Features:

  • Ultra-portable feature-packed, highly playable pad controller with 16 Thick Fat RGB illuminated velocity and pressure sensitive MPC pads for triggering drums, melodic samples, effects and more
  • Easily accessible dedicated controls for 4 pad banks provides a total of 64 assignable pads
  • 4 assignable faders, 4 assignable Q-Link knobs and 4 assignable Q-Link buttons with a total of 36 assignable controls accessible via 3 banks - perfect for mapping to, and controlling, DAW, virtual effect and virtual instrument parameters
  • Classic MPC Note Repeat, MPC Swing, 16 Level, Full Level and Tap Tempo controls for immersive expressive performances
  • Control your iOS apps and open up a world of pad control capability using the Camera Connection Kit (sold separately)
  • Comprehensive software suite included: Ableton Live Lite, Akai Pro MPC Essentials, Sonivox Big Bang Cinematic Percussion and Big Bang Universal Drums
I Love The MPD226

I've been into modern day Hip Hop producing for a while now and my MPD26 started to have LCD issues. I looked on Ebay to try and find an old used MPD24 or MPD26 to just fix it, but i wasnt finding anything as cheap as i wanted, so i decided to just upgrade. I love the look and feel of the MPD226. I like the colored pads (im wondering how you could get them to play along with your tracks though, or if that's possible as i've seen all those cool pad color patterns displayed in the promo vids). It's very responsive and it comes with an editor for easier customization of the controller in terms of your use and playstyle. And the Note Repeat is a lot more intuitive for the modern day sound of Hip Hop as opposed to the MPD26. Akai did a pretty decent job with this one.

Electrical Tape is Your Friend

I carefully disassembled the MPD218 and cut electrical tape to fit over the pads. This is a well-known trick online, and the simple idea is this: it reduces the force you need to strike the pads with in order to trigger them, and especially to trigger them fully. As others have mentioned, the other setup option is to very slightly back off on the screws that hold the circuit board down. You can even leave only the 4 outer screws attached and remove the 4 inner screws. I've had the best luck so far by very lightly backing off on all 8 screws inside. You can see the circuit board lifting just a tiny bit as you loosen them. They're very short screws. Only back off a tiny bit, or they'll be subject to falling out. Tape method: Step 1: Remove the screws holding the cover on. You're gonna want a magnetic holder or well-sealed plastic bag to keep the screws in as you remove them...trust me. Now take the cover off. Step 2: Now remove the smaller screws that are holding the circuit board in place. Then carefully lift the circuit board and place it out of harm's way. You'll see a thin plastic sheet underneath with squares on it. Remove the conductive plastic sheet once you get to it. Remember: it needs to go back on the right way, i.e. the conductive side facing the circuit board, or else it won't work when you plug it back in. Shiny side = insulated side. That goes down on top of the rubber pad. Make sure the conductive Matte finish side is facing up when you're all done. Step 3: Now you can easily remove the pads. It's literally just a floppy mass of rubber, all one piece, that you can just lift out. Take it out, and get some electrical tape and some scissors or an Xacto knife ready. Step 4: Cut the tape, similar to how I did it in the picture. On the MPD218, the LEDs are dead center. So if you cover them with tape, the LEDs will be obscured and your pads won't light up. I used three layers of tape, except for 2 layers of tape on the pads I use for the crash and ride cymbals, as I naturally tend to hit those harder, and don't want them to be as sensitive. You can customize it however you want. I think 3 layers of tape works for me, but you may want to try 2 layers and see how it feels. Step 5: Reassemble. And you're done! Good job. Now test your MPD218 for responsiveness. Now I'm enjoying my newly set up MPD218 much more than before. I'm still not getting 100% output with as little force as I'd like, but it's much improved, and the force I need to use to get 100% output is much less than it was before. Very, very light touches also seemed to trigger nothing before, whereas now they trigger exactly what I want: very light, soft sounds. Just be careful with the screws and the circuit board when dismantling and reassembling this thing, and you'll be fine. It's a very easy fix. Just a bit time consuming when it comes to dialing it in perfectly. Backing off very slightly on the mounting screws on the circuit board took care of the double triggering issue for me. The electrical tape layers also go a very long way in fine tuning the sensitivity so you don't have to slam the ham out of the pads to get them to trigger your MIDI effects. Overall I'm very happy with this unit. It looks good, was very easy to work on, and with a couple tweaks, it's performing extremely well.

Provides pretty long list of presets for different DAWs (virtually all ...

Seriously, Very strong design. Provides pretty long list of presets for different DAWs (virtually all major DAWs). Four virtual USB ports work in parallel with MIDI ports. (I have integrated it into environment of Windows PC with several DAWs, Roland FA08 and Casio PX360 ) Supports specs for different types of communication with external hardware. It comes with updated to 1.01 version of firmware(no need to update the firmware). If you get this controller then assume that you are the professional(or at least ready to learn) and ready to configure it as you needed.(it is actually a fun thing to do) I am satisfied with the quality. It would be helpful to have LEDs for 360 knobs. That is the reason I give it only five stars :) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Addition comments from August 22, 2017 A few words about most common complains which relate to the Record button. The record button works fine. I have Ableton with three devices used simultaneously with it. Two devices have DAW controller functionality embedded (Roland FA 08 and Akai MPD 232). From both devices I can start recording in Ableton. Stop button work as stop and as reset of player to zero position on the second click. Play button works fine as well. No problem problem with transport functionality. Customer support: It is responsive in regular maner. I get responces within a day . MPC essentials: The package provided on the Akaipro website has incorrect name(Update). However this is the whole installation package. There is no problem with MPC essentials software. I have downloaded , installed and activated it successfully. If there is a problem with anything send your question to the customer support and follow provided instructions. I have a feeling the this product(MPD232) is underestimated. This is the great product with ridiculously low price.

it does everything I wanted it to do.

just plug it on and it works. It came with software that wasn't too hard to redeem and Akai support is really good, you can chat with them or talk on the phone if there are any problems. I don't use it as a drum, but the keys as a midi controller for adobe character animator and it's perfect.

Great controller

After reading many positive reviews, I jumped on this and wasn't disappointed. I use it in Reason 9 and am very happy with the sensitivity of the pads. I'm no finger drummer, but it does what I need. I even use it for non-drum instruments. 10/10 would recommend.

WISH I HAD MADE THE PURCHASE A LONG TIME AGO

as a producer for many years i have always simply been a cheap skate and used my piano midi controller for the input of ALL of my sounds..... lets just say that after only a single day of owning this wonder it is clear to me now that i have only been cheating myself and my own beats by not owning a finger drum MPD.... the ability to convey percussive ideas into the DAW is unmatched IMP ... its a game changer for me and for a price that is more than affordable for what you are getting..... VALUE OVER COST ALL DAY!!!! you NEED THIS so stop stalling and get it!!!!

Exactly what I needed

I was looking for a reliable MIDI pad controller to use with EZDrummer and Reaper and this fit the bill perfectly. I do wish that there was a way to adjust the velocity curves of the pads, but that's a minor gripe and really I can do that after I sequence out the parts. Fantastic device. I will probably pick up a second one.

1 star reviewers don't know what a screwdriver is.

Guys seriously, this is the absolute best controller you will find for under $100. Pads are high quality, heavy duty, and the controller plugs and plays perfectly. If you find yourself "double-triggering", it means you're hitting the pads too hard. All you need to do is unscrew the back panel and loosen the screws connected to the pads. Every instrument requires some measure of tuning to your playing style, don't blame the manufacturer because it doesn't fit yours perfectly out of the box.

great responsive midi controller

just got this, and wish i'd done it sooner. it's great for drum parts (and basslines, and triggering samples). have only used the knobs a little so far (and only 1-at-a time). but great to have them. a no-frills device, but it's all i needed. the pads feel great; they do like dust though, a minor nuisance. i wanted a sleeve for it, and found a site called mpcstuff with a case, and parts as well. am having fun with the 218 (AND getting work done). so, a great investment (and better than banging out drums on the keyboard). 👍

Works good. Not really getting the double tap issue some ...

Mad decent. Works good. Not really getting the double tap issue some reviewers were complaining about.

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