Having activated Monark via the Native Instruments Service Centre, you click Reaktor's Player button and locate it in the browser. Whether or not you have a Moog‑sized gap in your virtual studio, Monark offers a fascinating glimpse into the ongoing exercise to analyse and replicate the subtle behaviour of classic 40-year-old electronics. It's steadfastly monophonic and steers well clear of the extras sometimes added to a Mini by enterprising technicians (or crazy wreckers, depending on your point of view). Monark is not a stand‑alone virtual instrument, but runs either within Reaktor 5 or the free Reaktor 5 Player.
Now the time and technology are ripe for Native Instruments to have a crack, although their web site and manual deliberately omit the words 'Moog' or 'Minimoog', preferring 'king of monophonic analog synths' instead. Oddly enough, one of the most convincing wasn't even specifically a Minimoog, it just copied key sections such as the oscillators, envelopes and filter.
So yes, we've seen countless software Minimoogs already, each edging gradually closer to the sound of the real deal. Just because something's been done before doesn't mean it can't be improved upon, as anyone who sat through Ralph Bakshi's 1978 film of Lord Of The Rings will testify.
The version 2.6.8 update is now available from Native Access, free for Maschine 2 owners.The Minimoog is not exactly short of software tributes.
Maschine and Komplete Kontrol focus-follow features do not support combined 32bit/64bit plug-ins in a session. Known issue: The focus-follow is broken when mixing 32/64bit plugins.When Maschine is hosted as a plug-in, it is not possible to load items from the Browser Results List using ENTER on the computer keyboard. Known issue: Loading items with ENTER in the Browser Results List.Known issue: Step modulation does not work as expected on certain integer parameters.Fixed: In some cases the Randomizer did not respect the set scale.Fixed: Maschine Jam PERFORM FX potentially stayed engaged when changing group focus while using PERFORM FX.Fixed: Maschine Jam could freeze when switching instances while using the smart strips.Fixed: Maschine crashed in rare cases while saving a project.Simply touch the encoder while in KEYBOARD mode and set the PAD LAYOUT parameter to “ISOMORPH”. It is more intuitive and can be learned easily. Added: Isomorphic keyboard layout for Maschine Jam.On MASCHINE JAM the upper row of the PIANO ROLL allows to program glides similar to well known bass synthesizers with internal sequencer. On the 2nd page you can find the glide parameter, which works especially well if you modulate it. You can find all important parameters for shaping your sound on the first parameter page. Added: Bass Synth, Maschine’s first internal synthesizer.
A chord guide is available as a free, downloadable PDF to help kickstart the learning process.
Users can easily learn the shape for a chord in one key, and use the same shape in another. Plus, it’s easier to learn and play than on a traditional piano.
Additionally, each chord has its own hand shape – regardless of key – so users don’t need to know musical theory to play with perfect pitch. In this mode, the notes on the keyboard are only the notes from the scale. MASCHINE 2.6.8 also introduces an isomorphic keyboard mode to easily play harmonies and melodies on the MASCHINE JAM 8×8 grid. Instead, it decreases the barrier of entry, allowing users with limited knowledge of synthesis to create beautiful bass tones using the workflow they know with the quality that comes with Native Instruments’ acclaimed DSP expertise. The bass synth does not replace popular products like MASSIVE and MONARK. MASCHINE JAM users can also program the signature glides and accents of classic acid directly from the hardware.
They can also load presets designed by professional sound designers to get bass tones for any genre, including booming sub-bass or dripping acid. Users will be able to morph seamlessly from sine to saw to square - and all spots in between – to create their own unique sounds.
The new MASCHINE bass synth lets users design and shape rich bass tones with intuitive, fun, and fully-automatable controls directly from the hardware. Native Instruments has launched a Maschine 2.6.8 software update, introducing a monophonic, internal bass synth exclusive to Maschine, and an isomorphic keyboard.