Dubstepforum.com

I just got the Akai LPD8 and yeah it seems awesome, but AKAI lied. These arent the same pads as are on the MPC, they're similar but not the same. I have other people telling me the same thing. I was also considering getting a MPK - it has a bunch more features and theres more pads but I thought I could get away cheap with the LPD8 which only cost $51 with shipping. Is it worth it to look into modding my LPD8 to make the pads more sensitive? (Its annoying to bang away at it, these pads feel like they could take hits from a drummer with drumsticks) Will it ever come close to original MPC Pads ? Has the MPK any advantage in pads over the LPD8 ? I cant afford a MPC nor do I need all that but proper velocity is a must.

I've seen articles elsewhere online re; the pads on the MPK49 being substandard as well - http://afrodjmac.com/2011/05/06/akai-mp ... -accuracy/

As well as on DSF;

http://www.dubstepforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=195867
http://www.dubstepforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=194777

It does seem to be quite a common issue with everything that Akai do that isn't an MPC, sadly

Akai are full of shit. Ever since they brought out midi/USB pads for the "computer seq guys" they have been trying to pass off the pads and feel being the same as proper MPCs. Trust they are not. I owned a 2500 for about 6 months and sold it after. I loved the pads but I couldn't make any good music on it at all. It's like going back to the stone age using one of those after using computer DAWS. Plus there was a terrible bug in the OS, so much so that there's a guy in Japan called JJ who hacked Akai's OS and made it better with more features less bugs etc. Oh but you had to pay money for it.

I even ordered some better pads from http://www.mpcstuff.com/ in the hope this would make my plastic fake dream machine (MPD24) feel more like the real thing.

It never did. I gave up and decided Akai, like Apple are generally a bunch of shits. Who occasionally pull me in with some good ideas and products then ruin it by being half arsed and restrictive. If you want the feel of a MPC you'll have to buy one and use it as an expensive midi out device.

On a side note. I have a KORG Electribe EMX-1, Great drum sequencer, but it doesnt have velocity sensitive pads omfg !!
So I routed my LPD8 through Ableton, with the output notes mapped to the proper ones to trigger the Electribe and voila, Velocity Sensitive Electribe w/ infinite pattern capability since I'm recording the MIDI into Ableton! I'm actually bewildered how this is possible because the Electribe has no support to store or input MIDI Velocity Information natively, only Note On and Note Off but somehow has support to be sent MIDI Velocity from another source and have it work. If I try to save the pattern on the Electribe and play it back it has no dynamic and all the hits of the notes sound the same volume. Either way, I think I have my solution. Its like having MPC Pads(fake ones) on an Electribe.

The sensitivity of theAkai LPD8 Pads are still pissing me off though. They work best off fast impulsive hits and more often than not hit only the the upper velocities and the lower velocities. Anything in between is not carefully controlled, a crapshoot at best.