Native Instruments discontinues software support for Maschine MK1 and Mk2 ahead of Maschine 3.0

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Native Instruments has announced that they will soon discontinue the software support for Maschine MK1/MK2 and Maschine Mikro MK1/Mk2.

For a few weeks now, Native Instruments has been teasing a Maschine Software 3.0 update at the end of the year. Details about the new features are not yet known. It’s good to see that the software will get a new version soon. But there is also bad news for users of older Maschine hardware.

Native Instruments announced today that it will discontinue official software support for the first two generation of Maschine and Mikro. 

Maschine MK1/MK2 software support

Native Instruments discontinues Maschine MK1/MK2 software support

Native Instruments has sent this statement to users via a newsletter. They want to focus on the new Maschine 3.0 software and the current hardware lineup, such as Maschine MK3 and Maschine+.

We want to let you know that Native Instruments will soon be ending software support for Maschine MK1, Maschine MK2, Maschine Mikro MK1, and Maschine Mikro MK2.

As is often the case with older hardware, we are at a stage with these Maschine products where we can no longer guarantee repairs due to a lack of available components. As operating systems advance there are also limits to the changes we can make to new software without breaking legacy hardware integrations. Retiring these products also means we will be able to put more focus on the development of new Maschine software. 

You will still be able to use your Maschine hardware with Maschine 2 software, which includes Apple Silicon and VST3 support. However, from October 18, 2024 we will no longer be maintaining this hardware and cannot guarantee that it will be supported by future versions of your computer’s operating system. It will also not be compatible with new updates to Maschine software.

We would like to wholeheartedly thank you for your long-lasting commitment to Native Instruments and Maschine controllers. Below, you’ll find a list of FAQs with detailed information on this change.

Your team at NI

It’s a shame that Native Instruments has dropped future software support for the first and second generation. I used the MK1 and Mk2, which are still very high-quality MIDI controllers.

But don’t forget, you can still use Maschine MK1/MK2 with the current Maschine 2 software, which supports Apple Silicon or as a MIDI controller.

More information here: Native Instruments 

Audio & MIDI News

10 Comments

  1. Excellent – NOT…
    Same thing happened when NI introduced Kompete Kontrol ver.3 software which discontinued compatibility with Komplete Konrol S49/61 MK1 keyboards – only MK2 and MK3 are supported.
    Mine S49 iMK1 is working perfectly well but is no longer compatible with ver.3 software but, what I find truly ridiculous is that it is offered to me as available update in Native access… WTF

  2. These are 10 year old+ devices (11?) so not totally unexpected. I use the Mikro mk2 in Midi mode as a MUTE controller for some Elektron machines. I wonder if the Studio is still supported

    • Disagree. (But I thank you for the information about the 10 years.) My person opinion is, if the hardware works, why 10.000 units throw to to garbage? I think on Climate change? Resources? Waste of products? Paying too much money to the wrong people while others can’t make a living? Such a powerful machine is a little bit waste of all to just use it as a mute controller 😉 Anyhow, nice that you found a use case. 🙂

  3. Sucks for us loyal supporters for years just to find out we’re getting left behind because some of us CAN’T AFFORD the new MK3. Native Instruments isn’t even offering us a discount on a new MK3 with a trade in of our old Mk1 or MK2. Real jacked up…(smh)

  4. Jessie,
    I fought with 2 mk3s until I loaded the actual Mk3 drivers from their,NI, hard to find driver area! You won’t get it working through Native Access, GO to NI website, sign in and patiently look for needle in a haystack Mk3 drivers. Make SURE they àre the Mk3’s and only the Mk3’s. There’s so many! IF YOU GOT THE RIGHT ONE,GREAT,if not try another.Also when Mk3 loads from a fresh maschine open; Wait for about 8-10 minutes for it to scan vst’s until then, ‘suddenly’ you should see you Mk3 alive!

  5. Oh how the mighty have fallen! Late 2000s, early 2010s they seemed unstoppable but now they are just a joke of their former selfs and I say it as one how was big into their ecosystem with kontrol traktor maschine some audio interface komplete etc.

    THen the bad support started with tickets months into getting an answer, killing their devices too soon like Maschine Jam, Traktor S5. Traktor S4 mk1 was killed with the excuse it wasnt class compliant. Well, the Maschine MK2 is class compliant and yet they are killing it anyways. Oh! and Studio works as well which Im very sure shares plenty code with mk2. They removed ABsynth too… Im sure im missing plenty more bad decisions here.

    Also, why leave the incompatible version in Native Access? Its very easy code in if you have mk1 or mk2 new version doesn’t appear, but no, they just want to inconvenience and pressure you to get their new planned obsolesce toy.

    It’s all shady tactics and abysmal support. Native instruments never again.

  6. And nobody remembers NI Kore? Hahahahaha! I still have a stack of the controllers! They actually still worked in Win 10 but yeah, obsoleting beautiful hardware just feels so tragic…

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