My Overview of Native-Instrument's Maschine MK III

The Maschine MK III is the broke producer’s dream beat machine. The price of the Maschine MK III is reasonable for what you get with your purchase. The Maschine MK III is similar in quality and design to high-end beat machines like Akai’s MPC Renaissance or “X” series. The Maschine MK III feels like a stand-alone music production center because of the ability to control Maschine 2 software directly from the Maschine MK III. I personally like to make beats with my laptop halfway closed. It takes time to become familiar with the Maschine’s controls and commands, but the time spent learning the controls and commands allows for a smoother, more efficient workflow. The Maschine’s ability to do things like quickly correct or erase undesired patterns in the “Events” window with [Shift+Clear] or adjust parameters like volume and bpm with the push of a button and a twist of a knob is a breath of fresh air compared to producing with a DAW, a mouse, a keyboard and a midi-controller. The Maschine’s design allows production of numerous beats an effortless task. I can personally put out numerous beats within a twenty-minute timeframe. The two screens located at the top of the Maschine MK III present the producer’s music visually. Producers can chop and slice samples to a fine detail, add or erase midi notes with the twist of their fingers, layer and stack loops and samples, and complete numerous other tasks without ever opening their laptop. The Maschine’s two screens also allow producers to see they’re music via midi-notes while they’re playing. This is important for producers who like a visual aspect along with the audio from headphones or speakers. Native-Instruments built the Maschine MK III with longevity in mind. The Maschine’s solid metal frame means that it can take a beating. The heavy-handed finger drummer does not have to worry about breaking or damaging their Maschine. The Maschine doesn’t feel cheap, plasticky, or toyish like some midi-controllers do; it feels like an instrument. The Maschine’s controls and pads are ultra-responsive; the controls do not stick or misfire (What I mean by “misfire” is they play on their own when I don’t push them, or they go off when I push a different pad.) Overall, the Maschine MK III is a professional music production center, and I’d recommend the upgrade for producers now using a DAW and midi controller. The Maschine MK III is also a great place to start for beginning producers. I recommend spending lots of time watching video tutorials on the Maschine MK III if you’re not interested in reading the one-thousand-page owner’s manual. I use the Maschine MK III almost every day, and I wouldn’t think twice about going back to my old production layout. My workflow is faster, more efficient, and more enjoyable, and the only way I will put the Maschine MK III away is if I upgrade to an MPC.