Probably the only thing I'd buy on that table is the Maschine Studio. I tried it at a local Music store(Sam Ash) and loved it. This is what NI should have made instead of the smaller Maschine 1 and 2 (two items I made the mistake of buying)
+EPIC styles Well Wang Dang Yang ... I guess that I did tell ANDRES that I have worked with drum machines in the past ... Thank God that you came along for clarification .... Gee whizees ... and they actually sound so much the same ..... I actually used my drum machine as a midi slave but I did set it once as a controller just for shits and giggles ... I owe 1 big apology to Andreas for undermining the whole principle of what this video is supposed to articulate .... "I am so sorry Andreas ... Please forgive me my friend ... I am now on the road to eternal enlightenment."
+Herfortz, +EPIC styles, I'm easy. :-) I think that the world of drum machines has been moving towards hardware-controlled software instruments as this concept opens up a much bigger variety of options for shaping drum tracks. To me - as a finger drummer who uses pad controllers purely for playing drums - pad controllers and groove production studios are drum machines as well and I'm ok with other opinions. No hard feelsings on my end. ;-)
Hey man, thanks for taking the time for this great review! I've also bought Xpresspads a few days ago, it's a great way to not only play the drums, and learn drum patterns. Cheers!
Hey Alvin, Many thanks for your purchase! - Glad that you like the eCourse. And thank you for your comment here. Enjoy your finger drumming endeavour. Andreas
I've been through a number of them. I gotta say, the MPD18 had the very best sensitivity, but the editor was quite wonky to use. I still wish i would have kept it though.
+XpressPads Finger Drumming - The "arcade buttons" on the Midifighter are not velocity sensitive, and the tapping is very loud. I love my Spectra but I don't use it for Finger Drumming.
For Jazz, which one would you recommend most? I'm a saxophonist and pianist, and I don't want to hurt my fingers! I have strong hands (six foot six, German ancestry). I've narrowed it down the the Akai 226 (or 218, but one can vary the sensitivity on only the 226), the QuNeo, and the Ik Multimedia one. Thanks!
I've heard about the 226 quality control issues as well. I think you said the QuNeo is the most sensitive, and of course it's a different beast altogether. It's also a lot more money. I like the small size of the 218 or the QuNeo. What makes you prefer the 218 over the QuNeo? Thanks for the comprehensive review of all of these things! Like most electronics, it's all quite complicated - saxophones are easy; just a metal cone with holes all over it! - Jeff
Hey, thank you for the video. I found a second hand trigger finger (normal version not pro) around 50€. Do you think the pad sensitivity is better than presonus atom? I would like to use the trigger finger for finger drumming and secondly as a piano roller. Do you think is worth to buy this istead presonus atom. Thank you again
Which do you think would be best for making your own samples for step sequenceing and finger druming, novation circuit or Korg electribe. I want to make my own sound from an arturia microbrute analog synthinysizer and put into a sampler without using my computer too much. i like to stay away from sound packs pre-made samples to help boost creativity.
Thanks for taking the time to do this video. I have been using EZ Drummer 2 integrated with my DAW but I am starting to use my 32 channel Portastudio more and I am looking at using the stand alone version of EZ Drummer 2 (instead of the plugin) to record drum tracks. Would the Akai MPD218 be a good choice for finger drumming? I know this video is from awhile back, would you recommend the Akai for this or something else? Thanks!
Hi, the MPD218 is a great pad controller for the price tag and I still recommend it although there were some complaints about build quality in recent years. Test the device thoroughly when you received it and then decide if you want to keep it or send it back to the dealer.
Do you have any experience with sensitivty variations in the padKontrol? I got one and had to return it because it was not very sensitive at all, the one I got as a replacement is better but my Akai MPK mini with tape-fixed pads still has much more sensitive pads. Maybe I should try out an MPD218 instead?
Good point! I bought two PadKontrol controllers several years ago and they were very sensitive. As a backup I bought two more PadKontrol controllers a few years later and I did notice that the pads were less sensitive. I tried to figure out why this is and if there is a way to increase the sensitivity. While researching I found that there is an official hack that Korg has implemented on the device to change the sensitivity factory-wise. I don't have the link anymore but you'll find it when searching for it. However, either I didn't do it correctly, or the changes this hack created, were just not noticable to me. Eventually I didn't try any longer and now as the MPD218 is available I hardly touched my PadKontrol controllers anymore.
XpressPads Finger Drumming That really makes sense with what I've found searching on google. It kinda seems like the newer padKontrols have a lower quality level and more variances in velocity. The first one I got only had one sensitive pad and the rest you had to hit pretty hard, the new one the top row is quite sensitive and the rest are decent but far from perfect. I'm tempted to get an MPD218 as well since it's pretty cheap, kinda wish I had gotten one of those in the first place. And on my first one I tried those settings you were talking about, and the setting that comes as standard should be the most sensitive one. The other configurations are all less sensitive for people that found the pads too sensitive.
Many thanks for the heads up!! Didn't know about this device. This is awesome... I'll contact them and ask for a demo device. It looks very promising... mind-blowing actually.
Hi. Bought ur courses earlier this year n love it. Im just usually tired at night when im in front of push2. As an alternative, would u recommend Roli lightpad block M for finger drumming on the go? If u had a chance to try the device.
Thank you for your feedback. I've considered the lightpad block M for finger drumming too but discarded the idea. finger drumming to me is still the biggest fun when played on good rubber pads.
The only pad controller that comes close to a well broken in vintage mpc is Korg's PadKontrol. Best there is in the controller world. Soft pads but very sensitive and responsive. Maschine pads are terrible, but maybe a bit better than modern Akai gear. Just forget about pads on Akai's midi controller keyboards, they're useless. Seriously. But I've seen everyone going Maschine, but those pads are going to cause damage to finger joints. It won't show for years, but everyone seriously playing those pads is going to have issues further down the line. Haven't tried Maschine 3 pads. I heard they're a bit more squishy, I can't say for certain. I'm quite serious, and I have years of experience going back to the MPC 60. I'm writing this for your benefit if you're just starting out, or are trying to conserve your cash.
you ever had a chance to test a roland handsonic? i was quite confused when you said the akai lpd 8 has really sensetive pads because i bought one as a cheap alternative to the handsonic and i was totally disappointed with their sensitivity. the handsonic was really expressive in contrast with low threshold and a nice dynamic range.
I haven't touched the roland handsonic yet, but it looks like it's worth a try... The last time I played with the lpd 8 is about 5 years ago and from what I recall I was quite satisfied with it back then. However, I didn't really test it again since back then and also didn't compare its pad sensitivity in a one-on-one test to the other devices demonstrated in this video. At the end of the day I'd always prefer a 4x4 pad controller against one (or two) 2x4 controller(s).
How is the Akai MPC Element a groovebox? It doesn't work without the MPC Essentials software which is tbh pretty clunky and not great at all. Now, Maschine doesn't work without a computer too but at least you can do most stuff just using the groovebox instead of having to look at the computer screen the entire time.
Hi. I would like to know how's the trigger finger pro is for finger drumming. I'm considering buying one. the most important thing for me is pads sensitivity and software workflow.
+Adi Goldstein Hi, the Trigger Finger Pro is good for finger drumming, especially now that its price has been reduced. For a detailed review please watch the XpressPads TFP review video on this channel. Thank you. Andreas
+XpressPads Finger Drumming thanks for your reply. I tried to find a review that focus on finger drumming but I couldn't find. I found only a setup short video. is that the one?
Adi Goldstein Yes, that's the right video, but if you're looking for a full review of the Trigger Finger Pro for finger drumming you can read my review on the XpressPads website. You'll find it in the blog. I'd like to place the full link here, but I believe TH-cam would consider it spam and therefore not show it. Cheers.
+XpressPads Finger Drumming thanks. just read it and I'm even more confused... not sure if that will do the job for me. from one hand, it seems that the pads are comfortable enough and sensitive. but I also understand that the software is not very easy and friendly. I'm not a producer, but I do need easy interface... I had maschine mk2 before. it was amazing. except that I had technical issues with it that couldn't be resolved, so I returned it. so, for finger drumming and a little bit of programming, do you think it will work?
The Trigger Finger Pro will definitively work for finger drumming and some easy programming. What you should keep in mind though is that it is not a fully-fledged groove production studio like Maschine. The TFP has a quite reduced set of features and I don't think it is well-suited for full song productions. My personal approach is a bit different. I tend to use simple generic pad controllers for finger drumming and produce my songs simply in a DAW. That makes me independent from groove production platforms and gives me more freedom and flexibility when writing full songs. Hope this helps.
Hey, what do you think of the pads of the new MPD (218,226) compared to Maschine MKII pads ? I'm looking for a controller with great midi pads to play samples/vst's, like you. Is the maschine easy to use as a MIDI controller inside a DAW ? I can get a brand new Mikro MKII for 210E ! Thank for your time, and amazing collection mate!!
Wow... where do you get the MKII for 210? - I use maschine a lot but for finger drumming I still prefer the MPD2 pads, this is why I often use two MPD218 in conjunction with my Maschine Studio setup. The Maschine pads are great, but to my taste the MPD 2 pads are just superb.
the trigger finger pro does not have an editor.. it all can be done from the hardware. but i do understand what you are saying. If u look at or imagine the inner workings of Enigma "the trigger finger v1 editor" on the LCD of the trigger finger pro. You are loading presets as if it was Enigma but there is no need for it now. It is all done on the hardware which is the effect of them having the live performer in mind. they missed a lot of steps in the development of the TFP. just about killed it.
***** Thanks for your feedback on the Trigger Finger Pro. So there (still) is no software editor available for it. I agree that this doesn't really make it a "mature" pad controller, also considering where the competition stands right now... btw, have you seen the upcoming AKAI MPD v2 series? As said in the video I was not really convinced by the v1 MPDs but v2 could be a game changer... thick, back-lit pads, slim housing, knobs and faders with reasonable hight and overall appealing look. th-cam.com/video/4lkyYnqCstw/w-d-xo.html
Oh man now why did u have to go and show me that. :-) I like the layout of the 232 and may have to start saving up. or try and sell my TFP for the 232. are any of the models out yet? and i love working with step sequencers Tho i do normally record my drums live and correct as a go "my timign is not the greatest" the sequencer makes for easy corrections. Which is why i have held on ti the TFP. if and when u get any of the mpd2 series please review it. :-)
***** Sorry 'bout that! ;-) Yes, they are out now. Just ordered the MPD 218 today. I want to test the small one first before I invest the big dollars. I like the others more in terms of design and functions, but it's quite a difference in price. Also, it seems like the pads of the MPD 218 only light up red while the other MPD 2's pads are multi-color... and sure, step sequencing helps a lot to get it all notes in the right place while tight timing needs a couple of practice hours. But I think it's worth improving timing, as it can flavor the groove.
Great job in this video my friend, can you tell me about the Quneo "pad quality" it's comfortable like akai for example, I mean has a good pressing feel ? or it is hard feeling thanks a lot for your attention
Hi +Anthony Garcia, Thanks for your feedback. The pads definitively feel different from other pad controllers, but I like the sensitivity and I think the way pads "feel" is a matter of personal taste. I like them and I think it's a good pad controller for finger drumming. Cheers, Andreas
Hello, I only owned the quneo and i was not satisfied by the velocity response, which was not accurate enough for me. A lot of subbtle finger attacks was omitted. Also maybe I missed the info but do you have a favorite ? That you use for 99.99% of your records. Thanks
Louis Couka Thanks for your feedback. I have had different experiences with the QuNeo, but I assume that you also worked with different pad sensitivity settings, did you? And you still have these triggering gaps, right? - Of all pad controllers that I own the QuNeo is the most sensitive and I can't remember that I ever had omitted attacks during regular playing. In the past couple of years I used to play the Korg PadKontrol a lot, but since the release of the AKAI MPD218 I can't stop playing it as it covers my individual velocity range just perfectly by default and with 99 dollars is so much value for the money. I have two now and so I can play the Xtreme finger drumming stuff as well. It could become my favorite. Hope this helps.
Louis Couka I just get a padkontrol, velocity is not accurate at all. What i get after recording : dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/55272008/velocity%20accuracy.png Did you check the MPD218 velocity accuracy ? I would like to get a solid pad controller for finger drumming but I'll end up believing that there is no. Thanks a lot!
Louis Couka I'd send it back. Not good if you arent happy with it. That feeling won't change. I suggest you try the AKAI MPD218. I'm really happy with it. It costs less and probably better suits your pad sensitivity needs. Also, in your screenshot: Are you more concerned about the timing or the velocity differences? If timing, the problem could be Cubase. I went nuts a couple of times when I realized that my recordings had timing issues while my actual playing didn't. That's a common problem that many Cubase users experience. Google "cubase midi recording out of time" and you will find tons of entries.
XpressPads Finger Drumming Problem is about velocity, i tried to record each note with the same intensity, and the result is too much imprecise with the korg stuff, as you can see in the screenshot. I'll test the MPD218. Thanks.
Between the Maschine or the Launchpad Pro for a complete beginner's first buy what would you recommend? (or is there something better than those two that you'd recommend)
In general, bigger pads are better for playing drums, so if you intend to use the device for finger drumming better go for Maschine. The Lauchpad Pro is still rather a launch controller for Ableton Live than a Pad Controller. Software-wise it's a matter of taste... Maschine Software or Ableton Live - big fanbase on both sides. Really depends on what you want to achieve with the device.
so, what could you recommend for playing metal drums? I like M-audio and Akai MPD218, they look solid, but I haven`t tried them for myself. Also I see Novation mini pad is being sold at great price near me (used). IrigPads is more expensive
Hi, QuNeo > MPD218 or the other way around? I'm looking for the most sensitive controller because i want to focus mainly on ghost note and creating the most realistic drum environment.
I like both, and both are very sensitive. However, I can control velocity better with the MPD218... and it's cheaper as well and comes with a big virtual drums software package.
MrMartijnDB Exactly. The pad sensitivity of the MPD218 is - at least for me - pretty perfect. I have quite "normal" sized hands and they seem to have found the sweet spot for pad sensitivity for average Joe. Moreover, the responsiveness to dynamic playing on the MPD218 is more accurate than on the QuNeo, in my perception.
Someone needs to make a simple finger drumming machine, of a fairly compact size... With one multi sampled realistic kit built in and stereo 1/4" outs. $100 - $200
@@XpressPads 😊 yeah, just something you can quickly plug into anything... Like a looper, computer, daw, etc. Cheap portable finger drumming rig, no frills. *Just wanted to elaborate on this in case any developers see this.
Well, I think that's a matter of personal taste, but I like both. I tend to use the MPD218 most of the time while before it entered the market my go-to pad controller was the Korg PadKontrol.
My last question I swear- Would you recommend the MPD218 over the MPD226 due to issues being more clearly solvable?- The 226 seems really ideal to me, but also seems to be a gamble (due to potential bugs). Thanks for all your help thus far, I'm only asking you because your videos covering them are the best out there & you clearly know your stuff. Thanks again
No worries asking questions. ;-) And thanks for your kind feedback! - Well, I really LOVE my MPD218s. They are ideal to me as I only use them for finger drumming and seldom use knobs and faders to change parameter values. Even if necessary there are enough encoders on the MPD218 to get along with. And, considering that the device only costs 99 bugs, you probably won't regret your purchase.
Great information here! I just want a basic pad controller so I'm thinking of getting the MPD18 (and modding it with the fat pads). Does the bank button (A, B, C) switch up/down the octaves? E.g. say I'm in Logic using a drum patch and I want to access the full spread of drum sounds. Will that bank button move through the available sounds? Otherwise you'd just be stuck with 16, right?
+XpressPads Finger Drumming Thank you for the reply. And is it easy to do? i.e. is it something that is configured in Logic's environment or via Akai software?
Amor going to buy a akai mpd 218, but I didnt like the New APC series ,so I dont now is os a good brand un this moment?.I have a m-audio Axiom 49 and It has the BEST trigger pads ,Also I have a lauch pad and a m-audio oxigen New generation but I hate the pads ,so do you recoment me The akai mpd 218? Or what do you recoment around 150 dólares?!!!
@@XpressPads It is a shame, it looks like a nice finger pad controller with lot of features specially if someone use Studio One, have you ever try to mapping using NoteMapper VST plugin? www.codefn42.com/notemapper/
+redirishmanxlt I kind of missed it in the fight. ;-) Very good pads, very sensitive, very good quality overall, but limited in the way the pad layout can be adjusted for different purposes... cheers!
+XpressPads Finger Drumming - I just recently bought Push-2 and I'm planning to buy your corse on finger drumming, so I'm curious to hear your take on the Pro's and Con's of having much smaller Pads.
+redirishmanxlt Thanks for your interest in the finger drumming eCourses! I actually bought Push only because I was tempted to use the 64 pads for finger drumming. I wanted to use it as a generic midi controller in a different host than Live because I don't use Live. Trying to set it up as a generic midi controller was a major pain because the way the pads can be midi mapped is very limited outside of Live. I wasn't able to prepare the XpressPads Xtreme Layout on it outside of Live. There is a workaround "midi hack" guide available from Julien Bayle. Google him and ableton push and you'll find it. But it didn't solve my issue as well. However, with release of Live 9.2 there is a 64 pad drum mode available. This could solve the issue at least within Live. Not sure that it will also work if Push is used as a generic controller. In case you're an experienced Live user already you might not have any trouble setting up your Push 2 for the XpressPads technique... really don't know, but would be keen to hear whether or not you'll get it set-up or not. If you are interested in learning finger drumming anyway I can highly recommend the AKAI MPD218. Great device for just 99 dollars. Hope this helps. Best regards, Andreas.
When I'm from, much is explained, and the only magic left is music. These are called washboards, worn around the neck and played over the heart. All music is expressed through the body, danced, sung, pla.....tooled. The washboard is fitted to the conductor so as to completely take advantage Of the veritable musical instrument, the body. It is fact that we do indeed create our own reality, and the empty spaces in between are in fact filled with the infinite verses of the song of creation. Perfection, heaven, "the zone".
Does the QuNeo have consistent velocity on all the pads? I have a QuNexus which i use only for drumming, but the pad's sensitivity are all over the place. I mean its TERRIBLE. You can fix it with the software a bit, but even then i have pads that are maxed and pads that are on minimum, and still it has uneven response. So i lost trust in McMillen. I think i will go with the MPD218.
Hi, the QuNeo pad sensitivity can be controlled via the editor software, but it definitively is very sensitive as well. I am not that disappointed with the QuNeo but rarely use it since I have my two MPD218 pad controllers. They simply have the perfect pad sensitivity for my taste. Best, Andreas
Maschine MK3 pads are pretty good. The most sensitive pads from my POV are those of the QuNeo. I'm in love with my bread and butter tools since 2015 and play them most of the time: AKAI MPD218.
What about The samson conspiracy??? I would like to know your opinion even if you haven't tried it, just what you see... I really enjoy your videos btw! Cheers!
+Daniel Zambrano Thanks, mate. Interesting device. Thanks for bringing it up. It seems like the knobs next to the pad area are very close to the playing area. This can lead to trouble because it is likely that the knobs will be hit by the palms of the hands when playing certain finger drumming techniques on it. Cheers.
+XpressPads Finger Drumming I was thinking on buying it! But I will keep your advise in mind! My first choice was the mpd26 but I'm having a bit of trouble finding it! What other device (in the same price range) do you think will come in handy?
I am not a friend of the legacy MPD series, but an absolute fan of the MPD2 series. For finger drumming they are top notch. Especially the MPD218 is a killer device with a huge software package for a small price.
6 Minutes into this video and you haven't talked about the differences between any of these things yet. You are just talking about information that anyone could. If you have that many controllers sitting in front of you, take advantage of that, and show the differences between them. I could look up an article if I just needed to know the details of drum controllers in general. Show us the differences between all of these, and who should buy which one, and why!
I hope when you produce music you don't feel the need to complain after only 6 minutes. If you want to read an article read an article, if you want to add constructive feedback make it sound like constructive feedback ;)
+Snupe 24 I shot this video 3 months before the MPD218 was released. If you want to know my opinion about the MPD218, please watch my MPD218 playlist. It's fantastic!
amazing collection and i appreciate you making such a lengthy video but it absolutely does not help me make a decision at all in finding which drum machine is right for me to listen to you drone on about them for 20 minutes instead of playing any of them. sorry, but you need to show us some of them in action and let the machines speak for themselves.
Hi, have you checked out all my review- and performance-videos on my channel? Quite a lot of playing and tech insight there. Also, you can check the video description as I link to my blog there, which also provides insights on the different pad controllers. Cheers, Andreas
Probably the only thing I'd buy on that table is the Maschine Studio. I tried it at a local Music store(Sam Ash) and loved it. This is what NI should have made instead of the smaller Maschine 1 and 2 (two items I made the mistake of buying)
This is great. I worked with drum machines a lot in the past. I find this fascinating.
+EPIC styles I have no idea as to what you are talking about.
+EPIC styles Well Wang Dang Yang ... I guess that I did tell ANDRES that I have worked with drum machines in the past ... Thank God that you came along for clarification .... Gee whizees ... and they actually sound so much the same ..... I actually used my drum machine as a midi slave but I did set it once as a controller just for shits and giggles ... I owe 1 big apology to Andreas for undermining the whole principle of what this video is supposed to articulate .... "I am so sorry Andreas ... Please forgive me my friend ... I am now on the road to eternal enlightenment."
+Herfortz, +EPIC styles, I'm easy. :-) I think that the world of drum machines has been moving towards hardware-controlled software instruments as this concept opens up a much bigger variety of options for shaping drum tracks. To me - as a finger drummer who uses pad controllers purely for playing drums - pad controllers and groove production studios are drum machines as well and I'm ok with other opinions. No hard feelsings on my end. ;-)
Hey man, thanks for taking the time for this great review! I've also bought Xpresspads a few days ago, it's a great way to not only play the drums, and learn drum patterns. Cheers!
Hey Alvin, Many thanks for your purchase! - Glad that you like the eCourse. And thank you for your comment here. Enjoy your finger drumming endeavour. Andreas
awesome collection man!!!
I've been through a number of them. I gotta say, the MPD18 had the very best sensitivity, but the editor was quite wonky to use.
I still wish i would have kept it though.
thanks for this informative overview!
Thank you Wolf Unplugged. Glad, that you like it.
M-Audio Trigger Finger control software is called Enigma.
Love your collection but you need to try out the midi fighter too!
+Darcy Keenan-Smith Yes, thought about the midi fighter, too. Does it have velocity-sensitive pads?
+XpressPads Finger Drumming - The "arcade buttons" on the Midifighter are not velocity sensitive, and the tapping is very loud. I love my Spectra but I don't use it for Finger Drumming.
redirishmanxlt Ok, thank you for the info. Cheers.
+XpressPads Finger Drumming no it doesn't but it's still a great piece of tech especially for crabbing and finger rolls
Although I love mpc, I'm too worried it will damage my hands/wrists... how can we know for sure this won't happen? I am a classical pianist...
For Jazz, which one would you recommend most? I'm a saxophonist and pianist, and I don't want to hurt my fingers! I have strong hands (six foot six, German ancestry). I've narrowed it down the the Akai 226 (or 218, but one can vary the sensitivity on only the 226), the QuNeo, and the Ik Multimedia one. Thanks!
My fave is the MPD218. Its sensitivity setting is quite ideal. Heared a lot of issues regarding sensitivity bugs of the MPD226.
I've heard about the 226 quality control issues as well. I think you said the QuNeo is the most sensitive, and of course it's a different beast altogether. It's also a lot more money. I like the small size of the 218 or the QuNeo. What makes you prefer the 218 over the QuNeo? Thanks for the comprehensive review of all of these things! Like most electronics, it's all quite complicated - saxophones are easy; just a metal cone with holes all over it! - Jeff
Hi ! thank you for the video ! Do you prefer the Korg KontrolPad Black or white ? which one is better ?
Hey, thank you for the video. I found a second hand trigger finger (normal version not pro) around 50€. Do you think the pad sensitivity is better than presonus atom? I would like to use the trigger finger for finger drumming and secondly as a piano roller. Do you think is worth to buy this istead presonus atom. Thank you again
I like the trigger finger and the sensitivity is quite good. So, yes I'd go for it
@@XpressPads ok perfect! Thank you very much
Which do you think would be best for making your own samples for step sequenceing and finger druming, novation circuit or Korg electribe. I want to make my own sound from an arturia microbrute analog synthinysizer and put into a sampler without using my computer too much. i like to stay away from sound packs pre-made samples to help boost creativity.
Thanks for taking the time to do this video. I have been using EZ Drummer 2 integrated with my DAW but I am starting to use my 32 channel Portastudio more and I am looking at using the stand alone version of EZ Drummer 2 (instead of the plugin) to record drum tracks. Would the Akai MPD218 be a good choice for finger drumming? I know this video is from awhile back, would you recommend the Akai for this or something else? Thanks!
Hi, the MPD218 is a great pad controller for the price tag and I still recommend it although there were some complaints about build quality in recent years. Test the device thoroughly when you received it and then decide if you want to keep it or send it back to the dealer.
@@XpressPads Thanks! I appreciate your response!
Do you have any experience with sensitivty variations in the padKontrol? I got one and had to return it because it was not very sensitive at all, the one I got as a replacement is better but my Akai MPK mini with tape-fixed pads still has much more sensitive pads. Maybe I should try out an MPD218 instead?
Good point! I bought two PadKontrol controllers several years ago and they were very sensitive. As a backup I bought two more PadKontrol controllers a few years later and I did notice that the pads were less sensitive. I tried to figure out why this is and if there is a way to increase the sensitivity. While researching I found that there is an official hack that Korg has implemented on the device to change the sensitivity factory-wise. I don't have the link anymore but you'll find it when searching for it. However, either I didn't do it correctly, or the changes this hack created, were just not noticable to me. Eventually I didn't try any longer and now as the MPD218 is available I hardly touched my PadKontrol controllers anymore.
XpressPads Finger Drumming That really makes sense with what I've found searching on google. It kinda seems like the newer padKontrols have a lower quality level and more variances in velocity. The first one I got only had one sensitive pad and the rest you had to hit pretty hard, the new one the top row is quite sensitive and the rest are decent but far from perfect. I'm tempted to get an MPD218 as well since it's pretty cheap, kinda wish I had gotten one of those in the first place.
And on my first one I tried those settings you were talking about, and the setting that comes as standard should be the most sensitive one. The other configurations are all less sensitive for people that found the pads too sensitive.
have you seen the sensel morph? that one might be excellent for finger drumming and very versatile too
Many thanks for the heads up!! Didn't know about this device. This is awesome... I'll contact them and ask for a demo device. It looks very promising... mind-blowing actually.
Hi. Bought ur courses earlier this year n love it. Im just usually tired at night when im in front of push2. As an alternative, would u recommend Roli lightpad block M for finger drumming on the go? If u had a chance to try the device.
Thank you for your feedback. I've considered the lightpad block M for finger drumming too but discarded the idea. finger drumming to me is still the biggest fun when played on good rubber pads.
The only pad controller that comes close to a well broken in vintage mpc is Korg's PadKontrol. Best there is in the controller world. Soft pads but very sensitive and responsive. Maschine pads are terrible, but maybe a bit better than modern Akai gear. Just forget about pads on Akai's midi controller keyboards, they're useless. Seriously. But I've seen everyone going Maschine, but those pads are going to cause damage to finger joints. It won't show for years, but everyone seriously playing those pads is going to have issues further down the line. Haven't tried Maschine 3 pads. I heard they're a bit more squishy, I can't say for certain.
I'm quite serious, and I have years of experience going back to the MPC 60. I'm writing this for your benefit if you're just starting out, or are trying to conserve your cash.
Excellent comment. Very important for people to know!
Hi ! thank you for advise. Please, can you say if it's better to buy the Korg PadKontrol black or white ? Thank you !
@@dawoud8013 white for sure!!
@@2ndperspective418 it's done ! ^^ thank you
you ever had a chance to test a roland handsonic? i was quite confused when you said the akai lpd 8 has really sensetive pads because i bought one as a cheap alternative to the handsonic and i was totally disappointed with their sensitivity. the handsonic was really expressive in contrast with low threshold and a nice dynamic range.
I haven't touched the roland handsonic yet, but it looks like it's worth a try... The last time I played with the lpd 8 is about 5 years ago and from what I recall I was quite satisfied with it back then. However, I didn't really test it again since back then and also didn't compare its pad sensitivity in a one-on-one test to the other devices demonstrated in this video. At the end of the day I'd always prefer a 4x4 pad controller against one (or two) 2x4 controller(s).
The Novation Launchpad Pro is GREAT!
indeed
I'm looking for the best one.. which one is it?
Which one would you recommend for fingerdrumming metal drums?
The MPD218 or 2 of them
How is the Akai MPC Element a groovebox? It doesn't work without the MPC Essentials software which is tbh pretty clunky and not great at all. Now, Maschine doesn't work without a computer too but at least you can do most stuff just using the groovebox instead of having to look at the computer screen the entire time.
Hi. I would like to know how's the trigger finger pro is for finger drumming. I'm considering buying one. the most important thing for me is pads sensitivity and software workflow.
+Adi Goldstein Hi, the Trigger Finger Pro is good for finger drumming, especially now that its price has been reduced. For a detailed review please watch the XpressPads TFP review video on this channel. Thank you. Andreas
+XpressPads Finger Drumming thanks for your reply. I tried to find a review that focus on finger drumming but I couldn't find. I found only a setup short video. is that the one?
Adi Goldstein Yes, that's the right video, but if you're looking for a full review of the Trigger Finger Pro for finger drumming you can read my review on the XpressPads website. You'll find it in the blog. I'd like to place the full link here, but I believe TH-cam would consider it spam and therefore not show it. Cheers.
+XpressPads Finger Drumming thanks. just read it and I'm even more confused... not sure if that will do the job for me. from one hand, it seems that the pads are comfortable enough and sensitive. but I also understand that the software is not very easy and friendly. I'm not a producer, but I do need easy interface... I had maschine mk2 before. it was amazing. except that I had technical issues with it that couldn't be resolved, so I returned it.
so, for finger drumming and a little bit of programming, do you think it will work?
The Trigger Finger Pro will definitively work for finger drumming and some easy programming. What you should keep in mind though is that it is not a fully-fledged groove production studio like Maschine. The TFP has a quite reduced set of features and I don't think it is well-suited for full song productions. My personal approach is a bit different. I tend to use simple generic pad controllers for finger drumming and produce my songs simply in a DAW. That makes me independent from groove production platforms and gives me more freedom and flexibility when writing full songs. Hope this helps.
Hey, what do you think of the pads of the new MPD (218,226) compared to Maschine MKII pads ?
I'm looking for a controller with great midi pads to play samples/vst's, like you.
Is the maschine easy to use as a MIDI controller inside a DAW ? I can get a brand new Mikro MKII for 210E !
Thank for your time, and amazing collection mate!!
Wow... where do you get the MKII for 210? - I use maschine a lot but for finger drumming I still prefer the MPD2 pads, this is why I often use two MPD218 in conjunction with my Maschine Studio setup. The Maschine pads are great, but to my taste the MPD 2 pads are just superb.
Thanks for your advice! Deals gone, coupons codes ( 180E gives you 300E coupon) I'll buy a second hand MpD.
Keep up the good videos!
☺️
the trigger finger pro does not have an editor.. it all can be done from the hardware. but i do understand what you are saying. If u look at or imagine the inner workings of Enigma "the trigger finger v1 editor" on the LCD of the trigger finger pro. You are loading presets as if it was Enigma but there is no need for it now. It is all done on the hardware which is the effect of them having the live performer in mind. they missed a lot of steps in the development of the TFP. just about killed it.
***** Thanks for your feedback on the Trigger Finger Pro. So there (still) is no software editor available for it. I agree that this doesn't really make it a "mature" pad controller, also considering where the competition stands right now... btw, have you seen the upcoming AKAI MPD v2 series? As said in the video I was not really convinced by the v1 MPDs but v2 could be a game changer... thick, back-lit pads, slim housing, knobs and faders with reasonable hight and overall appealing look. th-cam.com/video/4lkyYnqCstw/w-d-xo.html
Oh man now why did u have to go and show me that. :-) I like the layout of the 232 and may have to start saving up. or try and sell my TFP for the 232. are any of the models out yet? and i love working with step sequencers Tho i do normally record my drums live and correct as a go "my timign is not the greatest" the sequencer makes for easy corrections. Which is why i have held on ti the TFP. if and when u get any of the mpd2 series please review it. :-)
***** Sorry 'bout that! ;-) Yes, they are out now. Just ordered the MPD 218 today. I want to test the small one first before I invest the big dollars. I like the others more in terms of design and functions, but it's quite a difference in price. Also, it seems like the pads of the MPD 218 only light up red while the other MPD 2's pads are multi-color... and sure, step sequencing helps a lot to get it all notes in the right place while tight timing needs a couple of practice hours. But I think it's worth improving timing, as it can flavor the groove.
very true and thanks for the info. I will be reading up on these for sure.
How did you get the money for all these controllers???????
+Noah Does Music They somehow piled up over the years. ;-)
Just got Korg Nanopad2 with blue pads
Great job in this video my friend,
can you tell me about the Quneo "pad quality" it's comfortable like akai for example, I mean has a good pressing feel ? or it is hard feeling
thanks a lot for your attention
Hi +Anthony Garcia, Thanks for your feedback. The pads definitively feel different from other pad controllers, but I like the sensitivity and I think the way pads "feel" is a matter of personal taste. I like them and I think it's a good pad controller for finger drumming. Cheers, Andreas
Very useful information. Vielen Dank.
Hello, I only owned the quneo and i was not satisfied by the velocity response, which was not accurate enough for me. A lot of subbtle finger attacks was omitted. Also maybe I missed the info but do you have a favorite ? That you use for 99.99% of your records. Thanks
Louis Couka Thanks for your feedback. I have had different experiences with the QuNeo, but I assume that you also worked with different pad sensitivity settings, did you? And you still have these triggering gaps, right? - Of all pad controllers that I own the QuNeo is the most sensitive and I can't remember that I ever had omitted attacks during regular playing.
In the past couple of years I used to play the Korg PadKontrol a lot, but since the release of the AKAI MPD218 I can't stop playing it as it covers my individual velocity range just perfectly by default and with 99 dollars is so much value for the money. I have two now and so I can play the Xtreme finger drumming stuff as well. It could become my favorite. Hope this helps.
XpressPads Finger Drumming Thanks a lot
Louis Couka I just get a padkontrol, velocity is not accurate at all.
What i get after recording : dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/55272008/velocity%20accuracy.png
Did you check the MPD218 velocity accuracy ? I would like to get a solid pad controller for finger drumming but I'll end up believing that there is no. Thanks a lot!
Louis Couka I'd send it back. Not good if you arent happy with it. That feeling won't change. I suggest you try the AKAI MPD218. I'm really happy with it. It costs less and probably better suits your pad sensitivity needs.
Also, in your screenshot: Are you more concerned about the timing or the velocity differences? If timing, the problem could be Cubase. I went nuts a couple of times when I realized that my recordings had timing issues while my actual playing didn't. That's a common problem that many Cubase users experience. Google "cubase midi recording out of time" and you will find tons of entries.
XpressPads Finger Drumming
Problem is about velocity, i tried to record each note with the same intensity, and the result is too much imprecise with the korg stuff, as you can see in the screenshot. I'll test the MPD218. Thanks.
Between the Maschine or the Launchpad Pro for a complete beginner's first buy what would you recommend? (or is there something better than those two that you'd recommend)
In general, bigger pads are better for playing drums, so if you intend to use the device for finger drumming better go for Maschine. The Lauchpad Pro is still rather a launch controller for Ableton Live than a Pad Controller. Software-wise it's a matter of taste... Maschine Software or Ableton Live - big fanbase on both sides. Really depends on what you want to achieve with the device.
so, what could you recommend for playing metal drums? I like M-audio and Akai MPD218, they look solid, but I haven`t tried them for myself. Also I see Novation mini pad is being sold at great price near me (used). IrigPads is more expensive
MPD218 is my fave, also for Metal. I've shot some videos on Metal finger drumming. There you can see the MPD218 in Metal action. Cheers Andreas
many thanks!
Hi,
QuNeo > MPD218 or the other way around?
I'm looking for the most sensitive controller because i want to focus mainly on ghost note and creating the most realistic drum environment.
I like both, and both are very sensitive. However, I can control velocity better with the MPD218... and it's cheaper as well and comes with a big virtual drums software package.
So you're not bummed out by the fact that you can't edit the overal velocity sensitivity on the MPD218 vs full control at the quneo
MrMartijnDB Exactly. The pad sensitivity of the MPD218 is - at least for me - pretty perfect. I have quite "normal" sized hands and they seem to have found the sweet spot for pad sensitivity for average Joe. Moreover, the responsiveness to dynamic playing on the MPD218 is more accurate than on the QuNeo, in my perception.
But still, the padkontrol takes the lead? As seen on your website.
When I made the video there the MPD218 wasn't released yet. Today I'd prefer the MPD218.
Someone needs to make a simple finger drumming machine, of a fairly compact size... With one multi sampled realistic kit built in and stereo 1/4" outs. $100 - $200
+1 for that idea
@@XpressPads 😊 yeah, just something you can quickly plug into anything... Like a looper, computer, daw, etc. Cheap portable finger drumming rig, no frills. *Just wanted to elaborate on this in case any developers see this.
Would you say that the pad section on the Korg Padkontrol is better or worse than the Akai MPD 218/226/232?
Well, I think that's a matter of personal taste, but I like both. I tend to use the MPD218 most of the time while before it entered the market my go-to pad controller was the Korg PadKontrol.
My last question I swear- Would you recommend the MPD218 over the MPD226 due to issues being more clearly solvable?- The 226 seems really ideal to me, but also seems to be a gamble (due to potential bugs). Thanks for all your help thus far, I'm only asking you because your videos covering them are the best out there & you clearly know your stuff. Thanks again
No worries asking questions. ;-) And thanks for your kind feedback! - Well, I really LOVE my MPD218s. They are ideal to me as I only use them for finger drumming and seldom use knobs and faders to change parameter values. Even if necessary there are enough encoders on the MPD218 to get along with. And, considering that the device only costs 99 bugs, you probably won't regret your purchase.
Great information here! I just want a basic pad controller so I'm thinking of getting the MPD18 (and modding it with the fat pads). Does the bank button (A, B, C) switch up/down the octaves? E.g. say I'm in Logic using a drum patch and I want to access the full spread of drum sounds. Will that bank button move through the available sounds? Otherwise you'd just be stuck with 16, right?
+Zillion Thanks. Basically, the bank button works like you describe... IF you configure the banks accordingly... but yes, that's possible. Cheers!
+XpressPads Finger Drumming Thank you for the reply. And is it easy to do? i.e. is it something that is configured in Logic's environment or via Akai software?
I'd say it's easy. You need to do it via the mpd218 editor software.
+XpressPads Finger Drumming I see - thank you! I'm following your advice (from the other video) re. the 218 vs the 18 :)
Amor going to buy a akai mpd 218, but I didnt like the New APC series ,so I dont now is os a good brand un this moment?.I have a m-audio Axiom 49 and It has the BEST trigger pads ,Also I have a lauch pad and a m-audio oxigen New generation but I hate the pads ,so do you recoment me The akai mpd 218? Or what do you recoment around 150 dólares?!!!
I absolutely recommend the MPD218 for finger drumming!
Hello there, what about the Presonus Atom?
Hey Victor, here's my take on the Presonus Atom: www.xpresspads.com/presonus-atom-for-finger-drumming/
@@XpressPads It is a shame, it looks like a nice finger pad controller with lot of features specially if someone use Studio One, have you ever try to mapping using NoteMapper VST plugin? www.codefn42.com/notemapper/
Nothing on Ableton Push?
+redirishmanxlt I kind of missed it in the fight. ;-) Very good pads, very sensitive, very good quality overall, but limited in the way the pad layout can be adjusted for different purposes... cheers!
+XpressPads Finger Drumming - I just recently bought Push-2 and I'm planning to buy your corse on finger drumming, so I'm curious to hear your take on the Pro's and Con's of having much smaller Pads.
+redirishmanxlt Thanks for your interest in the finger drumming eCourses! I actually bought Push only because I was tempted to use the 64 pads for finger drumming. I wanted to use it as a generic midi controller in a different host than Live because I don't use Live. Trying to set it up as a generic midi controller was a major pain because the way the pads can be midi mapped is very limited outside of Live. I wasn't able to prepare the XpressPads Xtreme Layout on it outside of Live. There is a workaround "midi hack" guide available from Julien Bayle. Google him and ableton push and you'll find it. But it didn't solve my issue as well. However, with release of Live 9.2 there is a 64 pad drum mode available. This could solve the issue at least within Live. Not sure that it will also work if Push is used as a generic controller. In case you're an experienced Live user already you might not have any trouble setting up your Push 2 for the XpressPads technique... really don't know, but would be keen to hear whether or not you'll get it set-up or not. If you are interested in learning finger drumming anyway I can highly recommend the AKAI MPD218. Great device for just 99 dollars. Hope this helps. Best regards, Andreas.
Was also hoping for some comment on the Push :)
For comprehensive control outside of Live have a look at: www.nativekontrol.com/PXT-General.html
When I'm from, much is explained, and the only magic left is music. These are called washboards, worn around the neck and played over the heart.
All music is expressed through the body, danced, sung, pla.....tooled. The washboard is fitted to the conductor so as to completely take advantage
Of the veritable musical instrument, the body.
It is fact that we do indeed create our own reality, and the empty spaces in between are in fact filled with the infinite verses of the song of creation.
Perfection, heaven, "the zone".
Cool story bro.
Does the QuNeo have consistent velocity on all the pads? I have a QuNexus which i use only for drumming, but the pad's sensitivity are all over the place. I mean its TERRIBLE. You can fix it with the software a bit, but even then i have pads that are maxed and pads that are on minimum, and still it has uneven response. So i lost trust in McMillen. I think i will go with the MPD218.
Hi, the QuNeo pad sensitivity can be controlled via the editor software, but it definitively is very sensitive as well. I am not that disappointed with the QuNeo but rarely use it since I have my two MPD218 pad controllers. They simply have the perfect pad sensitivity for my taste. Best, Andreas
What is the most sensitive pad you have tried lately (2019)?
What are you using these days?
Maschine MK3 pads are pretty good. The most sensitive pads from my POV are those of the QuNeo. I'm in love with my bread and butter tools since 2015 and play them most of the time: AKAI MPD218.
What about The samson conspiracy??? I would like to know your opinion even if you haven't tried it, just what you see... I really enjoy your videos btw! Cheers!
+Daniel Zambrano Thanks, mate. Interesting device. Thanks for bringing it up. It seems like the knobs next to the pad area are very close to the playing area. This can lead to trouble because it is likely that the knobs will be hit by the palms of the hands when playing certain finger drumming techniques on it. Cheers.
+XpressPads Finger Drumming I was thinking on buying it! But I will keep your advise in mind! My first choice was the mpd26 but I'm having a bit of trouble finding it! What other device (in the same price range) do you think will come in handy?
I am not a friend of the legacy MPD series, but an absolute fan of the MPD2 series. For finger drumming they are top notch. Especially the MPD218 is a killer device with a huge software package for a small price.
6 Minutes into this video and you haven't talked about the differences between any of these things yet. You are just talking about information that anyone could. If you have that many controllers sitting in front of you, take advantage of that, and show the differences between them. I could look up an article if I just needed to know the details of drum controllers in general. Show us the differences between all of these, and who should buy which one, and why!
I hope when you produce music you don't feel the need to complain after only 6 minutes. If you want to read an article read an article, if you want to add constructive feedback make it sound like constructive feedback ;)
Great video!
Many thanks! :-)
Why did you put the mpd18 on here instead of the mpd218 ? Is the MPD 18 better than the newer one ?
+Snupe 24 I shot this video 3 months before the MPD218 was released. If you want to know my opinion about the MPD218, please watch my MPD218 playlist. It's fantastic!
which one has better drum pads, Mpd218 or the Mpc element ???
definitively the MPD218
what about mpc?
amazing collection and i appreciate you making such a lengthy video but it absolutely does not help me make a decision at all in finding which drum machine is right for me to listen to you drone on about them for 20 minutes instead of playing any of them. sorry, but you need to show us some of them in action and let the machines speak for themselves.
Hi, have you checked out all my review- and performance-videos on my channel? Quite a lot of playing and tech insight there. Also, you can check the video description as I link to my blog there, which also provides insights on the different pad controllers. Cheers, Andreas
best software akai mpd?
No. Maschine is FAR superior
- Native Instruments „Maschine“ Mikro 17:00
good
So can these pet controllers stop my cat from peeing on the carpet?
If you throw them at your cat one after the other it may work
@@XpressPads I don't have any to throw yet, but just ordered an mpd218 after watching your reviews/demos. Thanks for the info!
hi actualy i wna buy a pad bt under 12 k ..so helo me out...which also hv a gud aftrtouch
Hi! 12k? My fav: MPD218, costs 99 USD. great pads.
do you need a piece of microphone that doesn't echo like fuck? or no?
and are you seriously just showing off your gear without demoing? quoi?!
nice:-)
Marco Gamberi Thanks, mate