Native Instruments Maschine 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
Instruments.
“Native Instruments”, “NI” and associated logos are (registered) trademarks of Native Instru-
ments GmbH.
Mac, Mac OS, GarageBand, Logic, iTunes and iPod are registered trademarks of Apple Inc.,
registered in the U.S. and other countries.
Windows, Windows Vista and DirectSound are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation
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All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners and use of them does not imply
any affiliation with or endorsement by them.
Document authored by: David Gover, Nicolas Sidi, Gustav Santo Tomas
Software version: 2.5.6 (12/2016)
Special thanks to the Beta Test Team, who were invaluable not just in tracking down bugs, but
in making this a better product.
Disclaimer

NATIVE INSTRUMENTS GmbH
Schlesische Str. 29-30
D-10997 Berlin
Germany
www.native-instruments.de
NATIVE INSTRUMENTS North America, Inc.
6725 Sunset Boulevard
5th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90028
USA
www.native-instruments.com
NATIVE INSTRUMENTS K.K.
YO Building 3F
Jingumae 6-7-15, Shibuya-ku,
Tokyo 150-0001
Japan
www.native-instruments.co.jp
NATIVE INSTRUMENTS UK Limited
18 Phipp Street
London EC2A 4NU
UK
www.native-instruments.co.uk
© NATIVE INSTRUMENTS GmbH, 2016. All rights reserved.
Contact

Table of Contents
1 Welcome to MASCHINE! ............................................................................................20
1.1 Where to Start? ........................................................................................................................... 21
1.2 Manual Conventions ................................................................................................................... 23
2 Basic Concepts .........................................................................................................25
2.1 Names and Concepts You Should Know ...................................................................................... 25
2.2 Adjusting the MASCHINE User Interface ..................................................................................... 27
2.2.1 Adjusting the Size of the Interface ............................................................................. 28
2.2.2 Showing/Hiding the Browser ...................................................................................... 29
2.2.3 Switching between Arrange View and Mix View ......................................................... 29
2.2.4 Minimizing the Mixer ................................................................................................. 30
2.2.5 Showing/Hiding the Control Lane .............................................................................. 30
2.3 Common Operations ................................................................................................................... 31
2.3.1 Setting the Focus on a Group or a Sound ................................................................... 31
2.3.2 Switching Between the Master, Group, and Sound Level ........................................... 35
2.3.3 Navigating Channel Properties, Plug-ins, and Parameter Pages in the Control Area . 35
2.3.4 Undo/Redo ................................................................................................................. 39
2.3.5 Pinning a Mode on Your Controller ............................................................................. 41
2.3.6 Using Two or More Hardware Controllers ................................................................... 41
2.4 Native Kontrol Standard ............................................................................................................. 42
2.4.1 Installing KONTAKT Instruments with NKS Support .................................................... 43
2.4.2 Loading NKS and Third-party Plug-ins from the Plug-in Menu .................................. 44
2.5 Stand-Alone and Plug-in Mode ................................................................................................... 45
2.5.1 Differences between Stand-Alone and Plug-in Mode ................................................. 46
2.5.2 Switching Instances .................................................................................................. 47
2.6 Preferences ................................................................................................................................. 48
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2.6.1 Preferences – General Page ....................................................................................... 49
2.6.1.1 Usage Data Tracking .................................................................................52
2.6.2 Preferences – Audio Page .......................................................................................... 53
2.6.3 Preferences – MIDI Page ............................................................................................ 56
2.6.4 Preferences – Default Page ....................................................................................... 59
2.6.5 Preferences – Library Page ........................................................................................ 62
2.6.6 Preferences – Plug-ins Page ..................................................................................... 70
2.6.7 Preferences – Hardware Page .................................................................................... 75
2.6.8 Controller Menu in the Hardware Page of the Preferences Panel ............................... 76
2.6.9 Preferences – Colors Page ......................................................................................... 78
2.7 Syncing MASCHINE using Ableton Link ....................................................................................... 81
2.7.1 Connecting to a Network ............................................................................................ 81
2.7.2 Joining and Leaving a Link Session ........................................................................... 81
3 Browser ....................................................................................................................83
3.1 Browser Basics ........................................................................................................................... 83
3.1.1 The MASCHINE Library ............................................................................................... 83
3.1.2 Browsing the Library vs. Browsing Your Hard Disks ................................................... 84
3.2 Searching and Loading Files from the Library ............................................................................ 85
3.2.1 Overview of the LIBRARY Pane ................................................................................... 85
3.2.2 Selecting or Loading a Product and Selecting a Bank from the Browser .................... 88
3.2.3 Selecting a Product Category, a Product, a Bank, and a Sub-Bank ........................... 93
3.2.4 Selecting a File Type .................................................................................................. 98
3.2.5 Choosing Between Factory and User Content ............................................................. 98
3.2.6 Selecting Type and Mode Tags ................................................................................... 99
3.2.7 Performing a Text Search ........................................................................................... 103
3.2.8 Loading a File from the Result List ............................................................................ 104
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3.3 Additional Browsing Tools .......................................................................................................... 108
3.3.1 Loading the Selected Files Automatically .................................................................. 109
3.3.2 Pre-Listening to Your Samples .................................................................................. 110
3.3.3 Loading Groups with their Patterns ........................................................................... 110
3.3.4 Displaying File Information ........................................................................................ 111
3.4 Using Favorites in the Browser ................................................................................................... 112
3.5 Editing the Files’ Tags and Properties ........................................................................................ 116
3.5.1 Attribute Editor Basics .............................................................................................. 116
3.5.2 The BANK Page .......................................................................................................... 118
3.5.3 The TYPES and MODES Pages .................................................................................... 119
3.5.4 The PROPERTIES Page ............................................................................................... 121
3.6 Loading and Importing Files from Your File System .................................................................... 122
3.6.1 Overview of the FILES Pane ........................................................................................ 122
3.6.2 Using Favorites .......................................................................................................... 124
3.6.3 Using the Location Bar .............................................................................................. 125
3.6.4 Navigating to Recent Locations ................................................................................. 126
3.6.5 Using the Result List ................................................................................................. 127
3.6.6 Importing Files to the MASCHINE Library ................................................................... 130
3.7 Locating Missing Samples .......................................................................................................... 132
3.8 Using Quick Browse .................................................................................................................... 134
4 Managing Sounds, Groups, and Your Project ............................................................... 136
4.1 Overview of the Sounds, Groups, and Master .............................................................................. 136
4.1.1 The Sound, Group, and Master Channels ................................................................... 137
4.1.2 Similarities and Differences in Handling Sounds and Groups ................................... 138
4.1.3 Selecting Multiple Sounds or Groups ......................................................................... 139
4.2 Managing Sounds ....................................................................................................................... 142
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4.2.1 Loading Sounds ......................................................................................................... 144
4.2.2 Pre-listening to Sounds ............................................................................................. 144
4.2.3 Renaming Sound Slots .............................................................................................. 145
4.2.4 Changing the Sound’s Color ...................................................................................... 146
4.2.5 Saving Sounds ........................................................................................................... 147
4.2.6 Copying and Pasting Sounds ..................................................................................... 149
4.2.7 Moving Sounds .......................................................................................................... 152
4.2.8 Resetting Sound Slots ............................................................................................... 153
4.3 Managing Groups ....................................................................................................................... 154
4.3.1 Creating Groups ........................................................................................................ 155
4.3.2 Loading Groups ......................................................................................................... 156
4.3.3 Renaming Groups ...................................................................................................... 157
4.3.4 Changing the Group’s Color ....................................................................................... 157
4.3.5 Saving Groups ........................................................................................................... 159
4.3.6 Copying and Pasting Groups ..................................................................................... 161
4.3.7 Moving Groups ........................................................................................................... 163
4.3.8 Deleting Groups ......................................................................................................... 164
4.4 Exporting MASCHINE Objects and Audio ..................................................................................... 165
4.4.1 Saving a Group with its Samples ............................................................................... 165
4.4.2 Saving a Project with its Samples ............................................................................. 167
4.4.3 Exporting Audio ......................................................................................................... 169
4.5 Importing Third-Party File Formats ............................................................................................. 176
4.5.1 Loading REX Files into Sound Slots ........................................................................... 176
4.5.2 Importing MPC Programs to Groups ........................................................................... 177
5 Working with Plug-ins ...............................................................................................181
5.1 Plug-in Overview ........................................................................................................................ 181
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5.1.1 Plug-in Basics ........................................................................................................... 181
5.1.2 First Plug-in Slot of Sounds: Choosing the Sound’s Role ........................................... 185
5.1.3 Loading, Removing, and Replacing a Plug-in ............................................................ 185
5.1.4 Adjusting the Plug-in Parameters ............................................................................. 191
5.1.5 Bypassing Plug-in Slots ............................................................................................ 192
5.1.6 Using Side-Chain ...................................................................................................... 193
5.1.7 Moving Plug-ins ........................................................................................................ 193
5.1.8 Alternative: the Plug-in Strip ..................................................................................... 194
5.1.9 Saving and Recalling Plug-in Presets ....................................................................... 194
5.1.9.1 Saving Plug-in Presets ..............................................................................195
5.1.9.2 Recalling Plug-in Presets ..........................................................................197
5.1.9.3 Removing a Default Plug-in Preset ............................................................197
5.2 The Sampler Plug-in ................................................................................................................... 198
5.2.1 Page 1: Voice Settings / Engine ................................................................................. 200
5.2.2 Page 2: Pitch / Envelope ............................................................................................ 201
5.2.3 Page 3: FX / Filter ...................................................................................................... 204
5.2.4 Page 4: Modulation .................................................................................................... 205
5.2.5 Page 5: LFO ............................................................................................................... 207
5.2.6 Page 6: Velocity / Modwheel ...................................................................................... 208
5.3 Using Native Instruments and External Plug-ins ........................................................................ 210
5.3.1 Opening/Closing Plug-in Windows ............................................................................. 210
5.3.2 Using the VST/AU Plug-in Parameters ....................................................................... 213
5.3.3 Setting Up Your Own Parameter Pages ...................................................................... 214
5.3.4 Using VST/AU Plug-in Presets .................................................................................... 219
5.3.5 Multiple-Output Plug-ins and Multitimbral Plug-ins ................................................. 221
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6 Working with Patterns ...............................................................................................222
6.1 Pattern Basics ............................................................................................................................ 222
6.1.1 Pattern Editor Overview ............................................................................................. 223
6.1.2 Navigating the Event Area ......................................................................................... 225
6.1.3 Following the Playback Position in the Pattern .......................................................... 227
6.1.4 Jumping to Another Playback Position in the Pattern ................................................. 228
6.1.5 Group View and Keyboard View .................................................................................. 229
6.1.6 Adjusting the Pattern Grid and the Pattern Length .................................................... 231
6.1.7 Adjusting the Step Grid and the Nudge Grid .............................................................. 233
6.2 Recording Patterns with the Step Sequencer .............................................................................. 236
6.2.1 Step Mode Basics ...................................................................................................... 236
6.3 Editing Events ............................................................................................................................ 237
6.3.1 Editing Events with the Mouse: an Overview ............................................................. 237
6.3.2 Creating Events/Notes ............................................................................................... 241
6.3.3 Selecting Events/Notes .............................................................................................. 242
6.3.4 Editing Selected Events/Notes ................................................................................... 242
6.3.5 Deleting Events/Notes ............................................................................................... 245
6.3.6 Cut, Copy, and Paste Events/Notes ............................................................................ 246
6.3.7 Quantizing Events/Notes ........................................................................................... 248
6.3.8 Quantization While Playing ........................................................................................ 249
6.4 Recording and Editing Modulation ............................................................................................. 250
6.4.1 Which Parameters Are Modulatable? ......................................................................... 252
6.4.2 Recording Modulation ................................................................................................ 253
6.4.3 Creating and Editing Modulation in the Control Lane ................................................ 254
6.5 Creating MIDI Tracks from Scratch in MASCHINE ....................................................................... 260
6.6 Managing Patterns ..................................................................................................................... 262
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6.6.1 The Pattern Manager and Pattern Mode .................................................................... 262
6.6.2 Selecting Patterns and Pattern Banks ....................................................................... 264
6.6.3 Creating Patterns ...................................................................................................... 265
6.6.4 Deleting Patterns ....................................................................................................... 267
6.6.5 Creating and Deleting Pattern Banks ........................................................................ 268
6.6.6 Naming Patterns ....................................................................................................... 269
6.6.7 Changing the Pattern’s Color .................................................................................... 271
6.6.8 Duplicating, Copying, and Pasting Patterns .............................................................. 272
6.6.9 Moving Patterns ........................................................................................................ 274
6.7 Importing/Exporting Audio and MIDI to/from Patterns ................................................................ 275
6.7.1 Exporting Audio from Patterns ................................................................................... 275
6.7.2 Exporting MIDI from Patterns ..................................................................................... 277
6.7.3 Importing MIDI to Patterns ........................................................................................ 279
7 Audio Routing, Remote Control, and Macro Controls ....................................................288
7.1 Audio Routing in MASCHINE ....................................................................................................... 289
7.1.1 Sending External Audio to Sounds ............................................................................. 290
7.1.2 Configuring the Main Output of Sounds and Groups ................................................. 295
7.1.3 Setting Up Auxiliary Outputs for Sounds and Groups ................................................. 300
7.1.4 Configuring the Master and Cue Outputs of MASCHINE ............................................. 303
7.1.5 Mono Audio Inputs ..................................................................................................... 309
7.1.5.1 Configuring External Inputs for Sounds in Mix View ..................................310
7.2 Using MIDI Control and Host Automation .................................................................................... 314
7.2.1 Triggering Sounds via MIDI Notes .............................................................................. 315
7.2.2 Triggering Scenes via MIDI ........................................................................................ 320
7.2.3 Controlling Parameters via MIDI and Host Automation .............................................. 321
7.2.4 Selecting VST/AU Plug-in Presets via MIDI Program Change ..................................... 329
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7.2.5 Sending MIDI from Sounds ........................................................................................ 330
7.3 Creating Custom Sets of Parameters with the Macro Controls ................................................... 334
7.3.1 Macro Control Overview ............................................................................................. 335
7.3.2 Assigning Macro Controls .......................................................................................... 335
8 Controlling Your Mix .................................................................................................. 341
8.1 Mix View Basics .......................................................................................................................... 341
8.1.1 Switching between Arrange View and Mix View ......................................................... 341
8.1.2 Mix View Elements ..................................................................................................... 342
8.2 The Mixer .................................................................................................................................... 344
8.2.1 Displaying Groups vs. Displaying Sounds .................................................................. 345
8.2.2 Adjusting the Mixer Layout ........................................................................................ 347
8.2.3 Selecting Channel Strips ........................................................................................... 348
8.2.4 Managing Your Channels in the Mixer ....................................................................... 349
8.2.5 Adjusting Settings in the Channel Strips ................................................................... 351
8.2.6 Using the Cue Bus ..................................................................................................... 355
8.3 The Plug-in Chain ....................................................................................................................... 357
8.4 The Plug-in Strip ........................................................................................................................ 358
8.4.1 The Plug-in Header .................................................................................................... 361
8.4.2 Panels for Drumsynths and Internal Effects .............................................................. 363
8.4.3 Panel for the Sampler ................................................................................................ 364
8.4.4 Custom Panels for Native Instruments Plug-ins ........................................................ 367
8.4.5 Undocking a Plug-in Panel (Native Instruments and External Plug-ins Only) ............ 371
9 Using the Drumsynths ................................................................................................ 374
9.1 Drumsynths – General Handling ................................................................................................. 375
9.1.1 Engines: Many Different Drums per Drumsynth ......................................................... 375
9.1.2 Common Parameter Organization .............................................................................. 375
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9.1.3 Shared Parameters .................................................................................................... 378
9.1.4 Various Velocity Responses ....................................................................................... 378
9.1.5 Pitch Range, Tuning, and MIDI Notes ........................................................................ 378
9.2 The Kicks .................................................................................................................................... 379
9.2.1 Kick – Sub ................................................................................................................. 381
9.2.2 Kick – Tronic .............................................................................................................. 383
9.2.3 Kick – Dusty .............................................................................................................. 386
9.2.4 Kick – Grit ................................................................................................................. 387
9.2.5 Kick – Rasper ............................................................................................................ 390
9.2.6 Kick – Snappy ............................................................................................................ 391
9.2.7 Kick – Bold ................................................................................................................ 393
9.2.8 Kick – Maple .............................................................................................................. 395
9.2.9 Kick – Push ............................................................................................................... 396
9.3 The Snares .................................................................................................................................. 398
9.3.1 Snare – Volt ............................................................................................................... 400
9.3.2 Snare – Bit ................................................................................................................ 402
9.3.3 Snare – Pow .............................................................................................................. 404
9.3.4 Snare – Sharp ........................................................................................................... 405
9.3.5 Snare – Airy ............................................................................................................... 407
9.3.6 Snare – Vintage ......................................................................................................... 409
9.3.7 Snare – Chrome ......................................................................................................... 411
9.3.8 Snare – Iron ............................................................................................................... 413
9.3.9 Snare – Clap ............................................................................................................. 415
9.3.10 Snare – Breaker ......................................................................................................... 417
9.4 The Hi-hats ................................................................................................................................. 419
9.4.1 Hi-hat – Silver ........................................................................................................... 420
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9.4.2 Hi-hat – Circuit ......................................................................................................... 422
9.4.3 Hi-hat – Memory ........................................................................................................ 424
9.4.4 Hi-hat – Hybrid ......................................................................................................... 426
9.4.5 Creating a Pattern with Closed and Open Hi-hats ..................................................... 428
9.5 The Toms .................................................................................................................................... 429
9.5.1 Tom – Tronic .............................................................................................................. 431
9.5.2 Tom – Fractal ............................................................................................................ 433
9.5.3 Tom – Floor ................................................................................................................ 437
9.5.4 Tom – High ................................................................................................................ 439
9.6 The Percussions .......................................................................................................................... 440
9.6.1 Percussion – Fractal .................................................................................................. 442
9.6.2 Percussion – Kettle .................................................................................................... 445
9.6.3 Percussion – Shaker .................................................................................................. 447
9.7 The Cymbals ............................................................................................................................... 451
9.7.1 Cymbal – Crash ......................................................................................................... 453
9.7.2 Cymbal – Ride ........................................................................................................... 455
10 Using Effects ............................................................................................................. 458
10.1 Applying Effects to a Sound, a Group or the Master .................................................................... 458
10.1.1 Adding an Effect ........................................................................................................ 458
10.1.2 Other Operations on Effects ....................................................................................... 465
10.1.3 Using the Side-Chain Input ....................................................................................... 466
10.2 Applying Effects to External Audio .............................................................................................. 469
10.2.1 Step 1: Configure MASCHINE Audio Inputs ................................................................ 469
10.2.2 Step 2: Set up a Sound to Receive the External Input ................................................ 471
10.2.3 Step 3: Load an Effect to Process an Input ................................................................ 471
10.3 Creating a Send Effect ............................................................................................................... 472
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MASCHINE 2 - Manual - 13

10.3.1 Step 1: Set Up a Sound or Group as Send Effect ........................................................ 473
10.3.2 Step 2: Route Audio to the Send Effect ...................................................................... 475
10.3.3 A Few Notes on Send Effects ...................................................................................... 475
10.4 Creating Multi-Effects ................................................................................................................ 476
11 Effect Reference ........................................................................................................ 479
11.1 Dynamics .................................................................................................................................... 480
11.1.1 Compressor ............................................................................................................... 480
11.1.2 Gate ........................................................................................................................... 483
11.1.3 Transient Master ....................................................................................................... 486
11.1.4 Limiter ....................................................................................................................... 488
11.1.5 Maximizer .................................................................................................................. 491
11.2 Filtering Effects .......................................................................................................................... 494
11.2.1 EQ .............................................................................................................................. 494
11.2.2 Filter .......................................................................................................................... 496
11.2.3 Cabinet ...................................................................................................................... 500
11.3 Modulation Effects ..................................................................................................................... 501
11.3.1 Chorus ....................................................................................................................... 501
11.3.2 Flanger ...................................................................................................................... 502
11.3.3 FM ............................................................................................................................. 504
11.3.4 Freq Shifter ................................................................................................................ 505
11.3.5 Phaser ....................................................................................................................... 506
11.4 Spatial and Reverb Effects ......................................................................................................... 508
11.4.1 Ice ............................................................................................................................. 508
11.4.2 Metaverb ................................................................................................................... 510
11.4.3 Reflex ........................................................................................................................ 511
11.4.4 Reverb (Legacy) ......................................................................................................... 513
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11.4.5 Reverb ....................................................................................................................... 514
11.4.5.1 Reverb Room .............................................................................................515
11.4.5.2 Reverb Hall ................................................................................................517
11.4.5.3 Plate Reverb ..............................................................................................520
11.5 Delays ......................................................................................................................................... 521
11.5.1 Beat Delay ................................................................................................................. 521
11.5.2 Grain Delay ................................................................................................................ 523
11.5.3 Grain Stretch ............................................................................................................. 525
11.5.4 Resochord .................................................................................................................. 526
11.6 Distortion Effects ........................................................................................................................ 528
11.6.1 Distortion ................................................................................................................... 528
11.6.2 Lofi ............................................................................................................................ 529
11.6.3 Saturator ................................................................................................................... 531
11.6.4 Analog Distortion ....................................................................................................... 534
11.7 Perform FX .................................................................................................................................. 535
11.7.1 Filter .......................................................................................................................... 536
11.7.2 Flanger ...................................................................................................................... 538
11.7.3 Burst Echo ................................................................................................................. 540
11.7.4 Reso Echo .................................................................................................................. 543
11.7.5 Ring ........................................................................................................................... 546
11.7.6 Stutter ....................................................................................................................... 548
11.7.7 Tremolo ...................................................................................................................... 551
11.7.8 Scratcher ................................................................................................................... 553
12 Creating a Song Using Scenes ...................................................................................556
12.1 Arranger Basics .......................................................................................................................... 556
12.1.1 Arranger Overview ..................................................................................................... 558
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12.1.2 Navigating the Arranger ............................................................................................ 560
12.1.3 Following the Playback Position in Your Project ......................................................... 563
12.1.4 Jumping to Another Playback Position in Your Project ............................................... 563
12.1.5 Creating and Removing Clips .................................................................................... 565
12.2 Managing Scenes ....................................................................................................................... 567
12.2.1 Scene Management Overview .................................................................................... 568
12.2.2 Selecting Scenes and Scene Banks ........................................................................... 569
12.2.3 Creating Scenes ........................................................................................................ 571
12.2.4 Deleting Scenes ......................................................................................................... 574
12.2.5 Creating and Deleting Scene Banks .......................................................................... 577
12.2.6 Naming Scenes .......................................................................................................... 579
12.2.7 Changing the Scene’s Color ....................................................................................... 581
12.2.8 Moving Scenes ........................................................................................................... 582
12.2.9 Clearing Scenes ......................................................................................................... 584
12.2.10 Duplicating Scenes .................................................................................................... 584
12.2.10.1 Scene Linking Basics .................................................................................585
12.2.10.2 Duplicating Scenes ....................................................................................585
12.2.10.3 Link when Duplicating Scenes ...................................................................587
12.2.10.4 Making Scenes Unique ..............................................................................588
12.2.11 Adjustable Scene Length ........................................................................................... 589
12.2.11.1 Adjusting the Length of a Scene Using the Software .................................590
12.2.12 Enabling Scene Auto Length ...................................................................................... 592
12.2.13 Looping ...................................................................................................................... 592
12.2.13.1 Setting the Loop Range in the Software .....................................................593
12.3 Playing with Scenes .................................................................................................................... 594
12.3.1 Selecting a Loop Range ............................................................................................. 594
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12.3.2 Jumping to Other Scenes ........................................................................................... 597
12.4 Triggering Scenes via MIDI (MASCHINE Plug-in Only) ................................................................. 599
12.5 The Arrange Grid ......................................................................................................................... 600
13 Sampling and Sample Mapping .................................................................................. 602
13.1 Opening the Sample Editor ......................................................................................................... 602
13.2 Recording a Sample ................................................................................................................... 603
13.2.1 Opening the Record Page .......................................................................................... 603
13.2.2 Selecting the Source and the Recording Mode ........................................................... 604
13.2.3 Arming, Starting, and Stopping the Recording .......................................................... 607
13.2.4 Checking Your Recordings ......................................................................................... 608
13.2.5 Location and Name of Your Recorded Samples .......................................................... 611
13.3 Editing a Sample ........................................................................................................................ 612
13.3.1 Using the Edit Page ................................................................................................... 612
13.3.2 Audio Editing Functions ............................................................................................. 616
13.4 Slicing a Sample ........................................................................................................................ 619
13.4.1 Opening the Slice Page .............................................................................................. 620
13.4.2 Adjusting the Slicing Settings ................................................................................... 621
13.4.3 Manually Adjusting Your Slices ................................................................................. 624
13.4.4 Applying the Slicing ................................................................................................... 627
13.5 Mapping Samples to Zones ........................................................................................................ 631
13.5.1 Opening the Zone Page .............................................................................................. 631
13.5.2 Zone Page Overview ................................................................................................... 632
13.5.3 Selecting and Managing Zones in the Zone List ........................................................ 634
13.5.4 Selecting and Editing Zones in the Map View ............................................................ 638
13.5.5 Editing Zones in the Sample View ............................................................................. 642
13.5.6 Adjusting the Zone Settings ...................................................................................... 645
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MASCHINE 2 - Manual - 17

13.5.7 Adding Samples to the Sample Map .......................................................................... 650
14 KOMPLETE KONTROL Integration ................................................................................. 652
14.1 Switching the Keyboard Focus to/from a MASCHINE Instance ..................................................... 652
14.2 Controlling the Transport in MASCHINE ...................................................................................... 659
14.3 Navigating and Controlling Your Sounds within a Group ............................................................ 664
14.4 Browsing Your MASCHINE Library ............................................................................................... 671
14.5 Using the Perform Features ........................................................................................................ 676
14.6 Using the Touch Strips ............................................................................................................... 682
14.7 Recording Modulation from Your Keyboard ................................................................................. 688
14.8 Adjusting the Settings for Your Keyboard in the MASCHINE Preferences ..................................... 692
14.9 Arp Hold Mode ............................................................................................................................ 694
14.10 Support for KOMPLETE KONTROL S88 ......................................................................................... 695
15 Troubleshooting – Getting Help ..................................................................................696
15.1 Troubleshooting .......................................................................................................................... 696
15.1.1 The MASCHINE Software Won’t Start .......................................................................... 696
15.1.2 Latency Issues ........................................................................................................... 696
15.1.3 The MASCHINE Software Crashes .............................................................................. 697
15.1.4 Updates ..................................................................................................................... 697
15.2 Getting Help ............................................................................................................................... 698
15.2.1 Knowledge Base ........................................................................................................ 698
15.2.2 Technical Support ...................................................................................................... 698
15.2.3 Registration Support ................................................................................................. 699
15.2.4 User Forum ................................................................................................................ 699
16 Appendix: Tips for Playing Live ..................................................................................700
16.1 Preparations ............................................................................................................................... 700
16.1.1 Focus on the Hardware .............................................................................................. 700
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MASCHINE 2 - Manual - 18

16.1.2 Customize the Pads of the Hardware ......................................................................... 700
16.1.3 Check Your CPU Power Before Playing ....................................................................... 700
16.1.4 Name and Color Your Groups, Patterns, Sounds and Scenes ..................................... 701
16.1.5 Consider Using a Limiter on Your Master ................................................................... 701
16.1.6 Improvise ................................................................................................................... 701
16.2 Basic Techniques ....................................................................................................................... 701
16.2.1 Use Mute and Solo ..................................................................................................... 701
16.2.2 Use Scene Mode and Tweak the Loop Range .............................................................. 702
16.2.3 Create Variations of Your Drum Patterns in the Step Sequencer ................................ 702
16.2.4 Use Note Repeat ........................................................................................................ 702
16.2.5 Set Up Your Own Multi-effect Groups and Automate Them ........................................ 702
16.3 Special Tricks ............................................................................................................................. 703
16.3.1 Changing Pattern Length for Variation ...................................................................... 703
16.3.2 Using Loops to Cycle Through Samples ..................................................................... 703
16.3.3 Using Loops to Cycle Through Samples ..................................................................... 703
16.3.4 Load Long Audio Files and Play with the Start Point .................................................. 703
17 Glossary ...................................................................................................................704
Index ........................................................................................................................716
Table of Contents
MASCHINE 2 - Manual - 19

1 Welcome to MASCHINE!
Thank you for buying MASCHINE!
MASCHINE is a groove production studio that implements the familiar working style of classi-
cal 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 instru-
ment, 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 Re-
peat 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 ef-
fects 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 go-
ing!
—The MASCHINE team at Native Instruments.
Welcome to MASCHINE!
MASCHINE 2 - Manual - 20