I bought Maschine Mikro a while ago. Although my experience with the big brother (Maschine) is quite limited (I’ve only touched it in a shop), I noticed a significant difference between the two hardwares.
Actually, it’s not really about the hardware…let me explain.
I spent several weeks comparing Maschine and Maschine Mikro. I chose to buy Maschine Mikro – the decision I am proud of. However, I realized a problem that is affecting me in an unexpected way.
Right now, Native Instruments is doing sales on Maschine and Maschine Mikro (along with Complete 8 Ultimate Upgrades, etc). If you buy Maschine now, you’ll only pay around the same amount as the original Maschine Mikro price.
Native Instruments Maschine Groove Production Studio
This made me a bit angry.
I wondered why I felt that way and found out the reason. It’s not because I paid the full amount for Maschine Mikro and didn’t have chance to take advantage of the current sales price but because they are pushing my button….
Before going any further, I need to tell you that there have been more than a few occasions when I felt “I should’ve bought Maschine not Maschine Mikro?” despite the fact that I can do most of the things I wanted to do with Maschine Mikro.
For example, I can not record automation using the knob in Maschine Mikro (the rumor says the version 1.8 of the software will enable this currently missing feature for Maschine Mikro). Sometimes I wish I could do the automation with the knob not with the mouse or the trackpad, and I felt “I should’ve bought Maschine not Maschine Mikro?”.
Having said that, I usually like doing things on my Mac, things like browsing groups and sounds and editing sampled sounds. I don’t see why I’d want to slice wave file in a tiny Maschine screen. Other than hitting the pads, I’m happy with the mouse and the keyboard.
But would this be a logical excuse so that I could get away from the “I should’ve bought Maschine not Maschine Mikro?” syndrome?
Sometimes I don’t know why Maschine Mikro can not do things that Maschine can do. For example, with Maschine, you can select each individual sounds from the controller and edit them. As far Maschine Mikro, you can select all sounds for an instrument but not each individual sounds from the controller. You’ll need to select a sound or two on Mac and then go back to the controller for editing if you want. But then, what’s the point. You’d do everything on Mac. Why did Native Instruments introduce such a strange difference between the two controller?
And, I again felt “I should’ve bought Maschine not Maschine Mikro?”.
All this tells me that the question of wether to buy Maschine or Maschine Mikro will not end if you chose to buy Maschine Mikro. As long as you don’t own Maschine, the question will haunt you forever.
Native Instruments are doing very smart business. They introduced Maschine Mikro as a more mobile option for existing Maschine users. Moreover, they gained lots of new users who bought Maschine Mikro.
But Maschine and Maschine Mikro are designed to have such differences that Mikro owners feel that they should one day buy the big brother Maschine to benefit from the full potential of the Maschine suite (the hardware and the software).
I’m sure there are many people who ended up buying both.
Thinking about the current sales, I feel trapped. I’m wanting to buy Maschine now.
If you are in two minds, I want to pad your shoulder and whisper to your ear, “Maschine not Maschine Mikro”. It’s on sale!
That way, you will not suffer from the “I should’ve bought Maschine not Maschine Mikro?” disease.
Having said that, there is one possible risk here. We don’t know when Native Instruments announces the next generation of Maschine hardware.
So, you should buy what you feel most appropriate for your use at your own risk. You’ve been warned.
