Arrange activates the arrangement, and Mix the mixing options (such overwhelming logic!). The Plug In button allows you to directly access the parameters of a previously selected plug-in. To the left of the displays is the Channel button to access the different input/output functions of each group, as well as the editing functions for the macros. They are not touch screens, which isn't a bad thing in itself, considering the amount of information that, as a consequence, can come together in a not-too-important surface.Īs usual in the Maschine series, the controls are placed around the displays, with push buttons above and rotary knobs below the displays, all of which are assigned different functions depending on what you are doing at the moment. That's correct, the USB port isn't enough to supply the Maschine Studio with power anymore, which you can blame partly on the two multicolor displays the size (and resolution) of an iPhone 3G each. As usual, all the connections are on the rear panel: one MIDI input and three MIDI outputs, two 1/4" jack inputs for footswitches (which aren't freely assignable, for the time being), a USB port, and (surprise!) a power connector. It is available in black and white, and that's it.Īfter having reviewed the aesthetic aspects, I'll move on now to the technical ones. And, now that we mention it, Maschine Studio is not customizable anymore. This last feature is a very wise choice, and it spares you having to buy a special support like for the Maschine MK2. The height is doubled if you use the retractable feet to tilt it. The controller is the biggest in the Maschine series: 17" long, 13.8" wide and 2.3" high.
But, hey, it's a purely aesthetic consideration. I was only a bit skeptical about the large reflective surface on the upper half and my fears were confirmed in use: while the material gives it a classy look, it is a real pain when it comes to finger marks. In short, it gives a very good overall impression. The push buttons respond pretty well, with a reassuring click: you will have no doubt as to whether you activated this or that function! The big jogwheel sits tightly in place, leaving little space for dirt to get inside. The pads seem fine as well, but the only way to test them is by playing, so we will come back to them later. The buttons turn very smoothly and pleasantly. The big rubber-like pads on the bottom keep it perfectly in place. Though it's made out of plastic, it's a thick, heavy plastic with the goal of giving it a nice finish (the assembly has no protruding corners nor loose parts). The first contact with it is fairly reassuring.
It does not come with a printed user guide, but rather two PDFs (very informative and very well thought-out!): a Getting Started guide that's 205 pages long, and a full user guide with no less than 737 pages.Īs usual, I'll start my analysis with the external looks of the unit.
All additional contents (sound libraries, software bundle) must be downloaded, at least with the version I have.
The box includes the controller itself, a USB cable (nice!), a power cable with adapters for international power outlets (very nice!), and a DVD to install the Maschine drivers. With these groups you create musical sequences called Patterns, which are themselves organized in Scenes.Īnd that's about it for this brief introduction, it's time to open the box! First impressions This 2.0 version of Maschine allows an unlimited number of groups to be created. Altogether, Sounds and Effects constitute a group. All these Sounds can further benefit from a second layer of effects, which is common to all of them, and are also unlimited. Each Sound can only contain one sound generator, but an unlimited number of effects in this new software version. A Group can gather up to 16 Sounds, which can be played simultaneously or not.
A Sound consists in a sound generator (a sample loaded into the Sampler module, a virtual instrument, an external hardware instrument, etc.) and it is the foundation upon which a group is built. A Group refers to a group of sounds working as an autonomous entity. To make the reading of this article easier for those who aren't familiar with Maschine, here's a brief reminder of how the system works, as well as of the terminology used.