Native Instruments has just released MASCHINE 1.6, a major FREE update for its acclaimed groove production studio platform. With the addition of plug-in hosting for instruments and effects, the new version significantly expands the scope and functionality of the original system. Be sure to check out our complete written review on the Machine and check inside for videos on the new features of the MASCHINE 1.6.

Late last year, we reviewed the new Native Instruments Powerful tools that allow producers to make music of all styles and genres. The Native Instruments Maschine Studio easily allows users to bang out beats on the drum pads while the Native Instruments Komplete Keyboards made it simple to add a melody to the rhythm. Now Native Instruments has integrated the Maschine Studio with the Komplete Keyboards to make an easy and intuitive workflow for production.

The Native Instruments team will be on-hand at the IMSTA Festa in New York City on this coming Saturday to display their new Maschine MK2 and the Maschine Mikro MK2. The new iterations of the popular Maschine music production station come with the new 1.8 software and Stoni Cooper will be there to demo the units while DJ Endo will work the S4 and F1. The event is totally free, so if you are in the NYC area on Saturday, go check them out. Registration Links and address inside.

Contrary to popular "DJ" beliefs, Native Instruments actually makes products that aren't DJ oriented. Native Instruments also makes excellent production software for producers and music-makers of all types of Genres. This time, NI has announced the new RAZOR software synthesizer which is designed to work with REAKTOR 5 to help create new modern sounds for contemporary electronic music production.

Native Instruments has released a SLEW of new Studio Production software suites that will be sure to help artists and beat-makers create some serious tracks with some great sounds. Introducing the Native Instruments Kontakt 5 (sampler program), Studio Drummer (for acoustic drum tracks), Solid Mix Series & Transient Master (for EQ dynamics and hardware processing), Guitar Rig 5 (for guitar affects and amp sounds), and the Komplete 8 Ultimate program that combines all of the previously mentioned software suites into one powerful studio software tool. Check the full press release and links inside.

Native Instruments is always helping out DJ's and Producers by providing us with excellent software packages that seem to push the envelope time and time again. Native Instruments is now releasing a new Production product called Damage that will assist music-makers with creating those hard-hitting cinematic percussion beats and sounds for movie scores and high-impact music production. In other words, this gives you a combination of industrial sounds and orchestral percussion to add lots of character to whatever project you are working on. Details, pricing, and press release inside.