What is Maschine 3?
Maschine is a hybrid music production platform that merges groove box-style beat-making and sampling with DAW features. It’s a fast and intuitive way to create and perform tracks and beats and has everything you need to turn your ideas into the finished result. It’s ideal for everything from quick sketches to full-track production.
Maschine 2 software launched in 2012, and has been steadily maintained and updated ever since.
Maschine 3 software introduces stem separation, MIDI editing workflow improvements, per-scene tempo adjustments, a basic Kontrol S-Series MK3 integration, and many more valuable improvements. It comes bundled with a reinvented library, Maschine Central, which is packed with more sounds, rhythms, and presets than ever before.
What versions are available?
There are three versions of Maschine 3, depending on your needs. For pricing information local to you, check the product pages.
Version | What's included? | What is it good for? |
Maschine 3 |
|
Maschine 2 users who wish to upgrade to the new software capabilities, but don't want to pay for additional sounds they don't need. |
Maschine Central |
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Maschine 2 users who don't want to pay for the new software capabilities, but do want access to the the additional sounds. |
Mashine 3 Bundle |
|
Maschine 2 (or new) users who want the creative possibilities offered by both software and sounds. |
What are the main new features in the Maschine 3 software?
Note: for a more in depth explanation of the new features, check out our instructional video or the manual.
Feature | What it does |
Stem separation |
Splits any audio file into vocals, bass, drums, and other instruments, for more in-depth sampling capabilities. Powered by iZotope’s legendary RX technology. To use it:
|
Bounce in place |
A key workflow enhancement, this allows users to commit a Sound slot (rendering plug-ins in real-time) as Audio, saving CPU resources, but also opening that audio up for further audio domain manipulation (e.g. via Sampler). It allows users to go further without CPU limitations, and discover new creative possibilities. To use it:
Or:
Note: this is not yet available in standalone mode. It is also destructive - and can only be undone for as long as Undo History is preserved. |
Support for compressed file formats | For more audio flexibility, users can now import / load MP3, MP4, FLAC and OGG file formats. |
Custom tempo per scene |
For deep control over the flow of a track, or a live performance, the user can set custom tempos per scene - allowing for new sections to have different impacts. To use it:
|
New MIDI editing tools |
An extensive suite of MIDI editing capabilities such as Split, Join, Erase, Mute MIDI notes (individually or multi selection), plus Point and Pencil tools in the Pattern Editor, and MIDI entry via a Computer Keyboard allow for far more control over their compositions than previously possible in Maschine 2. Users can also hear audible MIDI note previews when interacting with notes. To use these tools, the keyboard shortcuts are as follows:
|
Basic Kontrol S-Series MK3 integration |
This basic integration is compatible with Maschine 3’s standalone application, and integrates the keyboard with Maschine 3’s Transport controls, a fully integrated Play Assist, and on-keyboard display and control over Maschine modules and thousands of NKS partner plugins. Note this may also be added to Maschine 3 plug-in in the future. |
Improved plug-in hosting support with support for HiDPI plug-in hosting |
All of Maschine’s internal modules and hosted plug-ins can now be opened, and reordered as floating, resizeable, HiDPI windows. Note: in some OS and DAW environments, this requires proper configuration. See the following article here. |
Support for the latest version of Ableton Link | This includes support for Start / Stop, a much requested integration update with Ableton Link. |
Ability to properly reset playhead to zero | Pressing (hardware) Stop twice resets the playhead to zero. |
Support for expanded I/O up to 32 channels | These can function as either 16 stereo, or 32 discrete mono channels. |
Maschine 3 compatibility
You can find the system requirements on the product page.
Maschine 3 software functions without hardware but also works with the following Maschine controllers:
- Maschine Jam
- Maschine Mikro MK3
- Maschine MK3
- Maschine Studio
- Maschine+ in controller mode
- Maschine+ in standalone mode compatibility will be added ASAP. Currently projects created on Maschine+ in Maschine 2 format will open in Maschine 3, but not vice versa.
Supported Kontrol keyboard controllers:
- Kontrol M-series
- Kontrol A-series
- Kontrol S-Series MK2
- Kontrol S-Series MK3
What’s included in the new Maschine Central library?
A completely redefined library, Maschine Central has everything you need to make music in any genre, and will also be available to buy separately. It includes presets from Massive, Monark, Prism, over 700 drums, and 114 multi-sampled Kontakt instruments.
- 114 multi-sampled Kontakt instruments
- 36 Bass synth presets
- 36 Polysynth presets
- 43 Drum synth presets
- 43 Massive presets
- 29 Monark presets
- 17 Reaktor Prism presets
- 31 hip-hop kits
- 35 electronic kits
- 15 melodic kits
- 9 pop kits
- 9 trap and drill kits
- 4 drum and bass kits
- 7 projects