Rating: 9.0/10 | Street Price: $1,299 | Native Instruments | Beat Production

Beat making has always been about feel. The Native Instruments Maschine+ understands this better than any other production device on the market, and its standalone capability — no laptop required — makes it the closest thing to a digital incarnation of the Akai MPC tradition.

The Maschine+ packs Native Instruments’ entire production ecosystem into a single portable unit. You get the full Maschine software, the complete Komplete library including Kontakt, and a 7-inch touchscreen — all without needing a computer.

The Pads

The 16 velocity-sensitive pads are excellent — they respond precisely to different strike intensities, making it possible to play beats with genuine dynamic expression.

For R&B Producers

The Maschine’s integration with Native Instruments’ Vintage keyboard library — Rhodes, Wurlitzer, Hammond — makes it particularly powerful for soul and R&B production.

Verdict

The Maschine+ is the best standalone beat production tool on the market. The learning curve is real, but the ceiling is as high as your imagination.