Alesis Control Pad USB/MIDI Percussion Pad Controller

by Alesis

Product Features

• 8 high quality, velocity-sensitive percussion pads
• 2 trigger inputs for connecting external pads (compatible with Alesis Drum Pad and Cymbal Pad expansion kits)
• 2 foot-switch inputs
• PC and Mac compatible MIDI I/O

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 14 x 17 x 2.2 inches ; 7 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 13 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B000OUUG78
• Item model number: ControlPad
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,503 in Musical Instruments (See Top 100 in Musical Instruments)
  • #5 in Musical Instruments > Drums & Percussion > Electronic Drums > Drum Machines
  • #8 in Musical Instruments > DJ, Electronic Music & Karaoke > Electronic Music

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

With the Alesis ControlPad, you can play sounds from virtually any MIDI software, drum module, synthesizer or keyboard workstation, or other MIDI instrument with your sticks wherever you roam thanks to its compact profile and easy USB connectivity. The playing surface features eight rubber pads that provide natural response, rebound, and low stick-on-pad noise, and they're velocity sensitive so you can be as expressive as you want.

You can expand the ControlPad with additional pads and triggers. It has two trigger inputs for drum and cymbal pads or acoustic drum triggers plus a kick input, a hi-hat control connection, and a footswitch input for controlling other parameters like changing kits with your foot. Create up to 20 setups and store them in the ControlPad's memory, which offers such customizable programming capabilities as velocity sensitivity and curves, assignments, and more. The ControlPad works plug-and-play with Mac and PC, and is powered by its USB connection when working with a computer. You can also wall-power it when working with non-USB MIDI sound sources. It's also easy to mount on stands and racks using the E-Percussion Module Mount, sold separately. The ControlPad also comes with EZdrummer software drum module from Toontrack. EZdrummer has samples of real drum kits, a virtual mixer, and looping functions. Key Features Eight-pad percussion playing surface USB-MIDI and DIN MIDI In and Out for controlling software and hardware sound modules Responsive rubber pads for natural response, rebound, and low stick-on-pad noise Velocity sensitive for expressive control Expandable with up to two triggers, pads, or electronic cymbals; kick and hi-hat control Footswitch input for controlling Inc/Dec parameters Create and store up to 20 setups Works plug-and-play with Mac and PC -- does not require software drivers Powered by USB when working with a computer; AC adapter included for DIN MIDI operation Mounts using E-Percussion Module Mount (sold separately) for integration into setups Comes with Toontrack EZdrummer software drum module with samples of real drum kits What's in the Box ControlPad controller, USB cable, AC adapter, CD with software, quick start guide Specifications Trigger pads: (8) velocity-sensitive, piezo Trigger inputs: Two 1/4-inch Kick input: 1/4-inch Hi-Hat control: 1/4-inch (switch - on/off) Footswitch: 1/4-inch TRS for up/down MIDI: USB, MIDI In, MIDI Out

Get drumming anywhere with the USB-powered ControlPad. The ControlPad features eight high-quality, velocity-sensitive percussion pads. The back ports of the Alesis ControlPad (see a larger image plus a schematic of the back panel).

Product Description

The Alesis Control Pad USB/MIDI Percussion Pad Controller is a compact live performance instrument and an equally effective studio–based MIDI percussion programming tool. The Control Pad features 8 velocity–sensitive pads with a responsive rubber surface for excellent stick response and expressive performance, as well as 2 trigger inputs for connecting external pads such as the Alesis Drum Pad and Cymbal Pad expansion kits. The 2 foot-switch inputs accommodate open and closed HiHat, as well as a kick drum for authentic, realistic percussion performances. Up to 20 percussion setups can be stored to internal memory. Users can customize pads and 2 external triggers into individual settings for MIDI channels, note numbers and customized velocity sensitivity and curves. The Control Pad operates on USB power, or with an included A/C power adapter. The Control Pad is bundled with FXPansion’s BFD Lite, a professional drum module with high quality sound libraries that feature acoustic and electronic drum kits.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing functionality for the price!, June 1, 2011

By 

shuree koutnik - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Alesis Control Pad USB/MIDI Percussion Pad Controller (Electronics)

If you have software to emulate drums sounds over USB, this is the potential full drum kit for you! I use Toontrack EZdrummer Multi Layer Drum Sampler under Sonar 8 (x64) and under ASIO Win 7 x64 drivers, there is ZERO latency!!

The sensitivity and feel is spot on. Great feedback and altough you have to wail pretty hard to hit 127 MIDI levels, you can easily configure it to automatically max out to 127 on any hit which is nice when you don't need to record such delicate playing.

The best part of this pad is that you can easily add on an external kick, hi-hat and 2 extra triggers. Using all of these would open up all 8 pads to pretty much a full set including all cymbals, toms and maybe even more cowbell.

Another great feature is that when hooked up via USB, the MIDI IN/OUT acts as a MIDI interface. I have an old Yamaha pf70 piano hooked up to the control pad and Sonar can receive input from the piano!

Several reviews warn, and I will do the same again. This is not a drum module and contains no sounds! It is simply a control pad only (clever name), so it will require software over USB or a standalone midi drum processing module for audio.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good idea, poor execution, August 23, 2010

By 

Charles P (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Alesis Control Pad USB/MIDI Percussion Pad Controller (Electronics)

This product was a good idea, but the execution of its construction is poor. It is responsive, does what it says, works relatively well as a controller. Problem one was the power, I actually had to send it back to alesis because there was a problem with the jack on the unit. Not a big deal. But the pads, while responsive, are a pain to adjust. The two bottom right pads on mine trigger at the same time (when you hit one, the other triggers too), and I've spent more time trying to adjust this (following the directions) than actually playing the darn thing. Even when I got it, I spent hours adjusting the other pads so they didn't trigger all at once, but those last two I can't fix. I can't even trigger them separately in order to adjust them! After having this for about two years with light use (and, to reiterate, more time adjusting it than actually playing it), I've basically given up on those two pads ever working right.

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good product for the price., July 9, 2007

By 

Alexander G. Chamandy "universal stress tester" (US) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Alesis Control Pad USB/MIDI Percussion Pad Controller (Electronics)

You get more than you pay for with this Alesis ControlPad. It's an excellent addition to an electronic studio or a drum set. The rubber drum pads are velocity sensitive and offer a realistic bounce. It can be used with software over USB (such as BFD lite, which is included) or it can be used with a hardware device that accepts MIDI input.

I've been very impressed so far!