I have a maschine mk2 on order, and have the option still of getting the studio instead for approx $550 AUD more, I am unsure how much I will use it, as have not had the opportunity to hands on try them.  The reason for purchase is decent set of drum pads, transport control, and the extra eight knobs to map as controls, I also are very tempted by the jog wheel on the studio.
 
The music I am making/composing is more New-age / Ambient Easy listening styles, so I dont need it for DJ purposes.  Lots of time soft synths like chromaphone creating my own sounds, few repeating loops.
 
From the reviews I have read they are all saying buy the studio, buy the studio, but I am get the use out of it if over half the tools I use are not NKS, and with me wanting to keep one instrument per track in Sonar
 
Is it worth it?
 
Thoughts please

If you're going to be using the majority of the features of Studio and use them regularly, it might be worth the difference. Maschine is a powerful (almost all in one) unit, and depending on how you plan on using it, will justify the purchase.
 
I do have the Mikro MK2 which I really wanted mainly for the excellent drum pads it came with......the responsiveness/sensitivity on them are very good and fun to use. I'm by no means a power user at all and still trying to wrap my head around this feature full beast.
 
You probably have already seen this comparison chart but, just in case, take a look and see if you'll be using the features of Studio vs. the one you've ordered.
 
 https://www.native-instruments.com/en/products/maschine/production-systems/maschine-studio/comparison-chart/
 
Congrats and best of luck!!  

I ended up getting the mk2, are thinking now I really should have got the studio, its a real pain in the rear end since u have to use two hands to use the shift function on some buttons.
 
I am also annoyed that I have to go buy the Maschine 2 software, as it only shipped with 1.8, and version 2.0+ gives better DAW integration.
 
If I was to do this over again, I think I would sit down and compare ableton push with maschine studio, work out which one gives the best overall worklfow improvements and go from there.
 
Not trashing the Mark 2, are very negative about having to get the extra software update, do like the drum pads, will persist further with it, but at this stage, even for casual use, are wishing I had spent the extra or not at all.  I think I think it would have been wiser to put the money aside for Ableton Live and a Push.

That's really strange NI didn't include Maschine 2 software.......when I bought my Mikro a few years ago IIRC, it came with 1.8 and I got a free upgrade to 2.0 as well as everything after.
 
Have you tried contacting NI to see if they can do something?
 
Regarding Push: I heard that Ableton's Push is a lot of fun to use and was actually thinking about getting it, but I don't have Ableton (I think you need the full version) and I'm not sure I want to invest in all of that.

Mesh
That's really strange NI didn't include Maschine 2 software.......when I bought my Mikro a few years ago IIRC, it came with 1.8 and I got a free upgrade to 2.0 as well as everything after.
 
Have you tried contacting NI to see if they can do something?
 
Regarding Push: I heard that Ableton's Push is a lot of fun to use and was actually thinking about getting it, but I don't have Ableton (I think you need the full version) and I'm not sure I want to invest in all of that.

I have now logged a support ticket with NI, will post the response here when i get it.
 
I am in same position with regards to ableton, it looks like serious fun, but...

I bought my Maschine Mikro secondhand on ebay and fortunately had realised that there is this charge for upgrading to version 2 software, so chose accordingly.  So my advice if you're buying secondhand is to know exactly what the v2 packaging looks like, because the original says something like "latest version" - very confusing because it's not the latest.
 
I briefly tried the Studio and haven't tried the standard Maschine.  I personally found Studio a bit too much, I'm really happy with my Mikro because of cost and size (it sits happily above my keyboard).  I think the standard Maschine is a significant step up, but then the Studio is only a small step beyond that, so is it worth the extra cost and bulk (it's really big)?
 
Please let us know what you decide!

Something Dodgy is going on, sigh, I think I might be up for a long story, on the good side they are quick with replying
 
so far this is the correspondence..from newest to oldest..
 
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When I received the Maschine it was in a sealed box, as I did not wish to damage the box I had to get a knife to open it.

I registered the hardware online as per the advice on the sticker on the outside of the box, with an organisation called CMI music and audio through their online site @ www.cmi.com.au/support, obviously that information has not made it into your database, so I have now registered the hardware serial online at https://www.native-instruments.com/en/support/hardware-registration/ 
I do not understand how it could not come with it originally, it was in the box, and I do not have any other maschine install media here unless you count the Ulimate Crossgrade that came in same order.
 
Is this something I should discuss with CMI music since they do the local support?  Or should I be returning this the retailer (I had to buy online as the closest shop that stocks your products is about 280km from me, http://www.oxygenmusic.com.au/o2/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=native&x=0&y=0)?
 
Cheers
xxxxxx

------------------------
Hello xxxxxxme,
Your request (xxxxxxx) has been updated, please note our latest comment below.
To add additional comments, please reply to this email.
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xxxx
NATIVE INSTRUMENTS Customer Service
 
XXXXXXX (Native Instruments)
Aug 4, 16:29 CEST
The hardware serial is not registered.

the Maschine software registered to your account was registered to somebody else before.

The product was registered befor the Update to Maschine 2 was released and so the maschione 2 does not come originally with it.



 
 
xxxxxxxme
Aug 3, 16:58 CEST
Purchased a new Maschine Mk2, but it seems my activation serial number for Maschine Software is limited to 1.8.7 version, I have checked on your site, and the Maschine Mk2 is supposed to ship with the Maschine 2 software?
The Service Centre software will not upgrade me to version 2+, I tried downloading version 2 from your site, but was not able to install the upgrade.
Am I expected to buy the mashine 2 software even though I have purchased a new boxed product from a retailer? or has there been some mix up?
My Maschine MK2 Hardware serial xxxxxxetc
Yours Sincerely
xxxxxxxme

I remember now.  You could buy a Maschine mk2 that had the version 1.x software.  Later, when the version 2 software came out the packaging was changed to clearly say that it included 2.x software.  In other words, the hardware went from mk1 to mk2 first, then sometime later the software went from 1.8 to 2.0.  So for a while you could buy the mk2 hardware with the old software; that's the situation where you would then have to pay NI to upgrade the software.
 
This actually happened to me: I bought a Mikro on ebay and then found that I'd been fooled by the mk2 label and it was the v1.8 software.  Solution: I put it back on ebay and sold it, then bought another that was clearly labeled with "All New Version 2.2 Software".  I actually got lucky because I got the second one cheaper than the first!!
 
This should only be a problem if you're buying secondhand because 2.0 software has been out for ages now and all hardware will ship with v2 of the software.

This was purhased as a new product, came in sealed box, I could not find the software version mentioned on the box, so from what you are saying I am guessing its old stock, but that does not explain the serial number for the software being registered before to someone else.
 
I like to give people some benefit of doubt, so will see what happens with NI, and have now contacted the retailer also, will see what evolves, It was a store catalog special, so I did get it a little cheaper than normal, this might be why, maybe the suppliers had a heap of old units sitting in the back of the whare house and shipped them out cheap to make room for Komplete 11 when it comes in, and maybe in my ignorance I have just got stung.

Looks like you've been very unlucky with this.  The version 2 software came out in September 2013, so if that's old stock, it's been sitting there for years.  I feel your pain!
 
But I think you're right, it all sounds very fishy and since you bought it new from the retailer, I'd ask for my money back.  You bought it new, so unless they clearly stated that it was old stock, they've misled you.  Saying it's a "store catalogue special" is not enough!
 
Also, I agree that it's the v2 software you need - there's a big difference.
 
Just wanted to clarify that since I have the Mikro, the packaging is different, however, having looked on ebay, it appears that:-

• If the packaging says "All new hardware and software", "Massive synth included", it's the mk2 hardware with the v1.8 software.  
• If the packaging says "All new Maschine 2.0 software", it's the mk2 hardware with the v2.0 software

Good luck buddy!