Sound or Group as Send Effect ........................................................ 581
14.3.2 Step 2: Route Audio to the Send Effect ...................................................................... 583
14.3.3 A Few Notes on Send Effects ...................................................................................... 583
15 Effect Reference ........................................................................................................
567
587
15.1 Dynamics ....................................................................................................................................588
15.2 Filtering Effects .......................................................................................................................... 603
15.1.1 Compressor ............................................................................................................... 588
15.1.2 Gate ........................................................................................................................... 591
15.1.3 Transient Master ....................................................................................................... 594
15.1.4 Limiter ....................................................................................................................... 596
15.1.5 Maximizer .................................................................................................................. 600
15.2.1 EQ .............................................................................................................................. 603
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15.3 Modulation Effects ..................................................................................................................... 611
15.4 Spatial and Reverb Effects ......................................................................................................... 617
15.5 Delays .........................................................................................................................................630
15.6 Distortion Effects ........................................................................................................................ 638
15.2.2 Filter .......................................................................................................................... 605
15.2.3 Cabinet ...................................................................................................................... 609
15.3.1 Chorus ....................................................................................................................... 611
15.3.2 Flanger ...................................................................................................................... 612
15.3.3 FM ............................................................................................................................. 613
15.3.4 Freq Shifter ................................................................................................................ 615
15.3.5 Phaser ....................................................................................................................... 616
15.4.1 Ice ............................................................................................................................. 617
15.4.2 Metaverb ................................................................................................................... 619
15.4.3 Reflex ........................................................................................................................ 620
15.4.4 Reverb (Legacy) ......................................................................................................... 621
15.4.5 Reverb ....................................................................................................................... 623
15.4.5.1 Reverb Room .............................................................................................623
15.4.5.2 Reverb Hall ................................................................................................626
15.4.5.3 Plate Reverb ..............................................................................................629
15.5.1 Beat Delay ................................................................................................................. 630
15.5.2 Grain Delay ................................................................................................................ 632
15.5.3 Grain Stretch ............................................................................................................. 634
15.5.4 Resochord .................................................................................................................. 636
15.6.1 Distortion ................................................................................................................... 638
15.6.2 Lofi ............................................................................................................................ 640
15.6.3 Saturator ................................................................................................................... 641
MASCHINE MIKRO - Manual - 17
15.7 Perform FX .................................................................................................................................. 645
15.7.1 Filter .......................................................................................................................... 646
15.7.2 Flanger ...................................................................................................................... 648
15.7.3 Burst Echo ................................................................................................................. 650
15.7.4 Reso Echo .................................................................................................................. 653
15.7.5 Ring ........................................................................................................................... 656
15.7.6 Stutter ....................................................................................................................... 658
15.7.7 Tremolo ...................................................................................................................... 661
15.7.8 Scratcher ................................................................................................................... 664
16 Working with the Arranger .........................................................................................
16.1 Arranger Basics .......................................................................................................................... 667
16.2 Using Ideas View ........................................................................................................................ 677
16.1.1 Navigating Song View ................................................................................................ 670
16.1.2 Following the Playback Position in Your Project ......................................................... 672
16.1.3 Performing with Scenes and Sections using the Pads ............................................... 673
16.2.1 Scene Overview .......................................................................................................... 677
16.2.2 Creating Scenes ........................................................................................................ 679
16.2.3 Assigning and Removing Patterns ............................................................................. 679
16.2.4 Selecting Scenes ....................................................................................................... 682
16.2.5 Deleting Scenes ......................................................................................................... 684
16.2.6 Creating and Deleting Scene Banks .......................................................................... 685
16.2.7 Clearing Scenes ......................................................................................................... 685
16.2.8 Duplicating Scenes .................................................................................................... 685
16.2.9 Reordering Scenes ..................................................................................................... 687
16.2.10 Making Scenes Unique .............................................................................................. 688
16.2.11 Appending Scenes to Arrangement ............................................................................ 689
Table of Contents
667
MASCHINE MIKRO - Manual - 18
Table of Contents
16.3 Using Song View ......................................................................................................................... 692
16.2.12 Naming Scenes .......................................................................................................... 689
16.2.13 Changing the Color of a Scene .................................................................................. 690
16.3.1 Section Management Overview .................................................................................. 692
16.3.2 Creating Sections ...................................................................................................... 694
16.3.3 Assigning a Scene to a Section .................................................................................. 695
16.3.4 Selecting Sections and Section Banks ....................................................................... 696
16.3.5 Reorganizing Sections ............................................................................................... 700
16.3.6 Adjusting the Length of a Section .............................................................................. 702
16.3.6.1 Adjusting the Length of a Section Using the Software ...............................703
16.3.6.2 Adjusting the Length of a Section Using the Controller .............................705
16.3.7 Clearing a Pattern in Song View ................................................................................ 705
16.3.8 Duplicating Sections ................................................................................................. 705
16.3.8.1 Making Sections Unique ............................................................................707
16.3.9 Removing Sections .................................................................................................... 707
16.3.10 Renaming Scenes ...................................................................................................... 708
16.3.11 Clearing Sections ...................................................................................................... 710
16.3.12 Creating and Deleting Section Banks ........................................................................ 710
16.3.13 Working with Patterns in Song view ........................................................................... 710
16.3.13.1 Creating a Pattern in Song View ................................................................711
16.3.13.2 Selecting a Pattern in Song View ...............................................................711
16.3.13.3 Clearing a Pattern in Song View ................................................................711
16.3.13.4 Renaming a Pattern in Song View ............................................................. 711
16.3.13.5 Coloring a Pattern in Song View ................................................................ 712
16.3.13.6 Removing a Pattern in Song View ..............................................................712
16.3.13.7 Duplicating a Pattern in Song View ...........................................................712
MASCHINE MIKRO - Manual - 19
Table of Contents
16.4 Playing with Sections ................................................................................................................. 715
16.5 Triggering Sections or Scenes via MIDI ....................................................................................... 717
16.6 The Arrange Grid .........................................................................................................................719
16.7 Quick Grid ...................................................................................................................................720
16.3.14 Enabling Auto Length ................................................................................................ 713
16.3.15 Looping ...................................................................................................................... 714
16.3.15.1 Setting the Loop Range in the Software .....................................................714
16.3.15.2 Activating or Deactivating a Loop Using the Controller .............................715
16.4.1 Jumping to another Playback Position in Your Project ............................................... 716
17 Sampling and Sample Mapping ..................................................................................
17.1 Opening the Sample Editor ......................................................................................................... 722
17.2 Recording Audio ......................................................................................................................... 724
17.3 Editing a Sample ........................................................................................................................ 735
17.4 Slicing a Sample ........................................................................................................................ 743
17.5 Mapping Samples to Zones ........................................................................................................ 754
17.2.1 Opening the Record Page .......................................................................................... 724
17.2.2 Selecting the Source and the Recording Mode ........................................................... 725
17.2.3 Arming, Starting, and Stopping the Recording .......................................................... 729
17.2.5 Checking Your Recordings ......................................................................................... 731
17.2.6 Location and Name of Your Recorded Samples .......................................................... 734
17.3.1 Using the Edit Page ................................................................................................... 735
17.3.2 Audio Editing Functions ............................................................................................. 739
17.4.1 Opening the Slice Page .............................................................................................. 743
17.4.2 Adjusting the Slicing Settings ................................................................................... 744
17.4.3 Manually Adjusting Your Slices ................................................................................. 746
17.4.4 Applying the Slicing ................................................................................................... 750
722
MASCHINE MIKRO - Manual - 20
Table of Contents
17.5.1 Opening the Zone Page .............................................................................................. 754
17.5.2 Zone Page Overview ................................................................................................... 755
17.5.3 Selecting and Managing Zones in the Zone List ........................................................ 756
17.5.4 Selecting and Editing Zones in the Map View ............................................................ 761
17.5.5 Editing Zones in the Sample View ............................................................................. 765
17.5.6 Adjusting the Zone Settings ...................................................................................... 767
17.5.7 Adding Samples to the Sample Map .......................................................................... 770
18 Appendix: Tips for Playing Live ..................................................................................
18.1 Preparations ............................................................................................................................... 772
18.2 Basic Techniques ....................................................................................................................... 773
18.3 Special Tricks ............................................................................................................................. 774
18.1.1 Focus on the Hardware .............................................................................................. 772
18.1.2 Customize the Pads of the Hardware ......................................................................... 772
18.1.3 Check Your CPU Power Before Playing ....................................................................... 772
18.1.4 Name and Color Your Groups, Patterns, Sounds and Scenes ..................................... 773
18.1.5 Consider Using a Limiter on Your Master ................................................................... 773
18.1.6 Hook Up Your Other Gear and Sync It with MIDI Clock ................................................ 773
18.1.7 Improvise ................................................................................................................... 773
18.2.1 Use Mute and Solo ..................................................................................................... 773
18.2.2 Create Variations of Your Drum Patterns in the Step Sequencer ................................ 774
18.2.3 Use Note Repeat ........................................................................................................ 774
18.2.4 Set Up Your Own Multi-effect Groups and Automate Them ........................................ 774
18.3.1 Changing Pattern Length for Variation ...................................................................... 774
18.3.2 Using Loops to Cycle Through Samples ..................................................................... 775
18.3.3 Load Long Audio Files and Play with the Start Point .................................................. 775
772
MASCHINE MIKRO - Manual - 21
Table of Contents
19 Troubleshooting ........................................................................................................
19.1 Knowledge Base ......................................................................................................................... 776
19.2 Technical Support .......................................................................................................................776
19.3 Registration Support .................................................................................................................. 777
19.4 User Forum ................................................................................................................................. 777
20 Glossary ...................................................................................................................
Index ........................................................................................................................
776
778
786
MASCHINE MIKRO - Manual - 22
Welcome to MASCHINE
1 Welcome 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
1.1 MASCHINE Documentation
Native Instruments provide many information sources regarding MASCHINE. The main documents should be read in the following sequence:
1. MASCHINE MIKRO Quick Start Guide: This animated online guide provides a practical ap-
proach to help you learn the basic of MASCHINE MIKRO. The guide is available from the
Native Instruments website: https://www.native-instruments.com/maschine-mikro-quick-
start/
2. MASCHINE Manual (this document): The MASCHINE Manual provides you with a compre-
hensive description of all MASCHINE software and hardware features.
Additional documentation sources provide you with details on more specific topics:
► Online Support Videos: You can find a number of support videos on The Official Native In-
struments Support Channel under the following URL: https://www.youtube.com/NIsupport-
EN. We recommend that you follow along with these instructions while the respective ap-
plication 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 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.
MASCHINE MIKRO - Manual - 24
Welcome to MASCHINE
Document Conventions
1.2 Document 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.
▪ 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.
MASCHINE MIKRO - Manual - 25
Welcome to MASCHINE
New Features in MASCHINE 2.8
▪ 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.
1.3 New Features in MASCHINE 2.8
The following new features have been added to MASCHINE:
Sounds.com Integration
▪ Browse on Sounds.com, create your own collections of loops and one-shots and send them
directly to the MASCHINE browser.
MASCHINE MIKRO - Manual - 26
Welcome to MASCHINE
New Features in MASCHINE 2.8
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 multi-
ple 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 Directo-
ry.
For more information on these new features, refer to the following chapter ↑4, Browser.
Improvements to the MASCHINE MIKRO MK3 Controller
▪ You can now set sample Start and End points using the controller. For more information
refer to ↑17.3.1, Using the Edit Page.
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.
1.4 New 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 MIKRO MK3 Improvements
▪ MASCHINE MIKRO MK3: MIDI mode added. For more information, refer to ↑3.7.4, Using
MIDI Mode.
▪ MASCHINE MIKRO MK3: ability to set focused parameter from the software. This means
that when you click on a plug-in parameter in the Control Panel of the software, the parameter will become focused on the controller when in Plug-in mode.
Audio Plug-in Improvements
▪ Added Edit Tab to Audio plug-in: Like the Sampler plug-in, you can now perform destruc-
tive 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.
MASCHINE MIKRO - Manual - 28
Welcome to MASCHINE
New Features in MASCHINE 2.7.8
1.5 New 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
1.6 New 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 Pat-
tern 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 MIKRO - Manual - 29
Welcome to MASCHINE
New Features in MASCHINE 2.7.7
▪ 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.
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
MASCHINE MIKRO - Manual - 30
Welcome to MASCHINE
New Features in MASCHINE 2.7.4
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.
1.7 New Features in MASCHINE 2.7.4
The following new features have been added to MASCHINE:
Audio Plug-in Improvements
▪ Added a new Target parameter to the Loop recording mode of the Sampling Page which de-
termines what should be done with a new recording when the recording is complete. Take
simply adds the new recording to the Audio Pool of the current plug-in, Sound puts the
new recording into an Audio plug-in in the next unoccupied Sound Slot (useful for layering
the recording with whatever else is in the current Pattern, like a guitar looper pedal), and
Pattern puts the new recording into an Audio plug-in in the next unoccupied Sound Slot
and additionally creates a new Pattern where only this loop is being played (useful for capturing different versions of a part and quickly reviewing them by switching Patterns). For
more information, refer to ↑17.2, Recording Audio.
▪ Added a new workflow to MASCHINE JAM which automates the use of the new Target pa-
rameter for fast sampling and layering. Holding the IN 1 button enables this new Loop Recording mode (it’s also helpful to pin this mode on by holding IN 1 and pressing the SONG
button). While this new Loop Recording mode is active, pressing an existing Pattern will
trigger a recording of a new loop which is then added as a new Sound in the existing Pattern; doing this repeatedly allows you to quickly layer recordings on top of each other. Alternatively, pressing an empty Pattern button will trigger a recording and will then place
that recording in a new Sound Slot and a new Pattern will be created where only the new
loop is playing back. When pressing the IN 1 button, External Input 1 is selected as the
source for the recording. Pressing GRP while in the Loop Recording mode will select the
focused Group as the source. Pressing MST will select MASCHINE’s Master output as the
source (for resampling what is currently playing). For more information, refer to the MASCHINE JAM Manual available from Help menu.
▪ Added footswitch control of Sampling. When in the Sampling page, or when the Loop Re-
cording mode is enabled on MASCHINE JAM, a connected footswitch can be used to control recording. Pressing the footswitch will arm a recording according to the current set-
MASCHINE MIKRO - Manual - 31
Welcome to MASCHINE
New Features in MASCHINE 2.7.4
tings. Pressing the footswitch again before recording has actually started will cancel the recording. If recording is in progress, pressing the footswitch once will stop the recording,
double-pressing will abort the recording (any recorded audio to that point will be discarded). If the recording is complete, holding the footswitch down for a few moments will trigger Undo so you can try another take. For more information, refer to the MASCHINE JAM
Manual available from Help menu, or to the following section when using MASCHINE MK3
or MASCHINE STUDIO: Using the Footswitch for Recording Audio.
▪ Improved the automatic tempo detection of the Audio plug-in so that it now chooses a tem-
po that’s closest to your current project tempo. For example, if your project tempo is 170
BPM and you load a loop which should be 174 BPM, MASCHINE will now set the Source
Tempo as 174 BPM instead of 87 BPM as it did previously.
▪ Added a Re-Pitch sync mode to the Audio plug-in which simply retunes/repitches the loop
(like speeding up or slowing down a record) to make it conform to the Project tempo. This
mode requires significantly less CPU power than the default mode, but you will not be able
to retune the loop at all (any pitches programmed in Gate mode will be ignored—only the
timing of the programmed notes will be used to gate the playing audio). For more information refer to ↑8, Using the Audio Plug-in.
MASCHINE MK3 Improvements
▪ Added Ableton Live DAW Integration for MASCHINE MK3 - Mixer and basic DAW Control.
Access Ableton Live Mixer via MASCHINE MK3 hardware: Volume, Pan, Mute / Solo / Arm
states are visible on screens. Also access essential controls: Play / Stop / Record / Session
record, Clip Navigation, Launch & Record, Quantize, Undo / Redo, Automation Toggle, Tap
Tempo, and Loop Toggle. For more information refer to Host Integration.
General Improvements
▪ Improved the Take management system (previously called “Recording History”) for the
Sampler and Audio plug-ins such that Takes are now saved and recalled as part of the
Project.
▪ Improved external audio recording by implementing basic recording latency compensation.
This compensation will be in effect when recording from an External Input and with the
Monitoring parameter turned Off. The system currently works based upon the overall latency reported by the selected audio interface.
MASCHINE MIKRO - Manual - 32
Welcome to MASCHINE
New Features in MASCHINE 2.7.3
▪ Removed the function where a right click will remove Events in the Pattern Editor. Instead,
the context menu is opened. Events can still be deleted using double-click as well as using
the "Paint" and "Erase" tools. For more information refer to ↑11.4.5, Deleting Events/Notes.
▪ Changed the behavior of right-click in the Arranger. This no longer removes Patterns from
Scenes. It now opens a context menu with many useful options for arranging. For more information on using the Pattern context menu within Song view refer to ↑16.3.13, Working
with Patterns in Song view.
▪ Improved behavior and cursor icons for resizing Events in the Pattern Editor. The active
area for resizing Events is increased.
1.8 New Features in MASCHINE 2.7.3
The following new features have been added to MASCHINE:
Audio Plug-in Improvements
▪ Added the ability to enable and disable Audio plug-in playback per Pattern when in Loop
mode. Double-clicking the waveform will toggle playback for the selected Pattern. Alternatively, the loops can be enabled or disabled via the STEP page on the hardware controllers.
For more details see ↑8.3, Using Loop Mode.
▪ Added a Loop recording mode to the Record tab, and the Record tab is now available for
both Sampler and Audio plug-ins. When choosing the new Loop mode, the start of recording will be quantized to the start of the Pattern. Furthermore, when the recording is complete, the loop will automatically be loaded into an Audio plug-in and will immediately begin playback. For more details see ↑17.2, Recording Audio.
MASCHINE Controller Improvements
▪ Added Ideas View on MASCHINE MK3 and MASCHINE STUDIO. Access Ideas view with
the MASCHINE MK3 hardware. For more details see ↑16.2, Using Ideas View.
▪ Added Event Editing on MASCHINE MK3 with 4-Directional Encoder. Select, nudge, pitch-
shift and change the length of notes with the 4-Directional Encoder in the events window
(on hardware screens). For more details see ↑11.4, Editing Events.
▪ Added Apple Logic DAW Integration for MASCHINE MK3, Mixer and basic DAW Control.
MASCHINE MIKRO - Manual - 33
Welcome to MASCHINE
New Features in MASCHINE 2.7.3
◦ Access Logic Mixer via MASCHINE MK3 hardware (Volume, Pan, Mute / Solo states
are visible on screens).
◦ Access Essential Controls: Play / Stop / Record / Quantize, Undo / Redo, Automation
Toggle, Tap Tempo, and Loop Toggle.
General Improvements
▪ Added additional Scales from KOMPLETE KONTROL into MASCHINE. For more details see
↑6.4.2, Selecting a Scale and Creating Chords.
▪ Added loading of Perform FX at the end of a Group plug-in chain.
▪ Fixed an issue the broke Pattern Duplicate on the MASCHINE MIKRO.
▪ Fixed an issue where the MASCHINE Transport Loop would influence Ideas View playback
when hosted in a DAW.
▪ Fixed a crash that could occur when zooming horizontally in the Arranger with special char-
acters in Section names.
▪ Fixed some issues around renaming Scenes and Sections.
▪ Removed 32-bit versions of standalone application and plug-in.
▪ Added Velocity Curves to Controller Editor for MASCHINE MK3.
▪ Removed the modal dialog at startup that suggests to download sound preview files from
Native Access. The preview files are still available for installation in Native Access.
MASCHINE MIKRO - Manual - 34
Quick Reference
MASCHINE Project Overview
2 Quick Reference
This chapter introduces you to the main areas and concepts of MASCHINE. In the following
sections, you will find:
▪ Information that will help you in your every-day work with your controller (Using Your Con-
troller).
▪ An overview of a MASCHINE Project and a description of both its structure and content
(↑2.1, MASCHINE Project Overview).
▪ A basic reference of your hardware controller, naming and quickly describing each of its
control elements (↑2.2, MASCHINE Hardware Overview).
▪ A basic reference of the MASCHINE software (↑2.3, MASCHINE Software Overview).
For a comprehensive description of every feature and setting, please refer to the Manual.
2.1 MASCHINE Project Overview
A MASCHINE Project contains all the information stored with a MASCHINE-produced piece of
music.
▪ The Project references all the sound content: the instruments, sounds and samples, and all
the effects that you apply to them.
▪ The Project also contains the arrangement of your song: how Patterns are built from events
which trigger Sounds, and how they are arranged into a song structure using Scenes and
Sections.
The following section will explain these two aspects in detail.
2.1.1 Sound Content
The sound content aspect of a MASCHINE Project includes all the instruments and effects
contained in your Project file, and how these are structured.
MASCHINE MIKRO - Manual - 35
2
3
1
Quick Reference
MASCHINE Project Overview
The sound content aspect of a MASCHINE Project with Ideas view selected.
▪ Groups (1) are available in Banks. Each Bank contains eight Groups (A-H) and each Group
contains sixteen Sound slots (1–16) (2). Each Sound slot can be filled with samples or
plug-ins.
▪ You can influence the sound on these three channels: the Project (or Master) channel, the
Group channel, and the Sound channel. The relevant controls are situated in the Control
area (3), which can be used for accessing Plug-in parameters or Channel properties.
▪ The Control area has three tabbed sections corresponding to each channel: MASTER,
GROUP, and SOUND.
◦ The controls in the SOUND section affect the sound of the selected Sound (1–16).
◦ The controls in the GROUP section affect the sound of the selected Group (A–H), i.e.
the sound of all its Sound slots.
MASCHINE MIKRO - Manual - 36
Quick Reference
MASCHINE Project Overview
◦ The controls in the MASTER section affect the sound at the main outputs of MA-
SCHINE, i.e. the sound of all Groups and all Sounds.
2.1.2 Arrangement
The MASCHINE Project is about building patterns, and putting those patterns into a loop or a
song structure. In MASCHINE, the process of creating ideas is separated from the process of
arrangement to provide a more flexible and creative approach. To reflect this the Arrangement
area is split into two views: Ideas view and Song view which you can easily switch between using your controller. The two views reflect the same content but in different ways.
Ideas View
The Ideas view is best equipped to help you develop your Patterns and Scenes. Here you create and record your Patterns and then combine them by assigning them to Scenes. Once you
have created a number of Scenes that are ready to be arranged you can add them to the Song
view.
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The Ideas view of a MASCHINE Project optimized for creating Patterns and building Scenes.
The workflow of creating ideas in MASCHINE is as follows:
▪ You load samples or plug-ins into the Sound slots (7) of the selected Group (2).
▪ You record instances of your Sounds by playing the pads (1-16). A recorded instance of a
Sound is called an event (6).
▪ Together, the events add up to a Pattern (1) for the selected Group.
▪ All of this takes place in the Pattern Editor (5), where you can create several Patterns for
each of your Groups.
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▪ In the upper half of the software, the Ideas view (4) allows you to combine your Patterns
from each Group.
▪ Here you combine your Patterns (1) into Scenes (3).
Song view
In the Song view Scenes are assigned to Sections and placed on the Timeline of the Arranger,
where you can move them around to develop an arrangement.
The Song view of a MASCHINE Project.
The workflow of creating an arrangement in MASCHINE is as follows:
▪ Create Sections on the Timeline of the Arranger (1).
▪ Assign each Scene to a Section (2).
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▪ Change the position of a Section by dragging the Sections slot.
2.2 MASCHINE Hardware Overview
2.2.1 MASCHINE MIKRO Hardware Overview
This section quickly describes the areas and control elements on your hardware controller.
The top panel of your controller includes the following sections:
Quick Reference
Overview of the MASCHINE controller’s top panel and its main sections.
(1) Browser section: This section contains dedicated buttons that provide access to recent
Projects, the Browser, and Favorites. For more information on this section, see ↑2.2.1.1,
Browser Section.
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(2) Edit section: This section holds the Encoder, a multifunctional element used in various contexts with the Arrow buttons. The three Quick Edit buttons nearby allow you to adjust the volume, tempo, and swing of your Sounds, Groups, and Project. In Step mode, they let you quickly change the velocity, position, and tune of the selected events. For more information on this
section, see ↑2.2.1.2, Edit Section.
(3) Performance section: The Smart Strip and the four function buttons above it make up a
highly versatile and intuitive tool for enriching your performance. The NOTE REPEAT button
provides access to the Note Repeat and Arp feature, while the LOCK button allows you to store
and recall snapshots during your set. The Group button enables you to quickly access each
Group when used in combination with the top eight pads 9–16. For more information on this
section, see ↑2.2.1.3, Performance Section.
(4) Transport section: Start, stop and restart playback, activate record and tap the tempo, simply by pressing the dedicated buttons. Use SHIFT to access the secondary functions of your
controller. For more information on this section, see ↑2.2.1.4, Transport Section.
(5) Pad section: Access the various controller modes using the column of mode buttons on the
left-hand side of this section. Use the 16 pads to play your Sounds. Above the pads, the Pad
Input Mode buttons let you choose how the pads will behave: e.g., they can trigger all Sounds
in your Group, different notes of a single Sound, specific chords of a single Sound, or create
and edit events in the step sequencer. Besides playing the Sounds, the pads provide access to
many editing and selection commands depending on the selected controller mode. For more
information on this section, see ↑2.2.1.5, Pad Section.
2.2.1.1 Browser Section
Use the Browser section to access the Browser Results List, and open recent Projects.
The Browser section on your controller.
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(1) Project button: View Projects that have been recently opened. Turn the Encoder to scroll
the list, and press the Encoder to load the selected Project. Press SHIFT + Project button to
access MIDI mode. For more information on MIDI Mode refer to ↑3.7.4, Using MIDI Mode.
(2) Favorites button: View Favorites directly using the controller. Turn the Encoder to scroll the
list, press the Encoder to load the selected item.
(3) Browser button: Access the Browser and use the Encoder to scroll the Results List, and
press the Encoder to load a selected item.
2.2.1.2 Edit Section
The Edit section holds the Encoder, a multifunctional element to be used in various contexts
with the Arrow buttons. The three Quick Edit buttons allow you to easily adjust the volume, tempo and swing of the Sounds, the Groups and the Project. This section also provides quick access to the Sample Editor.
The Edit section on the controller.
(1) Display: The LCD display will provide you with all essential information, no need to glance
at the computer screen.
(2) Encoder: The Encoder combines the functionalities of a button, and of an endless rotary encoder. Hence, it can be pushed and rotated. These aspects make it a versatile control element
that can be used for adjusting parameters, and entering values.
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(3) Quick Edit buttons: Enable either VOLUME (Velocity), SWING (Position), or TEMPO (Tune)
to quickly adjust the volume, swing, or tempo of your Project via the Encoder (1). In Step
mode the Quick Edit buttons allow you to adjust the velocity, the position, and the pitch (key)
of the selected events. See, ↑3.3.1, Adjusting Volume, Swing, and Tempo for a practical example of how to use these features.
(4) PLUG-IN button: Press PLUG-IN (Macro) to access Control mode (the default mode on your
controller) and directly display the Plug-in(s) loaded in the selected Sound/Group or the Master. This provides instant access to all Plug-ins’ parameters via the Arrow buttons (6), which
can be adjusted using the Encoder. Press SHIFT + PLUG-IN (Macro) to access Macro controls.
(5) SAMPLING button: Press the SAMPLING button to access the Sample Editor. To learn more
about sampling with MASCHINE, see ↑17, Sampling and Sample Mapping.
(6) Arrow buttons: The Arrows buttons are highlighted to indicate when extra pages containing
features or parameters are available via the display.
2.2.1.3 Performance Section
The Performance section provides you with various tools shaped for live performance.
The Performance section on the controller.
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(1) Strip Mode buttons: The PITCH, MOD, PERFORM, and NOTES buttons let you select the
function of the Smart Strip (2). Press the Strip Mode buttons to enable or disable the corresponding function:
▪ Enable PITCH or MOD to send MIDI Pitchbend or Modulation data to the selected Sound
using the Smart Strip. While doing this, press REC in the Transport section to record your
actions as MIDI automation into your Pattern.
▪ Enable PERFORM and use the Smart Strip to control the Perform FX (if any) for the select-
ed Group. Press SHIFT + PERFORM (FX Select) to quickly select and load a Perform FX for
that Group. After loading an effect you can control it using the Smart Strip.
▪ Enable NOTES and use the Smart Strip to play what’s loaded on the pads: Sounds, notes
or chords, depending on the current Pad Input mode. If you hold certain pads, only these
pads are triggered by the strip; otherwise, all pads are triggered. For example, with pads in
Keyboard mode, you can touch the strip for single notes, slide your finger for progressive
note strums, use two fingers for instant jumps between notes, but that’s not all: You can
use the Smart Strip in combination with the Note Repeat, Arp, and Chord engines for endless creative possibilities.
If no Strip Mode button is active, the Smart Strip is disabled.
(2) Smart Strip: The Smart Strip puts control of several parameters literally at your fingertips:
Depending on the Strip Mode button (1) selected above the Smart Strip, use it to apply pitch
bend or modulation to the Sound(s) played on the pads, apply and tweak Perform FX in real
time, or play Sounds by strumming on the strip, even with two fingers. Above the Smart Strip,
a LED bar indicates the current value or note set on the strip.
(3) GROUP button: When you hold the GROUP button, the top eight pads 9–16 allow you to
select the Group you want to work in. Dimmed blue pads show Groups, while the fully lit colored pad shows the selected Group — the name of this Group will show in the display. Unlit
pads indicate Groups that do not exist. Press SHIFT + GROUP to enter Step mode.
If you want to use more than eight Groups in your Project, hold SHIFT and press the Group
buttons to select and access other banks of Groups.
These buttons are also used to solo and mute Groups on the fly when SOLO or MUTE buttons
are held; this is great for jamming out your Project and performing live. See Using Solo and
Mute for more on the Solo and Mute features.
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If the VOLUME, SWING, or TEMPO button is active in the Edit section above (see ↑2.2.1.2,
Edit Section), hold a Group button and turn the Encoder to change the volume, tune or swing
for that individual Group. For more details on this, see ↑3.3.1, Adjusting Volume, Swing, and
Tempo.
(4) AUTO button: In MASCHINE, modulation of almost any parameter on the Sound and Group
level is achieved with one-touch simplicity. Press and hold the AUTO button while turning the
Encoder to record modulation for the selected parameter.
(5) LOCK button: Press LOCK at any time to create a snapshot of all modulable parameters in
your Project. Subsequently, change any of these parameters during your performance or studio
session, then press the dim lit LOCK button again to recall the snapshot with the original parameter values. Lock is a powerful tool for extensive modulations, but also very useful to compare mixes, or to switch up snapshots during a live performance.
(6) NOTE REPEAT button: Note Repeat is a convenient way to play, record beats, and melodies.
When your pads are in Pad Mode, the Note Repeat engine repeats the selected Sound automatically at a given rate. When your pads are in Keyboard or Chord mode, NOTE REPEAT provides instead access to the flexible and versatile arpeggiator to play Sounds in note sequences.
The arpeggios are created according to both the pads you hold and the scale and chords you
have configured. Press SHIFT + NOTE REPEAT (Arp) to directly switch your pads in Keyboard
mode and activate the Arp engine. To use Note Repeat you must press and hold it, but in Arp
mode it is automatically pinned. To learn more about Note Repeat, see Using Note Repeat.
2.2.1.4 Transport Section
The Transport section holds various transport tools as well as the SHIFT button used in various
contexts.
The Transport section on your controller.
(1) PLAY button: Press PLAY to activate playback.
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(2) REC button: During playback, press REC to begin recording. Or when playback is off, press
SHIFT + REC to begin recording with the Count-in. Press REC a second time to stop recording.
Hold the REC button to access Pattern Preset mode, this allows you to select the desired Pattern Length before recording new Patterns.
(3) STOP button: Press STOP to stop playback.
(4) RESTART button: Press the RESTART button at any time to restart from the beginning of the
current loop range.
(5) ERASE button: During playback, hold ERASE and any number of pads or Group buttons to
erase the events for the corresponding Sounds or Groups on the fly. Use the shortcut ERASE +
EVENTS + pad to quickly erase all events triggered by that pad in your Pattern. If you automat-
ed a parameter, hold ERASE and turn the Encoder to erase the automation of the selected parameter. Press SHIFT + ERASE + any pad or Group button to completely remove the Sound or
Group in that slot.
(6) TAP button: Repeatedly tap the TAP button to set the desired tempo. Press SHIFT + TAP to
quickly enable/disable the metronome.
(7) FOLLOW button: If you activate FOLLOW, time-related displays (like the Pattern Editor) are
updated as the playhead goes beyond the current part, so that you always see where the playhead is. Press SHIFT + FOLLOW to open Grid mode and adjust the grids to define how various
MASCHINE objects can be moved or resized: Perform grid (for transitions between Sections),
Arrange grid (for Pattern length and Section length), Step grid (for events), and Nudge grid (for
events as well).
(8) SHIFT button: While the most important features are accessible through dedicated buttons,
many shortcuts are available by holding the SHIFT button and pressing pads 1–16 or several
other buttons. You can also use the SHIFT button to change parameters in finer increments
when entering values with the Encoder.
2.2.1.5 Pad Section
The Pad section includes numerous features. Use the 16 pads to play your Sounds. Above the
pads, the Pad Input Mode buttons let you choose how the pads will react to your hits: e.g., you
can trigger all Sounds in your Group, play different notes of a single Sound, specific chords of
that Sound, or create and edit events in the step sequencer.
Besides playing Sounds, the pads provide access to many editing and selection commands depending on the controller mode selected from the column of Mode buttons left of the pads.
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Additionally, when you hold SHIFT, the pads provide you with useful shortcuts and commands
for your everyday work with MASCHINE.
The Pad section on your controller: the Mode buttons (1) to (8), the pads (9), and the Pad Input Mode buttons (10) to (14).
Mode Buttons
The Mode buttons (1) to (8) are located in the column left of the pads. They switch the pads
and your controller to a series of modes dedicated to specific workflows:
(1) MUTE button: Enters Mute mode. In this mode, you can instantly mute Sounds and Groups
by pressing the corresponding pads and Group buttons. This is good for getting on top of your
production when you have many sounds playing and especially useful for performing live. Muted Sounds/Groups are represented by half-lit pads, while audible Sounds/Groups are represented by fully lit pads.
(2) SOLO button: Enters Solo mode. In this mode, you can instantly solo any Sound or Group
(equals muting all other Sounds/Groups) by pressing its pad or Group button. This is useful to
tweak the Sound or for performing live. The pad of the soloed Sound or Group is fully lit, while
all other pads (representing the muted Sounds/Groups) are dimmed.
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(3) SELECT button: Enters Select mode. This mode allows you to select a Sound without triggering it, or select specific events of a particular Sound, which is useful for limiting quantization,
nudging notes and other operations specific to the selected events. Press ERASE + SELECT +
pad to quickly erase all events triggered by that pad in your Pattern or notes at that pitch when
in Keyboard mode.
(4) DUPLICATE button: Enters Duplicate mode. Use the Duplicate mode to swiftly create another instance of any Sound, Pattern, Group or Scene. This can be useful for creating variations or
trying out something new while preserving the current state of your work.
Press SHIFT +DUPLICATE to quickly double the current Pattern.
(5) VARIATION button: Enters Variation mode. This lets you introduce “happy accidents” in your
Patterns. The Variation mode provides you with two features: Humanize adds natural rhythmic
fluctuations to programmed sequences, while Random provides randomly generated variations
of your beats and melodies. Press SHIFT + VARIATION to enter Navigate mode. When working
on large Projects, it is sometimes necessary to look at the computer screen. With Navigate
mode there is no need to use the mouse and search for scroll bars or magnifying glasses. Just
use the pads and the displays to zoom in and out or scroll through Patterns and Scenes. See
Controlling the Software Views from Your Controller for more information.
(6) EVENTS button: Enters Events mode. This mode allows you to select particular events in
your Pattern and modify their position, pitch (key), velocity and length. You can also press
EVENTS + pad to quickly select all events triggered by that pad in your Pattern.
(7) PATTERN button: Enters Pattern mode. Pattern mode allows you to manage all Patterns in
the selected Group: create new empty Patterns or duplicates of existing ones, switch between
different Patterns, etc. Dimmed pads represent existing Patterns, the fully lit pad represents
the selected Pattern.
(8) SCENE button: Enters Scene mode (in Ideas view) or Section mode (in Song view). Use
Scene mode to access your Scenes and Section mode to arrange your song:
▪ Use Scene mode to create, select and manage Scenes to prepare them for assignment to
Sections in the Arranger. During playback, you can switch Scenes for quick on-the-fly arrangement by pressing the pads; half-lit pads show existing Scenes, while fully lit pads
show the selected Scene. When you are satisfied with a Scene you can append it to the
Arranger.
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▪ Use Section mode to create, select, and manage Sections in order to create an arrange-
ment. Here you can create Sections, assign a Scene to Section, position a Section on the
Timeline, and set the length of a Section.
Press SHIFT + SCENE to quickly toggle between Ideas view and Song view.
Pads and Pad Input Mode Buttons
The Pad Input Mode buttons (10) to (14) allow you to choose from various behaviors for the
pads (9) when it comes to trigger your Sounds. The four buttons directly above the pads (PAD
MODE (10), KEYBOARD (11), CHORDS (12) and STEP (13)) control the four main pad input
modes, while the FIXED VEL button (14) controls additional options for the modes.
(9) Pad 1–16: The sixteen velocity-sensitive pads can be used to play and select your Sounds.
Their behavior can be configured by the Pad Input Mode buttons (10) to (14) described below.
The pads also have many functions depending on the controller mode that is currently selected.
(10) PAD MODE button: Press PAD MODE to switch the pads to Pad mode (the default mode). In
Pad mode each pad represents one Sound of the Group. Pad mode is typically used for drum
kits. You can adjust various parameters of the mode via the display, the Arrow buttons, and the
Encoder.
(11) KEYBOARD button: Press KEYBOARD to switch the pads to Keyboard mode. In Keyboard
mode the pads represent 16 pitches of the chromatic scale for the selected Sound, ascending
from the selected Root Note; this way you can play the selected Sound like a melodic instrument. For more information on Keyboard mode, refer to ↑6.4, Performance Features.
(12) CHORDS button: Press CHORDS to switch the pads to Chords mode. The Chords mode is
similar to the Keyboard mode (see the KEYBOARD button (11) above) with the difference that
each pad triggers a whole chord instead of a single note. Use the Arrow buttons and the Encoder to configure the chord you want to play.
(13) STEP button: Press STEP to switch the pads to Step mode. Step mode turns your MASCHINE controller into a step sequencer. In this mode, each pad represents one step of the
selected Step Grid resolution. During playback, a running light through the pads represents the
current position of the step sequencer. Pressing the pads creates notes on the corresponding
steps (causing them to light up) or it removes them from the Pattern. For more information on
Step mode, refer to ↑11.3, Recording Patterns with the Step Sequencer.
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(14) FIXED VEL button: Press FIXED VEL to enable/disable the Fixed Velocity option. By default,
the pads are sensitive to velocity: The harder you hit them, the louder the sound will be. With
Fixed Velocity enabled, your pads play at the same volume no matter how hard you hit them.
For example, this can be very handy when you are triggering slices of a loop from your pads
and want to have all slices at the same volume. Fixed Velocity is available in all four pad input
modes: Group, Keyboard, Chords and Step (see above for more info on these). Press SHIFT +
FIXED VEL to enable/disable the 16 Velocities option. In this mode your pads play the same
note (pitch) of the focused Sound but with 16 different velocity values. This can be useful to
play or program complex drum fills. The display indicates the velocity values for each pad. The
pitch of the played note is defined by the Base Key. The 16 Velocities option is only available
in Pad mode, i.e. when PAD MODE (10) is enabled.
2.2.1.6 Rear Panel
The rear panel of the MASCHINE controller holds the USB, and Kensington Lock sockets.
The rear panel of the MASCHINE controller.
(1) USB socket: Connects the MASCHINE controller to your computer via USB 2.0/3.0.
(2) Kensington Lock slot: Attach a Kensington Lock to secure your device from theft.
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2.3 MASCHINE Software Overview
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The MASCHINE software.
(1) Header: The Header contains the main controls for the MASCHINE software including the
Display area, the Transport controls, and the Master Volume slider. You can also use this area
to toggle the Browser, toggle the Mixer view, connect to your hardware controller and monitor
the CPU usage of your computer.
(2) Browser: The Browser is your tool for managing, finding, tagging and categorizing Projects,
Groups, Sounds, Instruments, Effects and Samples. Using the search facility you can quickly
find things and Prehear (audition) Samples.
(3) Arranger: This area has two views: Ideas view and Song view. Ideas view is for creating and
experimenting with musical ideas free from the timeline. Song view is for organizing your musical ideas into a song on the Timeline.
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(4) Control area: The Control area allows you to control parameters and settings for each of the
Plug-in slots at each Project level (Sound, Group and Master). This area can hold settings for
Groups, Sounds, Plug-ins (internal or VST/AU plug-ins), MIDI, routing.
(5) Pattern Editor: The Pattern Editor features both step programming and real-time recording
and is the basis for each Pattern. Patterns for each Group can be created here and then assigned to Scenes in the Arranger. The Pattern Editor also lets you edit modulation for the
Sound, Group, and Plug-in (Internal or External) parameters.
2.3.1 Header
The Header.
(1) MASCHINE menu: Click the MASCHINE menu to access the software menus. This menu is
particularly useful in Full screen mode and when MASCHINE is used as a plug-in in a host application.
(2) Browser button: Use the Browser button to toggle the Browser. The Browser is your tool for
managing, finding, tagging and categorizing Projects, Groups, Sounds, Instruments, Effects
and Samples. From the Browser you can directly search your computer or an external drive to
add new files. You may also prehear (audition) Samples directly from the Browser and apply
new tags.
(3) Mix view button: Click the Mix view button to access the Mix view. The Mix view provides
you with quick access to the level and routing settings of all your Sounds, Groups, and the
Master. In addition, it provides you with an intuitive interface for adjusting the parameters of
all your Plug-ins.
(4) Transport controls: The Transport controls contain buttons such as Play, Restart, Record and
Loop.
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(5) Display area: The Display area provides control regarding Ableton Link, time signature, tempo, global swing, Follow and Performance Grid (Including Retrigger)
(6) Controller icon: This area displays an icon each MASCHINE controllers connected to your
computer.
(7) Master Volume slider: Shows and adjusts the level of the MASCHINE audio output.
(8) CPU meter: The CPU meter represents the current load on your computer’s processor and is
constantly measured; it should not go above 70% to avoid clicks and interruptions. You can
save CPU power by sampling the audio output of MASCHINE if necessary using export (for
more information, please refer to the Manual).
(9) Audio Engine button: Click the Audio Engine button to disable the entire sound processing of
MASCHINE.
(10) NI logo: The NI logo and MASCHINE logo open the About screen which displays the version number and edition of your MASCHINE software.
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The Browser.
(1) Library tab: Use the Library tab to access your computer's hard drives via MASCHINE's selectors and filters.
(2) Files tab: Use the Files tab to access your computer’s hard drives.
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(3) File Type selector: This contains seven icons representing the different file types of MASCHINE. From left to right the file types are: Projects, Groups, Sounds, Instruments, Effects,
Loops and One-shots. Clicking one of them causes only the files of the selected type to be displayed.
(4) Content selector: Use the Content selector to switch between Factory Content (button off)
and User Content (button on).
(5) Product selector: The Product selector allows you to browse and select any content of the
same File Type as is selected in the File Type selector above.
(6) Tag Filter: The Tag Filter allows you to search based on tags. You can quickly find files
based on the Types and Characters categories by clicking the tags.
(7) Search field: Use the Search field to quickly find files based on their name or tagged attribute. Select the type of file you are looking for from the File Type selector and enter the name
or category of a file into the Search field to perform a search. Results are displayed in the Results list below.
(8) Results list: The Results list displays all files that match your query.
(9) Autoload: This button automatically loads the selected loop or one-shot in the Results list
so you can to listen in context and in tempo with your Project while it is playing.
(10) The Prehear button (speaker icon) allows you to quickly audition the item selected in the
Results list when Preview files have been downloaded and installed using Native Access. The
volume level of the file being auditioned is set by the slider.
Audition control volume slider.
When browsing Groups, the +PATTERNS and +ROUTING buttons appear in the Control bar of
the Browser.
+PATTERNS and +ROUTING in the Control bar of the Browser.
Use the +ROUTING button to load the audio and MIDI routings stored in the Group (potentially
overwriting previous routings in the selected Group). When the +ROUTING button is off, any
audio and MIDI routings saved in the Group will not be loaded, preserving any existing routings
in the active Group.
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Use the +PATTERNS button to load a Group with its saved Pattern. When +PATTERNS is selected the Sounds and Patterns of the selected Group are loaded. When +PATTERNS is deselected, only the Sounds of the selected Group are loaded so you can try them with your existing
pattern.
(11) Information: Click the Information icon to view details of the selected file.
(12) Tag Editor: Use the Tag Editor to edit Tags applied to files and to add Tags to new files.
Native Instruments content is read only, however, Types and Characters properties can be edited in User content. You can show/hide the Tag Editor by clicking the EDIT button at the bottom right.
2.3.3 Arranger
The Arranger is has two different views: Ideas view and Song view. Each view has a specific
purpose in the workflow of creating a song, but essentially they represent the same content.
The Ideas view allows you to experiment with your musical ideas without being tied to a timeline or any kind of arrangement. Here you can create Patterns for each Group and combine
them into a Scene. The Song view allows you to structure your song by allowing you to assign
the Scenes you created in the Ideas view to Sections, and move them around to quickly create
a larger musical structure.
Switching between Ideas View and Song view
The Arranger View button.
► Click the Arranger View button to switch between the Ideas view and the Song view.
→ When the button is unlit Ideas view is active, when the button is lit Song view is active.
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The Ideas View
The Ideas view for creating and experimenting with musical ideas free from the Timeline.
(1) Scenes: This area displays all the current Scenes in your project. After creating a Scene by
clicking the + symbol, you can build the Scene by selecting a Pattern from each Group. By
clicking each Scene name (Scene slot) you can switch between Scenes to see how your musical ideas work together.
Using your mouse you can right-click the Scene slot and select to Append to Arrangement from
the menu and then arrange your song in the Song view. You can also use the right-click menu
to Clear, Duplicate, or Delete Scenes, as well as organize your Scenes by selecting the Rename
or Color options
(2) Pattern area: All Patterns in your Song are represented here. You can double-click a blank
slot to create and new Pattern or click an existing Pattern to assign it to the selected Scene.
Once assigned, a Pattern will become highlighted, click it again to remove it from the selected
Scene. Using your mouse you can right-click the name of a Pattern and select to Clear, Dupli-
cate, or Delete a Pattern. You can also organize your Patterns by selecting the Rename or Color
options.
(3) Groups: The Group slots can hold one Group each. Select the desired slot to load a Group
into it and display the Group’s content (Sounds, Patterns…) in the Pattern Editor (see ↑2.3.5,
Pattern Editor) and the Group’s Channel properties and Plug-in parameters in the Control area
(see ↑2.3.4, Control Area). To mute a Group click the Group letter, for example A1, and rightclick on the letter to solo the Group. Using your mouse you can also right-click the name of a
Group to access the many options available to manage them.
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3
4
2
1
Quick Reference
MASCHINE Software Overview
The Song view
The Song view for organizing your musical ideas into a song on the Timeline.
(1) Groups: The Group slots can hold one Group each. Select the desired slot to load a Group
into it and display the Group’s content (Sounds, Patterns…) in the Pattern Editor (see ↑2.3.5,
Pattern Editor) and the Group’s Channel properties and Plug-in parameters in the Control area
(see ↑2.3.4, Control Area).
(2) Arranger timeline: This area displays the current position within the track and allows you to
set the loop range.
(3) Section slots: This area displays Section slots. A Section is a container for Scene placed on
the Timeline. A Section can be moved freely by clicking the name of the Section and dragging
and dropping it into place. You can change the length of a Section by dragging the Section end
marker to the left to shorten it, or to the right to lengthen it. Using your mouse you can rightclick a Section and use Select in the menu to assign a Scene to a Section. It is also possible to
use the menu to Insert, Duplicate, Delete, Clear or Remove Sections as well as organize them
by selecting the Rename or Color options.
(4) Pattern area: In each Section of the Arrangement, you can see the name of the Scene assigned to the Section along with the Scene’s Patterns stacked vertically for each Group in the
Project. The Patterns seen here are the same as those seen when viewing the same Scene in
the Ideas view.
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2 3 4 5
1
8
6
7
Quick Reference
MASCHINE Software Overview
2.3.4 Control Area
The Control area.
(1) Plug-in icon: Click the Plug-in icon to access Plug-ins and their parameters.
(2) Channel icon: Click the Channel icon to access Channel properties where you can display
and adjust various properties for the selected Sound/Group or Master channel in the Parameter
area.
(3) MASTER tab: Click the MASTER tab to control sound at the main outputs of MASCHINE (including all Groups and Sounds).
(4) GROUP tab: Click the GROUP tab to gain access to Plug-ins and Channel properties of the
Group loaded in the selected Group slot (A–H).
(5) SOUND tab: Click the SOUND tab to gain access to Plug-ins and Channel properties of the
Sound in the selected Sound slot (1-16).
(6) Parameter area: Displays the parameters for the selected Plug-in or Channel properties. Depending on the number of parameters to display, these can be split into several pages. In this
case, click the name of the parameter page to display it.
(7) Quick Browse Icon: Use the Quick Browse icon to recall the search query you performed to
find the currently loaded file/preset.
(8) Plug-in List: There are Plug-in slots on each channel level (Sound, Group and Master). Each
of them can hold one effect Plug-in. The first Plug-in slot of the Sound level can also hold a
plug-in instrument. Select the desired Plug-in to display its parameters in the Parameter area.
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2.3.5 Pattern Editor
3
2
1
6
8
7
4
5
9
10
11
12
1314
Quick Reference
MASCHINE Software Overview
The Pattern Editor.
(1) Sample Editor button: Click this button to open/close the Sample Editor.
(2) Keyboard view button: Click this button to display the Keyboard view.
(3) Group view button: Click this button to display the Group view.
(4) Audition button: Click this button to audition a Sound when it is selected from the Sound
slots (6).
(5) Sound properties icon: Click this icon to quickly access the Key, Choke, and Link settings
for the selected Sound.
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Quick Reference
MASCHINE Software Overview
(6) Sound slots: Sounds slots 1–16 of the selected Group are listed here. Click a Sound slot to
bring it into focus and display its Plug-ins and Channel properties in the Control area (see
↑2.3.4, Control Area). In Keyboard view (2), click a Sound slot to display its events in the Step
Grid (11).
(7) Pattern slots: Each Group has an unlimited number of Patterns available. Each Pattern slot
can hold one Pattern. A Pattern contains the events that make up a groove or a musical phrase
for the selected Group. Click the drop-down arrow to open the Pattern Manager and select a
Pattern slot to display and edit its Pattern. Upon slot selection this Pattern is also referenced
for that Group in the selected Scene in the Arranger (see ↑2.3.3, Arranger). Select various Patterns from each Group to form an arrangement.
(8) Pattern Length controls: The Pattern Length controls allow you to choose the unit by which
the length of the Pattern can be adjusted and to adjust the length of the displayed Pattern according to that unit.
(9) Dragger icons: The Dragger icons allow you to conveniently drag and drop audio or MIDI
from your Patterns to your desktop or host software.
(10) Pattern timeline: The timeline at the top of the Step Grid (11) displays musical time units,
including bars and beats. Click the timeline to resize the currently selected Pattern.
(11) Step Grid: Displays the content of the selected Pattern slot (7). Here you can see your recorded events as rectangular blocks. In Group view (3) these represent the Sounds of your
Group. In Keyboard view (2) they represent musical notes of the selected Sound. The events
can be edited using your mouse; they can be dragged to a new position, elongated, shortened
or deleted.
(12) Control Lane: The Control Lane provides a visual overview and editing tools for the automation of each parameter and modulation of each MIDI control change.
(13) Edit controls: Use the Step menu to change the step size in which events can be moved/
resized and click the Pencil icon to toggle the Pencil mode on/off.
(14) Control Lane button: The Control Lane button allows you to show/hide the Control Lane
(12).
For a detailed explanation of each section please refer to the MASCHINE Manual.
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Basic Concepts
Important Names and Concepts
3 Basic Concepts
This chapter will reintroduce you to MASCHINE’s main elements and terminology and explain
how they relate to one another. You will also learn how to set up your audio interface and how
to connect MIDI devices.
Before reading this chapter it is strongly recommended that you read the MASCHINE Getting Started first.
3.1 Important Names and Concepts
We will start with a list (in alphabetical order) of the most important concepts and names.
Arranger
The Arranger is the big area located in the upper part of the MASCHINE window, right under
the Header. The Arranger has two views: Ideas view and Song view. Ideas view allows you to
develop your ideas independent from the timeline. The song view will enable you to combine
Sections (references to Scenes) and arrange them into a song.
Browser
The Browser is the front end for accessing all the elements of your MASCHINE Projects:
Projects, Groups, Sounds, instruments and effect presets, and Samples. Each of these can be
stored and tagged in a way that allows you easy access to all of them. MASCHINE’s factory
library has already been completely tagged, including the factory libraries of any Native Instruments products installed on your computer. You can also import your files into the Library and
tag them as well. To learn more about the Browser, please read chapter ↑4, Browser.
Effect
MASCHINE comes with many different effects in the form of Internal Plug-ins. You may also
use Native Instruments or third-party VST/AU effect plug-ins. Each Sound, each Group, and
the Master can hold any number of effects that can be applied as insert effects. The flexible
MASCHINE MIKRO - Manual - 62
Basic Concepts
Important Names and Concepts
routing system also allows you to create send effects, multi-effects, and side-chains. For more
details on using effects in MASCHINE, refer to chapter ↑14, Using Effects. You will find an
exhaustive description of all internal effects included in MASCHINE in chapter ↑15, Effect
Reference.
Event
Events are the individual drum hits or notes that make up a Pattern. In the Pattern Editor,
events are visually represented by rectangles in the Event area. Depending on the current view
in the Pattern Editor, you can see events for all Sounds slots (Group view) or for the selected
Sound slot only (Keyboard view). Events are described in more detail in chapter ↑11, Working
with Patterns.
Group
A Group contains 16 Sound slots. In addition to the Effect Plug-ins applied to each individual
Sound, a Group can have its own insert effect. These affect all the Sounds in the Group. A
Group can also contain any number of Patterns (grouped into banks of 16 Patterns each). Refer to chapter ↑5, Managing Sounds, Groups, and Your Project for more information on Groups.
Ideas View
The Ideas view allows you to experiment with your musical ideas without being tied to a timeline or arrangement. You can create Patterns for each Group and combine them into a Scene.
Scenes can then be added to Sections in the Song view to create a larger musical structure.
Master
This is where all audio signals from each of the Groups and Sounds come together and get
mixed. The Master channel can also host any number of insert effects of its own, these effects
are applied to all Groups and the Sounds within them. More information on the Master can be
found in chapter ↑5, Managing Sounds, Groups, and Your Project.
Pattern
A Pattern is a sequence that plays Sounds from a Group. It belongs to that Group and will be
saved together with the Group. In every Scene you can choose for each Group which of its Patterns has to be played. More information on Patterns can be found in chapter ↑11, Working
with Patterns.
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Basic Concepts
Important Names and Concepts
Plug-in
Each Sound, each Group, and the Master can hold any number of Plug-ins. Plug-ins can be
instruments or effects, and they can be internal (included with MASCHINE), from other Native
Instruments products (instruments or effects), or external (third-party VST/AU plug-ins). Instrument and Effect Plug-ins can be loaded in the first Plug-in slot of Sounds. The other Plug-in
slots of Sounds, as well as the Plug-in slots of Groups and of the Master can hold Effect Plugins only. At each level (Sound, Group, and Master), Plug-ins process the audio in series, according to the order in which they are stacked up. Refer to chapter ↑7, Working with Plug-ins.
Project
A Project contains all data needed for a song: Groups with their Patterns, all Scenes and all
settings, modulation, effects, routings, Sounds, and Samples. It’s like a snapshot of the entire
state of MASCHINE. Please read the MASCHINE Getting Started for a complete overview of
the MASCHINE Project structure.
Scene
A Scene is a combination of Patterns for each Group. They can be used to combine Patterns in
order to create musical ideas. Scenes are created in the Ideas view and then added to Sections
in the Song view to create an arrangement. Refer to chapter ↑16.3, Using Song View for more
information on Scenes.
Section
A Section is a reference to a specific Scene on the Timeline of the Song view. They are used to
arrange the Scenes into a larger musical structure. The benefit of using Sections is that any
changes made to a Scene are replicated in each Section where the Scene is referenced therefore making the process of changing parts of a song quick and easy.
Song view
Song view will enable you to combine Sections (references to Scenes) and arrange them into a
song in the Arranger.
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Basic Concepts
Adjusting the MASCHINE User Interface
Sound
Sounds are the building blocks of all sound content in MASCHINE. A Sound is made up of any
number of Plug-ins. Each Sound of the selected Group is mapped to one of the 16 pads on the
hardware controller, so you can play the Sounds by pressing the pads. Refer to chapter ↑5,
Managing Sounds, Groups, and Your Project for more information on Sounds.
Please refer to chapter ↑20, Glossary at the end of this Manual for more definitions.
3.2 Adjusting the MASCHINE User Interface
The MASCHINE software user interface is very flexible. You can choose what to display and
what not, allowing you to focus on your workflow. This section shows you how to adjust the MASCHINE GUI to suit your needs.
3.2.1 Adjusting the Size of the Interface
From the View menu in the Application Menu Bar and from the View submenu in the MASCHINE menu you can select one of four different sizes to display MASCHINE’s software GUI:
The View menu in the Application Menu Bar (Windows depicted).
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Basic Concepts
Adjusting the MASCHINE User Interface
The View submenu in the MASCHINE menu.
Full screen view is also available from your computer keyboard via [Ctrl]+[F] (macOS: [Cmd]+[F]).
3.2.2 Switching between Ideas View and Song View
At any time you can quickly switch between the Ideas view and the Song view, using the Arranger View button.
The Arranger View button in the top left corner.
► Press the Arranger view button to toggle between Song view and Ideas view.
→ The Arrangement area switches from Ideas view (default view) to Song view.
For more information about Ideas view and Song view see ↑16, Working with the Arranger.
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Basic Concepts
Adjusting the MASCHINE User Interface
3.2.3 Showing/Hiding the Browser
► Click the Browser button (with the magnifier symbol) in the Header to show and hide the
Browser. You can also select Browser from the View menu in the Application Menu Bar or
from the View submenu in the MASCHINE menu.
The Browser button in the Header.
You can also show/hide the Browser from your computer keyboard via the [F4] function key.
Showing/Hiding the Browser on the Controller
Press the Browser button (magnifying glass icon) on the top left-hand side to show/hide the
Browser.
3.2.4 Showing/Hiding the Control Lane
When MASCHINE is in Arrange view, you can show/hide the Control Lane under the Pattern
Editor:
► Click the arrow button on the bottom left of the Pattern Editor to show and hide the Con-
trol Lane.
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Basic Concepts
Common Operations
Click the arrow button at the bottom left of the Pattern Editor to show/hide the Control Lane.
3.3 Common Operations
This sections introduces a few very common operations in MASCHINE you will encounter in
numerous situations.
3.3.1 Adjusting Volume, Swing, and Tempo
At any time you can quickly adjust volume levels, swing, and the overall tempo of your Project
using the Quick Edit buttons.
3.3.1.1 Adjusting Volume, Swing and Tempo in the MASCHINE Software
Adjusting Volume
To adjust the various volume levels in the software, the following controls are at your disposal:
► To adjust the overall output level, click and drag the Master Volume slider located on the
right part of the Header, at the top of the window.
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Basic Concepts
Common Operations
Use the Master Volume slider in the Header to adjust the overall volume of MASCHINE.
You can also use Mix view to adjust your Sound and Group levels. Mix view gives you quick access
to the level and routing settings of all your Sounds, Groups, and the Master. In addition, it provides
you with an intuitive interface for adjusting the parameters of all your Plug-ins. More on this in section The Mix View.
Adjusting Swing
To adjust the overall Swing of your song, you can use the display in the Header, at the top of
the MASCHINE window:
The SWING control in the Header.
► To adjust the Swing value of your Project, click the SWING value, hold the mouse button
and drag vertically.
Adjusting Tempo
To adjust the overall Tempo of your song, you can use the display in the Header, at the top of
the MASCHINE window:
The BPM control in the Header.
► To adjust the Tempo (Beats Per Minute) value of your Project, click the BPM value, hold
the mouse button and drag vertically.
3.3.1.2 Adjusting Volume, Swing, Tempo and Tune on Your Controller
Adjusting Volume
► Press the VOLUME button next to the Encoder.
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Basic Concepts
Common Operations
→ The VOLUME button lights up. You can now adjust the volume for your overall Project, for
each Group, and for each Sound individually using the Encoder:
▪ To adjust the overall volume, turn the Encoder. Hold SHIFT to adjust the value in finer in-
crements.
▪ To adjust the volume of a particular Group, hold its Group button (A–H) and turn the En-
coder. Hold SHIFT to adjust the value in finer increments.
▪ To adjust the volume of an individual Sound, press and hold its pad and turn the Encoder.
Hold SHIFT to adjust the value in finer increments.
As you adjust the volume, the display indicates the current value.
It is recommended you try this while your Pattern is playing, you will immediately hear the effect of
your changes.
Adjusting Swing
Now adjust the overall swing of your Project. The Swing feature shifts some of the played
notes, hereby adding some “groove” to your Pattern. The procedure is similar to the one described above for the volume:
► Press the SWING button next to the Encoder.
→ The SWING button lights up. You can now adjust the swing for your overall Project, for
each Group, and for each Sound individually using the Encoder:
▪ To adjust the overall swing, turn the Encoder. Hold SHIFT to adjust the value in finer incre-
ments.
▪ To adjust the swing of a particular Group, hold its Group button (A–H) and turn the Encod-
er. Hold SHIFT to adjust the value in finer increments.
▪ To adjust the swing of an individual Sound, press and hold its pad and turn the Encoder.
Hold SHIFT to adjust the value in finer increments.
As you adjust the swing, the display indicates the current value.
Adjusting Tempo
► Press the TEMPO button next to the Encoder.
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Basic Concepts
Common Operations
→ The TEMPO button lights up. You can now adjust the tempo for your overall Project, for
each Group, and for each Sound individually using the Encoder:
▪ To adjust the overall tempo, turn the Encoder. Hold SHIFT to adjust the value in finer in-
crements.
As you adjust the tempo, the display indicates the current value.
It is recommended you try this while your Pattern is playing, you will immediately hear the effect of
your changes.
When you are done with your volume, swing, and tempo changes, press the lit VOLUME,
SWING, or TEMPO button to deactivate it.
3.3.2 Undo/Redo
Undoing and re-doing your last actions can be useful to cancel operations you have performed
or to compare two versions before and after a change. You can undo nearly everything you did
after loading or creating your Project.
Note: If you save your Project, you will no longer be able to undo or redo any actions performed before saving!
MASCHINE provides two different undo/redo features, each of them being suited for specific
situations:
▪ Step Undo allows you to cancel your last single action.
▪ Take Undo allows you to cancel your last group of actions.
Step Undo
Step Undo/Redo is the classic undo/redo found in most applications. It cancels or re-executes
each single action you have performed.
In the software use the following keyboard shortcuts for the Step Undo and Step Redo functions:
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Basic Concepts
Common Operations
► To cancel your last action (Step Undo), press [Ctrl]+[Shift]+[Z] ([Cmd]+ [Shift]+ [Z] on
macOS). To re-execute your last action (Step Redo), press [Ctrl]+ [Shift]+ [Y] ([Cmd]+
[Shift]+ [Y] on macOS). You can also select Undo Step and Redo Step from the Edit
menu in the Application Menu Bar or from the Edit submenu in the MASCHINE menu.
The commands in the Edit menu additionally shows which action will be undone/redone!
Take Undo
Suppose you have just recorded a 16th-note hi-hat beat over four bars, but then decide to cancel it. Normally you would have to cancel the 64 notes one at a time, repeatedly calling the
undo function 64 times in a row. This is what Take Undo has been made for!
Take Undo/Redo is an extended undo/redo available while recording that allows you to cancel
or re-execute a whole group of actions at once.
Take Undo/Redo is the default undo/redo in MASCHINE. In the software use the common keyboard shortcuts for the Undo and Redo functions:
► To cancel your last group of actions, press [Ctrl]+[Z] ([Cmd]+[Z] on macOS). To re-exe-
cute your last group of actions, press [Ctrl]+[Y] ([Cmd]+[Y] on macOS). You can also select Undo and Redo from the Edit menu in the Application Menu Bar or from the Edit
submenu in the MASCHINE menu.
The commands in the Edit menu additionally shows which action will be undone/redone!
Undo/Redo on the Controller
Both Take Undo and Step Undo are also available on your controller:
1. To undo a take, press SHIFT + pad 1 (UNDO).
2. To redo a take, press SHIFT + pad 2 (REDO).
3. To undo a step, press SHIFT + pad 3 (STEP UNDO).
4. To redo a step, press SHIFT + pad 4 (STEP REDO).
Take Undo is available in following situations:
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Basic Concepts
Common Operations
▪ Recording in Control mode
▪ Recording in Step mode
▪ Recording modulation
Outside of these three situations, Take Undo has the same effect as Step Undo (see above).
3.3.3 Focusing on a Group or a Sound
To display the content and parameters of a particular Sound or Group, you first need to put it
in focus.
Setting the focus on a Sound or Group is slightly different than selecting it: The focus defines
what will be displayed, whereas the selection defines what will be affected by your edits. Note
that a focused Sound/Group is always selected. The distinction is of importance because you
can select multiple Sounds or Groups to apply your edits to all of them at once! See section
↑5.1.3, Selecting Multiple Sounds or Groups for more on this.
We show here how to put Sounds and Groups in focus when the MASCHINE software is in Arrange
view (default view). For instructions on putting Sounds and Groups in focus in Mix view, please refer to chapter ↑13.2.3, Selecting Channel Strips.
Setting the Focus on a Group
► To put a Group in focus, click this Group in the Group List of the Arranger:
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Basic Concepts
Common Operations
→ The focused Group is highlighted. The Pattern Editor displays the Sounds and Patterns of
that Group.
The focused Group is highlighted and the Pattern Editor show its content.
If the desired Group does not appear in the Group List, use the scroll bar at the right end of the
Arranger or turn your mouse wheel while hovering the Arranger to display any hidden Groups. You
can also extend the Arranger by dragging its lower right corner vertically with the mouse.
You can also select multiple Groups at once to apply changes to all of them. See section ↑5.1.3,
Selecting Multiple Sounds or Groups for more information.
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Basic Concepts
Common Operations
Setting the Focus on a Sound
To put a Sound in focus:
1. Set the focus to the Group containing the desired Sound by clicking it in the Group List
on the left of the Arranger (see above).
The focused Group is highlighted. The Pattern Editor displays the Sounds and Patterns of
that Group.
2. Click the desired Sound slot in the Sound List of the Pattern Editor:
→ The focused Sound slot is highlighted.
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The focused Sound slot is highlighted.
If the desired Sound does not appear in the Sound List, use the scroll bar at the right end of the
Pattern Editor or turn your mouse wheel while hovering the Pattern Editor to display any hidden
Sounds.
You can also select multiple Sounds at once to apply changes to all of them. See section ↑5.1.3,
Selecting Multiple Sounds or Groups for more information.
Focusing on a Group using the Hardware
Basic Concepts
Common Operations
1. If necessary, press GROUP + the Left or Right Arrow button below the display to switch to
the Group bank containing that Group.
2. Press GROUP + the pad 9–16 of the desired Group.
The corresponding Group is now in focus.
Focusing on a Sound using the Hardware
1. If you want to set the focus on a Sound located in another Group, first set the focus on its
Group as described above.
2. Press SELECT + the pad of the desired Sound (or simply press its pad if pads are in Pad
Mode).
→ The corresponding Sound is now in focus.
For information on how to quickly switch between the Master, Group, and Sound level in the
software, see section ↑3.3.4, Switching Between the Master, Group, and Sound Level.
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Basic Concepts
Common Operations
You can also select multiple Sounds at once to apply changes to all of them. See section ↑5.1.3,
Selecting Multiple Sounds or Groups for more information.
3.3.4 Switching Between the Master, Group, and Sound Level
At any time you can quickly switch the Control area between the parameters of the Master, the
focused Group, and the focused Sound.
Click the desired tab to switch the display of the Control area.
► Click the MASTER, GROUP or SOUND tab in the top left corner of the Control area to dis-
play the Plug-in parameters or Channel properties of the Master, the focused Group or the
focused Sound, respectively.
→ The selected tab lights up. The name of your Project, the focused Group or the focused
Sound appears under the MASTER, GROUP, and SOUND tabs (the Muddy Matt Sound in
the picture above), and the rest of the Control area displays the Plug-in parameters and
Channel properties of the Master, the focused Group or the focused Sound, respectively.
3.3.5 Navigating Channel Properties, Plug-ins, and Parameter Pages in the Control Area
We describe here how to display/edit any Plug-in parameters or Channel properties located in
any Sound, Group or the Master.
To select a particular Plug-in or a particular set of Channel properties, you first need to display
the parameters of the Master, the desired Group or Sound.
1. To display the parameters of a particular Group or Sound, put it in focus by clicking it in
the Group List or Sound List, respectively (see section ↑3.3.3, Focusing on a Group or a
Sound).
2. In the top left corner of the Control area, click the MASTER, GROUP or SOUND tab to
display the parameters of the Master, the focused Group or the focused Sound, respectively.
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Basic Concepts
Common Operations
→ The Control area now displays the Plug-in parameters and Channel properties of the de-
sired Sound, desired Group or the Master.
Selecting Channel Properties
1. At the far left of the Control area, click the Channel icon (showing a little knob) to display
the Channel properties:
The button lights up. The Channel Property selector appears in the left part of the Control
area, showing a square of four buttons representing the various sets of Channel properties
available for the selected Sound, Group or the Master:
2. Click the desired button (Input, Output, Groove, or Macro) in the Channel Property selector to select that set of Channel properties.
→ The selected button is highlighted and the parameters of the selected Channel properties
appear in the Parameter area (the right and biggest part of the Control area).
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Basic Concepts
Common Operations
Selecting a Plug-in
1. At the far left of the Control area, click the little Plug-in icon to display the Plug-ins:
The icon lights up. The Plug-in List appears in the left part of the Control area, showing a
stack of all Plug-ins loaded in the selected Sound, Group or the Master:
2. Click the desired Plug-in slot in the Plug-in List to select that Plug-in.
→ The parameters of the selected Plug-in appear in the Parameter area (the right and biggest
part of the Control area).
If the Plug-in List only shows a “+” sign, it means that there are no Plug-ins loaded in this Sound,
Group or the Master. Clicking the “+” sign allows you to load a new Plug-in: see section ↑7.1.3,
Loading, Removing, and Replacing a Plug-in for more on this.
Navigating Parameter Pages
In some situations, the selected Plug-in or Channel properties provide more parameters than
the display(s) of your controller and the Parameter area in the software can show at once. Examples of this are the parameters for the Groups’ or Sounds’ Output properties and those for
the Sampler Plug-in. In these cases, the parameters are divided into several Parameter pages
that you can easily navigate with the hardware and software.
In the software the names of the available pages are displayed at the top of the Parameter
area. The name of the page currently displayed is highlighted.
► Click the desired page name at the top of the Parameter area to show the corresponding
Parameter page.
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Basic Concepts
Common Operations
The Parameter pages of the Sound’s Output properties: Audio (currently displayed), Aux, and MIDI.
If all page names cannot be displayed at once at the top of the Parameter area, two small arrows are displayed on the left to click through the pages:
► Click the left or right arrow to access additional pages.
Adjusting the Parameters
In the Parameter area, each parameter includes a control element and a label. Following types
of control elements are available:
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Element Action
Knob: Click the knob and drag your mouse vertically to change
the parameter value. Hold [Shift] on your computer keyboard and
drag your mouse to adjust the value in finer increments.
Button: Click the button to switch its state. When the button is
enabled, it shows a small colored LED.
Selector: Click the displayed value to open the drop-down list,
and click another value in the list to select it.
Navigating Plug-ins, and Parameter Pages using the Controller
Basic Concepts
Common Operations
On the controller, do the following:
1. Set the focus on the desired Sound, Group or the Master (see section ↑3.3.3, Focusing on
a Group or a Sound).
2. At the top of the controller, press the PLUG-IN.
3. If you have more than one Plug-in loaded, use the Arrow buttons to navigate them.
4. Press the Encoder to display the parameter properties of the selected Plug-in.
5. Use the Arrow buttons to navigate through each parameter, or SHIFT + Arrow buttons to
navigate the parameter pages of the selected Plug-in.
6. Turn Encoder to adjust the value of the selected parameter. Hold SHIFT while turning the
encoder to adjust the value in finer increments.
7. Press Plug-in again to return to the top level if you want to navigate the plug-ins again.
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3.3.6 Navigating the Software Using the Controller
You can use the controller to adjust the position and zoom factor in the software.
To access the Navigation mode:
► Press SHIFT + VARIATION (Navigate).
Navigating the Pattern Editor
To control the position and zoom factor in the Pattern Editor from your controller:
Action Shortcut
Scroll Pattern Editor left Press pad 1
Scroll Pattern Editor right Press pad 3
Zoom in to Pattern Editor Press pad 6
Zoom out of Pattern Editor Press pad 2
Navigating Song View
Basic Concepts
Common Operations
To control the position and zoom factor in the Song view from your controller:
Action Shortcut
Scroll Arranger left Press pad 9
Scroll Arranger right Press pad 11
Zoom in (Arranger) Press pad 14
Zoom out (Arranger) Press pad 10
3.3.7 Using Two or More Hardware Controllers
If two or more MASCHINE controllers of different types are connected to your computer, only
one controller can be used to control the MASCHINE software at a time.
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Basic Concepts
Common Operations
If you have more than one instance of the MASCHINE software running on your computer, you can
control each instance with a different controller. See Controlling Various Instances with Different
Controllers for more information.
A controller not connected to any MASCHINE software instance can be used in MIDI mode (i.e. as a
MIDI controller) at the same time as the other controller(s). See the Controller Editor Manual for
more information on MIDI mode.
You can choose which controller you want to use with the MASCHINE software. This can be
done both from your controller and in the software.
You can select the desired controller from the Controller menu in the Application Menu Bar or
from the Controller submenu in the MASCHINE menu:
Click the MASCHINE menu and select the controller you want to use.
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Common Operations
Hardware
On the controller you want to use with the MASCHINE software, do the following:
▪ MASCHINE (MK3) controller: Press SHIFT + PLUG-IN, turn the 4-D encoder to select the
desired instance, and press the 4-D encoder or Button 4 to load it.
▪ MASCHINE STUDIO controller: Press SHIFT + PLUG-IN, turn the jog wheel to select the
desired instance, and press the jog wheel or Button 8 to load it.
▪ MASCHINE (MK1 & MK2) controller: Press SHIFT + STEP, turn Knob 8 (or press But-
ton 5/6) to select the desired instance, and press Button 8 to load it.
▪ MASCHINE MIKRO (MK1 & MK2) controller: Press SHIFT + F2, turn the Control encoder
to select the desired instance, and press the Control encoder to load it.
▪ MASCHINE JAM controller: Press SHIFT + H (INSTANCE), turn the Control encoder to se-
lect the desired instance, and press the Control encoder to load it.
▪ KOMPLETE KONTROL Keyboard MK1: Press INSTANCE and turn the Control encoder to
select the desired instance, and press the Control encoder to load it.
▪ KOMPLETE KONTROL Keyboard MK2: Press INSTANCE and turn the 4-D encoder to se-
lect the desired instance, and press the 4-D encoder to load it.
Basic Concepts
3.3.8 Loading a Recent Project from the Controller
Your controller has a dedicated mode that conveniently allows you to use the controller to load
a Project that was recently opened.
To load a recent Project from the controller:
1. Press the Project button (MASCHINE logo) at the top on the left-hand side of the controller.
2. Turn the Encoder to find the recent Project you want to load.
3. Press the Encoder to load the selected Project.
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Basic Concepts
Native Kontrol Standard
3.4 Native Kontrol Standard
Native Kontrol Standard (NKS) is a software instrument format that allows third-party developers to integrate with MASCHINE and KOMPLETE KONTROL hardware and software at the
same deep level as KOMPLETE Instruments.
The Native Kontrol Standard includes:
▪ Seamless integration into the MASCHINE and KOMPLETE KONTROL Browser for a unified
browsing experience.
▪ Full parameter mapping for instant hands-on control.
▪ Support of KOMPLETE KONTROL S-SERIES features such as the Light Guide.
NKS instruments can be found in the MASCHINE Browser next to your KOMPLETE Instruments. All of their presets are fully tagged, so filtering in the Browser gives you matching results from both KOMPLETE Instruments and NKS instruments (see section ↑4.2.6, Selecting
Type and Character Tags). And when you load a preset from an NKS instrument, its parameters
are mapped to the controls on your KOMPLETE KONTROL S-SERIES keyboard in a meaningful
way, just like any preset from your KOMPLETE Instruments.
NKS instruments are automatically added to your Library when you start MASCHINE or KOMPLETE KONTROL for the first time after installing the instrument (except KONTAKT instruments with NKS support, see below). The folders containing the preset files for NKS support
can be managed in the Factory pane on the Library page of the Preferences (see section
↑3.6.5, Preferences – Library Page).
Installing KONTAKT Instruments with NKS Support
Third-party developers of KONTAKT instruments provide you with a folder that contains all instrument files, including presets and samples. Instead of running an installer, this folder needs
to be stored on the hard drive. The instrument can then be activated with Native Access, which
also adds it to the MASCHINE and KOMPLETE KONTROL Libraries. If you are using KONTAKT, the instrument is automatically added to your KONTAKT Browser too.
To activate your KONTAKT instrument with NKS support and add it to the MASCHINE Library,
follow the steps below:
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Basic Concepts
Stand-Alone and Plug-in Mode
1. Start the stand-alone version of the MASCHINE software.
2. In the File menu click on Manage Products….
3. Click on Add a serial in the top-left corner of Native Access.
4. Enter the serial number of the instrument and click ADD SERIAL.
5. Click BROWSE and open the folder containing the instrument files in the file dialog.
6. Click on INSTALL to add the instrument to your MASCHINE Library.
→ The instrument is installed. MASCHINE automatically scans for the new content and adds
it to the MASCHINE Browser.
The MASCHINE, and KOMPLETE KONTROL Libraries, and the KONTAKT Browser reference the instrument files contained in the folder. It is recommended to not delete or move the folder afterwards, or otherwise MASCHINE, KOMPLETE KONTROL, and KONTAKT will not be able to find the
instrument files. If an instrument cannot be found, use the Rescan function on the Preferences’
Library page to update the Library with the correct folder location (see section ↑3.6.5, Preferences
– Library Page).
3.5 Stand-Alone and Plug-in Mode
You can run the MASCHINE software as a stand-alone application or integrate it into your favorite host by loading it as a plug-in. The MASCHINE software is available in the VST, Audio
Unit, and AAX plug-in formats. For further information on plug-in compatibility and for a detailed description of how to use plug-ins in your host, please refer to the documentation included with your host software.
3.5.1 Differences between Stand-Alone and Plug-in Mode
Transport Functions
The most noticeable difference between the stand-alone and plug-in mode of MASCHINE relates to the interaction with MASCHINE’s sequencer. Indeed, when MASCHINE is used as a
plug-in within a host sequencer software (e.g., Cubase or Pro Tools), MASCHINE’s sequencer
is exclusively controlled by the host application: you cannot, e.g., manually start, stop or re-
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Basic Concepts
Stand-Alone and Plug-in Mode
start the playback in MASCHINE, nor modify the tempo or the time signature of your Project
within the MASCHINE plug-in itself — these are synchonized to your host’s own transport
functions and tempo settings. As a direct consequence, when MASCHINE is used as a plug-in
the Restart and Play buttons as well as the Tempo and Time Signature fields are grayed out
and inactive in the MASCHINE Header. Obviously you cannot control MASCHINE’s playback
and tempo settings from your MASCHINE controller either.
However from your controller you can directly control the transport functions of your host application instead. See section Controlling your Host’s Transport Functions in Plug-in Mode for more information.
Audio and MIDI Handling
When MASCHINE is used in stand-alone mode, it directly communicates with your audio and
MIDI interface. You can select which physical audio/MIDI ports have to be used on your interface, and configure crucial audio settings like the sample rate. All this is done via the Audio
and MIDI Settings panel (for more information on this, please refer to ↑3.7, Integrating MA-
SCHINE into a MIDI Setup).
On the contrary, When MASCHINE is used as a plug-in within a host application, the communication with your audio and MIDI interfaces is managed by the host — the MASCHINE plugin only communicates with the host. Native Instruments’ Online Knowledge Base provides
how-tos that will help you route the MASCHINE plug-in to multiple tracks/outputs in the major
hosts:
▪ How to route MASCHINE to multiple outputs in Ableton Live:
http://www.native-instruments.com/knowledge/questions/1705
▪ How to route MASCHINE to multiple outputs in Cubase:
http://www.native-instruments.com/knowledge/questions/1707
▪ How to route MASCHINE to multiple outputs in Pro Tools:
http://www.native-instruments.com/knowledge/questions/1709
▪ How to route MASCHINE to multiple outputs in Logic Pro:
http://www.native-instruments.com/knowledge/questions/1711
For all details on the audio and MIDI configuration of your host application, please refer to its documentation.
MASCHINE MIKRO - Manual - 87
Basic Concepts
Stand-Alone and Plug-in Mode
Multiple Plug-in Instances
When you are using MASCHINE as a plug-in within a host application, you can open multiple
MASCHINE instances. Actually, you can load as many instances of MASCHINE as your computer and your host application can handle CPU-wise. In contrast to the stand-alone application, they are always synced to the host. In plug-in mode you can also send MIDI Program
Change messages from your host to switch between MASCHINE’s Scenes or between patches
of other plug-ins loaded into MASCHINE, or record automation for MASCHINE parameters. To
learn more about these, have a look at chapter ↑16.5, Triggering Sections or Scenes via MIDI
and ↑12.2, Using MIDI Control and Host Automation.
3.5.2 Switching Instances
When two or more instances of the MASCHINE software are running (e.g., as plug-ins on different tracks of your DAW), you must choose which instance you want to control from your
hardware controller. You can do this both from your controller and in the software.
► To select your controller from a particular MASCHINE instance, click the Connect button
in the MASCHINE Header of that instance.
Click the Connect button to connect the controller to that instance.
3.6 Preferences
The Preferences panel lets you specify various settings for MASCHINE.
► To open the Preferences panel, click Preferences… in the Maschine menu (macOS) or
File menu (Windows) of the Application Menu Bar, or in the File submenu of the MA-
SCHINE menu:
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Basic Concepts
Preferences… in the File menu of the Application Menu Bar (Windows depicted), and in the File submenu of the MASCHINE menu.
The following pages are available in the Preferences panel:
▪ General: see ↑3.6.1, Preferences – General Page.
▪ Audio: see ↑3.6.2, Preferences – Audio Page.
Preferences
▪ MIDI: see ↑3.6.3, Preferences – MIDI Page.
▪ Default: see ↑3.6.4, Preferences – Default Page.
▪ Library: see ↑3.6.5, Preferences – Library Page.
▪ Plug-ins: see ↑3.6.6, Preferences – Plug-ins Page.
▪ Hardware: see ↑3.6.7, Preferences – Hardware Page.
▪ Colors: see ↑3.6.8, Preferences – Colors Page.
3.6.1 Preferences – General Page
The General page holds all of the global settings for MASCHINE.
► To display the General page, click the General tab on the left of the Preferences panel.
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Basic Concepts
Preferences
The Preferences – General page.
Setting
Description
Startup
Reload Last Project Click this checkbox to automatically reload the last Project on
startup.
Recording Audio
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Setting Description
Prefer Project Folder If this checkbox is marked, the Samples you record will be put
in a subdirectory of the folder where your Project is saved. If
not, your recordings will be saved in the generic Recordings
folder in your standard user directory (see section ↑3.6.4,
Preferences – Default Page).
Metronome
Enabled Check this box to activate the metronome. You can also enable
the metronome by clicking the Metronome button in the
MASCHINE Header, for more information see section: ↑11.2.2,
Using the Metronome.
Basic Concepts
Preferences
Auto-Enable when
Recording
Click the checkbox to enable the Auto-Enable option. This
automatically turns on the metronome when you start recording
a Pattern.
When you start recording a Pattern (typically by pressing REC on
your controller), the metronome is automatically enabled. When
you exit recording (e.g., by pressing the lit REC button) the
metronome returns to its state before the recording (this can be
on or off).
The Auto-Enable option can be activated/deactivated both in the
software and from your controller.
The Auto-Enable option does not affect the Count-in: Even if
Auto-Enable is disabled, the metronome turns on when you
press SHIFT + REC to start the Count-in. For more information
on configuring Count-in, refer to section: ↑11.2.3, Recording
with Count-in.
Volume
Click the slider to adjust the volume of the metronome.
Signature Select the time interval between each tick of the metronome. By
default the metronome indicates the beats (the quarter notes,
1/4). Here you can select another note value for the ticks.
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Setting Description
Count-in Length Select the duration of the Count-in, i.e. how long the
metronome will sound before the recording actually starts.
Link
Enabled Click the checkbox to enable the Link protocol by default.
Applications that support Ableton Link can join a Link session
when connected to the same network. For more information on
Link please refer to section: ↑3.8, Syncing MASCHINE using
Ableton Link.
Input
Quantize Input Quantize automatically quantizes your input to
MASCHINE as you record.
Select one of the following Input Quantization modes:
None: Input Quantization is disabled. Events you play or record
on the pads are not quantized.
Record: Input Quantization is applied only when you record the
pads.
Play/Rec: Input Quantization is applied both when you play on
the pads and when you record them.
Basic Concepts
Preferences
In Play/Rec mode the quantization applied while playing is
slightly different from the quantization applied while recording:
When recording, all events are quantized to the closest step —
possibly ahead of the event. When playing, on the other hand,
events occurring in the first half of the steps are left untouched
(since you cannot bring them forward in the timeline!) whereas
events occurring in the second half of the steps are quantized to
the next step.
MASCHINE MIKRO - Manual - 92
Setting Description
Usage Data Tracking
Allow usage data tracking Here you can select to enable or disable Usage Data Tracking.
Usage Data Tracking technology enables MASCHINE to
automatically track anonymous usage data that you can choose
to share with us.
All users should keep Data Tracking enabled as it provides a
valuable tool for understanding the performance of Native
Instruments applications when they are used in real life
situations. The data sent to Native Instruments is one hundred
percent anonymous and will not affect performance.
For more detailed information about Usage Data Tracking,
please refer to the following Knowledge Base article on the
Native Instruments website:
https://support.native-instruments.com/hc/en-us/articles/
209545029
Basic Concepts
Preferences
3.6.2 Preferences – Audio Page
The Audio page holds settings related to your audio interface.
The Routings section allows you to configure the connections between the virtual inputs/outputs of MASCHINE and the physical inputs/outputs of your audio interface.
► To display the Audio page, click the Audio tab on the left of the Preferences panel.
Setting Description
Interface
Driver Select your audio driver from the drop-down menu.
Device Select the available devices if you have more than one audio
interface connected.
Status This confirms whether your audio interface is currently running.
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Setting Description
Sample Rate This displays the selected sample rate of your audio interface.
Restart MASCHINE after changing the sample rate.
ASIO Config (Windows only) Click Open Panel to access specific controls related to your
audio interface. Please consult the documentation that came
with your audio interface for more information.
Latency macOS: This slider allows you to adjust the latency of your audio
interface in samples. Lower values result in a more immediate
playing response but are heavier on both the CPU and the audio
driver, and may result in audible clicks and pops. Larger values
are easier on the CPU, but introduce a larger latency (i.e., there
may be a small delay in sound playback when you play on the
pads). You should therefore experiment with this setting so that
it is as low as possible without overloading your CPU or
introducing any audio artifacts.
Windows: When using an ASIO driver, the Audio and MIDI
Settings panel displays an ASIO Config button instead of the
Latency slider. Click this button to open the settings window of
the selected ASIO driver.
Basic Concepts
Preferences
Routings
Input Click Inputs to display the Routing Inputs. Here you can select
which inputs on your audio interface should be used for the four
stereo inputs of MASCHINE. Select the inputs of your audio
interface on the right column by clicking the fields: you will be
presented with a drop-down menu with all the available Inputs.
The choices made here will determine which inputs can be used
when sampling external sources, for example.
Output Click Output to display the Routing Outputs. Here you are
presented with a list of the 16 stereo outputs from MASCHINE:
In the right column, you can assign them to the outputs of your
audio interface. Click the fields in the right column to select the
desired outputs via a drop-down menu.
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Basic Concepts
3.6.3 Preferences – MIDI Page
The MIDI page allows you to set up the MIDI input and output ports that you want to use with
MASCHINE.
► To display the MIDI page, click the MIDI tab on the left of the Preferences panel.
Preferences
MASCHINE MIKRO - Manual - 95
Setting Description
Sync
Mode Click the drop-down menu to set the MIDI Sync mode preference
for MASCHINE:
Off: No MIDI sync mode is selected.
Master (Send Clock): If MASCHINE is running as a stand-alone
application, it can also send a MIDI Clock signal to any device that
is capable of receiving MIDI Clock. This could be hardware such as
a drum machine, another groove box, or even another software
sequencer.
Slave (Receive Clock): If MASCHINE is running as a stand-alone
application, it can be controlled externally via MIDI Clock by any
device that is capable of sending MIDI Clock. This could be
hardware such as a drum machine, another groove box or
sequencer, or even another software sequencer.
Please note that the Slave (Receive Clock) option is not available
when LINK is active. For more information on Link see ↑3.8,
Syncing MASCHINE using Ableton Link.
Basic Concepts
Preferences
Clock Offset (appears
when Mode is set to
Slave)
Click and move the Clock Offset slider to compensate for delay that
may occur during MIDI data transmission. Delayed MIDI Clock data
will cause external devices to respond too late, thus making your
track sound out of sync.
By adjusting the Clock Offset value you can set an amount of
latency to be compensated (in milliseconds). MASCHINE will then
send MIDI Clock events ahead of time as defined.
Devices
Inputs Click Input to display a list of all the available MIDI inputs of your
system. You can activate/deactivate each input by clicking the
fields in the Status column, which displays the current status of the
corresponding port.
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Basic Concepts
Setting Description
Outputs Click Output to display a list of all the available MIDI outputs of
your system. You can activate/deactivate each output by clicking
the fields in the Status column, which displays the current status of
the corresponding port.
3.6.4 Preferences – Default Page
The Default page allows you to define the default settings that will be used for each new
Project.
► To display the Default page, click the Default tab on the left of the Preferences panel.
Preferences
MASCHINE MIKRO - Manual - 97
Basic Concepts
Preferences
The Preferences – Default page.
MASCHINE MIKRO - Manual - 98
Setting Description
Project
Standalone Here you can select a Project to load automatically when you
start a new Project in MASCHINE used as a stand-alone
application. The field displays the location of the Template
Project selected for use. Click the folder icon to select another
Template Project. Any Project file can be used as a template;
this can be from the MASCHINE Library, or you could create a
file, for example with your preferred instruments and effects
already loaded into the Plug-in slots. If you have already set a
Template Project, click the cross icon to unset it and start new
Projects from scratch instead.
Plug-in Here you can select a Project to load automatically when
MASCHINE is used as a plug-in within a Digital Audio
Workstation. The field displays the location of the Template
Project selected for use. Click the folder icon to select another
Template Project. Any Project file can be used as a template;
this can be from the MASCHINE Library, or you can create a
file, for example with your preferred instruments and effects
loaded into the Plug-in slots. If you have already set a Template
Project, click the cross icon to unset it and start new Projects
from scratch instead.
Basic Concepts
Preferences
Metronome Settings
Down Beat Sample and Up
Beat Sample
Scene / Section
Here you can select audio files to be used as up and down beat
of the metronome, respectively. The fields display the locations
of the audio files selected for use. Click the fields to select
other files. Click the little crosses on the right of the fields to
remove the custom audio files and use the default metronome
sounds instead.
MASCHINE MIKRO - Manual - 99
Setting Description
Duplicate Select from the drop-down menu how the Duplicate function in
MASCHINE will operate when duplicating Scenes.
Scene Only
Only the Scene is duplicated. The result is a new unlinked
Scene with the same Patterns referenced.
Scene and Patterns
The Scene itself and additionally all Patterns are duplicated.
The new Scene and Patterns are now completely independent
from the originals.
Basic Concepts
Preferences
Link when duplicating
Sections
Click the checkbox to enable a linked copy of a Section when
using the Duplicate function. By default this feature is disabled.
When enabled, the Duplicate function will create a linked copy
of a Section. A linked copy will automatically be updated when
any instance of a linked Section is edited. This way, you don’t
need to keep track of which Section is the “original.”
Pattern
Length Enter the default length of new Patterns. The length is
measured in bars, beats, and sixteenths. To adjust the value,
click the desired number (bars, beats or sixteenths) and drag
your mouse vertically. For more information on Pattern Length
refer to: ↑11.1.6, Adjusting the Arrange Grid and the Pattern
Length.
Sound Lane Height Select the default height of the Sound lane in the Pattern Editor
by choosing between normal 1x or 2x zoom from the menu. 1x
displays all sixteen sounds, and 2x displays only the first eight
Sounds of a Group, making it easier to edit events.
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