MusicTech 212: Rise of the Maschines

At the turn of the century, the most revolutionary innovation in music production came in sync with the increasing prevalence of home computers. With them, came the processing power to run more complex (and resource-hungry) digital audio workstations. Before long, the DAW became the world’s de-facto music-making environment. It allowed for professional-sounding multi-track recording, editing and, eventually, performance. But there were also those that questioned this new orthodoxy and longed for a return to the creative spontaneity and tactile intimacy of all-in-one production hubs.

Native Instruments’ Maschine workstation has had a fascinating evolution over the past decade, built in large part to cater to these consumer desires while maintaining the umbilical link with computer software. The brand new Maschine+ finally severs the cord, joining in with a trend that dispenses with the need for an external computer and instead packs everything in one unit. We chart the steps that led the company to this point, and see how the latest addition represents a larger swing back from the mouse-clicking norm.

Elsewhere this issue, we speak to Neu’s Michael Rother, who guides us through a journey of musical discovery that spans almost six decades, Ben Hillier explains his approach to studio work with some of popular music’s biggest names, and Prince and the Revolution stalwarts Wendy and Lisa explain how they’re encouraging more women to embrace production.

In our review headlights this month, we put another astonishing innovation to the test: Aston’s Element. Does it live up to its remarkable R&D story and represent the first people’s microphone? Check out our review to find out. I hope you enjoy this issue.

MusicTech 212 includes:

• Rise of the Maschines – We trace the continuing evolution of Native Instruments’ revolutionary Maschine unit
• The great software sweep-up! – Isn’t it about time you went to work on your unwieldy collection of plug-ins and sorted them out once and for all?
• Interviews – Ben Hillier discusses his work with Blur and Depeche Mode, and writing with Nadine Shah; Wendy & Lisa, the core of Prince’s The Revolution, talk gender equality, gear and scoring for TV; Neu! icon Michael Rother why releasing new music took even him by surprise
• Tutorials – Sampling hardware synths in Logic; Mastering techniques in Live; Using Project Logical Editors in Cubase; Getting creative with sidechaining in Studio One; Creating melodic techno pluck sounds in FL Studio
• Reviews – We get hands-on with the Native Instruments Maschine+, Aston Microphones Element, Qu-Bit Surface, Akai MPK Mini MK3, Leapwing Audio RootOne and more
• DVD – 3GB of video tutorials, workshops, software plug-ins and samples including Sonible smart:reverb (demo), Dread MC Vocal Pack (samples), Diginoiz Subdivine Lite (freeware), Tone Empire OptoRed (demo), Equinox Sounds Nu Disco and Funky House Kits (samples), and more