Skip to main content
Music Radar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Drums Week 25
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Guitar Pedals
  • Guitar Amps
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Controllers
  • Artist news
  • Drums
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About Us
More
  • Santana on Beck
  • Friday, I'm in Love
  • Knopfler's 4-note secret
  • 95k+ free music samples
Recommended reading
AlphaTheta Chordcat
Drum Machines "Inspiring sequencing ideas, paired with an underwhelming sound engine": AlphaTheta Chordcat first look
dialr
Tech This “world’s first” AI-powered plugin controller could take the headache out of manual MIDI mapping for good
Novation Launch Control XL 3
Midi Controllers “New look, features and MIDI out – this is a big update we truly rate”: Novation Launch Control XL 3 review
polypulse
Tech It might be a little ugly, but Lambda Synthetics' PolyPulse could be the instrument that finally breaks you out of the 16-step grid
Roger Linn MPC Live II
Tech “Kudos to Akai’s software team”: Roger Linn uploads video that praises the MPC as “the ultimate looper”
plugins
Tech "It's a stupendously powerful tool": 10 of the best sampler plugins in 2025
Melbourne Instruments Roto-Control
Tech Melbourne Instruments' Roto-Control gets Bitwig Studio integration following 2.0 firmware update
  1. Tech
  2. Software & Apps

Hands-on: Native Instruments Maschine Jam

News
By Simon Truss ( Future Music ) published 8 September 2016

First look at the new hybrid performance controller

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

First impressions

First impressions

When we got wind that Native Instruments was planning on releasing a new Maschine controller, we knew we had to get hold of one straight away.

Luckily, the Berlin manufacturer was able to get one to us before the launch, so we could get our sticky mitts all over it early doors and bring you our first thoughts on this new performance tool.

So without further ado, click through the gallery to see our initial impressions of the Maschine Jam.

Be sure to check back soon on MusicRadar as we bring you the full review.

Page 1 of 6
Page 1 of 6
Not an evolution

Not an evolution

Before we go any further, it’s worth making one thing clear, Jam shouldn’t be considered as a Maschine 3.0. In fact, far from it.

This new controller provides a completely new way of interfacing with the Maschine software, which remains largely unchanged; one that neither supersedes nor replaces the original hardware, yet provides a very different user experience.

It ditches the standard 16-pad layout synonymous with the classic ‘MPC’ workflow. Instead NI has plumped for the ‘Push’ approach with an 8x8 grid. And the more we look at it, the more it reminds us of an upside down Livid Base.

Page 2 of 6
Page 2 of 6
Built to last

Built to last

While this control layout is all new, the Jam hardware is the exact same dimensions as Maschine MkII. The only difference is its flat, rather than sloped, profile, but it does come with a screw-on stand that angles the unit to sit flush with one of its siblings.

As is standard with NI hardware, Jam feels well-built and durable. The only truly ‘new’ elements here are the touchstrips, which NI tell us have been designed fresh to be as responsive as possible.

Connection-wise, Jam features an expression input but ditches the MIDI I/O of the MkII/Studio. Beyond that there’s just a single USB connection that provides bus power and connection to a host computer.

Page 3 of 6
Page 3 of 6
Touchstrips

Touchstrips

As well as acting as faders and parameter controllers, Jam’s eight touchstrips’ primary role is to give a performance-friendly way to use effects, tweak sounds and record automation.

To this end, NI have added a new type of effect to Maschine - Performance FX. These are a range of creative effects including delays, filters and phasers, which – while offering deeper parameter configuration via the software - are designed to be controlled via a single touchstrip. This allows banks of Performance FX to be laid out across the eight strips, allowing for quick creativity in a live setting.

Setting up your own macros is even more exciting - allowing a whole range of instrument and effect parameters to be controlled via the touchstrips. Using this as a tool for performance or recording automation into tracks is invigorating.

Page 4 of 6
Page 4 of 6
Browser history

Browser history

Using Maschine’s browser with Jam is nowhere near as fluid without the built-in screens. The new pop-up browser is fine, but it doesn’t fold through sub-categories in the neat way that screens and multiple rotaries allow for, and generally feels like a clunkier system.

There are a few other functions that suffer from the lack of screens too. Jam doesn’t really engage with Maschine’s sample edit window in any meaningful way.

Page 5 of 6
Page 5 of 6
Sequencing modes

Sequencing modes

Jam massively improves on Maschine’s step-sequencing capabilities. Hitting the Step button switches the 64-pad grid into sequencing mode, with several different layouts on offer.

Hitting 4, or 8 along the top row of pads allows multiple sounds to be sequenced at once. In both modes, the 4x4 pad grid disappears, dedicating the entire 64-pad grid to four 16-step or eight eight-step sequencer grids.

In all modes, the buttons directly above Jam’s pad grid allow users to toggle between sequencer ‘tabs’, so patterns aren’t limited to the immediately available number of steps. Further still, a Shift press of the Step button turns the pad grid into a piano roll for melodic step sequencing.

To sum up, so far the Jam feels good, looks good and is a very powerful and impressive production system. That’s not to say you should rush out and sell your existing Maschine though. Maschine Jam and the existing Maschine controllers are effectively two sides of the same coin. By far the best experience during our early testing of Jam was using it alongside an existing Maschine MkII.

Page 6 of 6
Page 6 of 6
Simon Truss
All-access artist interviews, in-depth gear reviews, essential production tutorials and much more. image
All-access artist interviews, in-depth gear reviews, essential production tutorials and much more.
Get the latest issue now!
More Info
Read more
AlphaTheta Chordcat
"Inspiring sequencing ideas, paired with an underwhelming sound engine": AlphaTheta Chordcat first look
dialr
This “world’s first” AI-powered plugin controller could take the headache out of manual MIDI mapping for good
Novation Launch Control XL 3
“New look, features and MIDI out – this is a big update we truly rate”: Novation Launch Control XL 3 review
polypulse
It might be a little ugly, but Lambda Synthetics' PolyPulse could be the instrument that finally breaks you out of the 16-step grid
Roger Linn MPC Live II
“Kudos to Akai’s software team”: Roger Linn uploads video that praises the MPC as “the ultimate looper”
plugins
"It's a stupendously powerful tool": 10 of the best sampler plugins in 2025
Latest in Software & Apps
Spotify transitions
Spotify responds to Apple Music’s new AutoMix feature by turning your playlists into ready-made DJ sets
the crow hill
"No strings attached": The Crow Hill Company releases Lo-Fi Strings, a free tape-treated string library with a warm and nostalgic sound
soundthread
Try out this free modular sound design playground used by Aphex Twin
ablaze
"Take your pig squeals to the next level": Ablaze's Screamer is a vocal production plugin "crafted for metalheads, by metalheads"
auxy
Auxy launches macOS version of its mobile music-making app and teases forthcoming hardware instrument
crushstation plugin
Eventide is giving away a killer $99 distortion plugin for free
Latest in News
Beatie Wolfe and Brian Eno
“A strange new land with a human living and feeling its way through its mysterious spaces”: Welcome to Brian Eno and Beatie Wolfe’s new album
Josh Homme
What’s on Josh Homme’s to-do list when Queens Of The Stone Age play Sheffield next week?
Pino Palladino and Miley Cyrus
How Pino Palladino turned the demo bassline in Miley Cyrus’s End of the World into something "so much better"
Paul Mccartney Smoking A Cigarette At London In England On June 19Th 1967
“We decided that our audiences would come along with us”: Paul McCartney on how the avant garde influenced the Beatles
Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend of The Who perform at Parco Della Musica on July 22, 2025 in Milan, Italy
The Who are forced to postpone Philly date on final US tour due to “illness”
Deals of the week
MusicRadar deals of the week: Score a massive $1,000 off Roland V-Drums, up to $320 off a range of Fender guitars, and so much more

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...