Native Instruments has launched NI Accessibility Helper, a lightweight app designed to assist visually impaired producers and beatmakers using MASCHINE software.
The app offers touch-triggered audio cues that identify encoders, pads, and screen-menu items, along with in-app help and hardware orientation via computer keyboard input. Initially introduced for MASCHINE MK3, the Accessibility Helper will be expanded to other NI hardware devices.
The tool is free to MASCHINE+ and MASCHINE MK3 owners via Native Access. This development reflects NI’s commitment to inclusivity and accessibility, with input from visually impaired musicians during the app’s creation. Native Instruments, now part of Soundwide, continues innovating and empowering music industry creators.
NI Accessibility Helper Offers Several Benefits
The release of Native Instruments’ NI Accessibility Helper offers several benefits to visually impaired producers and beatmakers working with MASCHINE software:
- Enhanced Accessibility: The app provides touch-triggered audio cues that identify encoders, pads, and screen menu items, allowing visually impaired users to navigate the software more easily.
- In-app Help and Orientation: The Accessibility Helper offers additional in-app help and hardware orientation through computer keyboard input, which can simplify the learning curve for users with visual impairments.
- Expansion to Other Hardware Devices: Initially introduced for MASCHINE MK3, the NI Accessibility Helper will soon be available for more NI hardware devices, broadening its impact and demonstrating NI’s commitment to accessibility.
- Ongoing Accessibility Improvements: By creating a dedicated app, NI can continue delivering accessibility-focused enhancements without requiring changes to the core MASCHINE software, ensuring a seamless user experience.
- Collaboration with Visually Impaired Musicians: The development of the Accessibility Helper involved collaboration with visually impaired musicians, ensuring that the app is tailored to the needs of its target audience.
- Free Availability: The Accessibility Helper is free to all MASCHINE+ and MASCHINE MK3 owners via Native Access, making it easily accessible for those who need it most.
The NI Accessibility Helper empowers visually impaired producers and beatmakers to create music without barriers, fostering a more inclusive music production environment.
How to Get Started
Native Instruments has released the NI Accessibility Helper to aid visually impaired users with MASCHINE software. To set up, connect the Maschine hardware and download the required software, including the Accessibility Helper, through Native Access 2.
Register your hardware using the serial number and install the necessary applications, instruments, and effects. Open Maschine 2 as a standalone application, close it and launch the NI Accessibility Helper. Reopen Maschine 2 with the hardware connected, and the Accessibility Helper will announce its readiness, enabling users to create music with the added accessibility features.
The helper provides audio cues corresponding to button presses and knob turns, allowing visually impaired users to navigate the software easily.
The NI Accessibility Helper tool includes a separate window displaying text for the controls, with adjustable text size. To navigate the hardware and its zones, use the arrow keys on your computer with the Accessibility program in the foreground. Up and down arrows cycle through zones, while left and right arrows reveal the buttons in each zone.
The Control Zone, for example, contains 12 buttons in the leftmost top area of Maschine, including the browser and sampling buttons. The Screen Button Zone comprises eight buttons above the screens at the top of the controller.
The non-interactive Screen Zone refers to the screens themselves, while the Screen Knob Zone contains the eight knobs below the screens. The Edit Zone includes the 4D encoder and three buttons to its right, while the Performance Zone contains the Note Repeat button and four buttons below the 4D encoder and the touch strip.
The Group Button Zone, located below the touch strip, selects and creates groups in Maschine. The Transport Zone features play, stop, and record buttons below the Group Button Zone. The Pad Input Mode Zone, above the central pads, allows changing pad functions like keyboard mode or step sequencer mode.
The Pad Mode Zone, in the middle column of Maschine, includes buttons like pattern, mute, and solo. Finally, the Pad Zone refers to the 16 pads for triggering sounds. Users can explore different zones and their buttons using the arrow keys on their keyboard.
Throughout the video guide below, the accessibility helper will provide audio feedback, and Brian from Native Instruments will offer descriptive explanations of button and page locations.
You can find the Video transcript: Accessibility guide for MASCHINE MK3 here.
