My MASCHINE Controller Does Not Start (Windows)

Symptom

When starting your MASCHINE 2 software, the controller doesn't react as expected. In this case, its display remains black or displays "Maschine Groove Production".

Causes

This behavior can be caused by different factors. Click the possible causes one by one to be redirected to the corresponding troubleshooting steps below in the article.

1. The Controller Editor application is not installed or is out of date.
2. The NIHardwareAgent application is not running in the background.
3. The driver is not installed correctly
4. There is an issue with the USB connection.

Solutions

1. The Controller Editor application is not installed or is out of date.

Download and install Controller Editor's latest update from the Drivers & Other Files page of our website, in order to make sure it is correctly installed. You can find detailed instructions for reinstalling Controller Editor in this article.

Now start the MASCHINE software and check if your controller starts as expected. If this is not the case, continue troubleshooting.

2. The NIHardwareAgent application is not running in the background.

1. Open the Windows Task Manager and choose the Services tab.
   

   Note: If the Services tab is not directly available, expand the view by clicking 'More details' in the lower left corner of the window.

2. Search the list and check if the Status of the NIHardwareService is Running:
   
   If not, right-click the entry and choose Start from the context menu:
   

   Note: The service NIHostIntegrationAgent is only available for customers who are also using a KOMPLETE KONTROL keyboard. If you are only using a MASCHINE the service will not appear in the list and is not needed.

3. The driver is not installed correctly

To make sure that the MASCHINE driver is installed correctly, follow the instructions in this article.

4. The USB cable or the USB hub is not supported.

Use the original USB cable provided with your MASCHINE controller. If not available anymore, this article contains information which will help you choose a suitable USB cable.

If possible, always connect your MASCHINE controller directly to your computer's USB port. If you must use a USB-hub, make sure it has its own power supply.