MASCHINE MK3 vs ABLETON PUSH 2: Top 18 features compared

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It's been said you can't compare the MASCHINE MK3 to the Ableton Push 2, but I disagree. It's true that in terms of software, Ableton Live is the more comprehensive DAW, and that the MASCHINE software is more of groovebox oriented approach.

But when you want to choose your beat making controller to accompany your DAW, the choice isn't that obvious.

Hopefully this detailed comparison will help.

If you like it, or think I got something wrong - please leave a comment - happy to correct mistakes with a video link or in this description!

Push and MASCHINE are on the Cremacaffe KOSMO stands and the audio interface is the Audiofuse by Arturia

Here are some additions based on feedback and comments below:

* To turn the Push 2 touch strip into a mod wheel function use SELECT+STRIP (thanks Blaste Flame and Learning with Mark Warren!)

* For mixing the individual parts of a drum rack: You can mix each individual part on Push, too. You need to use a drum rack (if you use one instance of simpler with multiple slices you can easily, convert it to a drum rack by pressing "Convert") and now you need to double tap the drumrack in the mixer view to open it, so now you see each cell of the drum rack as an individual mixer track. (thanks again Blaste Flame)

NOTE: Occasionally I’ll try out affiliate marketing and include affiliate links. This means that I may earn a commission when you click on or make purchases via affiliate links. The content of this clip is entirely my opinion, and was not paid for or dictated in any what by the company creating the gear. Without addressing the particulars of products shown here as they might be under NDA, gear shown on this channel may be either sent by the manufacturer, on loan for review or bought at a discount.

[kristofwynants]

22:40 workaround: load a Vst in Live, press config and scroll through a few presets. Boom: every mappable parameter now becomes available. And for those of you who know their options.txt: there's an auto-populate parameters option that can be set which does exactly that. Does not work with every VST, but for about 95% of them, this should work. Nice comparison!

[tylersghost]

Gotta give it to musicians for being the biggest bunch of haters on Earth. Dude does an awesome 30 minute side-by-side comparison... and people still get on here and bitch without even seeing the video and without contributing anything themselves.

Great video, Loopop. Thanks so much. Keep em comin!

[svg]

Damn, the amount of work that must have been put into this video to compare these two beasts. Respect man, I always love your video quality!

[LearningwithMarkWarren]

Push 2 does have a mod wheel function and pitch bend function. If you press the select button and touch the touch strip it will change to mod wheel with no snap to the middle. Do the same select/tap the touch strip to change back to pitch bend.

[DopamineOverload]

Haven't yet commented on this video, even though I've seen it a bunch of times.

I've owned and used all Maschines since 2009. I think the controllers are all dope, and insanely useful, especially with the Controller Editor software, which allow Maschine to be used with different DAWs (most useful, I've found, is Reaper, since nearly all functions in Reaper can be mapped to keyboard or midi shortcuts, via the Actions menu). Outside of using the controller as a generic midi controller, and using Maschine standalone, or as a plugin inside a DAW (including Ableton)... it's hard to ignore the fact that browsing for sounds is EASY and quick (much quicker than the Push 2 browser, even 4 years after its release), drumkit quality is really high (in the Maschine library), and chopping samples is VERY fast)... ALL of the Maschines (except maybe Mikro) take 1st place, there, with those things.

I have used Push 2 for the past 2 months with Ableton Live Lite. I'm not sold on it, yet. I like it in a lot of ways, but hate it in a lot of ways. I HATE how dark the screen is, when just using usb power. MK3 BLOWS it away, as far as brightness and contrast, goes. Also, there's lag with Push 2. A lot of lag, sometimes. Maschine 2 is instantaneous, with almost every function. I have lag with Push 2, especially when in a Drum Rack or Simpler, showing the waveform, or drawing the waveform when switching tracks or sounds.

Re: Live.... I feel that Live is most useful in Session View, for performance and idea-making (which was Ableton's initial intention, with Live yes, Arrangement View is still superb for fleshing out complete tracks (WAY better than Maschine standalone, that's for sure). But, Push 2 doesn't offer any type of Arrangement View benefits... none. It's all mouse, there. And that is a major oversight.

I think the Novation Launchpad Pro or Maschine Jam (using the Ableton script, or better yet, Haxor and Roxor's Ableton script) do most of what Push 2 does best, even without screens... namely-- clip-launching, scale mode (and easily transposing octaves / semitones), and the corner drum grid (or better yet, 4 different Drum Racks, using the 8x8 grid). Ableton excels, there. Device-tweaking is cool, with Push's screens and encoders, of course... that's pretty much the main selling point of Push 2, I feel.... device control, and the colors that match each track.

Step-sequencing is a ton of fun (Maschine Jam with the Ableton script is great, here as well)... or, Launchpad Pro with the LP Pro 95 free script (velocity sensitivity!).... but, in my humble opinion... is step-sequencing THAT important? It's more fun tapping the beat in yourself, and playing with melodies using the scale modes on a pad... even with your eyes closed. And if you have even the most basic keyboard skills, playing melodies in using an actual piano-style layout is a lot of fun, too. But I feel that Beatstep Pro takes the fun cake, when it comes to step-sequencing and experimentation with random steps.

I'm so on the fence with Push 2... I want to keep it but I find that I use the Launchpad Pro, Maschine Jam, and/or the new Launchpad X a lot more than I use the Push 2. A lot of people have said using the mouse with Ableton is still faster than Push 2, and I'd have to agree. The Maschine Studio and MK2 have SUPERB Ableton scripts (sadly the MK3 does not).. even buying a used Studio or MK2 can give you a lot of mileage with device control inside Ableton... maybe not as pretty as Push 2, but certainly just as useful.

I don't know if people have considered combining a Maschine with an 8x8 grid like LP Pro, Jam or LPX (or even the LP Mini MK3) but for the price, it's hard to ignore the fact that you get a lot of great options with multiple controllers, vs. just one with Push 2.

As far as generic midi control is concerned, though... as I said at the beginning of this comment-- Maschine and Controller Editor-- really gives you a LOT of awesome options, with other DAWs.... not just Ableton. Though, thanks to scripts like DrivenByMoss, you can use Push 2, Launchpad Pro, etc... with other DAWs like Reaper and Bitwig. So you're not totally tied to using Ableton. Also, there's a $20 Push 2 script that allows it to be used with any DAW (scale modes, drum grid, etc. etc), and that's really nice, too.

I really think Push 3 will be the best of the best... but I think I need to return Push 2. As far as my Maschine MK2, Studio, and MK3 go, they're mainstays in the studio.

As always Loopop, a superb comparison. Sorry for the long-winded comment, but my head is always spinning in 50 different directions when it comes to midi controllers and DAW workflow... so many options, so many ways to get the jobs done. Ultimately, it's a great time for us home studio people.

[SsgtHolland]

You CAN mix individual instruments in a drumrack. Just press the button under the drumrack to expand it into it's components. Very handy!

[aloharay]

Excellent overview. As an owner of both, I constantly found myself nodding my head in agreement as you covered the similarities and differences of these two products. Both hardware controllers are very good quality, but I find Ableton SOFTWARE is more aligned to completing a whole track, while I struggle to do more than just short ideas/sections in the Maschine software. This has left me leaning toward just doing everything in Ableton start to finish. Running Maschine as a VST inside Ableton is possible, but more work than if I just do it all in Ableton natively. The ability to enter melodic parts with the 64 pads is great once you get used to it, while with Maschine I still go back to using a keyboard with it due to its 16 pads not providing enough notes. Also of note is third party plug in support with Maschine can be very limited as the developer must create a version of their product that supports the NKS standard, and then you have to have that new version installed, else browsing for instruments of a non-NKS synth is not supported well within Maschine. Do you have some third party banks of patches for your favorite synth? Great, they won't have instrument previews in Maschine, only the default patches from the manufacturer. Maschine does automap parameters, but it maps EVERYTHING and often in a way that is not how you want, forcing you to jump through pages of parameters (or use macro screen, which is essentially manually mapping again). With Push 2 I just map the few controls I do need access to during tweaking and performances, and leave them on one screen. Used older Maschine hardware is very inexpensive if you want to dip your toes in. In addition to the newer MK3 hardware, I still have a MK1 hardware kit that works fine (but does not have the mod strip feature).

[FLwrld]

everything else aside, huge respect to the work and effort put into this video, comparing these 2 mega machines. grateful!

[kyletait]

For someone who is familiar with each, but doesn’t own either, I found this to be extremely helpful. Thanks!

[philipcarroll]

Just here to acknowledge the immense contribution youve made to the music community...cheers brother! 🙏

[RicoTropico]

For me maschine it's more for composing beats/sketeches rather than full tracks. It's much easier to sounds tight on maschine for me. But Push2 it's more versatile and it's connecting composition stage with performance stage. So i have both :D i know it's expenssive and crazy but i always have problems with decision.

[ZigbertD]

One thing about the "automatic mapping" of plugin parameters to the NI hardware controllers (Maschine and Komplete Kontrol) that you were not completely clear about. It "just works" because the various vendors that support the NKS preset standard have done the mapping for you and created NKS presets for all of their plugins. If a plugin vendor doesn't support NKS themselves, you have to create the mappings manually. You can then save the mapping with an NKS preset, but you have to do that for EVERY preset on the plugin (or if you're designing your own presets, create a default preset with the NKS mapping done and always use that as your template). For this reason, that feature is obviously more compelling if you already own NKS compliant plugins or are interested in getting them in the future.


This was my case, as I already owned NI Komplete and had been interested in the Arturia V Collection when NI introduced the Komplete Kontrol keyboard series a few years ago. It made total sense for me to continue with an ecosytem I was already invested in and really liked already. I got into Maschine through the Jam as it was significantly less expensive than the Maschine MkII at the time and while I'm not thrilled with every part of the Maschine workflow, it's pretty good as is and can be integrated into a larger DAW production workflow in a number of ways, there's a lot of flexibility there. So I went ahead and got the MKIII when it came out and combined with the Jam and Komplete Kontrol keyboard, you've got a really comprehensive control over the entire NI ecosystem.

Ableton has always intrigued me, and I got a copy of the lite version somewhere or another, but I just never dug into learning it. Again, it just didn't seem necessary since I was already using Cubase (which has some integration with the Komplete Kontrol keyboards as well). So I think it really is kind of apples and oranges because you really can't separate the hardware from the software. If you are already invested in either software system and like it then of course the respective hardware controllers are what you should get. If you don't have either, then you cannot make a choice without evaluating what the software does and why you are buying the entire package.

Having said that, you didn't really touch on automating parameters from the controllers. I'm not crazy about the way Maschine software handles it, and while the MKIII does give you a way to really simply record automation, things are a bit limited in the software. It's one of my bigger complaints about Maschine. But, one thing I do like is being able to easily write automation per-step from the controller, kinda sorta but not quite like Elektron parameter locking. Would be curious about how the Push handles that, and Ableton handles automation in general (my assumption is that it's way better and more comprehensive than Maschine if it competes with other full-fledged DAWs like Cubase).

Your channel is great, btw, as mainly a guitarist I've learned so much about specific synth gear and synths in general and I' have used your videos as a resource several times in making purchase decisions (Hello MiniBrute 2S, skipped Model:Samples and went for the Digitakt instead, still weighing Korg Minilogue XD vs. Modal Argon 8)

[EricZBD]

I own both, and there's really nothing like having so many different creative ways to sequence. Yes the pitch thing in the MK3 isn't that fun, but the feel of those pads is better than anything else I've come across by a long shot, so much better to just play your sounds in and use the knobs to adjust them. I"ve owned/sold the Jam, and it feels like a cheap toy compared to both of them, and doesn't hold a candle to either when it comes to aesthetics. The portability, performance fx, and built-in interface on the MK3 really make it that much more of a no-brainer. On the other hand, it's a lot of fun to have 64 pads of samples (and lots more if you max out the drum rack and scroll thru them with the touch strip) when you're putting the finishing touches on a track. Plus the visuals on Wavetable and Echo, the new sequencer layout update, beat slicer, etc makes it completely impossible to consider giving it up. Of course that amounts to almost a grand sunk into midi controllers, but they should be the only ones you ever need, and are MUCH more fun/intuitive than the $100k Icon Pro Tools controller at my school imho :)

[Staykool]

this is one of the best comparison videos on You Tube. Comprehensive yet easy to understand! Very practical, thank you very much for doing this.

[aikighost]

When comparing maschine mk3 you have to remember it comes with komplete 11 select so you get some great pro synths, pianos, fx libraireis etc

[WNxExectechWarriorNation]

Great comparison! Might be worth revisiting again as the software has been updated. I'd say the biggest changes with Maschine is how they've changed the arrangement/ideas and previews of groups/samples. The main reason I chose Maschine over the push was that I could load the Maschine software into Virtual DJ like a VST. This allows for easy syncing with fully produced songs (MP3s, etc). The other reason was the "Link" mode which allows a DJ using Traktor to sync with someone else running the Maschine software across ethernet. Maschine definitely excels as beat/loop maker and I almost always end up moving things to another DAW to finalize the song. Over the last two years, this occurs less and less. Also, Maschine/Komplete Kontrol and Maschine Jam is a great combination.

[ikamy]

This is such a useful comparison ! This is how a comparison video should look like

[samekahn]

This is the best comparison so far with detail explanation

[shellunit]

You can actually select scenes to play AND record them into arrangement view from Push 2.
Push shift and record to start recording in arrangement view.

[seebo]

The most important point for me is actually the integration into Ableton. Maschine is no full DAW and arrangement compared to Ableton is a a total pain and doesn't offer as many possibilities. When using my Maschine with Ableton, I just use it to play in some notes / chords. Afterwards I have to bounce it to ableton or export the Midi and recreate the instrument. You can also create a project and map each Maschine Instrument to a channel in Ableton, but this takes some time to set up... Not really fun this way. Maybe there's a easier way that I still haven't found. Anyways I'm selling my Maschine and getting a Push now and would advise the same to any other Ableton user (from my point of view ofc)