AKAI Professional LPD8 - USB MIDI Controller with 8 Responsive RGB MPC Drum Pads for Mac and PC, 8 Assignable Knobs and Music Production Software

Awesome

I've had issues with inexpensive Akai gear in the past, so I bought this LPD8 with a bit of trepidation. But after several months of use, I am super pleased with its performance. Though the software available to program it is quite basic and not well documented, it isn't really hard to figure out. The controls are consistent and operate smoothly. Construction quality is very good overall. The small size fits very nicely above the keys on a StudioLogic SL73 and allows me to toggle patches and channels on and off and adjust synth params while I perform with Mainstage. The only missing feature that would make this unit perfect is Bluetooth MIDI and a rechargable battery inside, so that it could be operated without a cable.

As a beginner, it was a nightmare getting this thing setup. The auto setup in MPC Beats is for the WIRELESS version, so it tries to use it, but its all wonky. To set your pads colors how you want, you need to use the lpd8 mk2 program editor it comes with. That's easy to use and setup. Close it when you're done, it won't be able to run at same time the lpd8 is in actual use. Make sure your lpd8 is plugged/powered up. Open MPC Beats and open one of the demos for this, since that will have sounds already assigned to the pads, you can quickly confirm this method works for you. Next, click up on the top left corner icon to get to the edit menu. Go to Preferences. Under MIDI/Sync, confirm LPD8 MK2 is present in the Input Ports at top of the page. THIS IS IMPORTANT : MAKE SURE THAT CONTROL AND TRACK ARE SELECTED under Input Ports for the LPD8 MK2. Exit Preferences, go back to the main screen where you can see the 16 pads and knobs. Go to the bottom of the screen towards the left, the icon to the right of the smiley face should be the MIDI Learn icon. Click the MIDI Learn icon. A box on the right side of the screen will show Global and Project tabs at the top. If it's not already selected, select the Global tab. There will be a drop down box on the right in the top of the Global tab. This is where MPC Beats wants to assign this wired LPD8, which there is no preset for, to the wireless one, which causes problems. In this drop down menu, select New MIDI Mapping. Then select the ENABLE AND LEARN buttons to the left of the drop down box. This will light up all the assignable parameters you see on screen in yellow. Click on the pad you want to trigger on MPC Beats FIRST. It will highlight a brighter color yellow to indicate it is ready for you to hit what pad you want triggered on your LPD8. Now hit the pad you want triggered with your LPD8. You can also select the knobs in MPC Beats and assign the knobs on the LPD8 by turning the knob when you are in LEARN/ENABLE mode. Feel free to assign the pads how you see fit. You can only use 8 at a time of course, but you are free to orient them as you see fit. You should now have fully customized colored pads and customizable pads. Figuring out MPC Beats is another adventure.I got so frustrated, I almost returned this and I am a persistent person. I found ONE video on YouTube that even came close to explaining this. There was zero ability to figure out Akai's unaccessible forums. Seriously, wtf. You log in to some other website and company for Akai stuff. It's weird and unintuitive. I got the free plug-ins and software with my LPD8, but getting the licenses registered for the Hybrid 3 and pianos is just icing on the frustration cake. Could you guys make it more complicated? All in all, I got it now and the satisfaction of barely figuring out how to use this thing is worth the price of admission.

This made it possible to start recording drums to my music. Works with tablets and pc

I have a bunch of MIDI controllers, including some rather high-end ones (Ableton Push2, I'm looking at you!) The playability, sensitivity, and reliability of these pads are -- and I'm not exaggerating -- the best of the lot! How Akai does this at such an inexpensive price point is really remarkable.The utility for configuring the controls is also quite useful, although many people will be able to use this right out of the box.Seriously peeps, when I'm sitting in the middle of my Push2, Arturia Minilab3 and Keylab mkii, and Novation LaunchKey it's my LPD8 that I go to for doing my drum loops. Crazy! The control knobs are icing on the cake.I'd give this thing 10 stars if I could!

Worked well at first and then stopped working at all next time I tried to use it.

From what I had experienced in the past from Akai, this midi controller is actually pretty solid and the knobs have a nice feel to them that doesn't feel so cheap.

The hardware itself seems very good. Pads are very responsive. The problem is that while the hardware is compatible with MacOS Sonoma, the software isn't. If you're happy with the default sounds, then I guess it'll work for you. If you want to customize the pads, then it's useless. Mac is the dominant platform for music and Sonomo has been out in full release since Sept '23. How do you certify the hardware and not the software? The answer that many developers give of "just don't upgrade your OS" is nuts. Why force people to stay downlevel on an OS? And what if I'm already on that OS and want to buy your product for the first time? Akai needs to get with the times.