Akai Professional MPD218

Description

AKAI PROFESSIONAL MPD2 SERIES: MIDI PAD CONTROLLERS

The new Akai Professional MPD2 series of MIDI pad controllers aims to meet the needs of DJs, producers, and live performers in general, from musicians to VJs and light jockeys. Based on user feedback, Akai Pro has designed these three models compatible with PC, Apple computers, and iOS devices, which are aesthetically slimmer, following the line recently adopted by the revamped APC series. All three, MPD218, MPD226, and MPD232, are equipped with 16 thick pads that are very sensitive to velocity and aftertouch to satisfy the most demanding finger drumming enthusiasts, with red backlighting in the first, and user-configurable multicolored RGB in the other two.

In addition to USB connectivity, the MPD226 and MPD232 feature MIDI IN and MIDI OUT ports on mini-jack connectors, to which the supplied DIN adapters can be connected. These adapters are useful for connecting to traditional hardware instruments: analog synths, expanders, keyboards, grooveboxes, samplers, etc. There is a rich set of physical controls, faders and/or rotary potentiometers, all of which, like the pads, can be configured across multiple banks to allow control of numerous parameters of your software by switching between banks. Functions derived from the MPC series are also available, from Note Repeat with programmable swing to Full Level, which cancels velocity response when needed.

The programming of MIDI messages that can be sent from each physical control (pad, potentiometers, faders, etc.) can be done using a dedicated software editor, as well as – only in the MPD226 and MPD232 models – very intuitively directly from the controller itself using the "Edit" function activated by the eponymous button. *The following downloadable software is provided free of charge: Ableton Live Lite and the Sonivox Big Bang Drums and Big Bang Cinema virtual instruments. MPD2 series controllers are powered directly via USB, so no external power supplies are needed. 

NB: For connection to iOS devices (iPad and iPhone), dedicated Apple accessories Camera Connection Kit (30 Pin) or Lightning to USB are required, which can be purchased separately (NOT included). The MPD218, MPD226, and MPD232 are MIDI Controllers; they do not have integrated sounds and cannot host sounds internally. They are intended EXCLUSIVELY for controlling MIDI-compatible music software installed on your PC or MAC computer, as well as core MIDI-compatible music applications installed on your iOS device. The audio generated by the software or apps you use will be played through the outputs of your audio interface, or through the integrated audio output of the computer or the iOS device itself. 

*IMPORTANT: EKO MUSIC GROUP is not responsible for the technical support, commercial support, and installation of third-party software products and APPs supplied or used with the products of the distributed brands. Eko Music Group also has no control over the authorization procedures for said software, as these can be carried out directly on the websites of the software manufacturers themselves, with whom EKO MUSIC GROUP S.P.A. has no authority to interact. For info: http://www.eko.it/supporto#software-le-demo

Akai Professional MPD218 in detail

• 16 velocity and aftertouch sensitive pads
• 16 pads x 3 banks: 48 virtual pads in total
• 6 rotary potentiometers at 360° for 3 banks
• 18 assignable potentiometers in total
• 16 configurable presets savable on the instrument