Enter MIDI mode with SHIFT + CHANNEL (MIDI), then check the selected Controller Editor template and the receiving instrument’s MIDI route.
Try these checks
- Press SHIFT + CHANNEL (MIDI) on the full-size MK3 to enter MIDI mode.
- Check the active Controller Editor template for the notes, channel and controls you intend to send.
- Enable the corresponding MIDI input in the receiving software or device, match its channel, and try a pad.
Diagnose it
Are the pads still controlling a Maschine project rather than the external instrument?
Yes: Enter controller MIDI mode first.
No: Check the template assignments and the destination’s input route.
What should happen
The pads send the assignments from the MIDI template, rather than project-specific Maschine controls.
Why this happens
Controller MIDI mode uses Controller Editor assignments independently of the Maschine project.
If it still doesn’t work
Check the connections and settings described above. If your device behaves differently, email us with its model, firmware version and the steps you tried.
All Maschine MK3 fixesMore about Maschine MK3
Similar symptoms on other gear
These guides cover other models. Use the instructions for the device you are setting up.
Sources & review
Sources reviewed: . Documentation does not replace a physical hardware test.
- Maschine MK3 Manual · Native Instruments · Maschine MK3 hardware · software 3.4 · November 2025 · last checked 2026-11-05
Sections reviewed: Control section, p. 13; Using your controller in MIDI mode, p. 87.