Bashing at Akai’s MDP32 was great fun, but this pad is a level above casual and isn’t for absolute beginners. With a sub-$300 tag and features not found in lesser models, however, it’s perfect if you’ve outgrown your M-Audio Trigger Finger and want portable quality that’ll last.
The MDP32 has 16 pads with four banks, 8 pots and 8 sliders with three banks, and foot pedal inputs at the back. There are playback controls, baked-in presets for major software programs, a spacious LCD display and a wide array of useful extras like note repeat and hold.
Its velocity and pressure sensitive pads were excellent. Compared to the cheap gear I’m used to, the difference is obvious: it helps you make better music. The pots were firm, but the slider caps felt a little loose on their shafts. The unit is plastic, but sturdy all the same, with a metal base. The system runs from USB juice. An external power supply isn’t included, but Ableton Lite is.
If you want a better pad than the toy you’ve already tired of, this is a go. If you’re just sick of keyboarding drums in, start with something cheaper, like the aforementioned M-Audio
MPD32 MIDI/USB software control surface [Akai Professional]
With a sub-$300 tag and features not found in lesser models, however, it’s perfect if you’ve outgrown your M-Audio Trigger Finger and want portable quality that’ll
that’ll what?
What DAW/host were you using it with? How exactly is this one worth more than the Akai MPD24?