A Scene is simply a snapshot of which pattern is playing in each Group at a given time. To facilitate both performance and song arrangement, Maschine uses a system of Scenes. As live performance tools go, it couldn't get much more fun or immediate than this. Effects can be loaded from the Browser on‑the‑fly, and automated. Individual pads can also be muted or solo'ed in the same way. The eight Groups buttons allow you to move quickly between your layered sounds, and you can hold the Mute or Solo buttons while pressing these, to drop out sections of your track. So how about creating a performance or arrangement with these building blocks? Pattern changes can be triggered easily from the pads with various quantisation settings. Maschine does an exemplary job of capturing patterns and sequences, and manipulating sounds and effects. This automation is relative to the position of the control, so you can still make adjustments later. All you have to do is hold down one of the function buttons while Maschine is playing back, and any control movement will be recorded and looped.
All sound parameters, effects and mixer controls can be modulated within patterns, and each pattern can have its own unique automation data. One of my favourite features of Maschine is the automation system. There's a good selection of standard and more unusual effects on offer, with patches also available in the library.
Send effects can be set up internally, by using a spare sound slot as a return channel, or you can route signals out to external buses for processing in your host DAW system. Groups and Sounds also have two auxiliary outputs. The Master section, Groups and individual sounds each have two insert effect slots.