![]() In the Jam, a row has no special significance each column is a list of pattern variations, and a Scene simply recalls one pattern from each Group. A Live Scene is simply a row on the clip grid. Having spent a lot of time working with Live and its various clip-launching controllers, for me the key to understanding the Jam was to appreciate the differences between it and the way Live’s Session View works. In practice there’s a huge usability boost from having everything spread out on a multitrack grid you can see into your session, and can assign/trigger multiple patterns simultaneously. with the existing controllers you only see one Group at a time, and folded across a 4x4 grid. You might think this is functionality that is essentially available on the existing Maschine controllers, and in fact when you hold down the Scene or Pattern buttons on existing Machines, you get 16 pads to select from instead of eight. And that, in a nutshell, is the arrangement workflow in the Jam. Tapping a selected Pattern stops it and clears its assignment from the Scene. Tapping any other Pattern on the matrix will immediately start it playing and assign it to the Scene. The grid indicates which Patterns are assigned to the selected Scene. Pressing a Scene button selects it, and triggers it if you’re in Play. Finally, the top row of numbered buttons are Scenes. The eight buttons above each Group selector represent Patterns in the Groups. The bottom row of buttons - labelled A-H - are Group selectors with the same function as the Group buttons on other Maschine hardware. You can always return to this view using the Song button at the top of the surface. When you fire up a Maschine project the Jam comes to life in bold colours with the grid in its default mode, showing an overview of the building blocks of your session. You can connect multiple Jams, but only to control multiple instances of the Maschine plug-in in a DAW. Connection is via USB, and the Jam is fully bus powered, giving a Maschine or Mikro plus Jam combination the advantage over Push if you’re avoiding mains adaptors. ![]() It’s thinner, but comes with a bolt-on foot that raises the rear to match the wedge profile of the regular Maschine surface. The Jam has the same physical footprint as the ‘standard’ Maschine controller, but shares the flat-faced design of the Maschine Studio, without the raised ‘curbs’ that run across the top and bottom of the other versions. You also get a full transport section and an encoder that’s used for sound browsing and adjusting performance controls. Below the grid are eight touch strips that can act as Group faders, device and parameter controllers, and performance effects for real-time tweaking. You’ll also find drum-pad and keyboard modes for live playing and recording of kits and instruments, and you can use Maschine with just the Jam, although the lack of velocity sensitive pads is limiting. ![]() The grid also specialises in step sequencing, with both gate and piano-roll modes for visual pattern programming. As we’ll see, this is equivalent, but conceptually different to your typical Ableton clip-launch controller. Its large grid provides fast access to your Scenes, Patterns and Groups. NI describe the Jam as a “Production and Performance System”. Of course Maschine slots nicely into such a setup, but now NI’s Jam controller brings a unique take on these live performance controllers to the Maschine environment, and also offers a one-stop option for controlling both Maschine and Live. But for improvised arrangements and live performances the combo of Live with a grid controller like the Push, APC or Launchpad is compelling. ![]() NI’s Maschine has become a dominant force in electronic music, usurping the MPC as the standard beat workstation, and even nipping at Ableton’s heels as a stand-alone production platform. Can NI’s new performance controller preserve Maschine’s status as king of the beat stations?
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