KVR Audio

pavvel · Post by **pavvel** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 5:47 pm

Hi guys,

I am after a new pad controller sometime soon and see the biggest three are the:

Akai MPD16 - £79.99

M-Audio Tigger Finger - £109.99

Korg PadKontrol - £125

Does anyone have any recommendations about any of these units?

I currently have an x-station 61, so im not really short of knobs and tweaky stuff.

Cheers

frz · Post by **frz** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 6:02 pm

I personally prefer the PadKontrol over the Triggerfinger big time, the pads are far more sensitive and the response is still good if you don't hit them exactly in the center (not to mention they all light up hehe). The kaospad-like thingie is also a great feature to have.
I got it with some really nice software bundled to it and I'm enjoyng every minute I use it.

I didn't try the other one.

cheers

Xnah · Post by **Xnah** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 6:06 pm

I have the PadKontrol and really like it, but I never tried the others... I bought it based on reviews in magazines and online, and never needed to look back.

neokoo · Post by **neokoo** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 6:09 pm

I also would choose PadKontrol over Trigger Finger, for the same reasons. I had Trigger Finger for a few months and never really got used to the low sensitivity of the pads.

pavvel · Post by **pavvel** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 6:10 pm

Great the pad kontrol is looking most favourable then, I must admit I was liking that the most

siriusbliss · Post by **siriusbliss** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 3:56 am

I have both (found the trigger finger cheap), and think that the TF is more robust for live applications. The padKontrol is only used in my studio.

Greg

dusted william · Post by **dusted william** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 4:19 am

I sold my TF and to get a PK. I don't have it yet, but will soon. The TF would have been perfect except I can't stand how it changes velocity strength depending on where you hit the pad. To be really accurate you have to hit the pad in the center. I liked to play my ASRX with two fingers to a pad, so this just didn't work well.

dw

pavvel · Post by **pavvel** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 11:08 pm

Cheers im still looking at these. The pad kontrol is about £119, does anyone have any view on the akai one

http://www.turnkey.co.uk/web/productAct ... ontext=WEB It's only £67 right now

why so cheap?

then there is the model up on the akai front:

http://www.turnkey.co.uk/web/productAct ... ontext=WEB

confused help me lol

Patchen · Post by **Patchen** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 11:22 pm

I had 2 of the Akai MPD24's and had to return both of them due to a bunk knob. It was the same knob on both of them so I suspect a pad production run. While it is more solid and robust than the pad kontrol and also has more controllers and better pad management, the software editor is basically useless. This means it's much easier to program it from the front panel, which is actually pretty easy unless you want to assign different notes to the pads. They are only listed as midi note numbers! Huge Pain! Also, while the pads on the AKAI 'feel' great they are actually quite sketchy as others have mentioned. After returning 2 MPD24's I got a pad kontrol, and while I miss some of the features of the MPD24, the pad kontrol makes me happier overall. Also, it's nice and slim so it
fits easily into a bag with a laptop for coffee shop beat production!
Hope my rant helps,
cheers

pavvel · Post by **pavvel** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 11:25 pm

How do the pad kontrol pads feel? So if you were faced with my dilemma, pad kntrol for £116 or akai for £67, so around about half price what would you do?

I mainly want to use it just to program rhythm patter in battery 3/exs24.

Thanks

mySelf · Post by **mySelf** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 10:53 pm

I own a M-Audio Axiom 61 which has 8 of the same triggerpads found on the m-Audio TriggerFinger. I was really thrilled to have them when I bought the controller at first, but it quickly turned out that those pads were WAY to stiff for me. You really have to smack the pads to get full velocity out of them...just didn't feel "natural" (as far as a trigger pads can feel natural..)

I then bought an AKAI professional MPD 16 which I had to return next day though, cause it wouldn't work with my Vista machine. Tried it out on my mac though, and I really liked the feel of it, it's a nice albeit basic controller...

So finally, I returned the AKAI MPD16 and updated to the Korg PadKontrol, and I have to say that this controller is IMHO by far the BEST of the bunch...I'd even go as far to say that it is the "funnest" piece of equipment I own... The pads are sensitive and playing on them feels increadibly natural...Some say the padKontrol does not have enough knobs/sliders (I don't agree!)..Either way you look at it, there is no denying that the xy-pad is an absolute PLUS and a great addition to any "studio" (chances are your midi keyboard has plenty of knobs and sliders anyhow).
The pads are pressure sensitive and aftertouch effects can be achieved by use of the xy-pad (can be programmed). Programming the controller is not only easy but highly enjoyable as the illuminated buttons make you feel like you're callibrating a spaceship...I think I'm borderline addicted to programming that thing...

Conclusion: In my opinion the Korg padKontrol is the device to bea(s)t and I completely and utterly recommend this beauty to anyone thinking about buying such a controller.

mySelf.

Pad control recommendations?