It may feel like NI is on the fritz, but I still think Maschine Plus is the nicest sampler on the market.
4 Likes
compared to an mpc live 2 ? 
Just to add to the general rant against NI, as a new Mac user, today I discovered that Native Access hasn’t an option to uninstall a product in MacOS.
There are official instructions on how to do that (5 and 7 years old), which implies going to several folders and deleting files (really? Couldn’t they even program those deletions inside Native Access, after all these years?).
After following the instructions, NA keeps detecting the removed products and offers to “repair” them.
So, I fixed NA by uninstalling it, and removing all traces of it from the system.
9 Likes
Last proper products (not sample packs with a pretty picture) NI released were Massive X and Guitar Rig 6 some years ago. Both had big promises of rapid updates and development but in neither case were they able to keep the promise. The merger with Plugin Alliance and Izotope means they don’t even try to develop new products for Komplete, they have a library of other peoples stuff to slap on updates.
NI really isn’t what it used to be. I can’t believe Massive X still can’t do automation (macros don’t count!).
2 Likes
I think interestingly this (and other threads onn NI) bring 2 related thoughts to my mind.
Despite appearances, a lot of people are still generally satisfied with NI actually, but that tends to be the sample lib crew - those who engage with synthesis tend to be more critical. Many point out that NI was innovating in synths first. But given how long it’s been since then, this feels like the classic “awesome first album” syndrome. Problem is when you want to move on, you sometimes have to alienate the crowd who got you where you are, or risk becoming a pale imitation of yourself.
I actually think the story of “what is eating” NI is basically a lack of focus. As a solo brand their issues are plenty big enough as it is. But when they were placed in a group with Plugin Alliance, I’m not sure if the group owners realised they’d just given themselves double trouble. One legacy group with a heritage in great sound but a cobbled together modern offer, and another which seems to be a very random collection of other VST makers with no unifying philosophy. (As an aside; I think they missed a trick by not buying a related company (Output) which has a winning formula for great GUI design and new ideas eg: Arcade. That would have been a more interesting and potentially fruitful way of moving NI forward.) The only company in the group that has created a cohesive identity and slimmed down its offer around it is Izotope, which is more or less exclusively stuff that helps you finish a tune.
If I were them, I’d a) keep PA completely seperate from the others for a long time. That is a mess of its own making that will take a long time to sort out. And b) I’d launch Komplete 15 with Izotope and NI fully under the same umbrella. NI = Start a song. Izotope = Finish a song. Gradually the Izotope products will keep the same name but you’ll see NI Ozone, NI Neutron and others in your DAW. Then Komplete will be befitting of its name. Start a song with the instruments. Finish it with the included effects.
I would suggest that the future focus of NI should be on reclaiming their top spot as the defacto and best choice for sample libraries for beginner producers and composers. NI is sortof already signalling this by listing Playbox as a “synth” despite it being a layered sampler. In synthesis they are now well beaten by a long list of other companies, arguably to the point that they could struggle to compete in this area today. And if you ask most people why they keep NI around - it’s generally Kontakt, not the synths. If NI must have a flagship VST synth, focus is key again. Why not put the same amount of work into (the seemingly abandoned) Massive X as Arturia do into Pigments. We’re talking V 2, 3, 4 and more, a much improved GUI and more. I appreciate this move would annoy some folks, as this would mean less emphasis on the OGs like Massive and Reaktor. But a company with prioritisation issues would be better off doing 1 thing, rather than spreading themsleves across 10 products that never see improvements. Massive X sounds as good if not better than some of its competition, but is blown away in the GUI department and has hardly seen an update aside from citical fixes since launch. If you want to be the sample kings & queens, the natural move would be to reboot your classic synths as sample libraries. I would be interested to see a sample lib dedicated to the legacy of Absynth for example.
For me that’s one way of doing it but it’s easy to throw stones as they say; and I am one randomer on the internet. But those moves would make some sense to me.
2 Likes
I always dream one day some will hack alternative firmware for Maschine+, sigh…
2 Likes
I invested some money into Komplete and using some their plugins on a daily basis. However I would say I’m totally disoriented with new packs and instruments twice a week or so. It’s an overwhelming amount of content and products, I would say. And what is wrong - it’s not even regularly included into the next versions of Komplete…
Deleting NA and all traces of NI was a huge part of why I recently decided to just do a fresh install and clean/organize my sound folder. PIA for sure but rewarding when done.
1 Like
This! Actually raised this with their customer service - one-click downloads and purchases of anything you can imagine, sheer pain to remove. Leaves a bad taste.
1 Like
It’s a true fact of NI life that basically turns you into a hacker. I do have empathy for the fact that sample libs are not just a single VST file; but if that’s a main piece of the business then you’d think they’d focus on and emphasise improving it. I believe we’re close to seeing one click uninstall for most NI products (not including 3rd party stuff, or VSTs yet.) The community outreach says that it’s a priority and they’ve committed to uninstall as their focus around now-ish…
1 Like
Even if so, and NI is focussing on samples and not synths which would be smart. They really have to switch things up with machine+. They can not just abandon everything they do even the flagship and expect people to coming back.
Two big screens and they just get no use. Just hire one capable UI Designer and Fix that thing. I mean if you are not capable, just copy good stuff. Every other sampler on this planet knows what a graphical envelope is even the rytm and the screen is so tiny.
4 Likes
This. What a terrible waste.
4 Likes
“Sometimes I feel, like a motherless child”
- …NI product line.
JJOS for Maschine+ please
4 Likes
i’m curious what Twisted Tools has cooking for reaktor. they haven’t updated their site in a while but have put a line of text there about updates in progress.
2 Likes
I’ll check it. The Reaktor library is really going off right now. Some interesting blocks packs. So wish blocks would’ve happened 20 years ago. Damnit
1 Like
toybox audio is the mega load. they provide so much to the format it’s crazy.
and michael hetrik’s blocks too.
such good stuff and so much of it. it’s overwhelming.
6 Likes
Incoming hardware
NI rep responds to user with obvious tease of upcoming release.
I can’t imagine new hardware without a major software release so that’s atleast a signal of pending improvement.
Not even a slight chance I’d invest in any new NI hardware but I’ll def dive into any Maschine or Komplete upgrades.
2 Likes
I predict Native Instruments “Play” or a revamped Komplete Kontrol (SW/HW). Given that they tend to have hardware companions for software; I can see a scenario where they release a keyboard combining elements of the A series and Maschine. The A-Series feels like a bit of a throwback (keys/knobs only, no faders/sliders, pads etc) even compared to the S Series.
The reason they might do this is because they are an outlier in not having a keys/pads offer for the entry level. If you want a basic controller today, you need a really good reason to choose NI over Arturia, Novation or Akai, all of which have made the keys/pads/faders combo a defacto standard now. And the Play series now has enough instruments for Keys and Drums to not need Maschine to access them.
The Play series has its detractors, but it’s obviously got some commercial appeal because others (Arturia!) have copied many of NI’s ideas, like Analog Lab (KK clone) and Augmented series (Play series clone.) This to the extent that Arturia have even broken with the convention of making V Collection purely a hardware synth bundle, by including these rompler A-B type instruments which thematically makes little sense - though they are actually bags of fun to play with.
The reason I think KK will get an update is the other key SW has had the updated logo relatively soon after the rebrand; but KK is strangely untouched. If my above prediction around the Play is wrong, then the easier upgrade for them to do is to refresh the KK A & S Series all in one go and release the new KK with it. That’s my guesstimate anyway.
I think NI do releases in September.
1 Like