Without a USB cable, hardware control motions can be transmitted over 16 MIDI channels via the MIDI Out socket.
AKAI MPD 24 EDITOR SOFTWARE DRIVERS
If the MPD24 is connected to a suitable computer (the unit is PC and Mac class-compliant, so no drivers are required), the MIDI sockets act as a simple one-in/one-out MIDI interface, while movements of the top-panel hardware controls can be transmitted via 32 additional MIDI channels directly into your sequencing software. Photo: Mike CameronAround at the back are MIDI In and Out sockets and a USB connector.
In the bottom right-hand corner of the top panel is a small set of transport controls that will simply send out the appropriate MIDI Machine Control commands when pressed, and cannot be reassigned. One of the rotary controls was obviously malfunctioning on my unit, although all the rest worked smoothly and reliably, so I'm assuming that this is a problem with quality control rather than anything wrong with the pot design in itself. These can be programmed to send MIDI Aftertouch data or any MIDI Continuous Controller, with selectable maximum and minimum transmitted data values allowing for finer or inverted control laws. MIDI Program Change messages, complete with Bank Select MSB and LSB messages if required, can be assigned to any pad in place of a MIDI Note message, although you can also send these messages independently of the pads, using the dedicated Program Change button and data knob.Ībove the pads are six sliders and to the right are eight endless rotary encoders. The four Pad Bank switches quadruple the number of different MIDI messages you can transmit from the one set of pads.
AKAI MPD 24 EDITOR SOFTWARE FULL
The Full Level button forces all velocity values to 127, while the 16 Levels button gives you fine control over one sound by duplicating it across all the pads, allowing you to trigger the same Note message at 16 discrete velocity values. As any MPC user would expect, the pads are both velocity and pressure sensitive, and an internal menu option lets you adjust velocity-sensitivity curves to suit your own playing style. These can send MIDI Note messages, either with Note On and Note Off tracking your pressing and releasing the pad, or with successive pad hits toggling Note On and Note Off messages. Dominating the top panel are the 16 full-size MPC-style trigger pads, just as you'll find on an MPC2500 or MPC4000. Pulling the MPD24 out of its box, it feels weightier and more robust than a lot of other MIDI controllers I've used, and the solid rubber feet anchor it nicely to the desk in preparation for the hammering it will surely receive. The latter machine is the subject of this review, combining said quivering quadrangles with eight rotary controls and six sliders. Weighing heavily on the minds of these converts, though, appears to be something of a nostalgia for small grey rubbery squares - a nostalgia that Akai may be seeking to capitalise on with their MPD16 and MPD24 USB MIDI controllers, each of which boasts 16 of the flexible little blighters.
Photo: Mike CameronDespite the enduring appeal of Akai's MPC range, some musicians inevitably find themselves lured away from these chunky sampling workstations into the feature-heavy world of computer sequencing. Akai combine MPC-style pads with more traditional sliders and rotary encoders in their cost-effective new desktop USB MIDI controller box.
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