Native Instruments Maschine+ 1.6.1 adds support for five effects plugins in standalone mode, adjustable sample & buffer size, and more.
Maschine+ is not dead. That was the title of an article I wrote in February about the Native Instruments roadmap. Maschine+ updates are currently in development. The biggest one coming up will bring Maschine 3 and Kontakt sampler support. Before that, there’s a smaller one for Maschine 2, and it’s out now.
Native Instruments has released Maschine+ 1.6.1 update that adds support for five desktop plugins in standalone mode, and more.
Native Instruments Maschine+ 1.6.1
The new Maschine+ 1.6.1 update is free of charge for existing users and focuses on stability, critical bug fixes, and compatibility improvements for Maschine 2 on Maschine+. According to Native Instruments, the Maschine+ 1.6.1 is necessary groundwork ahead of the upcoming Maschine 3 on M+ update.
Maschine+ 1.6.1 brings system-level improvements, including a kernel upgrade and adjustable sample rate and buffer size settings. This is a good addition as it improves compatibility with a wider range of USB audio class-compliant interfaces.
NI says that raising the buffer size does not reduce CPU usage, which remains optimized for real-time pad performance.
The highlight of Maschine+ 1.6.1 is support for additional desktop plugins in standalone mode. Maschine+ now supports the Native Instruments Mod and Crush Pack effects: Freak, Dirt, Flair, Bite, and Choral.
Six New Effects Plugins
The Mod and Crush Pack bundles bring six new creative effects plugins to Maschine+.
Dirt is an analog-modeled stompbox distortion effect with seamless blending between dry, distortion, and wavefolding with A/B functionality. Then, Bite is a characterful bit-crusher and sample rate reducer effect. Next is Freak, which combines frequency shifting, ring modulation, and radio modulation techniques.
Choral is a chorus effect that takes inspiration from famous chorus effects of the last 4o years with four distinct modes. Flair turns the classic flanger on its head with three unique modes and a 24-chord setting with a variety of chords and note intervals.
Further, Phasis is a lush, analog-inspired phaser effects processor with a unique spread control for wah-wah and formant-style filtering effects.
There’s one downside. Just like with Akai MPC plugins, the effects aren’t free. Access to these new effects is only available to those with a desktop license. If you have a license, you can find them in the library tab of the Maschine+ 1.6.1.
Native Instruments Maschine+ 1.6.1 also now supports Massive 1.7, bringing improved compatibility and NKS 2 support. Lastly there are various bug fixes, including:
- Internal system updates for stability and performance improvements
- Cross platform support for presets:
- Reaktor presets saved on the Maschine+ not loading on Maschine desktop.
- Massive presets saved on Maschine desktop not loading the Maschine+.
First Impression
It’s taken a long time, but there’s finally an update for Maschine+. It’s especially worthwhile for people who have the Mod and Crush packs, who now benefit from six extra plugins. It’s great that things are continuing, and I hope we see soon the big Maschine 3.0 update on M+.
Native Instruments Maschine+ 1.6.1 is available now as a free update for existing users. The Mod and Crush pac,ks, each with three plugins are available now for $69/69€ each. They are also part of the Komplete 15 (standard…) bundles.
Maschine+ is out now for 949€ or at Reverb (Certified B-Stock) for 704€.
More information here: Native Instruments
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