Identifying different sounds on the pads couldn’t be easier with the color mapping. The Maschine MK1 and MK2 utilized the knobs to sift through libraries which was ok, but the jog-wheel is more ideal dextarity wise. This rotary dial type mechanisms flies through libraries getting you to the right sound in a flash. It controls tempo, swing, pitch much like the control knob on the Maschine MK2 and also serves as a cursor when browsing through libraries. A “jog-wheel” located on the right hand side of the new hardware controls alot of commonly used functions as well. So needless to say there are still some “shift+” commands. For a while I did not know how to stop the sound that was playing (shift+mute), which is still the command to silence a sound on the Maschine Studio hardware. It really took a while for me to learn all the “shift+” commands on the MK1.

New buttons arranged on the hardware reduce the amount of “shift+” commands and dedicates buttons for most commonly used functions making for a swifter more streamlined work flow that we’re just unable to achieve on the MK1 or MK2. The obvious size increase bullies the Maschine MK1.

Maschine Studio comes packed with new features within the hardware. With the Maschine Studio’s hefty price tag of almost one thousand dollars, its not an easy decision to go out and buy it right after purchasing the MK2.

Probably feeling the finacial preasure this hobby or profession of ours can apply. Most MK2 users are scratching there heads right now. Alot of us NI Maschine users started off on the MK1 and decided to stick with it even once the MK2 came out. It’s almost like why would you compare the two? Well, although the Native Instruments Maschine MK1 is considered dated, ecspecially with the release of the colorful Maschine MK2 and now the new flagship, Maschine Studio. When i was writing the title to this insert, I could not help but to chuckle.

Maschine studio reviews