I haven't used either of these. I'm in the market for one though. Hopefully someone with some hands on will chime in. I've also considered a small electric kit but, it seems the cheaper they are, the cheaper they are. I'd like to get something with a natural. feel but I don't think there's anything out there like that for under $2000.

Hueseph,

TomLee has them on sale right now. If you are around there, I would sure appreciate your thoughts on what it feels like (cheap and lightweight) and how it tracks with USB. The [[url=http://[/URL]="http://www.akaipro…"]MPD 26[/]="http://www.akaipro…"]MPD 26[/] is out now, this must be its rival. Anything you find out, please post it for us.

Thanks!!

Sorry. I realize this is probably a week too late. At any rate I don't get to Tom Lee that often and with the Olympics just finished, it's still a bit of a zoo downtown. I did however get to the Long and McQuade and tried out the older brother of the MPD24. Namely, the MPD32 . If the MPD24 is anything like the MPD32, it's a very solidly built unit. It's heavy for what it is and the faders and buttons don't feel cheap at all. The 32 is considerably more expensive at $355. It's actually [[url=http://[/URL]="http://www.tomleemu…"]$319 at Tom Lee. [/]="http://www.tomleemu…"]$319 at Tom Lee. [/]

.....OK. I just checked and the 24 in white is still on sale for $190. At that price, I might pick one up too, if I can ever get down that way. Too good to pass up. Regular retail is $598.00. Smokin' deal if you ask me.

Hold on Hueseph,

Hey... Thanks for chiming in and sharing this info, really appreciate it! But wait! I've been reading a lot on the padKontrol and it looks really cool too. Maybe better for us.? TomLee sells both and they are close in price.

Attached files

Thanks for the heads up. I'll check that out as soon as I get a chance to get down there again.

Hueseph,

Did you ever buy a drum controller? I've decided to go for the MPD26 or the MPD32 now.

Make sure you get the power supply to any usb controller as I've read there is less chance of latency caused from USB power surge.

audiokid, post: 351826 wrote: Hueseph,

Make sure you get the power supply to any usb controller as I've read there is less chance of latency caused from USB power surge.

Not that I've had an issue "yet", but after more research this may or may not help latency. It does make sense though, so I will get the power supply regardless.

No. I have yet to take the plunge. I may be looking for a midi keyboard with a drumpad. I don't know if this is a compromise. I imagine it may very well be but, I haven't had much time to shop lately. Still figuring out Sonar.:redface:

To me it would be a compromise but I think it comes down to what you are used to, also.

For me though, a drum machine is as important as a guitar or keyboard on its own. I treat them like an instrument so I really want the best, which has always been the MP3's. Dedicated drum machines seem to have those extra things that make it easier to accomplish high end programming.
I was almost ready to get the Korg Pad controller but see the new Akai's are modeling around the MP3 more and more. So, it will be very familiar right off the bat because I have always used the MP3.
Pads on a keyboard are only just that from what I understand. Pads are quicker so that definitely helps but I fear you are very limited beyond that. Keys are the worst so anything is better for certain.
If you are at all familiar with MP3's you can fool the most experienced engineers into thinking you recorded a real drummer, and I don't mean with bought loops. I mean, you can program samples and put feel into your tracks like no other I know of. Akai has always made the best drum machine IMHO.

Yeah. I realize that drum pads are much more than simple triggers. I'm going to have to find the time to go take a look. I dropped in to Tom Lee to see their "Next Level" education center but I had my boys with me and they just weren't interested in staying. I hope that will change in the future. I'll definitely look into the MPCs. I've tried doing drums with keys and it just blows. Way too unnatural feeling and just time consuming. Being able to just tap it out would be a welcome luxury.

Finally made my decision and I'm going with the MPD 32. Its the closest thing to the original MPC and better. Can't wait.

Here is a good video on its function. Tom Lee has it on sale for 314.00 . Can't resist.

I'm heading into Seattle next week. I'm gonna have to do some shopping. Is it even worth shopping south these days?

Bought the Akai MPD 32 from Tom Lee Music for 314.00 just now! Its a special order so it will take a few weeks to get here. I'll let you know how I like it.

I almost bought the MPD 24 in Seattle but it's about the same price here. I figured, I'd save my pennies. It's just not worth the hassle shopping down south anymore.

Akai MPD 32

Well, two thumbs down on this toy. The MPD32 looks nice but it isn't up to my standard by any means. Using it side by side with my Nord Lead, the Nord killed it.

As a drum controller the MPD32 tracks terrible, the pads aren't even close to the original MPC series feel and response and the repeat function is a major let down due to the terrible gap of space between the pad and the trigger. Here's the fix for this if you have more luck than me with the other issues I had with it and don't mind modding it to help the pad sensors. This guy is spot on with the tape.

It was impossible to get it to slave with Sequoia however it made a nice transport controller.
In Sonar, it slaved sort of okay but it just isn't professional at all. I found it really hard to relax and enjoy using it with either DAW.
I tested it on both Sonar 8.5 and Sequoia 11.1 with my Custom built Rain ION and a PCAudioLabs i7 and it failed miserably with either. I think I'm going to try and hunt down an actual MPC this time and forget these things. They have a long ways to go.

Damn I say, I really hopped it would have been better. Don't waste your money. Back in the box to Tom Lee it goes.

Two thumbs down.

OMG, it sure works awesome with Reaper, and what a cool DAW. I'm doing this mod to the MPD 32 and keeping now.

http://recording.org/digital-audio.21/46640-reaper-hybrid-daw.html