I got into the world of syntehsis and music-making last year by taking the plunge and buying the amazing MODX8. I did this because it was a compromise between a decent piano (I'm primarily a classical pianist, but with a massive interest in electronic music) and a synth, and since I needed a new piano, it was a good compromise purchase that covered both bases.
Since then, I've learned a lot, and I'm also looking at other workflows. And so it's entered my head that perhaps I should have gone for Maschine (or similar) and a dedicated electric piano (with a better key action than the GHS on the MODX8, which is passable but not something you'd ever choose for dedicated piano-playing.)
Fun as the MODX is to play, it's particularly irksome that it doesn't have a step sequencer, MIDI editor or wave editor, all of which Maschine does (if I'm right?). Playing in drum parts on keys, even though I can quantise for errors, just isn't as efficient as tapping them in with a step sequencer. Nor does it have a looper - you'd have to set up and assign an arpeggio. None of these are criticisms per se since I'm not nearly informed enough to level them; I'm just talking subjectively, and from still very much a noob standpoint.
With this in mind, I have several questions, specifically relating to the Maschine MK3.
- When you buy the hardware box, do you get the software with it? Or do you buy that separately? I can't seem to answer that question however much I look round NI's website... I didn't even twig until quite late on, after watching the Maschine intro vids, that you need software at all. The video literally had a dude just using and talking about the box!
- I'm weary of buying into ecosystems that lock you in and make you buy more and more stuff (hey, Apple). I note that there's many Maschine products; if I bought the MK3, do I need the Jam or Mikro, or other components? And I imagine with the software, too, there's a tonne of upsells and stuff you may need/desire later?
- How heavy is the software in terms of PC requirements? I'm on an 8gb Intel i5 (latest gen) - what, in your experience, does it play nicely on in terms of specs?
- I've heard it said that Maschine isn't really intended for full-on music production, i.e. sequencing an entire song. Why is this? How does it relate to NI's other software, Komplete Kontrol?
- If I buy Maschine, does it come with a stack of samples and voices, or do I have to buy these separately? Does it have a community-led library like Yamaha's Soundmondo or Roland's Axial?
- I wonder if anyone with knowledge of both the MODX/Montage (basically the same device in many respects) and Maschine could comment on how much I'd be giving up (if anything) by moving to Maschine, either in terms of number of patches vs hands-on functionality. Is this a downgrade, or just a sideways move to a very different wokflow?
Sorry for the essay, and thanks in advatnce to anyone who can help!

