Maschine mk3 pad wear (and what to do about it)

[@TheQuestforGroove]

*UPDATE* In this video I actually take the Maschine apart and replace the pad sensor sheet - kzbin.info/www/bejne/oIGZZK2ki6qIgJY !!! PAD SENSOR SHEETS FOR THE BIG MASCHINE MK3 ARE *NOT* USABLE IN THE MIKRO WITHOUT MODIFICATION. 🕕 TIMELINKS 🕕 0:00 - Introduction 0:46 - The pad sensor sheet explained 2:07 - Outrage 3:12 - Controllers with better longevity 4:23 - Solution 1: Opening up the device & cleaning 5:37 - Solution 2: Get it serviced by NI 6:10 - Solution 3: Replace the pad sensor sheet

[@majjitheahks6651]

Can I purchase your old one please I’m in search of one 🤞

[@TheQuestforGroove]

I'll keep it for now, also to run some tests an open it up and put big fat pads in it from mpcstuff. So I cannot sell it!

[@rez4555]

Good morning Rob. I live in Japan. It's 8:50 in the morning here. I recently joined your free lesson. Thank you for making a good video for us.

[@jayadevadasthevoiceoftheso6585]

Just cleaned mine today with rubbing alcohol and it helped a lot. I am also ordering the replacement pad sheet from MPC stuff. I'll keep you posted! Love these videos. I use mine as a melodic instrument live for 1.5 hr sessions in sweaty yoga classes, and their stuff holds up well

[@dimabelan388]

Robert read my story, i have cheap solution. I had same problem with my maschine, it was already 2 years old, its mean my warranty is gone, i did try open and clear, i did this and problem is not gone, i did try open and clear pad sheets with acetone, after 1 sec i understood don't do it that because half pad frome sheets is gone, when i try use mk3 after 1 pad totally is not worked. And i did try ask NI sell to me new pad sheets they said "we not sell part mk3, you can send your maschine to Germany"-its not good for me. I did try find pad sheets in MPS STAFF shop, but they say (sorry we didt have now this sheets maybe later). AND i did try ask about this in group about electrical staff in russia social network, and they said (looks like graphite, try to use pencil). It was crazy but its really really works. Now all my pads have good sensitivity, i also bought a balloon "graphite 33" like spray for future fix more carefuly then pencil. Thank you bro for your lesson, i have learn new technique finger drumming its very cool, please maybe you can make course about trap-hip-hop style. ))) I hope you will understend my english ))

[@guylloyd200]

Dude that's a great solution!!!

[@TheQuestforGroove]

Awesome! I should try that in the future and compare to a new sensor sheet.

[@elsunmusic3130]

Do you mean you colored the square on pad with a graphite pencil?

[@dimabelan388]

@@elsunmusic3130 yes

[@MattWarb2]

This is becoming one of my favourite channels 👌

[@TheQuestforGroove]

Thanks, that means a lot!

[@st0rmchild]

Yep, me too. Great videos.

[@andreseduardo5991]

This is my favorite KZbin channel since I started finger drumming. The content is Perfect

[@TheQuestforGroove]

Thank you! More helpful videos are on their way!

[@CC-fi3pp]

I lived 1 apartment below Legendary finger drummer Exile while I was studying media in LA a good few decades ago. Anyway his crazy Mexican gf threw his MPC 2KXL down the stairs of the flats 1day, it must of did 4 flights, it ended up below the ground floor at the basement which was at the time flooded. I lunged it out of about 4ft of full submersion in dirty water, I had to put my head under the water to get it. When he came back to the building later that night after a heated argument with his Mrs, I knocked and explained I'd retrieved the MPC from under water after it had bounced down every flight of stairs. He told me it was a goner and to keep it as souvenir of my time in LA. Over the next few days I dried all the components out, and guess what! It worked!!! And it's still working to this day! It's been to 3 different continents, I was literally playing it yesterday, it looks like it's been to the bottom of the ocean and in a fight with Mike Tyson, but it works like new.

[@guysadeh]

Just got my new Maschine Mikro mk3 this week thanks to your videos and detailed comparisons. Keep up with the quality content, you're being of great service to a lot of musicians out there 🙌

[@mechasartre3694]

As an Akai user I usually head straight to MPC stuff for parts. Your comment about ancient MPCs from an uncle made me lol, I have had my 2500 for near on ten years and the thing is still perfect in my view although I have replaced a few parts including pads but never replaced any piece twice ahaaa. I’ll probably get a newer Maschine one day just for the experience and knowledge but I enjoyed my old maschine Mikro, I think I’ll be an Akai guy though until I can afford a Tempest lol, but then Roger Linn is the forefather of our instrument so what more can I say lol. Great stuff as always, loving that there’s becoming quite a community.

[@TheQuestforGroove]

Hey thanks for the reply! I read somewhere that akai screwed Roger linn over a little bit which is why he now does his linnstrument all by himself without a big company behind it. :-) I love that guy.

[@criticalwoodhip-hopforever2657]

I litteraly Hoover my Maschine MK2 keeping a finger distance beetween the pads and my Hoover and it Always keep it clean and out of dust . 8 years i do this and Never disapointed 🙏🏼

[@skibaa1]

Unfortunately I don't use pads on my Maschine often enough to wear it during the warranty period :) But your video as always brings a lot of useful info, so thank you very much for your channel!

[@TheQuestforGroove]

Thanks for watching! I think with these pads available (if they work) the Maschine mk3 and the Mikro just became even better buys. Nothing in their price range comes close if you're talking 4x4.

[@epicon6]

If you don't use them daily then you don't have to worry about the warranty period either. I bought the MK3 in the first month, so 5 years of daily use and only now on pad feels slightly off but it's still usable. So if i had played an hour a week then in theory this would have happened 25 years from now :)

[@1schmacke]

I really like the hair change on the end of the video AND dank u well for the tips!

[@djnaydee]

Theres one FREE fix. Open it up and rotate the pad sensor sheet so bad pads are at the top. Thats if your worn pads are at the bottom where the kick, snare, hats usually are. :) Im going to try that and report if it worked on an old Maschine Studio someone gave me for free because it has worn first 4 pads :)

[@TheQuestforGroove]

Heyyy good one!!

[@ofiraradyt]

I bought a second hand maschine mikro mk2 that had some pad sensitivity problems. i tried the pencil solution Happy High suggested and it totally works. i drew with a 10B pencil over the lines inside the squares on the sensor sheet. afterwards i opened it up again and added a layer of amalgamating tape to the other side of each square on the sheet (2 layers was to much), just to add a bit more sensitivity. now the sensitivity is really good, and even across all pads. before, some of the pads were close to not working. before i did all that i ordered a sheet from mpcstuff but now i feel like i don't really need it.

[@ofiraradyt]

ok so i now installed the mpcstuff sheet and it's even better..

[@TheQuestforGroove]

Ah good to know!

[@nirmalyasamanta]

I have been using the pencil trick for the last 3 years. It makes the pad work, but it suffers from huge false triggers. I am using M-Audio Code 25 and I cannot find the sensor sheets for it. Just hoping... Check out my channel to check my style and please post if you have any suggestions regarding the repair. Thanks And I was wondering who Happy High is

[@davemg8409]

thanks for the video Rob!! it was just one thing I was wondering since now I'm studying your courses every day :)

[@Yahoomediaclub]

Interesting video, It’s good to know the can be fixed by the replacement sensor sheets Matt ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Nice one Native Instruments

[@BrianBulkowski]

Hi - I am having pad problems on my Machine Mikro Mk 3, and your video says "the replacement pads for Mikro are the same", and MPC Stuff says they are not. It appears they have a replacement sheet for the Mikro M1 and M2 but the M3 it says "the holes are different and needs modification!" Just wanted to drop this comment even on a 3 year old video - great series by the way - so people read the up to date info on MPC Stuff's site.

[@TheQuestforGroove]

Thanks for sharing! Yeah I added a pinned comment as well. When I made this video MPCstuff actually said on their website that the sheets were compatible with both. They later changed that to the message you're seeing right now.

[@daspacechoechechoz9028]

I'M OUTRAGED!!! Time to change my strings and/or pad sensor sheets thanks.

[@TheQuestforGroove]

Hahaha. Take that fury and use it for some beast mode online shopping my friend :-)

[@TheJoyofFingerDrumming]

That's awesome! You know what would also be awesome and possibly please a lot of people, including me? :) If you could test out a crappy MPD218 (if you still have one) and replace the sensor sheet with one from mpcstuff. I read online that some people fixed theirs this way, but it was just forum quotes and you just have to take their word for it. You making a video about this would definitely be a game changer for people owning the Akai MPD series. Thanks in advance if you do plan to do this.

[@TheQuestforGroove]

Yeah good plan! See how far you can pimp an mpd218. I'll put that on the list!

[@TheJoyofFingerDrumming]

@@TheQuestforGroove Great! Cheers!

[@Sartajc]

I once built a pad controller that I hit with a test rig 1 million times without any issues. That being said, the sensor sheet you refer to, is known as a piezoresistive element. There really isn't a solution where this element will last forever. What would be nice is to allow users to replace pad sensor sheets easily, the same way we can replace guitar strings, without voiding the warranty.

[@TheQuestforGroove]

Hey thanks thats good to know! And i totally agree with you. Pad sensor sheets should be sold like guitar strings!

[@vznquest]

that final screw really f'ed with me for a while, lol

[@roryheath9536]

Checked MPCStuff, and the sensor sheet is made by them, which does also make me question the quality and interaction of them with the unit. This would be another question worth asking and getting to the bottom of.

[@TheQuestforGroove]

Yeah that will be a future test!

[@FrancisF23]

Nice, clear video, thank you. To be honest, I'm surprised NI don't sell original pad sheets themselves, especially since , for 200$, one would hope that they replaced the padsheet in your dodgy MK3. Don't suppose you opened it a 2nd time to check? OK, I understand - life's too short ;-) Can I ask you, is this still your favourite pad controller? I've been hovering around the MK3 for a while, but I can't get answers to my questions - it seems you have to register with NI just to ask Support a question. And my question was (he he!): does the software come with a good selection of acoustic kits? I can see the Abbey Road kits in some of their publicity, but it's never clear whether they are included or are in fact add-on packs. I also downloaded the MK3 manual, but there are no preset lists or anything like that, as far as I can see. I guess, with several gigs of sounds, it would make a rather long preset list, but still, they must list them somewhere if they give them names, after all!

[@TheQuestforGroove]

As a controller I think it has the best 4x4 pads you can get right now. But the mikro mk3 comes very close and is so much cheaper. And then considering the fact that I never use machine software or the samples that come with it... no good acoustic kits at all. my guess is for a 4x4 pad controller in most cases the mikro mk3 is the way to go, unless you really don't mind spending $600 and you want that little bit extra sensitivity. If you're OK with smaller pads my #1 choice would be launchpad pro mk3. Great device as well.

[@FrancisF23]

@@TheQuestforGroove Blimey, no decent acoustic kits in 6+ GB of sounds! I'm flabbergasted, I tell you. And they want nearly 600€ for it! So I imagine the Abbey road kits are add-on packs. The Mikro looks interesting, especially as the 300 € saved over its big brother would buy a lot of drum packs from whoever. I also like the fact that it's kept the "mod strip" or whatever they call it: I have a 28 year old Yamaha RY30 drum-machine with a thumb-wheel modulator that more or less does the same thing: if only the EU had made a directive that forced all drum machines to have this, I think we'd have stayed in! ;-} Oh, and the 1992 vintage RY30 pads still work, by the way, so I wouldn't blame people for being "outraged" at failing pads after 3 years of use. Keep up the sterling work!

[@guylloyd200]

@@FrancisF23 abby road kits are included with full version komplete

[@FrancisF23]

@@guylloyd200 Thanks for that: just found the prices on NI's website - 200€ for the complete AR set. Not cheap!

[@LeAngeMystique]

Just discovered this channel. Really nice vids! Thanks..:) @FrancisF23 I'd suggest you buy NI software through "Komplete" only. The single title prices are ridiculous. I downloaded K12 free and got a 100$ voucher, always upgraded when there were sales - there should be the big "summer" one on in a couple of days. Long story short, in a year I had the K12 Collectors ed. for 700$+. Thats a lot of stuff. In fact I bought my Maschine mk3 just to control all the expansions and to break my routine, as I am quite good at piano/keys. Must say, was veery skeptical. I have some other NI toys like F1, old S4.. some broke, and have this cheap feel. I was pleasantly surprised when I got the Maschine. It is indeed higher quality than the cheaper NI stuff. Seeing Robert's videos using mk3 with non-NI software is another reassurance, it was a right decision.

[@zan6188]

Hi wanna ask is this similiar to NI Maschine Mk1? I'm just like you, want to use the pads only & learn some finger drumming. Saw someone sell cheap, thinking whether want to grab it down quickly 😄

[@TheQuestforGroove]

I'm not sure ince I never used a mk1. But it's probably not a bad device is my guess. If you can get one for cheap it's worth a try.

[@ivanbalashov468]

I wonder if those sensor sheets degrade over time even if not used. If they do, then it's probably not worth buying ahead of time, and manufacturing date is important.

[@TheQuestforGroove]

Well, in that case this is a good experiment! I have two sheets that I'll use in the future so if they still work it'll be fine. My guess is it'll be fine. The wearing really seems to happen when hitting, transferring the material from the sheets on to the pad sensors.

[@nikolauskim]

Great! Concise information is the strength of this video. Thank you! I just started subscribe your channel!

[@reycaribe]

The MK2 products have reduced in price. Just getting into it so can't splurge especially at these times. Any of these MK2 devices, regardless of maker still good? Rather 2018 ipad 11 than macbook interoperability. Especially looking at the launchpad pro but hate the size.

[@TheQuestforGroove]

The launchpad mk2 devices really pale in comparison to the new launchpad x and pro mk3. I would for sure get the newer ones. The maschine mk2 devices are good for as far as i know. The thing is if you buy used, sometimes theres no software license and you need that to activate the device sometimes. So thats important to look out for with used maschine mk1 and mk2 devices.

[@tastelesstouch]

Have you noticed any issues with the words on the pads starting to rub off after time since the MK3 has the operations printed directly on the pads?

[@TheQuestforGroove]

Didn't notice any of that. Probably because you usually dont hit the pads at the top where the words are but more in the center.

[@jayadevadasthevoiceoftheso6585]

Yeah. Cleaned it well, and it didn’t help, but I bought the MPCStuff pad sheet, dropped it in, and plays perfectly. The plastic seems slightly more robust than the original.

[@DopamineOverload]

Good to know! Excellent info.

[@djPositive]

Hi. What is your aproach to cleaning top of pads (and really rest of device)? My old maschine is getting slightly sticky and i do think what i should use to preserve device in good condition and not distroy names on pads for example

[@TheQuestforGroove]

Some rubbing alcohol and a microfiber cloth, but NOT on the pad sensor sheet (with the ink on it). That one I just leave alone.

[@lucn6173]

So did you test the new sensor sheet that you bought? does it make a difference compare to just cleaning the sensors? thanks a lot

[@TheQuestforGroove]

I haven't noticed any deterioration yet so I cannot test it out as of now. I'd have to wait until the hi hat or snare pad start responding badly, which should happen somewhere this year, but so far so good...the refurbished Machine and the new one both work perfectly.

[@lucn6173]

@@TheQuestforGroove NICE

[@RCAVDH]

Bedankt voor de tip!

[@DrkMyyst]

Robert, why drum pads as opposed to a midi keyboard ? Have you tried both ? What differences did you find ? I will be using EZD2 and have been researching a way to go about recording drum tracks, be it midi keyboard, drum pads or possibly an Alesis Strike Multipad.

[@TheQuestforGroove]

I used to play on my (weighted) keyboard a bit and I feel that the pushing down id the keys is less intuitive than hitting something. To me drumming is hitting and pads are just the best for that :-)

[@nathanfuzaro4792]

One question: i saw your video which you ve talked about the durability of the pads... Can u tell if u feel that the nektar has a more durable pads? In my country this pads costs like a motorcycle/simple car, sooo i am really trying to choice the best longevity and sensitivity pads.. Did u felt the lost sensitivity was a lot? It really affects your playability? Or it is a lose that you can live with it.. I searched on mpc stuff and the pads and shipping it will costs more than the actually device to repair if it will be necessarly.. (sry bad english, greetings from brasil) thank u very much!!!!

[@TheQuestforGroove]

I don't know how long any device will last. The problem with that is I would need to go and hit multiple devices millions of times in order to test how long they remain sensitive. That's more something for a "consumer reports" official testing company that can do this with machines. Impossible for an individual to do. The one thing I would stay away from is buying the big maschine mk3. Because the smaller mikro mk3 is a lot cheaper and has almost the same sensitivity. So that's a better choice for sure. Whether to pick the aura over the mikro in terms of longevity... no idea.

[@nathanfuzaro4792]

@@TheQuestforGroove alright, thank u very much!!!!

[@truechristianity74]

Do they sale pad replacement for the Maschine mk 3

[@TheQuestforGroove]

Yes they do, but it looks like they're out of stock at the moment. Not permanently though...

[@dimabelan388]

Hi Robert its again me, long time ago i saw video in your channel about layout pad but with long sound and short sound (like chords) but now cant find, can you help me to find this video.) i hope i really saw this and its not a dream ))

[@TheQuestforGroove]

Oh yeah it exists! >> kzbin.info/www/bejne/mKfEk4OVhreMlZY

[@fillybeats4075]

Do they have those sensor sheets for the maschine plus?

[@TheQuestforGroove]

I think the sheets are the same for the Maschine mk3, the mikro mk3 and the maschine +. They all use the same size pads and therefore same size pad sensors.

[@WaterTimeLapse]

Woo-hoo First!! (Hope you're doing well, Robert 😁)

[@niklassilen4313]

Did anybody ever compare a brand new MK3 vs MPCStuff pad sensor sheet? I currently have a Maschine mk3 controller that has severely worn out pad triggers.. the first pad doesn't even trigger most of the time, unless I hit it extremely hard, while pad nr 16 is still super sensitive, constantly reminding me of how this thing should react.

[@TheQuestforGroove]

I'm planning on doing a complete replacement video. So also with opening it up and stuff and seeing if it works. Problem at the moment are the supply chain shortages, which seem to be causing the sensor sheets to not be available at mpcstuff at the moment. I want to make sure they come back in stock because otherwise I'll be doing this whole thing and not really helping anybody...

[@TheQuestforGroove]

Oh hey... I see they're back in stock now! Very good, I'll make a video about this soon. I need a fresh unit myself since the hi hat pad wore out.

[@niklassilen4313]

@@TheQuestforGroove Very cool! There is literally not a single video on KZbin actually doing this. If you can get hold of a "new" MK3 to compare to, after the pad sensor sheet fix, it would shed some light on what quality the MPC stuff sensor is made of. MK3 Maschine is of course extremely good when new but these things seem to suffer a bit from wear and tear quite quickly.

[@TheQuestforGroove]

Hey Niklas! I made the video and released it today! >> kzbin.info/www/bejne/oIGZZK2ki6qIgJY

[@The_Eldest_Millenial]

A year later and still zero sensor sheets for Launchpads :/

[@TheQuestforGroove]

:-( The Maschine mk3 pad sensor sheets also are out of stock... I hope they'll come back. Hopefully this is a supply chain issue.

[@Yo_I_Got_Loops]

MPC over my Maschine MK3 for me

[@mazeyes667]

I stopped playing and buying maschine 'cause as a very heavy user I would need one sensor sheet a month.NI should see their product like traditional instrument, like changing strings for guitar, the sensor sheets has to be available and cheap.I find latest NI controllers disposable, and that's NOT what I want for something I buy to make music.Akai products are a lot more durable and and reliable, they feel like real workhorse instruments as Hardware.

[@pattibo3130]

We need to ask Ikea to make a machine like the one that tests the Poäng chairs but for pads and test different pads with it! Or ask Ikea to make a drum pad machine, we might have to assemble it ourself. :\

[@TheQuestforGroove]

That would be pretty handy actually. Build it yourself, fix it yourself. Nice.

[@pattibo3130]

@@TheQuestforGroove Wasn't prepared for a response! Ok... Since I got your attention... I was in the market for a finger drumming pad and I made a purchase based on a couple of your videos. I thought I'd go for a Launchpad X, but that's a lot of pad I MIGHT not use. Still affordable though. Then I watched one of your video comparing cheap pads and wanted a Maschine Mikro mk3 for the quality. Little expensive, I thought, compared to the Launchpad X. But I found one on the second hand market! 200$ canadian instead of 390$ new! A bargain! After I bought it, I asked the seller to transfer the hardware license, but he's ghosting me. So I have a dead weight on my hands. It won't work. I'm waiting to get in contact with Native's support and get a license. Pain in the butt. I should've put more research into this buy. Had I known, I would've bought it new or went for the Launchpad. Cautionary tale here... I'm a guitarist too. I had an E-drum for a while but didn't fall in love with it and sold it 2 year later. I wanted pads to compose and redo my old stuff with Addictive Drums. I'll probably watch your videos to get started and maybe get some paid lessons once I hit my stride. Solid stuff your making here. I appreciate it. Wish I knew about the Native Instruments hardware BS software prison beforehand! It's worst than Apple! They are the Scientology of hardware Cults! lol Cheers!

[@TheQuestforGroove]

Yeah the second hand maschine trap with no software license is terrible. You really need that in order for everything to work :-(

[@experimetalfan8851]

Buying a new MK3, what a ridiculous thing to do! 😜

[@joemojou6653]

korg Padkontrol, lasts forever and is very sensitive. The pads are not that nice to touch

[@iperTONYco]

i'm using a korg padkontrol too and i can say i'm really happy

[@raptakisk.9983]

I've really abused my Korg PadKontrol, for the last 10-11 years..and it seems it will never die, every single pad works as it supposed to..compared to many other pads i've played with like MPCs-MPDs etc..those are by far the most sensitive and most reliable.

[@MrMojooRisin]

ray manzarek

[@taricleking5633]

Guys, never clean the buttons on the mk1 and mk2 models with rubbing alcohol! This will destroy the conductive layer and your buttons will stop working, but this does not apply to pads.

[@Harzurner]

Just get an mpc 2000xl and buy 10 sensors from mpc stuff, that's it, set for life.

[@wildeocean]

But Rob I'm a COMPLETE idiot.

[@TheQuestforGroove]

Haha, maybe buy 2 new maschines then :-)

[@wildeocean]

@@TheQuestforGroove ahahahahaha no ... I'am trying my best to be more chill.... You were so on point tho, because that's what I do, if something doesn't open I'll start pulling on it, and there is this voice in my head that says DUUUDEEE STOP. But it's already too late. Making music ain't cheap. Got to learn to take care of my shit.

[@alphaomegamusicschool]

10 minutes just to say replace the pads.

[@TheQuestforGroove]

Dude... That's such an oversimplification that seems to be coming from a world view where everything on the internet should be made to serve you and your purpose alone. Some people will want to replace their sensor sheet, some people might want to pay to get the thing repaired, some people might feel like they want to find a controller that has more durable pads and a lot of people are actually interested in how the thing works on the inside and what usually goes wrong when pads become less sensitive. I also broke up this video into neatly organised chapters, so everyone can very quickly find the solution that suits them with one click of a button and skip over the stuff they don't care about... Also, let's turn this around: I make a 10 second video just saying: "Replace your pads". Would you feel helped? Would you think I thought things through? Maybe considered other solutions? Do you trust that I even understand what the problem is? Nothing is perfect, this video isn't either but things also are not as simple as your comment seems to suggest.