He moved to Spain and in 1610 he became a musician of the royal chapel in Madrid, where his father, Lope Machado, was already a harpist.
In 1639, he became a musician in the palace of Philip IV of Spain, and in 1642, he was rewarded "for his long years of service".
Machado composed several sacred works, but he is better known for his secular 3- and 4-voice cantigas and romances in Mannerist style.
His secular music is characterised by great skill in the flexible use of the meter and harmony to reflect the content of the poems.
His known compositions are found in the most important songbooks of his time, such as the Cancionero de la Sablonara, which indicates that he probably enjoyed a considerable popularity.