Creating Custom MIDI CC Pages for MASCHINE+

In this article, we explain how to create your own MIDI controller pages for use with MASCHINE+ in standalone operation. This is useful when you wish to send MIDI control to external hardware synthesizers.

Note: If there is already a MIDI Ext. template for your synthesizer or drum machine, please follow this article or this video.

Click to expand a section below to configure your synthesizer or multi-timbral sound module.

I'm Using a Synthesizer with One Patch

Follow this guide if using a synthesizer with one patch (with one MIDI Channel).

MikroKORG.png

Assigning MIDI CCs in MACRO Pages

  1. Launch the MASCHINE 2 software on your computer and create a new project.
  2. Click Channel > SOUND > Macro > Pages. A default Macro Page 1 is displayed.
    Macro_Page_1.png
  3. Click the empty space for the first Macro knob, then click Select > MIDI to choose a MIDI Controller (CC) number.
    Choose_MIDI_CC.png

    Note: Please consult your synthesizer manual for its MIDI Implementation chart. This will provide a list of its parameters and their assigned MIDI CC numbers.

  4. Repeat this process for all of the MACRO knobs and MIDI CCs needed to control your synthesizer. If more than 8 parameters are needed, click the plus (+) symbol next to Page 1 to create a new page with 8 more MACRO spaces.
    Add_Macro_Page.png
  5. Right-click the MASCHINE Sound slot (e.g. Sound 1), and choose Save As.
    Save_Sound_As.png
  6. Name your Sound file (e.g. with the name of your Synth), and save it to a location easy to find, such as your computer's Desktop.

Transferring the MACRO SOUND File to MASCHINE+

  1. Set your MASCHINE+ to STORAGE mode, by pressing SETTINGS then use buttons 5 / 6 to select SYSTEM. Press button 3 (STORAGE).
    Maschine%2B_Storage_Mode.png

    Note: If MASCHINE+ is in Controller mode, press SETTINGS then go to SYSTEM. Press button 4 (STANDALONE), and follow this step △.

  2. Press OK on the right-side display, and the MASCHINE+ SD Card will mount to your computer's file system.
    Maschine%2B_Mount_SD.png
  3. Open the MASCHINE+ SD Card (named Maschine+).
  4. Find the MASCHINE Sound file (.mxsnd) you saved on the Desktop, and drag it to the Sounds folder at this location of the MASCHINE+ SD Card: Maschine+ > Native Instruments > Maschine 2 > Sounds
    Drag_MXSND_to_SD.png
  5. Eject the MASCHINE+ SD Card from your computer.
    EJECT_SD.png

    Note: It is very important to eject the SD Card from your computer before doing the next step.

  6. Press DISCONNECT on the right-side display on the MASCHINE+, to mount the SD Card back onto MASCHINE+.
    Maschine%2B_Disconnect.png

Loading the MACRO SOUND File into MASCHINE+

  1. On the MASCHINE+ hardware, press BROWSER.
  2. Use the buttons above the left-side display to select SOUNDS and USER.
  3. Use knob 8 to select the Sound file, and button 8 to LOAD.
    Load_User_Sound.png

Sending MIDI CCs to Your Hardware Instrument

  1. On the MASCHINE+ hardware, press CHANNEL and use button 3 to press SOUND.
  2. Use buttons 5 / 6 to select OUTPUT.
    MIDI_Out_Setup_1.png
  3. In OUTPUT, use the Page Left (<) or Page Right (>) buttons to enter the MIDI output page.
  4. Use knob 1 to select the MIDI Output destination. You can choose the MIDI output built into MASCHINE+ (Maschine Plus (Maschine Plus)), or the USB MIDI interface you have connected to MASCHINE+.
  5. Use knob 2 to set the MIDI output channel.
    MIDI_Out_Setup_2.png

    Note: We recommend setting this to MIDI channel 1 unless your synthesizer receives over another MIDI channel. Please consult your synthesizer manual for directions to set the MIDI channel.

  6. Save this setup in a new MASCHINE+ project to use as a template in future sessions with your hardware synthesizer.
I'm Using a Drum Machine or Multi-Sound Module

Follow this guide if using a multi-timbral synthesizer (or drum machine / sampler) consisting of multiple patches over separate MIDI Channels.

s6000.jpg

Note: The following directions are similar to the steps in the previous section (above), but this guide applies to multiple MASCHINE Sounds contained within a Group.

Assigning MIDI CCs in MACRO Pages

  1. Launch the MASCHINE 2 software on your computer and create a new project.
  2. Click Channel > SOUND > Macro > Pages. A default Macro Page 1 is displayed.
    Macro_Page_1.png
  3. Click the empty space for the first Macro knob, then click Select > MIDI to choose a MIDI Controller (CC) number.
    Choose_MIDI_CC.png

    Note: Please consult your synthesizer manual for its MIDI Implementation chart. This will provide a list of its parameters and their assigned MIDI CC numbers.

  4. Repeat this process for all of the MACRO knobs and MIDI CCs needed to control your instrument. If more than 8 parameters are needed, click the plus (+) symbol next to Page 1 to create a new page with 8 more MACRO spaces.
    Add_Macro_Page.png

    Important Note: Each patch or channel of your sound module must be configured separately, across the individual Maschine Sound slots available. Repeat steps 2-4 above to configure MACRO assignments for each patch or part of your synthesizer.

  5. Once all MIDI CC assignments are made, click Channel > GROUP.
    Click_Channel_Group.png
  6. At the GROUP level, right-click the MASCHINE Group name (e.g. Group A1), and choose Save As.
    Save_Group_As.png
  7. Name your Group file (e.g. with the name of your Synth or Drum Machine), and save it to a location easy to find, such as your computer's Desktop.

Transferring the MACRO GROUP File to MASCHINE+

  1. Set your MASCHINE+ to STORAGE mode by pressing SETTINGS, then use buttons 5 / 6 to select SYSTEM. Press button 3 (STORAGE).
    Maschine%2B_Storage_Mode.png

    Note: If MASCHINE+ is in Controller mode, press SETTINGS then go to SYSTEM. Press button 4 (STANDALONE), and follow this step △.

  2. Press OK on the right-side display, and the MASCHINE+ SD Card will mount to your computer's file system.
    Maschine%2B_Mount_SD.png
  3. Open the MASCHINE+ SD Card (named Maschine+).
  4. Find the MASCHINE Group file (.mxgrp) you saved on the Desktop, and drag it to the Groups folder at this location of the MASCHINE+ SD Card: Maschine+ > Native Instruments > Maschine 2 > Groups
    Drag_MXGRP_to_SD.png
  5. Eject the MASCHINE+ SD Card from your computer.
    EJECT_SD.png

    Note: It is very important to eject the SD Card from your computer before doing the next step.

  6. Press DISCONNECT on the right-side display on the MASCHINE+, to mount the SD Card back onto MASCHINE+.
    Maschine%2B_Disconnect.png

Loading the MACRO GROUP File into MASCHINE+

  1. On the MASCHINE+ hardware, press BROWSER.
  2. Use the buttons above the left-side display to select GROUPS and USER.
  3. Use knob 8 to select the Group file, and button 8 to LOAD.
    Load_User_Group.png

Sending MIDI CCs to Your Hardware Instrument

  1. On the MASCHINE+ hardware, press CHANNEL and use button 3 to press SOUND.
  2. Use buttons 5 / 6 to select OUTPUT.
    MIDI_Out_Setup_1.png
  3. In OUTPUT, use the Page Left (<) or Page Right (>) buttons to enter the MIDI output page.
  4. Press Pad 1 so that it's highlighted, and use knob 1 to select the MIDI Output destination. You can choose the MIDI output built into MASCHINE+ (Maschine Plus (Maschine Plus)), or the USB MIDI interface you have connected to MASCHINE+.
  5. Use knob 2 to set the MIDI output channel.
    MIDI_Out_Setup_2.png

    Note: We recommend selecting MIDI channel 1 for the first patch, MIDI channel 2 for the next patch (etc.) for each of the sounds that you need to configure. Please consult your synthesizer manual for directions to assign MIDI channels to its patches.

  6. Repeat this process for all MASCHINE Sound slots in the Group that are sending MIDI control.
  7. Save this setup in a new MASCHINE+ project to use as a template in future sessions with your hardware synthesizer.