Native Instruments has launched version 2.1 of Maschine, the groove production studio for Windows and Mac.

The new Grit kick engine is a modern, versatile electronic kick drum – great for IDM and electro styles. The new Shaker Performer creates tweakable, natural-sounding shaker patterns automatically. And the sample recording screen now lets you sample directly to different pads.

Maschine 2.1 Grit Kick & Percussion performer mode

New Kick Grit engine and Shaker Performer mode in Maschine 2.1.

Changes in Maschine v2.1

  • Grit engine in Kick Drum Synth – The Grit kick is a modern, versatile electronic kick drum. Tuned loose, it’s deep, open, boomy, and airy. Tightened up, it adds punch and heft. At high tunings, it can become gritty and bitcrushed – great for IDM and electro styles.
  • New shaker Performer mode in Percussion Drum Synth – Hold down a note, and the highly innovative Performer creates natural-sounding shaker patterns automatically. Tweak the feel of the groove in real time, and add fills and syncopated riffs, with adjustable swing, shuffle, and groove. Incredibly powerful for live performances.
  • Sounds accessible on pads on sample recording screen.
  • A batch function to set all sounds in a group to the same MIDI channel. MIDI export available on the Group and Sound levels.
  • Undocked NI plug-in windows can be pinned to remain active when not in focus.
  • Scenes can be selected/triggered via MIDI input when MASCHINE is running standalone.
  • Mix page on MASCHINE and MASCHINE MK2 controllers has been expanded and now provides access to level and pan settings for groups and sounds.
  • A setting that only turns the metronome on when the Record button is enabled.
  • Real time group erase function.
  • Shift functions allow fast scroll browsing.
  • Play quantize option –notes played live on the pads are quantized in real time.
  • Control software views from the navigate page on MASCHINE and MASCHINE STUDIO controllers.
  • Instantiating the first plug-in on an empty sound updates the name of that sound to the plug-in name.
  • Sound, group volume & pan knobs are only displayed on hover.
  • ALT+Drag for copy-pasting single elements (patterns, scenes, plug-ins) in the Groups / Sounds lists and the plug-in chain.
  • Browser performance improvements.
  • Numerous bug fixes, as well as performance and stability improvements.

Maschine 2.1 is now available to download from the NI Service Center.

More information: Native Instruments / Maschine