Maschine Is My Girlfriend

Rig Updates July 2020: 4 Tracks + Vocal Looper

2021-07-17T21:03:34.419000Z

The Rig: https://github.com/drosenstark/dr2050-rig

Design Principles

Just four tracks (actually, four and one for vocals/spoken word, YouTube, Audible, whatever)
The only volume mixer is on Maschine.
Never loop audio with effects (though you can loop effects via automation in Maschine).

Annoyingly, I never implemented looping in MD, which I need to get around to at some point. Ironically, I had done this before in MJDJ.

I should mention that the heart of the rig is none of this, but rather Maschine MK3 + Maschine Jam. I have tried to do without the Jam, but it's too useful. Just the ability to copy a loop from one kit to another is magical and necessary.

What's Up

Now I've moved to just four drum kits plus vocal looper. This is either the Radio Plugin or, more usually, an iPhone coming in through the Focusrite Clarett 4 Pre via:

This thing from Korg: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HG292GW
This other Belkin option, since the Korg is out of stock and overkill, too: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074WDWVX1/

Here's the MD setup

and the Ableton stuff gets pretty complicated.

Ableton 9 Is Dead

So Ableton changed the repitching algorithm in Ableton 10 for the Ping Pong Delay, which was a great reminder that life is fragile (or perhaps that Ableton cannot be trusted and I should switch to Bitwig).

The main thing the repitching did in Ableton 9 was allow you to be looping a 2-beat sample and then glitch-stretch it to repeat 4 times with a glitch in the middle. In Ableton 10, instead, it just downpitches the entire thing. What a mess!

So I switched to the ValhallaDelay, which is kinda similar (depending on the "MODE") and definitely produces weird, interesting and beautiful sounds.

I'm also using the ValhallaDelay as my 100% feedback looper, but I'm not using the delay's feedback at all. This is because I need to be able to mute the feedback while the loop is playing and hear that instantly (and it will stick).

I realize this is all hard to understand and I'm not describing it well. However, if Sean Costello reaches out to me (use dan+sean at mididesigner dot com), I'm glad to explain any part of this clearly, especially:

What's different about his algorithm from Ableton's and why Ableton 9's makes more musical sense.
That there's a tiny bit of signal attenuation every time the delay processes audio. It's like 0.5% or something tiny, but if you hook up the input to the output, the signal will die over time. Correcting this with an absolute gain like 5db works, but then in some cases the absolute gain is wrong.

That said, the ValhallaDelay is amazing: https://valhalladsp.com/shop/delay/valhalladelay/

Still Love This One Free Plugin

I use this plugin on every track and even on my master delay. It's a single-knob, DJ filter by XFer records:

https://splice.com/plugins/4442-djmfilter-vst-au-by-xfer-records

Awesome.

Kill All Extra Processes for Music Making on macOS

2019-05-05T16:53:42.421000Z

This script works for me. It's also got some extra commands that don't help.

launchctl remove com.apple.xpc.launchd.oneshot.0x10000005.EvernoteHelper
launchctl remove launchctl remove com.apple.xpc.launchd.oneshot.0x10000005.EvernoteHelper
launchctl remove com.apple.SafariHistoryServiceAgent
launchctl remove com.spotify.client.startuphelper
launchctl remove com.backblaze.bzbmenu
launchctl remove com.coppertino.VOXCloud
launchctl remove com.google.Chrome.5544

sudo killall -9 "Google Drive File Stream Helper"
sudo killall -9 "Google Drive File Stream"
sudo osascript -e 'tell application "Dropbox" to quit'
sudo killall Dropbox
sudo killall bzserv
sudo killall bzbmenu
sudo killall bzfilelist

sudo pkill LogiMgrDaemon
sudo pkill EvernoteHelper
sudo pkill wunderlist-helper
sudo killall Spotify
sudo killall LogiMgrDaemon
sudo killall "Path Finder"

echo "You must reboot after playing."

Maschine 2.7.4 Release Notes (2.74)

2019-05-05T16:53:43.514000Z

2.74 is the last interesting update (we’re at 2.7.8 right now), except that maybe 2.7.7 looks interesting. Where are all these? Native Access, man!

Personally, I’m still trying to figure out how a pattern can contain Audio. These are old but interesting:

2.7.4 — 2018-04-18

ADDED "Target" parameter to the Loop recording mode of the Sampling Page

This parameter determines what should be done with a new recording when the recording is complete. "Take" simply adds the new recording to the Take list of the current plug-in, "Sound" puts the new recording into an Audio plug-in in the next unoccupied Sound Slot (useful for layering the recording with whatever else is in the current Pattern, like a guitar looper pedal), and "Pattern" puts the new recording into an Audio plug-in in the next unoccupied Sound Slot AND additionally creates a new Pattern where only this loop is being played (useful for capturing different versions of a part and quickly reviewing them by switching Patterns).

ADDED "Looper" workflow to MASCHINE JAM

This feature automates the use of the new Target parameter for fast sampling and layering. Holding the IN 1 button enables this new Loop Recording mode (it’s also helpful to pin this mode on by holding IN 1 and pressing the SONG button). While this new Loop Recording mode is active, pressing an existing Pattern will trigger a recording of a new loop which is then added as a new Sound in the existing Pattern; doing this repeatedly allows you to quickly layer recordings on top of each other. Alternatively, pressing an empty Pattern button will trigger a recording and will then place that recording in a new Sound Slot AND a new Pattern will be created where only the new loop is playing back. When pressing the IN 1 button, External Input 1 is selected as the source for the recording. Pressing GRP while in the Loop Recording mode will select the focused Group as the source. Pressing MST will select MASCHINE’s Master output as the source (for resampling what is currently playing).

ADDED Footswitch control of Sampling

When in the Sampling page or when the Loop Recording mode is enabled on MASCHINE JAM, a connected footswitch can be used to control recording. Pressing the footswitch will arm a recording according to the current settings. Pressing the footswitch again before recording has actually started will cancel the recording. If recording is in progress, pressing the footswitch once will stop the recording—double-pressing will abort the recording (any recorded audio to that point will be discarded). If the recording is complete, holding the footswitch down for a few moments will trigger Undo so you can try another take.

IMPROVED Automatic tempo detection of the Audio plug-in

The algorithm now chooses a tempo that’s closest to your current project tempo. For example, if your project tempo is 170 BPM and you load a loop which should be 174 BPM, MASCHINE will now set the Source Tempo as 174 BPM instead of 87 BPM as it did previously.

ADDED "Re-pitch" engine mode to the Audio plug-in

This engine simply retunes/repitches the loop (like speeding up or slowing down a record) to make it conform to the Project tempo. This mode requires significantly less CPU power than the default mode, but you will not be able to retune the loop at all (any pitches programmed in Gate mode will be ignored—only the timing of the programmed notes will be used to gate the playing audio).

ADDED Ableton Live DAW Integration for MASCHINE MK3

Mixer and basic DAW Control. Access Ableton Live Mixer via MASCHINE MK3 hardware: Volume, Pan, Mute / Solo / Arm states are visible on screens. Also access essential controls: Play / Stop / Record / Session record, Clip Navigation, Launch & Record, Quantize, Undo / Redo, Automation Toggle, Tap Tempo, and Loop Toggle.

IMPROVED Recorded Takes are now saved and recalled as part of the Project

ADDED Automatic external audio recording latency compensation

This compensation will be in effect when recording from an External Input and with the Monitoring parameter turned Off. The system currently works based upon the overall latency reported by the selected audio interface.

REMOVED Right-click removal of Events in the Pattern Editor

In this version, the normal context menu is now opened on right-click. Events can still be deleted using a double-click as well as using the "Paint" and "Erase" tools.

CHANGED Right-click behavior in the Arranger

In this version, right-click no longer removes Patterns from Scenes. It now opens a context menu with many useful options for arranging.

IMPROVED Behavior and cursor icons for resizing Events in the Pattern Editor

The active area for resizing Events is also increased.

FIXED Prelisten controls would disappear on the Samples tab of the User Library

FIXED It wasn’t possible to Quick Edit notes on the MASCHINE JAM

FIXED Recording Settings would remain disabled if you cancel the recording during the waiting period before recording actually starts

FIXED The BPM and Swing values in the header would not update their values when loading a new Project

FIXED Duplicate would actually duplicate note events even if none were selected

Why You Need Maschine Jam and MK3

2019-05-05T16:53:46.218000Z

Recently I tried working with just the Maschine MK3. Normally, I work with the MK3 to the left of the Jam. But I wanted to see how minimal I could go (and even tried out the Circuit for a bit). On the one hand, my focus and perhaps creativity is better. I’ve been getting really into recording modulation recently and this is quite fun.

Just the MK3

My Real Rig: MK3 and Jam

Removing a Pattern and "Playing" the Pattern Grid

But what’s awkward on the MK3 is "playing" the pattern grid. On the Jam you can "remove" a pattern from the scene by touching it a again. This way, you can play the whole grid at once like a piano. This gives you a brilliant way to transition between moments using events in many kits. The side note of this is that you’re destroying your scenes when you play with the patterns. I’ve tried duplicating scenes in the past to avoid this, but then I just end up with a lot of confusing scenes. Personally, I play patterns, and for that the Jam is amazing.

This is really important because effects can move the music forward to new places, but when I say, "resolve compositionally, it’s better" (to myself) I am referring primarily to the events in the patterns (including the modulations).

Dupe Entire Kits and Move Patterns Between Kits on the Jam

Then this second thing blew my mind. You can dupe an entire kit ("group") and its patterns easily on the Jam. On the MK3, this is not possible (for real). And beyond that: on the Jam you can copy and paste patterns between groups, which gives you awesome effects sometimes. On the MK3, there is no way to move patterns between groups (though you could copy the events, but that’s really awkward).

Copy a pattern between groups, transpose it and nudge it two sixteenths forward or back. Rinse and repeat.

Tempo Adjust Sucks on the MK3

Another issue: If you’re looking at the mixer on the MK3 and you want to adjust tempo, you can’t actually see the parameter you’re adjusting (well, I guess on the computer you could). In addition, switching to the mixer shuts off the tempo adjust, which is all to say: it’s finickiy and weird on the MK3. I prefer the tempo adjust on the Jam by far (but it requires you to have your computer screen visible: if that’s a deal breaker then many things on the Jam won’t work for you).

Also the Jam has a direct master & cue mix volume adjustment... that’s pretty critical.

Pitch Shifting and Lock States

Also: you can retune mutliple kits with the Jam and even do pitch shifting improv. And with the lock feature that gets really interesting. There are many other things that are probably interesting with the lock feature that are more interesting on the Jam.

Big Step Sequencer

64 pads is no joke for a step sequencer, whereas 16 pretty much is. Of course I’d love to see the sequencer evolve a bit on the Jam (can we show two pads/sounds at once, for instance?), it’s still a lot more convenient than the 16 pads on the MK3.

Summing Quickly

Overall, the Jam is kind of a necessary addition to the MK3 for live performance.

Removing Modulation (Auto) from Touch Strip on MK3

2019-05-05T16:53:50.331000Z

I read this passage again and finally got it:

The second solution works, but I wanted to just clear the touch strip modulation (not all the modulation in the pattern).

The answer is: Hold ERASE and turn the two knobs involved in your touch-strip modulation (engage is always one of ‘em).

Glad I finally figured this out... I haven’t been using modulation recording enough!

Maschine 2.7.3 Update: Text Breakdown

2019-05-05T16:53:41.915000Z

Highlights

I've read the Change Log (below) and watched some videos so you don't have to!

What's new? Here are a few important things:

ADDED A LOOP recording mode to the Record tab

When Maschine 2.7 came out, they introduced the "Audio" plugin. But when you recorded, you automatically got your sample playing in a Sampler. As I learned from this ADSR video (at 6 minutes), you can just hit the big button on your MK3 several times to switch between the Audio Plugin (i.e., the looper) and the Sampler, but this is no longer necessary! Now you get another mode for recording beyond "Detect" and "Sync"... Loop Mode. This way you get a Looper right off the bat, which starts looping automatically.

Is this fast enough to actually do this in realtime to "print" one of your kits to an audio loop while improvising? Yes, totally. It's actually pretty fun like that.

Here's a video that shows this from Saint Joe, and hopefully I'll make a video on this at some point soon.

ADDED The ability to enable and disable Audio plug-in playback per Pattern when in LOOP mode.

What? I have some hopes and dreams, but let's see...

Okay, what I thought it might do is untie the loop length from the pattern length, but that's not it.

What it actually does is give you the ability to mute a loop in another way, either by double-clicking the waveform (to toggle playback) or with some incoherent stuff happening in Step mode on the MK3 (it shows four lit-up pads for a two-bar pattern that is playing, but if you touch one of them, it shows none when playback is toggled off).

This is weird and possibly useful, but I don't see what it gives us beyond muting.

ADDED Loading of PerformFX at the end of a Group plug-in chain

This is huge and has been hugely annoying. If you're going to add a Perform effect, you most often want it at the end of the FX chain (unless you had it someplace else before.

Now you can add it anywhere in the chain if you go through browse, or if you shift-select Perform on the MK3, it'll load at the end. Nice!

Ideas mode on MK3 and Studio!

It's like a poor-man's Maschine Jam controller, right on your MK3... seriously, I can't imagine using this myself, ever, but I'm sure I'll figure out what the fuss is all about some day.

Also I should say that I'm realizing that I need to actually make some videos soon. Though this is a really hard space to get any viewers in, I might have some unique stuff to say. But doesn't everybody think that about their own stuff?

Change Log: 2.7.3 — 2018-03-27

Audio Plug-in Improvements.

ADDED The ability to enable and disable Audio plug-in playback per Pattern when in LOOP mode. Double-clicking the waveform will toggle playback for the selected Pattern. Alternatively, the loops can be enabled or disabled via the STEP page on the hardware controllers 

ADDED A LOOP recording mode to the Record tab, and the Record tab is now available for both Sampler and Audio plug-ins. When choosing the new LOOP mode, the start of recording will be quantized to the start of the Pattern. Furthermore, when the recording is complete, the loop will automatically be loaded into an Audio plug-in and will immediately begin playback 

MASCHINE MK3 Improvements.

ADDED Ideas View on MASCHINE MK3 and MASCHINE STUDIO 

ADDED Event Editing on MASCHINE MK3 with 4-Directional Encoder. Select, nudge, pitch-shift and change the length of notes with the 4-Directional Encoder in the events window (on hardware screens) 

ADDED Apple Logic DAW Integration for MASCHINE MK3 - Mixer and basic DAW Control. Access Logic Mixer via MASCHINE MK3 hardware (Volume, Pan, Mute / Solo states are visible on screens). Access Essential Controls: Play / Stop / Record, Quantize, Undo / Redo, Automation Toggle, Tap Tempo, and Loop Toggle 

General.

CHANGED It is now possible to record events directly in the EVENTS Page (MASCHINE MK3) 

ADDED Additional Scales from KOMPLETE KONTROL into MASCHINE 

ADDED Loading of PerformFX at the end of a Group plug-in chain 

FIXED An issue that broke Pattern Duplicate on the MASCHINE MIKRO 

FIXED An issue where the MASCHINE Transport Loop would influence Ideas View playback when hosted in a DAW 

FIXED A crash that could occur when zooming horizontally in the Arranger with special characters in Section names 

FIXED Controller hanging when accessing side-chain parameters (PLUG-IN page) 

FIXED Issues regarding renaming Scenes and Sections 

REMOVED 32-bit versions of standalone application and plug-in 

ADDED Velocity Curves to Controller Editor for MASCHINE MK3 

REMOVED The modal dialog at startup that suggests to download sound preview files from Native Access. The preview files are still available for installation in Native Access 

CHANGED Clear Auto now removes Automation Events from the focus Pattern rather than Automation Parameters 

CHANGED KOMPLETE KONTROL MK2: Pressing CLEAR also removes Automation Events (PATTERN page)

Dan's Finger Drumming Rudiments

2019-05-05T16:53:51.311000Z

So I've been thinking about the basics of finger drumming on Maschine recently. This is one approach that is quite cool:

And watching Zach rock it out on YouTube is always amazing, but it's not really how I want to use the tech. I use Maschine itself to loop a lot, so I don't really need to "keep a beat going with one hand"... actually, it would come in handy, but:

I wanted to create a system of rudiments, like those used in real drumming, to work on basic dexterity. And, like the 13 Rudiments of Drumming, you could probably work on them forever.

I'm avoiding the tie to any particular kit layout, and avoiding suggesting any particular sounds. These are basic dexterity exercises that will work no matter how your vision progresses. I haven't gone beyond Single Strokes yet, myself, so I don't know the benefit, but it certainly can't hurt. I'll report back in a few weeks.

Enjoy!

Travel Rig Reflections from Vegas

2019-05-05T16:53:51.016000Z

Here in Vegas, it’s apparently the Year of the Dog.

Venetian dog:

Another dog (Bellagio?), quite different:

My Backpack (Deconstructed) Rig

And my "Backpack Rig"... my real rig does travel in a serious trap case, but this is my deconstructed rig that fit in a normal backpack (because it’s just the MK3 + iPad + Computer: I’ll put links for the Backpack and Decksaver at end end):

Random Reflection: SSD Speed

I had been using a different USB 3.0 external SSD, but the one I link to below is about 4 times faster. It also happens to be about as fast (in BlackMagic benchmarks, see below) as my 2013 MBP’s internal SSD, so that’s:

Amazing
Good enough to not worry about trying to cram everything on the computer itself.

Worth noting is that on this external Samsung SSD I keep:

All NI LIbrary stuff
All non-NI Library stuff
The Ableton Project so that it records there

Random Travel Reflection: the MK3 as an Audio Interface

For realtime monitoring of external inputs and to get more inputs, I generally use the Scarlett Clarett 4Pre (with is the newer 18i8), which is thunderbolt (though USB-C on this Mac) and amazing.

Aside from realtime monitoring and more inputs, when compared to the built-in audio interface in the MK3, the Thunderbolt Interface:

Might be lower latency
Might sound better
Might free up the MK3 for other processing

However, I can’t prove any of these, and more importantly the MK3’s audio interface seems to work fine. It’s also got two fully-adressable stereo outputs. I don’t use Maschine’s built-in cueing nor metronome, and with Ableton... the MK3’s audio interface works nicely.

I should note that I change the settings on the interface to send the main mix out to the cue mix as well so that I don’t have to change my Ableton routing.

Random Rig Reflections: Still Using musicIO MIDI

I switched back to using musicIO for MIDI (link below) from using the built-in stuff with iOS 11 and High Sierra. It’s just more convenient, more sensible, and in my previous tests, it’s also lower latency.

Also, I designed and programmed the UI in collaboration with two other music devs who are awesome (http://powertr.io) so there may be some pride in there.

Why I Need the Jam

I normally use the Maschine Jam to the right of my MK3, so here is the full set of controllers:

Maschine MK3 on Left
Maschine Jam on Right
iPad Pro 10.5 with MIDI Designer Pro 2 somewhere else
The computer screen open, but I don’t actually look at it

I got to play without the Jam last night. Here are some things that are missing without the Jam:

See patterns in kits ("groups") without diving into each one
Duplicate a pattern from one kit to another. This is huge and awesome, especially if you nudge, transpose, and/or shorten the pattern afterwards
Play more than one Performance Effect at once
Access more than one Tune Parameter at once (useful with Lock states, too)
If you have Note Repeat mode "pinned" on the MK3, you can still access the mixer on the Jam

That’s about everything in my regular workflow that I need the Jam for. Unfortunately I no longer use the Master nor Cue section on the right of the Jam, so that’s a waste. There are probably dozens of other features that might be very useful too, which I’ll discover moving forward...

But for now... when possible, I’ll always have my "full rig" with me, with the exception of my Focusrite Clarett 4Pre, using the MK3 instead.

Links

MIDI Designer Pro 2 itunes.apple.com/app/the-only-professional-midi-controller-for-iOS/id492291712?mt=8

Backpack Targus for 17" Laptop https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003HIXPJA

Fast Samsung T5 SSD, 500GB https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073GZBT36

My Rig: tiny.dr2050.com/rig

musicIO: MIDI over USB by Power Trio itunes.apple.com/app/musicio-midi-over-usb/id989656108?mt=8

Decksaver for MK3 (unavailable, that sucks) www.amazon.com/dp/B077NRHPG2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_d-TLAbNQYCFDP

Decksaver for Jam https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MTWJW04/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_V8TLAbE0EJRBQ

Bidirectional MIDI Control in Maschine 2.7.2

2019-05-05T16:53:54.228000Z

My interest in MIDI control goes back way before MIDI Designer. When I think of a MIDI controller, I think of my first one, the Novation Zero SL It has knobs, sliders, buttons.

(The Novation also has a few "rotary encoders," which can respond to MIDI data as well as send it out. Bidirectionality is a big topic in this article.)

But you can also think of a designable MIDI interface, like my own MIDI Designer or Lemur...

...or some new-fangled MIDI controller that’s perhaps a table with shapes that you can push around and rotate, like the Rotor by Reactable.

Back to me... About twice a year I decide that I don’t need an external MIDI controller with Maschine... The thought is that I’ll just do everything with Macro controls for my live performance rig. Then I return to sanity and put a MIDI controller back in my rig. The reason is always the same: to get more control of more parameters visible and accessible at once.

The following is a small discussion of MIDI control of Maschine. For the record, my rig’s physical Maschine controllers are an MK3 (on the left side) and a Jam (on the right). I’m never talking about using the software on the computer with the keyboard and trackpad (except to create my rig).

What’s Wrong with Macro Controls

The main issue is that macro controls involve more menu diving while performing, meaning that you have to navigate from where you are to some other places (on your Maschine 4x4 controller or the Jam) to control your parameters. Also, when you hit the macro button, you often end up looking at the Group Level. Group-level macro controls are great, but you have to be looking at the right group, so if you want to change the delays on your vocals in Kit H and you’re playing an arpeggio in Kit C, you’re stuck.

External MIDI Control in Maschine and the Failure to Persist

So then you think, "great, I’ll use external MIDI control." So you map a knob to the tune knob of a Group and that works great. Then you load another kit group into the slot and the mapping is gone.

So that’s one issue, and it happens whether you use Macro mappings or MIDI mappings. Your solutions are two:

Map your Macro controls (or MIDI controls) to something that won’t get overridden when you load a group, such as an effect on the Master signal chain in Maschine.
Buy a Maschine Jam. Certain parameters, like both of your Aux sends and the Tune controls for your Groups, are mapped up automatically on Maschine Jam. The Jam has lots of other advantages, of course...

External MIDI Control and Bidirectionality

So you map up a knob to an external MIDI controller in MIDI Designer or whatever, and Maschine won’t send the value back... ever. And you can verify this with Snoize MIDI Monitor and other similar tools.

So I woke up at about 7am one of these weekend days to the realization that maybe Maschine will send back parameters if you use Host Automation. So I fired up Maschine inside Ableton and sure enough, it worked! If you twiddle the knob in Maschine, it moves the host automation sideways slider in Live, and then Live faithfullys sends that back to MIDI Designer. Amazing!

I was ecstatic and I doctored up a small rig like this:

But I had forgotten to check whether the one thing I wanted — snapshots and morphing — would work bidirectionally. To me, it was kind of obvious that it would.

But... it's broken. Maschine does not act bidirectionally and send MIDI out when it is moving between snapshots (and not when it arrives at the destination, either). Maschine will not send back parameters when moving between Snapshots (or with lock and unlock). So this means that your external MIDI controller will get out of sync.

It’s Kinda Bidirectional... So What?

There are other advantages to putting Maschine inside a DAW like Ableton, especially in terms of audio routing (and getting multiple instances if that’s your thing). There are also disadvantages (renders your tempo control and your play button useless). But using host automation for control of parameters inside Maschine is quite bidirectional, has this one weird caveat.

I was going to end this article with, "so screw it, don’t map parameters inside Maschine." However, in my case, I’m mostly using snapshots on my Master macro controls to untwist a bunch of knobs, so in the end they are returned to their default state. Returning a bunch of controls to their default state is easy enough in MIDI Designer, so I can do it when the morph is complete. So yeah, it’s a bit of manual synchronization, but it’s not too bad.

Still, I’m hopeful that Native Instruments will fix this in the future. But first I’d have to get them to hear the problem and classify it as a problem. But perhaps it’s a very niche concern. Is bidirectional MIDI control of Maschine interesting to you? Would love to hear your feedback and thoughts.

Hardware and Software

Just to be clear about what's being discussed here:

Macbook Pro 2016 running High Sierra, OS X 10.13.2.
These findings might work for Windows, too.
Maschine 2.7.2 with a Maschine MK3 and a Maschine Jam
Ableton Live 9 (9.7.5)
MIDI Designer Pro 2 version 2.95 for iPad
iPad Air 2

Maschine Jam is Lighting Up and Then Shutting Off on OS X

2019-05-05T16:53:57.408000Z

So you connect your Maschine Jam to a new Mac. It lights up when plugged in to USB power, but then the lights shut off. Even MIDI controller mode doesn't work.

The Web is no help, including Native Instruments site itself via Google.

Worse, the Maschine Jam is supposedly class-compliant if you're running OS X 10.9 or above, so no drivers are needed.

But no! You have to run the Controller Editor once and have it recognize the Jam for it to work properly!

If Your Controller Editor gets stuck during startup:

In my run of the Controller Editor, it got stuck at a certain point, and then it would never continue. To fix this, I deleted the contents of

~/Library/Application Support/Native Instruments/Controller Editor

and then it ran it again.

How to Back Up Maschine on Mac/OS X

2019-05-29T16:10:17.790000Z

These locations will get you to a new Maschine without redoing much of your Maschine setup.

Everything is Here

~/Library/Application Support/Native Instruments

Library Locations Etc.

~/Library/Application Support/Native Instruments/Maschine 2

(specifically this guy

/Users/dan/Library/Application Support/Native Instruments/Maschine 2/komplete.db3

has all the SQLLite stuff

Favorites

~/Library/Application Support/Native Instruments/Shared

Then you need to configure your defaults and a few other things and you're done.