Native Instruments has released Maschine Jam – their new music production system.
Maschine Jam offers a workflow designed to swiftly capture and develop musical ideas using hands-on, multi-track step sequencing and touch-sensitive controls. With the included Maschine 2.5 software, Maschine Jam is designed to be an integrated production system. It works with Komplete, third-party plug-ins, and all popular DAWs.
It can also be used in combination with other Maschine hardware or a Komplete Kontrol S-Series keyboard.
Maschine Jam’s workflow centers on an 8×8 multicolor click-pad matrix, which can be used for sequencing, experimenting with pattern and scene arrangements, and playing melodies. Maschine Jam also introduces new options for performance, with eight dual-touch Smart Strips.
Notes Mode allow for strumming melodies and chords with the Smart Strips, while the Lock function stores parameter snapshots that can be instantly recalled at any point during performance, or used for gradual ‘morphed’ transitions between settings. The Smart Strips also offer tactile control of Maschine software’s eight new Perform FX units – multi-effects that add expressive motion, space, dynamics, and more.
Here’s a Maschine Jam demo, featuring OddKidOut:
In the video, OddKidOut performs in an LA warehouse, transformed into a multimedia installation that visually reacts to his music. He uses both Maschine Jam and the original Maschine controller into the performance.
Here’s a video playlist demoing Maschine Jam’s workflow features:
Pricing and Availability
Maschine Jam is now available for $399 / 399 € / ¥ 49,800 / £319 / AU$ 549 at the NI Online Shop and at local retailers.
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It really should be sold to existing machine hardware owners at leat a €100 discount (not e-vouchers- a physical cash reduction to the purchase price). Unlike first time buyers, we already have the software ‘value add’ of Maschine 2 and Komplete Select. And don’t forget that you will be charged for an update to Maschine 3 in the future. Jam looks like a great device, but NI would be better initialled as NO until they sort out that mess as far as I’m concerned.
When Maschine came out, I realized that it was an extremely stripped down ableton, with no time stretch of samples, etc. Over the years they have added functionality until it starts to look like ableton suite with a Push hooked up. Still, I will say what I said on day one of Maschine, if they want to just take over, they will make a Maschine that retains everything you have set, the sounds, etc., once disconnected from the computer.
i agree. a credible source told me that akai is coming up with a standalone mpc soon. so hurry up, native instruments!
I have the Jam here for testing and I can tell you. This thing is really cool but but but I will wait for MK2 with displays over the touch strips… without display you cant use it like the normal maschine and the displays are really important if I want to change something (maybe the filter settings on a sample) and I must search it first on the monitor (and then count 1-8 to find the right fader) the workflow goes down… Please NI get make a mk2 with display and sell this here for 299,-
it´s not going to happen. they should instead come up with a kontrol s workstation board that runs standalone, w/ maschine software as internal os plus komplete select. kronos users would be thrilled, myself included.
i think Push has won in the ‘controller connected to computer’ realm, for so many reasons, one being that Ableton is a DAW that so many are using anyway.
someone mentioned above that Akai is working on a new stand alone, this is truly exciting and i agree that in the controller based world we now live in is a product that will really stand out.