The new version of NI's popular groove production system features a slimmed-down hardware controller.
Native Instruments' Maschine Mikro is due for release at the beginning of October.
This new slimmed-down version of Maschine comes in at around two-thirds the size and weight of its older brother and is based on the same full-featured software. The same 4x4 matrix of pressure-sensitive pads have been employed on Maschine Mikro, with the savings on size coming via a single display (Maschine has two) and "a dynamically assigned high-resolution master encoder." Its release will also signal version 1.7 of the Maschine software, which promises better integration with the instruments and effects in the new Komplete bundles. Maschine Mikro will also feature the same 6GB sample library as Maschine. The below video features the nimble-fingered Jeremy Ellis putting the new unit through its paces.
NI has also today announced details of iMaschine, an iPhone/iPod touch app that allows users to knock-up grooves when they're on the go and transfer them into the full Maschine software. iMaschine features four tracks, sampling, effects and a selection of instruments and drum sounds from the master Maschine library.
Native Instruments will release Maschine Mikro on 1st October 2011 at a suggested retail price of $399/ 349 Euro.