How To Power NI Maschine+ From Portable USB Batteries

Playing music on the go is great, regardless of whether it’s in the park, on the train, or at the beach. You never know when creativity will strike. Unfortunately, your favorite stand-alone groove box is very power-hungry so is it even possible to portably power it without carrying a huge battery around?

The short answer is yes, you can portably power your Maschine+. The most practical and affordable way is to use portable PD chargers (also called USB-C PD power banks or USB-C PD portable batteries). PD stands for “Power Delivery” which is a new fast-charging standard for smartphones and laptops. But how can you utilize these powerful batteries to power your “Maschine Plus”?

How to power Maschine+ from portable USB-C PD power banks?

This is where our new product comes into play: The Birdcord PD 15V power cable allows you to connect a USB-C PD power bank to your Maschine+ and it also tells the power bank to switch to 15V. This method gives you 45 Watts of power (3A@15V) so you can easily power your Maschine+.

What do you need to make it work?

  • a Birdcord PD 15V
  • a USB-C PD power bank that is rated 45W or higher. Best choice: Baseus 65W 20000mAh PD
  • a USB-C cable to connect the power bank to the Birdcord (usually included with the power bank)
  • your Native Instruments Maschine+ (of course)

How long does the battery last?

From experience, the recommended Baseus 65W 20000mAh PD battery will last 8 to 9 hours powering the Maschine+.

Important additional info:

  • Not all PD chargers are capable of outputting 15V. Check the specifications or get the recommended Baseus PD charger

If you have any questions, feel free to get in touch via email (dieter@songbirdfx.com) or Instagram.

(Post updated on April 10th, 2024)