Native Instruments Maschine

Native Instruments' Maschine is a combination of program and MIDI controller. The program and controller are mapped together so no mapping is required in order to use the controller with the program. Maschine is meant to represent a classic drum pad, similar to a MPC, and can even import files used for newer MPCs onto the program itself. The program is great for making loop oriented music, as the program uses patterns to make a song. This is one of the only downfalls to the program; to make a dynamic song, you must create a lot of patterns. It comes with some standard effects, but VSTs can be added quite easily as it scans for new VSTs and AUs every time its opened. The factory effects are quite nice though, the Limiter, for example, is super simple (There is only one knob with the Legacy limiter and three for the Transperent limiter) and makes your mixes a bit louder without to much damage to the dynamics of the song. The browser on the program is amazing, you can preview, load and arrange samples onto the pads without even looking at a computer screen. In fact, you could make an entire song without having to even touch the computer (except to export the song). The controller and program are around 700 to 850 new. A great feature with the controller is that it can be used with other programs and can even be used as a DJ controller with Ableton. The controller can also have around 56 midi assigned knobs with it's ability to use "pages".