mmorgan
Mantofini: It is a separate application that Maschine. Off the top of my head I think it is "Controller Editor"...I'll check when I get home and post here if no one posts a name.
 
Also one thing to consider with Maschine, even though you only want it for the pads, it comes with quite a bit of NI's typically high quality content. I find it a lot of fun to play around with but I'm far from expert in the sampling realm.
 
Regards,

Do you find you actually end up using the sounds from Mashine in your finished work or is it more for fun?
 
I agree that NI's content is typically high quality. That's almost part of the problem. I just bought Komplete 9. I've barely scratched the surface. To date, I've only used Guitar Rig, Studio Drummer and some of the Kontakt orchestral sounds. I haven't touched the synths yet and only played with Battery for about an hour, though I have a feeling a pad controller would make using that a little more fun.

Mantofini

Sanderxpander
I would call them pretty good but not excellent. Probably wouldn't buy it just as a generic controller but then, I really like the sounds and workflow.

Out of curiosity Sanderxpander. What other pad controllers would you recommend? I have read bad things about the responsiveness of Akai pads. There is a Novation controller than I might try next. The KORG padKontrol sounds good, as well, but, none of the stores in my area that allow returns currently carry it. Also, I'm not sure that will continue to be supported for a while.

That's a really good question, and one I can't answer confidently right away. I hear the pads on the Mk2 are a little better and I don't really dislike mine as such but I recognize the problem of missing notes when plaing softly. I've played a Pad Kontrol and liked the feel, but haven't really put it through its paces enough to comment with confidence. I haven't tried the Novation but it seems decent. Didn't like the Akai.

Mantofini

Sanderxpander
I would call them pretty good but not excellent. Probably wouldn't buy it just as a generic controller but then, I really like the sounds and workflow.

Out of curiosity Sanderxpander. What other pad controllers would you recommend? I have read bad things about the responsiveness of Akai pads. There is a Novation controller than I might try next. The KORG padKontrol sounds good, as well, but, none of the stores in my area that allow returns currently carry it. Also, I'm not sure that will continue to be supported for a while.

Hi Mantofini,
 
I don't mean to barge in.. But I have not heard anyone mention the Akai Line of MPD controllers.  These have adjustable veliocity and feel.  And come with the standard transport, sliders and rotaries for DAW control.  I am not drum programming expert but with that said, they make playing drum instruments, samples etc. much more convenient that doing it on a keyboard. I think that have 3 flavors that go up in the number of pads/sliders/rotaries. Maybe what you need. Thanks.

I didn't like the Akai ones, and Akai is a different company now than it was during the hey day of the MPC line. All pad controllers mentioned so far have adjustable velocity curves by the way. That doesn't fix any physical limitations or quirks though.

This is my Maschine tutorial to use it as a VST in Sonar but this is not the latest software update for the Maschine software because I have purchased the "upgrade", 2.0, but it has proven to be problematic in my system so I'm using 1.8.2 until the problems are all worked out.

Yup that was the vid I watched earlier.... Excellent piece of footage thankyou!

Have people logged these daw issues with native instruments, have they promised anything? or is it just going round in circles in the forums. Just curious to know if they will fix the issues. Ta

LunaTech

Mantofini

Sanderxpander
I would call them pretty good but not excellent. Probably wouldn't buy it just as a generic controller but then, I really like the sounds and workflow.

Out of curiosity Sanderxpander. What other pad controllers would you recommend? I have read bad things about the responsiveness of Akai pads. There is a Novation controller than I might try next. The KORG padKontrol sounds good, as well, but, none of the stores in my area that allow returns currently carry it. Also, I'm not sure that will continue to be supported for a while.

Hi Mantofini,
 
I don't mean to barge in.. But I have not heard anyone mention the Akai Line of MPD controllers.  These have adjustable veliocity and feel.  And come with the standard transport, sliders and rotaries for DAW control.  I am not drum programming expert but with that said, they make playing drum instruments, samples etc. much more convenient that doing it on a keyboard. I think that have 3 flavors that go up in the number of pads/sliders/rotaries. Maybe what you need. Thanks.

Providing feedback is not barging. I didn't mention the Akai line because based on the reviews, I had read that the pads were not as responsive as the KORG padKontol of the Maschine. Basically that they function better as sample triggers as opposed to inputting drums with dynamics. After seeing the same criticsms in every forum I decided to filter out that as an option, for. The feedback about the KORG had been more positive for the use I was pondering. I may still try one out though. Thanks for the suggestion.

twisted6s
This is my Maschine tutorial to use it as a VST in Sonar but this is not the latest software update for the Maschine software because I have purchased the "upgrade", 2.0, but it has proven to be problematic in my system so I'm using 1.8.2 until the problems are all worked out.

I saw that video last night, actually. It was reassuring that the use of Maschine with Sonar was possible. I bookmarked it just in case I get the Maschine. Thanks for putting that together. Have you tried using the Maschine controller without the VST? Perhaps to trigger Session Drummer or anything in Komplete, if you have it? What do you think of it.

CakeAlexS
Have people logged these daw issues with native instruments, have they promised anything? or is it just going round in circles in the forums. Just curious to know if they will fix the issues. Ta

 
my current understanding is that when you buy a micro or mk2 you get v1.8.2 software, which works well enough with a DAW environment... so the popular recommendation i think would be to use that.
 
I have participated in the NI forun for a few years. NI is far more cagey than CW (by a large margin) on if and/or when it will address issues and often do not even acknowledge a problem exists... their attitude is largely just "its software and we give free updates........." 
 
To me this means i will wait and see that the general forum sentiment is that midi routing, drag/drop, batch setup and VST related issues are resolved before upgrading to the 2.x software.. as the 1.8 works fine in the context of a sonar/maschine setup