I'm not looking to start any arguments here about what can and can't be done in each software; what's a DAW and what's not... This is just my opinion as a beginner in music production and having owned both pieces of kit.
I recently sold my Push 2 and bought a Maschine Jam. I liked the Push 2, but I needed some money and selling it to buy Maschine Jam freed up some. I've been really happy with the change for the reasons below.
To me Maschine Jam seems much simpler and more fun than Push2. I've found it easier to find sounds / kits that I like for the style of music I want to make and to get straight into it. The expansion packs for Maschine that suit my musical taste are excellent and make it really easy to load up and start playing around with sounds that I like. I understand people that want to make their own sounds, but when just learning the basics I've found having these is far more enjoyable.
When loading a kit in Maschine it loads with pre made patterns. I've found these really useful to cut down and look at aspects that I've been trying to work out; like high/mid/low tom patterns. Then deleting these midis out and trying to make something similar.
I thought it would bother me having to look at the laptop screen, rather than having it on the hardware itself. In reality it hasn't bothered me at all. At the start I can pick some sounds to play with and the leave it alone for a while. I'm not anywhere near completing anything, so not sure how that will be.
I thought that the clicky buttons would annoy me, but I actually like them. I'll never have time to learn to play the pads properly anyway. I preferred the size of the pads on Push2 and I do miss the velocity pads for recording hi hats, but other than that I can get by without them for now.
I would prefer to have some pots to turn rather than the touch strips on Jam. I've not really sussed these out yet so not sure what to make of them.
I can see how having the Push and integration with Ableton would be amazing if you knew how to work it properly, but if you are thinking of starting to make music and are considering one of these then I'd say to save a few £ and go with Maschine Jam.
Submitted December 11, 2016 at 01:54PM by Mu99az https://www.reddit.com/r/edmproduction/comments/5hqykq/a_beginners_opinion_of_push_2_vs_maschine_jam/?utm_source=ifttt
Javier Rodriguez
Sunday, December 11, 2016