Akai MPD16 user reviews ( 6/10) - 12 user reviews

• 01/17/09

  JayDMusic's review

  Overall Opinion

  This is a review of the Akai MPD16 MIDI Control Surface. I used it for quite a while and was very pleased with it before I upgraded to an MPD24. You can read my review on the MPD24, too.
  
  
  
  First off, I have to say, that I bought this product on a whim. I wasn't really planning on anything when I walked into Sam Ash, but after playing on the MPCs for a little, I decided that using keys wasn't the best way for me to chop samples or play drums in my DAW. I decided that I was going to take the bit of money I had and pick out a pad control device.
  
  
  
  The MPD caught my eye because as every person who's heard of the MPC, they will know that it's made by Akai, also. Akai is legendary when it comes to pad control devices, and I had seen a video where a guy chopped an looped a sample in his DAW with the MPD. I thought to myself, "This can be a great investment! I can program my drums just how I want to!". This, coupled with its easy USB connect-ability, made me whip out the debit card for this baby.
  
  
  
  When I brought it home, I was surprised when I pulled it out of the box. I thought it would be a little flimsy piece of hardware. I was wrong. It was built well, and could easily withstand the trials of a traveling performer or producer. The pads were soft and thin, sensitive, too. The fader was nice to control the volume in my DAW.
  
  
  
  The installation of the thing was a piece of cake. I dropped the CD into my drive, and it read and installed in a matter of a minute or two. I opened up Fruity Loops Studio (Yeah, I use it. Sue me. I love it!), and picked out one of my favorite samples. I dropped it into the FL Slicer and opened my MIDI settings and activated the automatically-detected MPD16. I started hitting the pads on the MPD and realized exactly what my studio had been missing. Using this device made it easy to manipulate and choose exactly what chops I wanted to use. Then, I opened up the FPC plugin and in no time, I had a great drum kit with perfectly configured pads to pound on!
  
  
  
  The classic 16 levels and Full Level switch made it easy for me to make my drums fade in and out with master precision instead of having to guess while I adjust the volume of the drum. Instead, I had 16 perfectly spaced levels to work with. I was really pleased with its seamless performance thus far. I was only an hour in, too.
  
  
  
  After having it for a couple days, I was so pleased with it that I went out and bought the MPD24, too.
  
  
  
  When it comes to pros and cons, there were only pros. Sorry to make you guys upset by leaving out the cons. That's because there were none. The pros were the price, the construction, the pads, the compatibility, the company, the customer service, and the piece of equipment in general. It's a great piece, and I recommend it to anybody who wants to have a simple pad control device to control their DAW. It's a great value and it can prove priceless to any home studio setup.
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• 10/31/08

  FP User Reviews's review

  Overall Opinion

  16 pads are assignable easily. You can switch through 2 different banks to program 32 sounds quickly. Pad sensitivity is easily adjusted with slider. No power button (powered via usb or optional dc adapter). Has midi out, but I don't really know what you would hook it up for other than a computer.
  
  
  
  Price paid: US$111
  
  
  
  Very easy to program and build your own drum kits, then assign them to the MPC-like pads. Akai stuff works with most computer programs.
  
  
  
  USB jack is poorly designed and will loosen. Should still work ok though.
  
  
  
  If you can't afford an MPC, but love banging on pads to make drums on a computer, get it. Akai is releasing the MPD24, which has a lot more features which will be more expensive. The mpd16 should be able to be bought for around $100 nowdays, vs. $150.
  
  
  
  Originally posted on FutureProducers.com
  
  Posted by: showtunesmusic ( 5-, 2006)
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• 10/31/08

  FP User Reviews's review

  Overall Opinion

  The features are pretty bunk. I know alot of people praise this piece for being an Akai product, but truth be told...this isn't anything like the MPC's pads at all. It only has one bank, one slider, no note repeat button, and some horrible pads. It's pretty much useless until you connect it USB because the features are so limited when it comes to actually using it with just a midi cable. However, the features listed are actually what you get...so I guess it's not that bad of a product.
  
  
  
  Price paid
  
  
  
  $100 USD
  
  
  
  It's actually quite painless to install--that's about the only plus side to this piece.
  
  
  
  It's build like a toy. The USB connection had to be resoldered after about a months worth of use, the pads are real hard to hit unless you hit them dead center, and it just feels flimsy.
  
  
  
  I sold mine right before Akai started reproducing the MPD16 again about...2-3 years ago? Nevertheless, I would not recomment this piece to ANYONE! No love.
  
  
  
  Originally posted on FutureProducers.com
  
  Posted by: descry ( 3-, 2006)
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• 10/31/08

  FP User Reviews's review

  Overall Opinion

  I personally like the features here. I wish there was a roll function but other than that I dont have a complaint about this piece feature wise.
  
  
  
  Price paid
  
  
  
  $250
  
  
  
  Its very easy to use. Just plug in any usb 2.0 cable to ur computer then plug it into the mpd16. Your computer will then prompt you to install the software. After that you can open the midi utlity software and assign each pad to a note and the pad will then control that note in the same way a key would on a midi keyboard. My only issue with it has been that sometimes the usb connection will go offline when you send too much information through the controller.
  
  
  
  Its held up pretty well over the year I had it except for the usb connection.
  
  
  
  I love my mpd16. I wish I could figure out whats going on with the usb connection but this is a great piece of gear.
  
  
  
  Originally posted on FutureProducers.com
  
  Posted by: Xabiton ( 3-, 2006)
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• 10/31/08

  FP User Reviews's review

  Overall Opinion

  Great features, maybe a note repeat button would have been great snagged from the MPC if it was possible. Also the pads could have been closer to the solid MPC pads.
  
  
  
  Price paid
  
  
  
  $250 USD
  
  
  
  Very easy to set up, easily talks to sequencer software. I dont know about PCs but for mac it was a breeze to get working.
  
  
  
  Piece of garbage, do not spend your money on this product. The housing is flimsy and i had it less than six months and the USB jack intermitintly stopped working due to design flaw. the USB cable juts out of the side so far that it constantly gets bumped and jangled around. BAD STUFF.
  
  
  
  I HATE THIS PIECE!!!!!! WHAT A WASTE OF MONEY!
  
  
  
  Originally posted on FutureProducers.com
  
  Posted by: Quinn Arlington ( 9-, 2005)
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• 12/18/09

  cabana's review ( translated ) Improve this translation

  Overall Opinion

  Works on Mac 10.4 OS.X
  
  (Not work immediately but after hack and cast yes)
  
  and after the forum on 10/05 too.
  
  
  
  here
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• 10/13/08

  michel.lenweiter's review ( translated ) Improve this translation

  Overall Opinion

  Does not work on MAC OSX LEOPARD

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• 01/05/07

  angoleiro's review ( translated ) Improve this translation

  Overall Opinion

  Same problem in USB driver rotten as described above, I wonder also if it is similar with the MPD24 ...
  
  Otherwise the pads are good and when it works it's very good. In today ca worthless.
  
  I have purchase a 200 euros its release, I was served but since the upgrade of the computer and sound card installed and it no longer serves me uniquemeent for my hardware midi . I hesitate to take the Akai (MPD24) of bang for my live (the fader and knobs should be useful).
  
  At the time there was no choice. Today I find all of the pads even better than the competition tested (MAUDIO, korg), I keep it because it is worthless for resale.
  
  So yes At the time I do not regret my choice now better focus on the other models unless you want a pad that ...

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• 06/19/06

  brazil's review ( translated ) Improve this translation

  Overall Opinion

  1 month of use. Asus P4C800 E Deluxe, PIV 3.0 GHz, Win XP SP2.
  
  Problems of USB drivers which generate a blue screen of death = Crash every 2 to 3 hours.
  
  The problem is known but support akai is sedated ...
  
  
  
  A colleague with a Asus P5C (I think) has the same problem ...
  
  
  
  Ineffective solutions:
  
  update mpd driver
  
  update motherboard bios
  
  update chipset drivers
  
  sleep of USB Device on and off
  
  etc ...
  
  
  
  Beginning of a solution:
  
  I thought I had a conflict with another device that is not usb, but nothing has changed ...

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• 01/20/04

  fak0u's review ( translated ) Improve this translation

  Overall Opinion

  - How long have you use it?
  
  more than 6 months
  
  
  
  - Have you tried many other models before acqurir?
  
  not
  
  
  
  - How do you report qualitprix?
  
  means (300) has a 200 would be a steal
  
  
  
  - With the exprience, you do again this choice? ...
  
  I think that yes
  
  
  
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  USB connection (noon possible, There's even a MIDI IN can be reu via USB port = no need to pm)
  
  simple and efficient drivers
  
  
  
  There's 16 pads is simple you type in and send it a MIDI note
  
  The VLOC is gre (16 levels I think) but I find too low (that is adjustable, I put a 30 in Cubase / Nuendo) so that you must Tapper as a nag and was afraid of the boibote pter
  
  
  
  buttons:
  
  
  
  BANK: Change MIDI notes sent by the pads (2 mm BANKS available in time, but possibility to save and then reload them in two clicks with the software)
  
  16 LEVELS: Each pad REPRESENTATIVES level VLOC diffrent, top right and then down 127 Veloci
  
  FULL LEVEL: VLOC put the background for all pads
  
  ACTIVE: active fader!
  
  FADER will have one of the buttons below to send MIDI (me've never used)
  
  
  
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  significant problems:
  
  -VLOC too low by default
  
  -Sensitive pads are only about 50% of their area in the center =
  
  if you type on one side a = not work often results in rats (notes not playing what)
  
  we must take control! I hold together well and I my index and my middle finger together on each hand and the fingers I type peninsula 'vertically (with major)
  
  -Sometimes it stops working (or is it cubase windows or akai? Who knows ...) a reboot will be enough to restore life
  
  
  
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  I use these pads to acoustic drum parts (battery + drumkit from hell or otherwise) is frankly very practical to do things quickly but it's not prcis and trs editing VLOC is inviting except for one beat "any substance" (quantification will also help apprciable: no need to start taking a adcall if one can snare the recording!)
  
  
  
  the lack of pedals is felt, so I hacked to get a good compromise:
  
  I use pedals for my master MIDI keyboard (yamaha p80) to the bass drum and changed all he need is a hi-hat pedals for but doable with no pads worry too much
  
  
  
  I had a lot of problems occupancy proc 'when j'tais Cubase SX1 with battery and large samples of batteries but since I'm running Nuendo 2 I have this problem
  
  
  
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  for this is the résumé of a trs good product, 2 / 3 clicks you have a battery on its virtual PC and with good samples and pedals it There's a way to take walk for hours!
  
  it's very practical to record a live beat us and we may come to forget when you're in the heat of the would-be 2 hours to program (I dtest a)
  
  quantification and editing of VLOC will not take too many head to have taken perfect!

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