Akai MPD226 MIDI Pad Controller Review One of our favorite brands, Akai Professional, has come away with three new MIDI pad controllers for us to play around with. Nowadays, us producers often use A midi keyboard that already has pads alongside it as opposed to a piece of gear dedicated to only pads. But, think about an upgrade that is extra terms of pad feel\make? Think about some extra faders, knobs and buttons to assign sounds\FX to? The Akai MPD226 MIDI Controller in this article, we focus on the middle model of their brand new MPD2 series of controllers.
akai mpd226
Main features/specs of the MPD226
16 “MPC Style” pads (RGB illuminated and velocity\pressure sensitive)
4 banks designed for pads
4 faders, 4 Q-Link buttons (all assignable)
3 banking institutions available for controls
Note Repeat\Full Level functions
Compatible with many major DAWs
iOS compatible via Camera Connection Kit (not included)
MIDI via in\out or USB
Transport controls
Software bundle included
Overall features
akai mpd226
Among the best drum pad controllers out thereFirst and most important, the pads on these things are some of the best out there (unless you’re comparing it to a real MPC drum machine, you might have some trouble there). Akai advertises them as “Thick Fat” and explain them quite well it comes to pads considering it’s been their forte for decades— you can always trust this brand when. The velocity and pressure delicate features only increase the normal noise when you’re playing — it’ll send in data based on what hard you hit them so it’s perhaps not robotic, giving each hit it is own volume\flavor. They’re also RGB illuminated which is not necessarily a must but makes the aesthetics really stand out in your studio or if you’re planning on being on stage. It could also help you keep in mind which pad is which if some aid is needed by you in that category. 16 nice quality drum pads with 4 possible for a total of 64 various sounds? We’ll take it. Apart from the pads that are important the Akai MPD226 is a little higher priced than others due to the faders, Q-Link knobs and buttons. You have 4 of each and 3 banking institutions for an overall total of 36 assignable settings in all. We love using faders for some FX processing and what not, or utilize the buttons to quickly add some resonant filter on a sound.
Design and build
Super nice quality drum padsAs you can see from the photos, this thing looks pretty slick. The other buttons are backlit and also you have a small screen up top for some navigation. The machine that is entire super slim for easy placement in any setup really. Akai’s knobs and buttons are never flimsy (we’d hope so for a couple of Benjamins) so we never ever really have complaints in regards to composing the ‘build’ section of our Akai gear reviews.
With regards to durability associated with MPD226 controller, Akai gear has lasted us 5+ years (it— aka keep it safe in your studio or if you’re traveling, wrap that thing up!) if you take care of. We wouldn’t worry about investment if you’re buying this over another pad controller; it’s unfortunate it doesn’t come with a full case, but we’d at the least think it can easily fit into a laptop bag or something of that manner.
Software bundle We were a bit skeptical whenever it found the program bundle within their flagship model, but with the price of MPD226, we’d say this will make it certainly well worth it. You have actually solid percussion and drum sound VST’s to use right away from the box: Sonivox Big Bang Universal Drums and Cinematic Percussion. If you’re looking for a digital audio workstation, Ableton Live Lite comes aswell which is perfect in the event that you want to test it down and see why everyone calls it the best DAW out there. Lastly, and just as a plus, MPC Essentials software comes along if you feel like testing out their version of some song making software with it all.
A concise build that is slim Akai
The verdict that is final the MPD226 MIDI controller
That is in our opinion one of the best pad controllers out there when it comes to pad quality and overall features and will be for a few time. Considering the price, you get a tad bit more features ( the extra assignable controls) as opposed to merely pads to play around with as well as a software bundle at a price that fits the mold great deal of thought also is sold with Akai’s solid build. If you would like to read some of this gear head’s opinions, check the MPD226 thread out over at GS.
As stated formerly, this will be literally the MPD232 MIDI controller minus the step sequencer and half the number of assignable controls (still a feasible amount). So if you’re looking for a feature-packed pad controller with extra knobs, faders and buttons with sweet feeling pads to play with and don’t fundamentally need an action sequencer, grabbing this can save around a hundred dollars. It has also the same software bundle if you use a digital audio workstation for making your tracks and find step sequencers to be archaic in this day and age so you’re really not missing much, especially.
akai mpd226
Main features/specs of the MPD226
16 “MPC Style” pads (RGB illuminated and velocity\pressure sensitive)
4 banks designed for pads
4 faders, 4 Q-Link buttons (all assignable)
3 banking institutions available for controls
Note Repeat\Full Level functions
Compatible with many major DAWs
iOS compatible via Camera Connection Kit (not included)
MIDI via in\out or USB
Transport controls
Software bundle included
Overall features
akai mpd226
Among the best drum pad controllers out thereFirst and most important, the pads on these things are some of the best out there (unless you’re comparing it to a real MPC drum machine, you might have some trouble there). Akai advertises them as “Thick Fat” and explain them quite well it comes to pads considering it’s been their forte for decades— you can always trust this brand when. The velocity and pressure delicate features only increase the normal noise when you’re playing — it’ll send in data based on what hard you hit them so it’s perhaps not robotic, giving each hit it is own volume\flavor. They’re also RGB illuminated which is not necessarily a must but makes the aesthetics really stand out in your studio or if you’re planning on being on stage. It could also help you keep in mind which pad is which if some aid is needed by you in that category. 16 nice quality drum pads with 4 possible for a total of 64 various sounds? We’ll take it. Apart from the pads that are important the Akai MPD226 is a little higher priced than others due to the faders, Q-Link knobs and buttons. You have 4 of each and 3 banking institutions for an overall total of 36 assignable settings in all. We love using faders for some FX processing and what not, or utilize the buttons to quickly add some resonant filter on a sound.
Design and build
Super nice quality drum padsAs you can see from the photos, this thing looks pretty slick. The other buttons are backlit and also you have a small screen up top for some navigation. The machine that is entire super slim for easy placement in any setup really. Akai’s knobs and buttons are never flimsy (we’d hope so for a couple of Benjamins) so we never ever really have complaints in regards to composing the ‘build’ section of our Akai gear reviews.
With regards to durability associated with MPD226 controller, Akai gear has lasted us 5+ years (it— aka keep it safe in your studio or if you’re traveling, wrap that thing up!) if you take care of. We wouldn’t worry about investment if you’re buying this over another pad controller; it’s unfortunate it doesn’t come with a full case, but we’d at the least think it can easily fit into a laptop bag or something of that manner.
Software bundle We were a bit skeptical whenever it found the program bundle within their flagship model, but with the price of MPD226, we’d say this will make it certainly well worth it. You have actually solid percussion and drum sound VST’s to use right away from the box: Sonivox Big Bang Universal Drums and Cinematic Percussion. If you’re looking for a digital audio workstation, Ableton Live Lite comes aswell which is perfect in the event that you want to test it down and see why everyone calls it the best DAW out there. Lastly, and just as a plus, MPC Essentials software comes along if you feel like testing out their version of some song making software with it all.
A concise build that is slim Akai
The verdict that is final the MPD226 MIDI controller
That is in our opinion one of the best pad controllers out there when it comes to pad quality and overall features and will be for a few time. Considering the price, you get a tad bit more features ( the extra assignable controls) as opposed to merely pads to play around with as well as a software bundle at a price that fits the mold great deal of thought also is sold with Akai’s solid build. If you would like to read some of this gear head’s opinions, check the MPD226 thread out over at GS.
As stated formerly, this will be literally the MPD232 MIDI controller minus the step sequencer and half the number of assignable controls (still a feasible amount). So if you’re looking for a feature-packed pad controller with extra knobs, faders and buttons with sweet feeling pads to play with and don’t fundamentally need an action sequencer, grabbing this can save around a hundred dollars. It has also the same software bundle if you use a digital audio workstation for making your tracks and find step sequencers to be archaic in this day and age so you’re really not missing much, especially.