Maschine 1 / 2 as a Plug-in
If Maschine is loaded as a plugin in a host sequencer, the PLAY button on the Maschine controller is disabled. All transport functions in Maschine are controlled by the sequencer to synchronize the playback.
Maschine 2 Software Standalone
If the PLAY button does not work when using Maschine 2 in standalone mode, a MIDI Sync Mode may be active. Open the MIDI tab in the Preferences and choose Off from the dropdown menu next to Mode, to enable the PLAY button again.
Maschine 1 Software Standalone
If the PLAY button does not work when using Maschine 1 in standalone mode, the function Sync to External MIDI Clock in the File menu may be active. This is indicated by a dot or check in front of the menu entry. Deactivate the function by clicking the menu entry.