Percussion controllers (MPD26/padKontrol/etc)

[Piplodocus]

I was pondering getting some kinda pad trigger thing to make use of my Drum Rack 4x4 grid. I have an Axiom with 8 pads but it's never enough to use for what I want and after seeing Subsource live yesterday with Dennis going mad and rocking out fat live dubstep beats and sounds with the full live band (including drummer) and no click tracks, I'm more inspired than ever.

So, what do you guys use for your drum rack triggering? I was having a look at the Korg padKONTROL and the Akai MPD26. The M-audio trigger finger doesn't seem available any more. So, any opinions on these, pros/cons, or other suggestions of controllers to use for this?

Not sure what Dennis from Subsource uses, but it's neither of these 2 (I'm currently trying to find out). If you can recognise it from this slightly fuzzy and not great audio quality live video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTEJmYAYtJ8 be my guest (the round thing the Asian-looking chap is playing). I'll have opinions on that too, and things like the roland handsonic ones, since it's a less "square-buttons" type thing so might be preferable for going mad live with!

[oddstep]

padKontrol is great. would be better if it had more sliders and buttons and knobs. the xy pad is alright. really easy to edit midi assignments, has real midi in/outs - so its good with midi hardware. nice playing feel.

[ezelkow1]

+1 for padkontrol. Just love the feel of the pads, can respond to the lightest touch so it was exactly what i wanted compared to having to mod my mpk's pads

[Piplodocus]

Thanx for the answers. By "alright" with the XY do you means its a bit crap, but works, or something like it works great but is too small or something?

From what I can tell you can make the MPD26 do things like lock 16th notes on (with swing if required). Can you do similar on the padKontrol?

Is the pad sensitivity not adjustable on both? Can you expand on this please?

[oddstep]

by alright I might its completely functional, works really well, is essential to the expressive use of the inbuilt roll and flam functions (which I think are tempo synced) and is good for use as a pitch bend. why not brilliant!. ... because I don't use those xy functions much and the space could have been used for a couple of faders or some more cc buttons. the pads are great for playing... really good velocity sensitivity in absolute terms, the actual response curve can be chosen from a set of multiple options.

[Piplodocus]

by alright I might its completely functional, works really well, is essential to the expressive use of the inbuilt roll and flam functions (which I think are tempo synced) and is good for use as a pitch bend. why not brilliant!. ... because I don't use those xy functions much and the space could have been used for a couple of faders or some more cc buttons. the pads are great for playing... really good velocity sensitivity in absolute terms, the actual response curve can be chosen from a set of multiple options.

Cheers for clearing that up! If it works well would probably be ideal for what I'd like then.

Anyone got more opinions on the Akai too?

[Cowlash]

If its quality pads you're after, the Korg beats the Akai hands down.

If you're looking for extra bits - faders etc, the Akai wins, but the pads are a let down (mis-hits, dont work on the corners etc)

I have a Korg, a mate has a mpd32. I'm happy with the Korg. He's happy with his mpd32

[tigali]

+1 For the PadKontrol. If it's pads your after, just get one. There is no serious competition for those pads.

[scrondle]

There is no serious competition for those pads.

...in that price-range... but yeah, PK is great.
If you have a Mac you get to use FarmPad as well, whatever that's like.

[Piplodocus]

Yeah, it's pretty much pads I'm after. I have an APC40 so have knobs and sliders on that, so would mostly be after a 4x4 grid of velocity sensitive pads for drum racks.

Found out this eve one of my mates has a padKontrol so hopefully I can get a good full demo in on his before I buy anything. I quite often program "realistic" drums too, so am curious about using it for rolls/flams. I can program rolls, but if I can get some good ones out while jamming the rest it would save a lot of buggering about.

This does also mean I'll have to buy some kinda large shoe-horn to try to separate my nice snare stand from my drummer mate who took it to London with him. I see great grumpiness on the horizon!

[Piplodocus]

If you have a Mac you get to use FarmPad as well, whatever that's like.

Farmpad? Isn't that the game lots of my mates play that fills up all my Facebook news feeds?

[darkenedsoul]

Don't forget about the little Akai LPD8 which has 2 banks of 4 pads + 8 knobs to assign stuff to. And the 8 pads have 4 settings, meaning you can work up through a drunrack if set up right within the editor/Live. I have barely used either of them in so long.

Question on those of you using the padKontrol (which I also have). Do any of you use real drum sticks for playing on those pads and if so, how is the wear on em? It won't be like I'm mad hammering on em a lot of time.