This is the first part of a tutorial series on setting up Maschine to be sequenced in your DAW of choice.
Many wish to incorporate maschine into Logic, Cubase, Nuendo, Ableton, Studio One, Reaper, Digital Performer or whatever they are comfortable with, and wish to use Maschine as a module/sampler.
Thing is, it’s not as straight forward as you would think, well…it is, but it’s just not the way you would imagine it.
Once you finish this series of videos you will know how to setup any daw to sequence maschine properly.
This means the midi data will all be recorded into your daw, not maschine, where you are free to edit and arrange as you see fit.
Maybe you want to use your daw’s step sequencer? Maybe you like the way ableton session view lets you arrange, maybe you just like linear recording.
Whatever it is, these videos should help you get there.
This first one deals with setting up a new controller template that you will use as a pad trigger for Maschine.
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Looking good – I like where this is going – cheers fella
word, part 2 coming soon 🙂
Nice vid. Is that also the best way to control drum racks in ableton?
Yes, setup midi control template for it, and you’re good to go.
WIll there be a part 2 to show how you set up the routing?
Yes, as I said there will be more parts 🙂
yo how do you get into that window your in ona mac?
That is the controller editor application that gets installed when you install maschine
Macintosh HD>Applications>Controller editor>Controller Editor.app
To set up your Maschine, I think you just click on the Controller Editor program and choose New Template.
yessir
oh ok i new that! haha….thnx
wont tell ya how long it took me to find this haha
Lol, it’s all good fam!
I, we, the mt fam, we gone need that part 2 a.s.a.p. SJ you da man, but right now I feel like rolling up in the K with the unmarked van and ski mask for that part 2. Man just when it was gettin good.
yo we can use the ice cream truck from gost dog……haha im driven
LOL. nice.
Ahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! lol
word! off to try…good looks man
Word part 2 coming shortly!
Yes indeed !!!!!!!!!!!!! Love it man. I finally got home and checking it out. That beat that played early on was HOT..LOL.
Lol that was my test beat, and once again I forgot to save it lol
lol, @ 6:17 “You wanna leave that in there…ok, well leave that in there…” You must of heard me saying that in my HEAD son!! Good stuff.
yeah, then you can map that to your daw
I would like to thank you both of you for all the knowledge that your sharing. Saintjoe, thanks for the samples bruh.
Amen…to that
Thanks for the support, we’re glad you find it useful!
ok im worin on this as i write this……im trying to figure out how to make a second templete….and do i still want to us c3 or can i use other pads when making new temps? if theres anyone there …….. i am on hulk stand by…..been @ this for a min.
good looks in advance
What do you mean a second template? What are you trying to trigger? C3 is what lines up with Maschine’s sounds, so that’s why we use it.
so the one i made is the only one i need? what if i wanna make another beat?
i just updated do that matter?
the template has nothing to do with your beat, it just tells the controller which notes to send when you put it in midi mode, you can use it as much as you want.
Ok cool. So I only need to make one temp…them save them as diff. Projects
template has nothing to do with the project at all, it’s just a way that Maschine knows which notes to send to your program when you use it this way, template is only for the controller, not your project.
cool
Ok, im really new to this and i don’t see where i can create a template! please help!!!
exactly like I did in the video, open the controller editor application to make one.
Hey, Thanks for the info in this and a follow up tip After creating a template like yours I found that it is useful to create multiple pad groups at different octaves, something like Group A starts on C2, Group B starts on C3, Group C starts on C4, etc. This way, when you are controlling or previewing a larger battery kit in your DAW, you can move up and down easily to access the entire sample map by just hitting a different group pad. You can just duplicate the groups and change the note assignment accordingly. I labeled my… Read more »
Yep, that would be more useful for general template use, this was specifically for controlling maschine.
When I’m using as a general midi controller I have multiple octaves like you stated. I do this in ableton, studio one, etc. Or, if I want to control something like battery.
thanks for the reply!
Thanks for making this stuff easy to understand SJ.
Peace!
No problem fam, always trying to find ways to make it easier, if you have any questions or request feel free to ask!
If I have an Ableton Live Template that I downloaded from Native Instruments, does that make this video obsolete?
No, it’s a different template, setup to control ableton and trigger clips
Dear Saint Joe,
I followed “Maschine in Ableton Live workflow” video’s. Is it necessary to create an Ableton template. Everythings seems to be working without it
Thanks !
No you don’t need a template unless you want to use maschine to control ableton functions
Joe, I followed your vid and tried to map my new template to match Impact’s key range in SO and the pads in maschine aren’t triggering impact’s in order. I excluded the sharped notes (c#3, etc) like Impact does but its skipping pads.
Nevermind,I fixed it 🙂
Cool 🙂
Hey saintjoe! So basically I need your help! So I want to use Maschine as a VST in Cubase 7. I want to write all my midi in maschines interface then drag it out of maschine on to a midi track in cubase and from that midi track have it trigger a VST called Steven Slate Drums ( that isnt loaded in maschine for the sake of output routing etc ) I will load another VST of Steven slate drums in maschine thou, just so I can heard what im writting but I wont use the maschine output. My question… Read more »
Also even if I can get the restart button to work, that might fix my problem in cubase.
Cheers SJ!
they way things line up in cubase have to do with the way scenes work in maschine, it’s definitely a frustration to get them lined up and it seems Cubase has more issues with maschine out of many others, or rather maschine has more issues with this in cubase.
as for the transport, when it’s a plugin Cubase is in control of the transport, but you can set maschine up to control it, check this video
https://maschinetutorials.com/how-to-setup-host-transport-control-in-cubase/
Thanks man,
So is there any way to sync up the LINE ?- Or do I need to move the whole project a few bars back so its in line ( I already got audio previously recorded in the project. )
Thanks, Ill check out the transport video.
talk soon bRO!
OK sweet I got the TRANSPORT button all working. My midi control input in Device Setup was labelled ‘Maschine MK2 Virtual Input’ – Just incase anyone else couldn’t find what you used in your video. Im still not getting my head around the Sync line thou. I want to punch in some midi and I want to be able to restart the LINE in maschine. Would assign the RESTART button help in maschine? OR Should I just write the midi even thou its not starting at bar 1 in maschineVST. Do you think it would case any problems? Sorry if… Read more »
Actually it causes heaps of problems because Maschine in on a BAR LOOP system and my track in Linear, so the midi parts I write in maschine jump off time.
Any chance you can just use a PATTERN in like a Freeflow mode?
What should I do to be able to write midi to this track with maschine :S ? Im basically just writting in sections but I need some way to restart the Line.
thanks!
If you dont understand where Im coming from just let me know 🙂
Looking forward to your reply.
you could try making a larger pattern, unfortunately maschine is loop based in it’s workflow so you have to work within the loop paradigm
Also, I’m not sure if Cubase doesn’t “markers” but if it does, you could create markers in cubase that are the same length of your patterns, that way things may sync up better.
Say if you have a pattern that is 8 bars, make a marker that starts on the 1 and another that ends after the 8th bar, may workout for ya!
Man I worked it out, Say if you want to start at bar 200 in cubase, you need to set your pattern length to 199. That way it should start at Bar 1 in maschines VST. Let me know if it works for you too! ps. Few quick questions: 1. Am I able to quantize or half quantize just 1 Note in my group in stead of quantizing the whole pattern while using a VST loaded into a group. Im usually writting in keyboard mode in maschine VST. 2. Are you able to clear just 1 Notes pattern without having… Read more »
Yeah you use the select button to choose specific notes then you can delete or quantize them.
Fuck yeah man ! Thanks man
hahahaha, no doubt!
hey what up,
how do i set up the pads correctly on the mk2 software 2.0. i followed the vid with the one group and matching octaves on pad.
some kits i can hear all 16 of the sounds perfect,
some i can’t find any sounds at all
and then other kits i get one sound but the pads alter the octaves like it is in keyboard mode.
what am i doing?
Make sure you set midi for the group and not the sound
I got it !
Cool!
Hey man, I’m on MK2 with Cubase 5 and I can’t get it to work for love nor money. If I program a beat in my edit window in Cubase and send the midi to Maschine to trigger it, it works fine, but this obviously completely defeats the point of owning Maschine! I want to be able to record my perfomance into Cubase and do my sequencing there. When I send midi outta Maschine to Cubase I run into 1 of 2 problems… -Lets say I have kick on pad 1 and snare on pad 2. I route pad 1… Read more »
I feel you bro! Check this out https://maschinetutorials.com/maschine-2-0-with-maschine-studio-midi-sequencing-in-cubase/
Hey bud. Thanks, that is a massive step in the right direction but I’m still not there yet! I followed your instructions to the letter (and even downloaded your template). It’s working, but I don’t hear anything when I play the pads. I can only hear what I have played once I play it back. Is there something I’m missing? It’s recording the information OK and like I say, playback is cool, I just can’t monitor the sounds as I’m playing them if you follow. Also, is there a way to use the pads to play other VSTi’s external to… Read more »
OK, so scrap that…kinda.
I forgot I had turned midi thru off when I was doing something else. I can monitor, but now I have a different problem! Haha. Sorry man.
Kit on 2 all works fine, but only the 1st pad is playing anything. I tried putting it in keyboard mode, but that didn’t help.
Any ideas?
Got it now man. I restarted and it started working.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. I can finally sleep now!!
I’d still be interested to know if there is a way to control other VSTi’s outside of Maschine though.
Thanks again bud.
Sorry I disappeared for a couple hours lol, I was at the car shop and my battery got low, glad you got it man!
Nah that’s cool. Just really appreciate you help and the quick response.
Is there a way to use the pads to play other VSTi’s then that you know of?
Yeah, Maschine works as a regular midi device when in midi mode, so just activate your plugins or whatever, and you can trigger them as long as the track is set to receive midi input from the maschine controller.
hey saintjoe, so as i was working today i thought it’d be cool to add group b, (in the controller template,) for group b in maschine…. unfortunately, no matter that i line it up root note c1 in machine and c1 in controller template i can’t get it to work… wondering where i’m’ going wrong or if there’s something more to it? now, i also watched this video over again, for the 50th time, lol, and i seen you said that for the midi controller template it’s not necessary to make different groups in the controller template for each group… Read more »
oh one more thing 🙂 i noticed the default root is c1 when you open up maschine but you said it was c3, just curious why that is?
The kits default to c3 when dragging midi out. If you check pad 1, it’s always c3, however if you’re just triggering MIDI you can set your own root note, or leave it at c1 and it will work.
oh i just noticed that in ableton there where when i dragged my midi out it under c3… that makes sense now! when you say triggering midi, you mean in maschine mode right? cuz that’s the only time i can change all the roots and whatever and still have sound coming out…
There is no reason to have multiple groups setup in midi mode, it makes no difference, that’s like saying you would need to setup multiple patches on your midi controller for it to trigger different sounds on different channels 🙂
As long as you send the midi track to the plugin on the proper channel you can use 1 pad bank setup with the proper notes in midi mode. In midi mode they are not groups, just banks of notes.
oh wow ok that makes sense… thanks saint joe!
one thing i’ve been trying to find on these videos is how to make it go in keyboard mode when in midi mode? only way i’ve been able to is go in maschine mode, drag and drop it in there?
any other ways?
actually i just got it to play in keyboard mode via midi, i have no idea how tho? gonna try it again tnite, i think it was something to do with the active button, leaving it off played the full keyboard range but when it’s off, it plays just the hit or pad or sound whatever you want to call it…
turn midi on for the “sound” instead of the group 🙂
How many MCU Channels can be defined? Right now the first 8 is all good but I would like to assign 16 buttons and 16 knobs for Logic X is that possible?
Thanks
You can add more pages for knobs/buttons as needed in controller editor.
In The Controller Editor I added a new page I took the new page and the “Solo/volume page and renamed them “Solo/Pan 1” and “Solo/Pan 2”, because I want to solo with these buttons and Pan with these knobs. The first 8 work great however I’m trying to configure the second page Solo/Pan 2 which would be Solo/Pan 9-16 and assign them in logic. I make them all MCU buttons and it only seems to allow the “parameter ID” in controller editor to be 1-8 and I’m assuming I need to change the parameter ID’s of the additional Pan/Solo page… Read more »
The problem seems to be in the control editor, how can I add parameter IDs? Is there a chart? Am I limited?
Am I trippin? (It is Friday night)
Thanks
All solo’s 1-16 are working, but knobs 9-16 are tripp’in!
You can assign them in the editor there should be a section on the right side once you click on a control. I don’t know how many different parameter ids there are though.
I was trying to assign MCU buttons which appear to only have 8 unique IDs. I finally started assigning all knobs and buttons to control changes (CC) which appear to have 127 unique channel. IDs. I really don’t know the difference between control changes, MCU buttons, poly pressure ect. Does Poly pressure make the pads pressure sensitive? The. Manual doesn’t really explain this well.
I tried setting one pad using the poly pressure setting. You can assign colors to the pads, midi, Channel IDs ect. It looks like you have a lot more control with this setting however I can’t get the pad to trigger the sound. Do you know how to make this work?
Thanks
The MCU is specific to Mackie control parameters where CC is general MIDI. The pads will always be velocity sensitive. Poly pressure is more dependent on the device receiving, think of it as a modulation option, where each pad can send poly pressure data, if you’re using a synth that can receive that data then each pad will be able to send modulation based on it’s pressure. Something like, if you have a synth that receives poly pressure/aftertouch, and it’s assigned to an lfo or something, as you press the pad harder the lfo would react. But it really doesn’t… Read more »
Thanks!
You’re vids and your info is very helpful! Thanks for responding too man!
No problem, glad to help.
Wsup Bro. Quick Question, can I use this template for maschine mk2 2.2 and logic pro x. Somethings are diffrent on mines from the video. Thanx!!!
You can make one the same way for the MK2, this is an older video so probably was done with the original Maschine controller/software which is why it looks different.
Ok cool. Think I just found a updated video on it. Thanks again..
Cool
would really like to see how to use (route, etc.) plug-in with DAW – don’t really like Maschine Controller – don’t want to use it – onto next video – thx!
There are lots of different ways of using Maschine in a DAW, this video specifically speaks on setting up the controller editor for those using the controller. I’d suggest watching other videos for plugin routing options and such. If you have specific questions feel free to ask.