MPD218 - USB MIDI Controller with 16 MPC Drum Pads, 6 Assignable Knobs, Note Repeat and Full Level Buttons and Production Software

I'll start off by saying that I'm a performing musician (woodwind and brass instruments) as well as a composer and arranger who works with music notation software. I bought this hoping it would help me in writing percussion parts. I have returned it. Having said that, however, I am very impressed with what it can do and recommend it for people who work mainly with Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) software. As a MIDI controller it has amazing capabilities and can work to control other MIDI devices such as synthesizers, modules, lighting and much much more. All of which make it a great tool for performers who work mainly in the rock/pop/rap/hip-hop/ska fields. It's compact, it responds nicely. The sensitivity of the pads can be adjusted only on a global scale, so either all the pads are very sensitive or not very sensitive according to how it's adjusted. I didn't use it enough to see how accurate the reviews which mention accidental double-strikes or accidentally triggering pads which aren't the ones being struck are, but I can imagine that if the sensitivity is set so that very little pressure is needed it would be possible to get responses from pads which aren't the ones being struck. The user should (as with all musical gear) spend a lot of time practicing with this device before trying to perform live with it. The price is a lot lower than many other drum pads so this is ideal for people just beginning to investigate the use of this sort of device. The sounds which come with it and the software that can be installed with it will be great for some but they left me less than impressed. But that didn't bother me and shouldn't bother anybody else because most people who will be using this will have their own preferred sound libraries to be working with. What this is NOT -- this is NOT a replacement for an electronic drum set. This is NOT an inexpensive device for learning to play the drums. What this IS -- it is a MIDI controller with which a person can create beats, with which a person can control other devices.

God this thing is so confusing and the program that it comes with isn't any easier. It ain't beginner friendly unless you got alot of time on your hands not suitable for fast sample style beats. Great machine non the less for the experience professional.

I have upgraded from the MPK Mini mk3. Wow... what an evolution. I'm using them in conjunction now

This is a solid and useful piece of gear. Feet have a nice grip. Knobs and pads feel good. Size is perfect. My only real complaint is with the programability. The program editor and innate design holds back a lot of customization. I was using a NI Maschine and that could be setup to do just about anything, regardless if the controls are for buttons, pads, or knobs. AKAI's customization is very limited in its scope. For example, I would love to be able to have half the pads trigger keys and others control MIDI CC, but you can only choose one or the other. The worst, thing, I think, is the fact that the LPD8 can only store 4 presets. Really? I also have the AKAI MPK Mini Play Mk3 (which I love to death) and that can store 8 presets, one for each pad! Come on...the LPD8 has the same number of pads and so it COULD trigger 8 unique presets like the MPK Mini Play, if the software allowed it. Speaking of software, contrary to other reviews, I have had no issues using the LPD8 or the Program Editor app with my Mac mini, running Sonoma 14.2. Just make sure you're using the Program Editor for the mk2 version of the controller, if you bought the new model. On a side note, I bought my LPD8 from Amazon Warehouse. No obvious signs of previous use, so it was essentially brand new. However, it didn't come with the original box, or any box, if I remember correctly. Just the tray that the LPD8 sits in, along with the USB cable and paper literature. All this wrapped in plastic. No issues, though, since this was part of a larger box with other items. Overall, I am happy. I can work around my gripes. The ability to assign custom colors to the pads is pretty nice.

Product arrived as advertised!

Got this for a gift they absolutely love it. Great price easy to use.

Le gros kiffe , je fait du djembé avec , ça parait fou mais avec les bons logiciels , c'est plus que faisable et hyper réaliste . Sinon , ce controleur laisse une impression de robustesse , ce qui est rassurant puisque l'on va tapoter dessus . Les pads sont biens sensibles et réactifs , j'ai eté vraiment étonné de leur jouabilité compte tenu du prix raisonnable . Ils sont bien gros et c'est vraiment appréciable lorsque l'on a des gros doigts comme moi . Les potars sont fermes , ils tournent a l infini , ça on aime ou on aime pas , perso ça ne me derange pas . Un bundle complet de logiciels est fourni ( ableton version lite, MPC essentials et 2 versions de big band drum , il y a de quoi faire ) et l'editeur de banques des commandes du controleur qui est très bien fait et simple à utiliser. Le cable USB est fourni , merci , ce n'est pas toujours le cas . Pour ce qui est du "problème" de doublage des frappes lorsque l'on appuie une fois sur un pad mais que deux frappes sont induites (c'est un petit problème récurrent sur les drums pads), il s'observe en fait lorsque l'on veut réaliser des touchers à très très faible vélocité. En effet , dans ce cas, les frappes sont souvent doublées mais ce n'est pas un problème je pense dans la mesure où ces frappes produisent tellement peu de son qu'on ne les utilise pas et on frappera toujours à une vélocité supérieure. Pour être plus claire, on frappera toujours machinalement plus fort sur les pads et avec une vélocité telle qu'on ne gênérera jamais de doubles frappes. C'est ce que j'ai pu observer pour ma part . Le seul reproche que je lui ferai c'est sur le système de gestion des banques avec un seul bouton pour passer d'une banque a l'autre , pas très pratique et surtout pas assez rapide lorsque l'on veut changer de banque en jeux live . Un potar aurait reglé le problème et n'aurait , je pense , pas couté plus cher ; c 'est un peu dommage . Aussi , des sorties MIDI auraient été les bienvenues mais bon , on se doute bien qu'à ce prix , des choix ont dus être faits pour tenir le budget ; et il faut bien reconnaître que privilégier la fiabilité des pads et leur jouabilité était le bon choix . Bref , j'adore cet "instrument"!

works fine.

Amatör işlerden tutun da Profesyonel işlere kadar herkesin kullanabileceği dayanıklı ve kullanışlı bir ürün.

The pads would not fire unless pressed hard, repeat notes were difficult. The velocity curve was fixed so either have to use full velocity and manually tweak or unreliable button presses. Might be ok for launching clips but not as a drum pad. Returned it.

O produto é bom mesmo.