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MASCHINE
MASCHINE · Berlin, Germany · founded 1996
What it is
MASCHINE is a beat-making and music production system for creating, sampling, arranging, and performing music, either on its own or in a DAW. Maschine 3 organizes work into Ideas, Arrangement, Mixer, and Sampler views. It can separate an imported track into bass, drums, vocals, and other elements using iZotope RX technology. Included instruments and effects include Drum Synths, Bass Synth, Poly Synth, compressors, reverbs, delays, and modulation tools. The Maschine Central library includes presets from Massive, Monark, and Prism, over 700 drums, and 144 multi-sampled Kontakt instruments. MASCHINE works as a VST, Audio Units, or AAX plug-in in DAWs including Ableton Live, Logic Pro, Cubase, GarageBand, FL Studio, Pro Tools, and PreSonus Studio One. Mouse-based MIDI editing supports work without a controller. Download and activation require an internet connection, while installed and activated products can be used offline. The listed update-only version is $39 a month; Maschine 3 with Maschine Central is $109 a month.
For and against
For
- Offers Ideas, Arrangement, Mixer, and Sampler views.
- Separates imported tracks into instrument stems.
- Works as a plug-in in several major DAWs.
- Can be used offline after installation and activation.
- Supports mouse-based MIDI editing without a controller.
Against
- Download and activation require an internet connection.
- Listed platforms are macOS and Windows.
- The update-only plan is for Maschine 2 users.
The verdict
MASCHINE combines sampling, arranging, instruments, and effects in a single music production system. The listed monthly options distinguish an update-only version from one that includes Maschine Central.
Who it suits
MASCHINE suits music makers who want to create or perform beats on its own or inside a DAW. Its mouse-based MIDI editing also suits users who want to work without a controller.
Plans and prices
Maschine 3 software update only
Update-only version for Maschine 2 users
Read 20 Sep 2026 · native-instruments.com
Maschine 3 software update only
Update-only version for Maschine 2 users
Read 20 Sep 2026 · native-instruments.com
Maschine 3 including Maschine Central
Maschine 3 software · Maschine Central sound library · additional software · download available immediately
Read 29 Sep 2026 · native-instruments.com
On the record
- Computer requirements
- Maschine 3 supports macOS 14, 15, and 26 and Windows 10 64-bit or Windows 11, and requires an Intel Core i5 or equivalent X86 CPU or Apple Silicon.native-instruments.com · read 29 Sep 2026
- DAW compatibility
- MASCHINE works as a VST, Audio Units, or AAX plug-in in major DAWs including Ableton Live, Logic Pro, Cubase, GarageBand, FL Studio, Pro Tools, and PreSonus Studio One.native-instruments.com · read 29 Sep 2026
- Hardware system
- The MASCHINE hardware and software system includes a sampler, arranger, mixer, effects, and a built-in audio interface.native-instruments.com · read 29 Sep 2026
- Manufacturer
- Native Instruments describes itself as a manufacturer of software and hardware for computer-based audio production and DJing.native-instruments.com · read 29 Sep 2026
- No controller required
- Maschine 3 supports drawing in, playing, editing, and arranging ideas without a controller using its mouse MIDI editing tools.native-instruments.com · read 29 Sep 2026
- Offline use
- An internet connection and a graphics card supporting OpenGL 2.1 or higher are required to download and activate MASCHINE; installed and activated products can be used offline.native-instruments.com · read 29 Sep 2026
- Plug-in formats
- Supported interfaces include Stand-alone, VST, VST3, 64-bit Audio Units, AAX 64, ASIO, CoreAudio, and WASAPI.native-instruments.com · read 29 Sep 2026
- Purpose
- MASCHINE is a beat making and music production system for creating, sampling, arranging, and performing music, on its own or in a DAW.native-instruments.com · read 29 Sep 2026
- Software instruments
- Maschine 3 includes Drum Synths, Bass Synth, Poly Synth, compressors, reverbs, delays, and modulation tools.native-instruments.com · read 29 Sep 2026
- Sound library
- Maschine Central includes presets from Massive, Monark, and Prism, over 700 drums, and 144 multi-sampled Kontakt instruments.native-instruments.com · read 29 Sep 2026
- Stem separation
- Stem separation uses iZotope RX technology to identify bass, drums, vocals, and other elements in an imported track.native-instruments.com · read 29 Sep 2026
- Workflow
- Maschine 3 includes Ideas, Arrangement, Mixer, and Sampler views, including stem separation for splitting tracks into bass, drums, vocals, and other instruments.native-instruments.com · read 29 Sep 2026
