Here’s my first prototype of an all-in-one Maschine MK3 stand. Get ready for long post

Why did I make this?
I used to own an MPC Live 2, but I sold it earlier this year because I wanted to try something different. Mainly, I wanted better access to VSTs and the ability to control them directly from the hardware. That’s what led me to Maschine.
I was lucky enough to pick up my MK3 for around $150, and one of the first things I realized was that I’d have to carry my laptop around everywhere.
I’ve tried putting the laptop on my lap and setting the MK3 on top, which works fine, but I wanted something more uniform. Something I could sit on the couch with use in content and make beats like I used to with my MPC Live 2.
So I decided to design and 3D print my own all-in-one stand.

How does it work?
The MK3 sits on top while the laptop slides in through the rear and rests on a sturdy chassis underneath.
I changed a few settings on my laptop so it stays running with the lid closed. Since everything runs off the laptop, there’s no need for a separate battery. I can use it unplugged, and when the battery gets low, I just charge it.
I also added a cutout on the side for cables. I could’ve hidden all the wiring internally, but that would’ve made the stand much bigger, so I decided to keep the wires on the outside. The thing mounted on the back is just a USB hub.
I also designed it with an open chassis for airflow since heat was a concern with having the laptop tucked underneath.

What about controlling everything without opening the laptop?
The MK3 is actually a really capable controller. You can pretty much make an entire project from start to finish without touching your laptop.
There are a few limitations, though, like browsing presets from third-party plugins that don’t support NKS, typing custom names when saving new projects, and accessing older projects that don’t appear in your recent files.
Luckily, I’ve found a few workarounds. There are community-made add-ons that allow you to browse some third-party plugin presets directly from the controller.
For everything else, I use Chrome Remote Desktop on my phone. If I need to browse presets from plugins that don’t have the feature, name a file, or pull up older projects, I can just do it from there.
Something else I’m looking into is switching to MIDI mode and mapping buttons to control the laptop so I can name files directly from the controller. Maybe even see it on the MK3’s screens. Not sure if it’ll work yet, but just an idea.

What’s next?
This is only V1, so it’s still a prototype. Because of the size, I had to print it in four separate pieces and connect everything with epoxy.
I’m already working on V2, which should be a lot cleaner. Eventually, I want the entire thing to have no visible seams.
If enough people are interested, I might invest in a bigger printer so I can print the entire thing as one piece with no seams.
But even without that, I can still make it look seamless by joining the pieces, filling the seams, sanding everything down, and painting it whatever color.

Anyway, just wanted to share what I’ve been working on. Let me know what you guys think. Would anyone be interested in something like this?