Review: NI Maschine+

In April 2009, Native Instruments introduced Maschine, a combination of audio software and a perfectly tuned hardware controller. Over the years, not only has the software been continuously enhanced, but the hardware has also been redesigned. Maschine Mk2 introduced multi-colored pads for a better overview, Maschine Studio was the first to feature two large graphics-enabled displays, and Maschine Mk3 expanded its standalone capabilities with a built-in audio interface. Common to all hardware versions, however, was that no sound could be elicited without a connected computer. Early on, the ever-growing Maschine-community expressed the wish for a self-sufficient Maschine groovebox with built-in sound generation, and now, without much notice, the result, called Maschine+, is available in our test studio.

Maschine Mk3 Deluxe

At first glance, you can hardly see any difference between the Mk3 and the Maschine+. Pads, buttons, controls, displays - everything is in the same place and is identically labeled. But if you touch both controllers once, you will immediately notice the difference.

Maschine+ is much heavier because the housing is made of anodized aluminum and not plastic. The same applies to the touch-sensitive encoders, which are also made of metal. This pays off particularly with the four-directional push encoder, which allows for more nuanced use. This is also important because all settings, including naming projects, patterns