Akai Pro MPD18 Compact Pad Controller

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8.1 x 1.6 inches ; 2.4 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B002LNBG1Q
• Item model number: MPD18
  

By : Akai Pro
List Price : $199.00
Price : $97.99
You Save : $101.01 (51%)

Product Description

The MPD18 is the easiest way to add genuine MPC pads to your setup. This MIDI-over-USB pad controller for DJs, programmers, producers, and other musicians is built around the pads and controls from Akai Professional's industry-standard MPC series. The MPD18 is an expressive and intuitive instrument for the studio and stage. The MPD18 is built around the pads of the industry-standard MPC and contains some of the same technology that gives tracks made with the MPC an unmistakably human feel. The MPD18 is an expressive and intuitive controller for the studio and stage, and its compact footprint is easy to fit into any setup. When combined with virtually any MIDI software, the MPD18 delivers everything needed to create tracks that feel great. The heart of the MPD18 is its bank of 16 velocity and pressure-sensitive MPC pads, an Akai Pro exclusive. You can access three different banks of sounds from the MPC pads for a total of 48 sounds at your fingertips. The MPD18 also borrows the MPC series' assignable Q-Link controllers, enabling you to control nearly any parameters in your software in real time. You get an assignable Q-Link fader for natural, hands-on control of your most-used parameters, and MPC Note Repeat enables you to quickly input patterns such as hi-hat parts or drum rolls. The MPD18 also has 16 configurable presets so you can program it for the way you work with different hardware and software. The MPD18 sends MIDI information over its plug-and-play USB interface so you can use it with your Mac or PC without installing any drivers. The USB connection even powers the MPD18 so the included USB cable is all you need for portable production. The MPD18 can control nearly any MIDI software, as well as MIDI hardware, such as synths, sound modules, samplers, sequencers, drum machines, and more. The MPD18 gives you the control feel of the MPC in a super-portable instrument with a compact footprint that's easy to fit in any setup.

 

Akai Pro MPD18 Compact Pad Controller

 

Product Features

• The MPC pads features bank of 16, velocity and pressure sensitive
• MPC Note Repeat enables you to quickly input patterns such as hi-hat parts or drum rolls

Customer Reviews

I have been playing guitar since I was a teenager, did the college band thing, etc and periodically have checked out home recording options. In the past software has been expensive and leaves a lot to be desired. A few months ago I discovered that's all changed now and there are a lot of options for an amateur musician like me to record at home.
Mainly I play guitar and bass but I wanted to be able to add drums with more feeling than I could do with the basic note sequencer (at least without spending an hour in a piano roll editor every time I wanted a drum track). I ordered this MPD18 a few weeks ago imagining myself looking up a quick tutorial on youtube for setting it up in LMMS or FL Studio or somesuch and away I'd go.
When I started playing with the drum pad I quickly found two things:
1st, this thing is a LOT of fun. A light tap gives me a low volume (usually in the 20's in the 1-127 MIDI scale) and a whack pops out the max 127 and I can pretty easily play anywhere in between. After some of the reviews complaining about this I was worried but the responsiveness seems great to me.
2nd, this thing comes with TERRIBLE instructions, "Editor" software that doesn't even work, and there are so many drum controllers out there and seemingly so few people wanting to set up their DAW to do a drum VST like Addictive Drums that I was NOT able to easily find help.
So after investing quite a few hours into figuring this out, I've finally got it squared away. I can help you set up this controller to control your drums in ANY software. Basically I discovered that trying to map inside your DAW and plugins is a learning curve for every one you use. If you do it with the Editor you only have to learn how once, AND you can load 16 presets in the MPD18 so you can switch between them on your own if you need multiple mappings for different plugins or styles.
This is a long write-up because I tried to cover all the details. I'm not saying it isn't a pain - it is a pain - but I think the end result is definitely worth the time investment.
Here's how:
-Get the latest version of the editor software from Akai's site. If your editor says "Firmware ver.00.56" or something you need this. The version you need will say "Firmware ver.01.00" (they both say Software Ver.1.00 in the lower-right so ignore that even though these numbers should probably be the other way around). Any URL I put in will get stripped but I can tell you to go to akaipro com, then under "Support" click "Documents ; Downloads" At that page click "MIDI/USB Controllers" then click "All" in the next column, and then "MPD18" of course. This brings you to a page where you can download the Preset Editor software. If you have an earlier version installed then uninstall it first (I had to manually delete some of my files to get it all gone before the new one would work).
-There's also documentation on the download page that isn't quite as awful as the little insert that came with the unit so you can grab that too. It explains some of the Note Repeat info, how to switch presets (hold down preset and tap the pad of the preset you want), and a few other bits ; pieces. I'm not saying it all works as they describe, but it's less awful than the included paper.
-When you install the software there wil be a directory buried inside the zips (yes that is plural, they put zips inside of a zip) with presets. It is called "MPD18-preset_v4" and you need to save that folder somewhere handy because you'll need it.
-Now that you have the software installed and presets handy make sure your MPD18 is plugged in and you can load up the working editor software
-As a final step to this update, confirm that the lower left "Firmware ver" reads at least 01.00. If it still says 00.56 or something like that you need to delete all the old editor files (from Program Files if you use Windows) and install it again.
The editor software will let you tell the MPD18 what MIDI notes you want to correspond to what pads. You can do it either by note name (eg C3, C3, D3, etc) or by the corresponding MIDI note (61, 62, 63, etc). If you can't use sample mappings I provide below, the DAW or plugin you use should give you info for at least one of those methods.
I based my mappings on the layout in FL Studio's default "FPC" plugin since it looks roughly like the MPD18, and before I got the Editor software working I used the "Map all notes in this control" learning feature to make my MPD18 correspond to the on-screen FPC and quickly got used to the layout. I make no claim this is the best layout, it's just what I'm getting off the ground with. If you've got a mapping you like, leave it in a comment. I would love to try it out myself and I'm sure other users will too. 99% of my effort has simply been to get this dang this mapped so it's functional at all and I haven't done much refining of layout yet.
If you use FL Studio or a similar FPC plugin, these are the notes you will want to end up with on your pads (beginning with pad 1 in the lower left on up to pad 16):
C3 C3 F3 A6 E3 D3 A3 G3 C4 B3 A3 G3 C4 G4 D4 F4
Since you have to put them in manually, I recommend you click "Save Preset" in case you ever need them again - but before you enter those all manually you'll want to test it with just the first few. The reason why is because some DAW software (including FL Studio) will change the octaves of the input. I found it easier to just drop those all 2 octaves so on my preset instead of C3 C3 etc it is C1 C1 etc. This bit might not make sense now but when you are actually testing it out it may be helpful.
Another caveat - logic may say that you should be able to load the software, select your device, and just start modifying what it pulls off the device, but you can't. You have to load one of Akai's preset files (doesn't matter which one) from that "MPD18-preset_v4" folder I told you to keep handy, modify their preset, and then you can upload THAT to the MPD18. So I opened some random one, changed all the notes anyway, then saved it under a different name so I wouldn't have to enter it all again manually down the road.
What if you are using another plugin? Say Addictive Drums? Using that as another example, you can click the ? and it gives you a notemap with what MIDI key 's correspond to what drums. Again going from pad 1 to 16, I used these note values: 37 36 48 53 40 43 54 58 71 69 67 65 77 78 79 80. That gives you some snare, kick ; hi-hat on the bottom 2 rows, a row of toms, and the top row is a couple of cymbals ; stops. The snare/kick/HH layout is similar to FL Studio's FPC plugin so if you've been using that this note mapping will be a great jumping off point and you can use AD's notemap (from the ? menu) to customize it further, create a 2nd ambient layout preset, etc.
Once you're all done with the mapping though, this thing is a blast. And I love having various layouts in different presets that I can switch between on the fly regardless of the software or plugin I am using. Plus I never have to learn another layout with any future software.
Still, as happy as I am with this gadget now, I simply can't rate it 5/5 when it shipped with non-functioning editor software. The pad itself is great, and a software bug here or there I could excuse, but until Akai gets the mapping Editor straightened out this is still a flawed product offering.
If you have any questions please leave a comment and I will answer there. I've tried to be thorough (hopefully not TOO thorough) but I will be happy to fill in any blanks. Otherwise please click Yes if helpful, good luck, and happy music-making!

If all you want to do is rhythm programming, this is a great little unit at a reasonable price, considering the next step up is a lot more $$$.
It's sturdy and the pads are a decent size.
Note that the pads are not too soft (not the gum rubber I was expecting, but stiffer), nor do they light up as some users might need/expect.
Since the pads are on the rigid side, they may take a bit of getting used to. They have good velocity sensitivity, and I haven't experienced any dropped notes even with fairly light taps.
The unit is USB powered and automatically configures when you plug it in. I was able to immediately use it with Reason's Kong drum module, and it sure beats using a piano-style keyboard for programming drum parts.

 

Akai Pro MPD18 Compact Pad Controller