New controller for the Percussionists...

M. Bréqs · Post by **M. Bréqs** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 5:35 am

Forget Trigger Finger...

Forget Korg Pad Kontrol...

Forget the MPD 16 (or 24 if they ever friggin release it)...

check this.

http://www.sonicstate.com/news/shownews.cfm?newsid=3209

I've always been irritated that stick-oriented pads were essentially drum modules themselves, with midi as an afterthought.

This is a dedicated, USB powered midi controller with no wack onboard sounds or cheapo speakers.

Now, if Alesis prices this right, it should be no more than $200. But I won't hold my breath.

DeadlyKungFu · Post by **DeadlyKungFu** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 5:41 am

I was an early adopter of the MPD16, I didn't like it from the day I got it, pads are too small, they're not the MPC pads, only the very center is the trigger sweet spot and the software stopped working when I went to XP with no updates FOR YEARS!!

USB powered, hope the pads are playable and fun. This looks good.

Roland has had a similar looking model out forever and the used price on it has never dropped, I hope this follows in those footsteps.

M. Bréqs · Post by **M. Bréqs** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 5:49 am

DeadlyKungFu wrote:I was an early adopter of the MPD16, I didn't like it from the day I got it, pads are too small, they're not the MPC pads, only the very center is the trigger sweet spot and the software stopped working when I went to XP with no updates FOR YEARS!!

USB powered, hope the pads are playable and fun. This looks good.

Roland has had a similar looking model out forever and the used price on it has never dropped, I hope this follows in those footsteps.

Yeah, but the Roland model was also a ROMpler wasn't it? I mean, why pay for sounds you're never going to use? Honestly, Battery 2 kicks ass way above anything Roland ever put out for drum samplers. And no USB.

I'm REALLY hoping that by omitting the sounds and the need for an audio output, Alesis can keep the price point down.

yourmom · Post by **yourmom** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 6:59 am

i have been scavanging on ebay for an octapad for almost a month now. i want this alesis pad like NOW.. wait. it even has the external trigger inputs for a kick and hat!!

Machinate · Post by **Machinate** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 7:22 am

yourmom wrote:.. wait. it even has the external trigger inputs for a kick and hat!!

Sure it does - it's a copy of the Roland drum pads...

I still like the SPD-S better, for the form factor. But at least Roland are seeing some competition on this now. Probably (hopefully) won't be long until we start seeing "FAME drum padz" come out at a quarter of the price of a Roland unit anyway.

Taiis · Post by **Taiis** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 8:00 am

The new Akai mpd24 has the actual mpd pads, and looks great for live performance.

noizbot · Post by **noizbot** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 9:22 am

If the price is right ($200 would be great) this will be a required part of my live rig. The only other affordable option is the Roland SPD-6 but you have to ebay it now. The other Roland pads are either too expensive because they either have a bunch of onboard sounds (SPD-20) or have a sampler (SPD-S). And all the other dedicated drum controllers are way too expensive...

hambone1 · Post by **hambone1** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 9:28 am

That looks great! I'm beating the hell out of my Yamaha DD-55c (especially when I miss the smaller pads when playing with heavy sticks..) and need a replacement.

I must admit I enjoy playing the onboard sounds when I can't be bothered to fire up the computer, though.

Liam · Post by **Liam** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 4:27 pm

There is already a lower priced device like this made by Harkte?

I looked into that at least a year ago.

Looks like a copy of the Roland pad.

The price was about $159 usd

lummux · Post by **lummux** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 4:37 pm

Hart Dynamics Multipad?

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/ ... c=3SOSWXXA

Only it's not USB. It's not even MIDI. And there's only 6 pads...

scientist · Post by **scientist** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 4:47 pm

on all of this stuff be sure to check out latency...i've gone through all kinds of drum possibilities...roland octapad, handsonic, banging on a normal keyboard controller...i finally broke down and ended up with an mpc1000. if you are a percussionist, even the tiniest latency makes a controller useless. the handsonic is an awesome idea, but the midi implimentation was limited and even then the latency meant i always found myself just playing the (mostly lame) onboard sounds. hopefully this new piece can handle ultra-low latency via usb...i might be able to pick up sticks again. for now the mpc works for me.

ILTK · Post by **ILTK** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 5:30 pm

The latency in the octapad was pretty good as I remember but the feel was horrid, like playing on a glass table, the pads on the alesis looks like they have some bounce at least, I wish there was more controllers going in the direction of the way D-Drums does it with real skins that you can tune to get your preferred feel.

mcconaghy · Post by **mcconaghy** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 5:34 pm

Scour Ebay for a DrumKat, nothing beats it when it comes to Drum-to-MIDI triggering.

micah frank · Post by **micah frank** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 6:45 pm

wow! i'm gonna have to check that out! I've been using this setup for a while:
http://www.mekmusic.com/jungledeconstruction.html

I wonder how the "feel" compares to an SPD-20 or Drumkat.

Mike Goodwin · Post by **Mike Goodwin** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 7:03 pm

YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY!!!