Native Instruments MASCHINE MIKRO MK2 User manual

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 docu-
ment 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
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ply any affiliation with or endorsement by them.
Document authored by: Nicolas Sidi, David Gover
Software version: 1.8 (09/2012)
Special thanks to the Beta Test Team, who were invaluable not just in tracking down bugs, but
in making this a better product.
Disclaimer

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Native Instruments GmbH
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© Native Instruments GmbH, 2012. All rights reserved.
Contact

Table of Contents
1 Welcome to MASCHINE! ............................................................................................14
1.1 Where To Start? .......................................................................................................................... 15
1.2 What’s New in MASCHINE 1.8? ................................................................................................... 17
1.3 Manual Conventions ................................................................................................................... 19
2 Basic Concepts ......................................................................................................... 22
2.1 Names and Concepts You Should Know ...................................................................................... 22
2.2 Common Operations ................................................................................................................... 24
2.2.1 Switching Views ........................................................................................................ 24
2.2.2 Hiding the Browser .................................................................................................... 25
2.2.3 Minimizing the Arranger ............................................................................................ 26
2.2.4 Minimizing the Control Area ...................................................................................... 27
2.2.5 Hiding the Automation Lane ...................................................................................... 28
2.2.6 Navigating Parameter Pages in the Parameter Area .................................................. 29
2.2.7 Undo and Redo .......................................................................................................... 30
2.2.8 Pinning a Mode .......................................................................................................... 30
2.2.9 Using Two or More Hardware Controllers ................................................................... 31
2.3 Stand-alone and Plug-in Mode ................................................................................................... 32
2.3.1 Differences between Stand-alone and Plug-in Mode ................................................. 32
2.3.2 Switching Instances in Plug-in Mode ........................................................................ 33
2.3.3 Controlling Various Instances with Different Controllers ........................................... 34
2.3.4 Controlling your Host’s Transport Functions in Plug-in Mode .................................... 34
2.4 Preferences ................................................................................................................................. 34
2.4.1 Preferences – General Page ....................................................................................... 35
2.4.2 Preferences – Defaults Page ..................................................................................... 37
2.4.3 Preferences – User Paths Page .................................................................................. 39
2.4.4 Preferences – Libraries Page ..................................................................................... 41
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2.4.5 Preferences – Plug-ins Page ..................................................................................... 42
2.4.6 Preferences – Hardware Page .................................................................................... 46
2.4.7 Preferences – Colors Page ......................................................................................... 48
2.5 Audio and MIDI Settings ............................................................................................................. 49
2.5.1 Audio Page ................................................................................................................ 50
2.5.2 Routing Page ............................................................................................................. 51
2.5.3 MIDI Page .................................................................................................................. 52
2.6 Connecting External MIDI Equipment ......................................................................................... 54
2.6.1 Sync to External MIDI Clock ....................................................................................... 54
2.6.2 Send MIDI Clock ......................................................................................................... 55
3 Browser ....................................................................................................................57
3.1 Elements of the Browser ............................................................................................................. 58
3.1.1 DISK Button ............................................................................................................... 59
3.1.2 File Type Selector ....................................................................................................... 60
3.1.3 Tag Filter ................................................................................................................... 60
3.1.4 Search Field ............................................................................................................... 61
3.1.5 RESULTS List ............................................................................................................. 62
3.1.6 Audition Controls ....................................................................................................... 64
3.1.7 Loading Groups with their Patterns ........................................................................... 65
3.2 Locating Missing Samples .......................................................................................................... 65
3.3 Importing Your Own Files ............................................................................................................ 67
3.4 Tagging your Files ...................................................................................................................... 70
3.5 Quick Browse .............................................................................................................................. 72
3.6 The Browser on the Hardware ..................................................................................................... 73
3.6.1 Browsing Your Library ................................................................................................ 73
3.6.2 Additional Features ................................................................................................... 75
4 Working with Sounds ................................................................................................. 77
4.1 Sound Basics .............................................................................................................................. 77
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4.1.1 The Modules .............................................................................................................. 78
4.1.2 Module Slot 1: Choosing the Sound’s Role ................................................................. 80
4.1.3 Loading a Module ...................................................................................................... 80
4.1.4 Adjusting the Module Parameters .............................................................................. 83
4.1.5 Bypassing Module Slots ............................................................................................. 84
4.1.6 Moving Modules ......................................................................................................... 84
4.1.7 Saving Module Presets .............................................................................................. 88
4.1.8 Recalling Module Presets .......................................................................................... 89
4.2 The Sampler Module ................................................................................................................... 91
4.2.1 Page 1: Voice Settings and Engine ............................................................................ 92
4.2.2 Page 2: Pitch/Gate and Amplitude Envelope .............................................................. 93
4.2.3 Page 3: FX and Filter ................................................................................................. 96
4.2.4 Page 4: Modulation Envelope and Destination ........................................................... 97
4.2.5 Page 5: LFO and Destination ..................................................................................... 99
4.2.6 Page 6: Velocity Destination and Modwheel Destination ............................................ 100
4.3 Using VST/AU Plug-ins ............................................................................................................... 101
4.3.1 Loading a Plug-in ...................................................................................................... 102
4.3.2 Opening and Closing Plug-in Windows ...................................................................... 105
4.3.3 Assigning Plug-in Parameters ................................................................................... 107
4.3.4 Using VST/AU Plug-in Presets .................................................................................... 112
4.4 The Sound Properties .................................................................................................................. 114
4.4.1 Selecting a Set of Properties ...................................................................................... 114
4.4.2 Adjusting the Properties ............................................................................................ 115
4.4.3 Sound – Groove Properties (GRV) ............................................................................... 116
4.4.4 Sound – Output Properties (OUT) ............................................................................... 118
4.5 Managing Sounds ....................................................................................................................... 120
4.5.1 Naming Sound Slots .................................................................................................. 120
4.5.2 Changing the Sound’s Color ...................................................................................... 121
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4.5.3 Saving Sounds ........................................................................................................... 122
4.5.4 Copying and Pasting Sounds ..................................................................................... 123
4.5.5 Moving Sound Slots ................................................................................................... 125
4.5.6 Resetting a Sound Slot .............................................................................................. 125
4.6 Mute and Solo ............................................................................................................................. 126
4.6.1 Mute and Solo on the Hardware ................................................................................. 127
4.6.2 Mute and Solo in the Software ................................................................................... 128
4.7 Choke All Notes ........................................................................................................................... 130
4.8 Loading REX Files ....................................................................................................................... 131
4.9 Using MIDI with Sounds .............................................................................................................. 131
4.9.1 Sound MIDI Batch Setup ............................................................................................ 132
4.9.2 Sound MIDI Settings .................................................................................................. 135
4.9.3 MIDI Output from Sounds .......................................................................................... 137
5 Working with Groups ................................................................................................. 140
5.1 The Group Properties .................................................................................................................. 140
5.1.1 Group – Source Properties (SRC) ............................................................................... 140
5.1.2 Group – Groove Properties (GRV) ............................................................................... 141
5.1.3 Group – Macro Properties (MCR) and Macro Controls ................................................ 142
5.1.4 Group – Output Properties (OUT) ............................................................................... 149
5.2 Managing Groups ....................................................................................................................... 151
5.2.1 Naming Group Slots ................................................................................................... 151
5.2.2 Changing the Group’s Color ....................................................................................... 152
5.2.3 Saving Groups ........................................................................................................... 153
5.2.4 Saving a Group with its Samples ............................................................................... 154
5.2.5 Copying and Pasting Groups ..................................................................................... 156
5.2.6 Moving Group Slots .................................................................................................... 157
5.2.7 Resetting a Group Slot ............................................................................................... 158
5.3 Importing MPC Programs to Groups ............................................................................................ 159
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5.3.1 Supported Parameters from MPC Programs ............................................................... 159
5.3.2 Importing MPC Program Files .................................................................................... 160
6 Working with Patterns (Controller) ............................................................................. 163
6.1 Creating Patterns ....................................................................................................................... 163
6.1.1 Pattern Mode ............................................................................................................. 163
6.1.2 Pad Modes ................................................................................................................. 166
6.1.3 Pad Link .................................................................................................................... 167
6.1.4 Recording the Pads ................................................................................................... 168
6.1.5 Using the Metronome and the Count-in ..................................................................... 169
6.1.6 Using the Step Sequencer .......................................................................................... 170
6.1.7 Using Note Repeat ..................................................................................................... 171
6.1.8 Using the Keyboard Mode .......................................................................................... 172
6.1.9 Recording Automation ............................................................................................... 173
6.1.10 Recording Automation in the Step Sequencer ............................................................ 174
6.1.11 Step Grid, Pattern Length, and Quantization ............................................................. 175
6.2 Editing Patterns ......................................................................................................................... 177
6.2.1 Selecting, Quick Selecting, and Quick Editing Events/Notes ...................................... 177
6.2.2 Deleting Events/Notes ............................................................................................... 182
6.2.3 Copy and Paste Events/Notes .................................................................................... 183
6.2.4 Nudge ........................................................................................................................ 183
6.2.5 Transposing Events/Notes ......................................................................................... 184
6.2.6 Compare/Split ........................................................................................................... 184
7 Working with Patterns (Software) ...............................................................................186
7.1 The Pattern Editor ....................................................................................................................... 186
7.1.1 Pattern Editor Overview ............................................................................................. 186
7.1.2 Selecting Patterns and Pattern Banks ....................................................................... 188
7.1.3 Step Grid and Quantization ....................................................................................... 189
7.1.4 Adjusting the Pattern Length ..................................................................................... 191
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7.1.5 Mouse Actions in the Step Grid .................................................................................. 193
7.1.6 The Zoom Tool ............................................................................................................ 194
7.1.7 Compare/Split ........................................................................................................... 195
7.1.8 Using the Keyboard View ........................................................................................... 195
7.1.9 Recording and Editing Automation ............................................................................ 196
7.1.10 Pad Link .................................................................................................................... 200
7.2 Managing Patterns ..................................................................................................................... 203
7.2.1 Naming Patterns ....................................................................................................... 203
7.2.2 Changing the Pattern’s Color .................................................................................... 204
7.2.3 Saving Patterns ......................................................................................................... 205
7.2.4 Copy and Paste Patterns ........................................................................................... 206
7.2.5 Moving Pattern Slots ................................................................................................. 207
7.2.6 Resetting a Pattern Slot ............................................................................................ 207
7.2.7 Rendering Audio from Patterns via Drag and Drop .................................................... 208
7.2.8 Rendering MIDI from Patterns via Drag and Drop ...................................................... 210
8 Effect Reference ........................................................................................................ 212
8.1 Dynamics .................................................................................................................................... 212
8.1.1 Compressor ............................................................................................................... 212
8.1.2 Gate ........................................................................................................................... 213
8.1.3 Transient Master ....................................................................................................... 215
8.1.4 Limiter ....................................................................................................................... 216
8.1.5 Maximizer .................................................................................................................. 216
8.2 Filtering Effects .......................................................................................................................... 217
8.2.1 EQ .............................................................................................................................. 217
8.2.2 Filter .......................................................................................................................... 219
8.3 Modulation Effects ..................................................................................................................... 221
8.3.1 Chorus ....................................................................................................................... 221
8.3.2 Flanger ...................................................................................................................... 222
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8.3.3 FM ............................................................................................................................. 223
8.3.4 Freq Shifter ................................................................................................................ 224
8.3.5 Phaser ....................................................................................................................... 225
8.4 Spatial and Reverb Effects ......................................................................................................... 227
8.4.1 Ice ............................................................................................................................. 227
8.4.2 Metaverb ................................................................................................................... 228
8.4.3 Reflex ........................................................................................................................ 229
8.4.4 Reverb ....................................................................................................................... 230
8.5 Delays ......................................................................................................................................... 231
8.5.1 Beat Delay ................................................................................................................. 231
8.5.2 Grain Delay ................................................................................................................ 233
8.5.3 Grain Stretch ............................................................................................................. 235
8.5.4 Resochord .................................................................................................................. 236
8.6 Distortion Effects ........................................................................................................................ 238
8.6.1 Distortion ................................................................................................................... 238
8.6.2 Lofi ............................................................................................................................ 239
8.6.3 Saturator ................................................................................................................... 240
9 Using Effects ............................................................................................................. 244
9.1 Applying Effects to a Sound, a Group or the Master .................................................................... 245
9.2 Bypassing Effects ....................................................................................................................... 249
9.3 Applying Effects to an External Instrument ................................................................................ 251
9.4 Creating a Send Effect ............................................................................................................... 255
9.4.1 Setting up a Sound as Send Effect ............................................................................ 255
9.4.2 Routing Audio to a Send Effect .................................................................................. 258
9.4.3 A Few Notes on Send Effects ...................................................................................... 260
9.5 Creating Multi-effects ................................................................................................................ 261
10 Creating a Song using Scenes .................................................................................... 264
10.1 Selecting a Scene ....................................................................................................................... 265
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