Akai MPD26 USB/Midi Pad Controller

by Akai

Product Features

• MPC technologies include Note Repeat, Swing, 16 Level, Full Level, and Tap Tempo
• Control virtually any 12 software parameters on assignable Q-Link knobs and faders
• Dedicated transport controls transmit MMC and MIDI to DAW and sequencing applications
• MIDI output over USB and traditional DIN MIDI I/O for controlling software and hardware
• Access 64 samples on 16 pressure and velocity-sensitive MPC pads with four banks each

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 12.4 x 11.4 x 2.8 inches ; 1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 6.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0035AQCT0
• Item model number: MPD26
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,949 in Musical Instruments (See Top 100 in Musical Instruments)
  • #62 in Musical Instruments > Recording Equipment > Computer Recording > MIDI Controllers

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

The MPD26 is a MIDI-over-USB pad controller with genuine MPC pads. It's perfect for producers, programmers, musicians and DJs. Its blend of intuitive MPC controls and technologies meshes with easy USB connectivity to bring the feel of classic beat making to the world of computer music production.

A MIDI-over-USB pad controller with genuine MPC pads. Click here for a larger image

Blue backlit display.

16 pressure and velocity sensitive controls, and plenty more.
Click to view control surface.

Serious Control

The heart of the MPD26 is its bank of 16 velocity and pressure-sensitive MPC pads, an Akai Professional exclusive. You can access four different sounds from each MPC pads for a total of 64 at your fingertips. The MPD26 also features the MPC series' assignable Q-Link controllers, enabling you to control nearly any parameters in your software in real time. You get six assignable Q-Link faders and six assignable Q-Link 360° knobs so you'll spend less time with the mouse and more time making music. The MPD26 also gives you a dedicated set of transport controls for instant access to the most commonly used DAW or sequencing-software controls.

MPC Technologies

While the MPC pads and Q-Links might be the heart of the MPD26, its brain is transplanted directly from the MPC. That's because the MPD26 is not just a control surface; it contains some of the key MPC technologies that have made the MPC the de facto standard it is. MPC Note Repeat is a capability that enables the MPD (or MPC) to automatically play a rhythm pattern, such as 16th notes on a hi-hat, for accuracy and speed of entry. MPC Swing is sometimes referred to as "the heart and soul of hip hop" because it turns perfectly aligned sequences into human-feeling time alignments. You can specify exactly the degree and timing of swing you want to apply for the perfect feel. The MPD26 also has MPC Full Level and MPC 16-Level on its pads.

USB Plug and Play

The MPD26 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 MPD26 so the included USB cable is all you need. The MPD26 also has traditional DIN MIDI input and output jacks so you can use it with MIDI hardware such as synths and other sound modules. The MPD26 comes with Ableton Live Lite and Editor Librarian software so you can start creating right out of the box.

MPD26 Specs

• Pads: 16 Pressure and Velocity Sensitive
• Pad banks: 4
• Q-Link Faders: 6--MIDI Control Change Data
• Q-Link Knobs: 6, 360-Degree Pots
• LCD: Blue, Backlit
• Transport Controls: Rew, FF, Stop, Play, Rec--MMC / MIDI Machine Control or MIDI
• I/O: USB, MIDI In, MIDI Out
• Power: USB Bus Powered or MP6-1 AC Adapter for DIN MIDI, Sold Separately

What's in the Box

MPD26 Controller, USB Cable, Software CD, Quick Start Guide

Product Description

USB/MIDI pad controller, 16 MPC pads, MPC Note Repeat & Swing, USB & MIDI jacks, Q-Links: 6 knobs, 6 faders

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Quality !, November 2, 2010

By 

Fundamental - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Akai MPD26 USB/Midi Pad Controller (Electronics)

Where to start !

Ok the basics, This product boasts a lot of features, and for anyone who has dreamed of owning an MPC, but cant afford it this is a great alternative.

Straight out of the box this item looks good, its solidly constructed, and just looks cool.

It comes with a copy of Ableton Live LITE, which honestly is not worth using, it is very limited in what you can do and to take advantage of the MPD you really need the features of the full version.

When it comes to installation it couldn't be any easier, plug in the USB cable and away you go, the only other thing you need to do is set up Live or whatever program you are using, its just a case of selecting it from your midi devices section in your program preferences..

Once I had this set up I was already to go, or so i thought, I found that LIVE's preset instruments wern't all that great for the MPD, however after searching on the net i found some cool videos on youtube that show you how to set up preset settings in LIVE which work really well.

The next thing i found was that there was quite some delay when i would hit the pad compared to when i would hear it, which was very annoying, it made trying to time things right near on impossible, after a little more research i found out what the problem was, it is the latency, which is determined mostly by the quality of your sound card and its drivers. There is a fix for this that worked brilliantly on my setup, and on a mates who purchased the MPD 18, you need to download ASIO4ALL a simple google search and you'll find it.. This has got my latency down to near zero and i can no longer feel any delay at all.

Now that I finally have the MPD set up the way i like, and all my little hardware bugs sorted, I love this thing, It's mad addictive, and I find myself getting lost in the mix and time just dissapears.

In conclusion, this product is fan-freakin-tastic... For the price of this compared to the MPC it is definetlly worth it, Although all MPC owners out there will tell you how it is nothing like an MPD, the truth is it does everything an MPC will do but you need the computer set up in a way that allows you to do it... Im sure they will all disagree, I personally think they're just a pissed that they spent so much on something that you can do with the MPD for a fraction of the price.. Obviouslly there is the downside that you cant just pick it up and take it to a gig without having ya pc with ya, but for recording / beatmaking this thing is great.

Although it was a little tricky getting all my presets sorted, once that was done its sweet.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome and easy to use!, January 10, 2011

By 

halfbrainhunter9000 - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Akai MPD26 USB/Midi Pad Controller (Electronics)

I'm not sure why this thing got such bad reviews on here but this thing is awesome. it's practically plug and play other than assigning the knobs and faders, even that isn't too difficult. The Note repeat function is wonderful. This is a must have for any aspiring producer.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars most have, September 19, 2011

By 

bar_cobbe - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Akai MPD26 USB/Midi Pad Controller (Electronics)

love the sliders u can control anything with them Pads could have been a bit more sensitive but they can always be up graded.. all in all i love this product a must have if your sampling old records or if your a drummer...