Akai Professional MPD18 USB MIDI Pad Controller 

Comments about Akai Professional MPD18 USB MIDI Pad Controller:

This was my first Midi controller, it's compact, and it does what it's supposed to if you buy extra stuff.

When it came, I was depressed to find that it was incredibly insensitive, so it is useless for fingerdrumming, but it'll work if you want to use it just for triggering samples.

My best recommendation would be to buy some thicker, more sensitive pads from mpcstuff, and replace the original pads with those. They are pretty cheap, so I think it's worth it.

Therefore, if you want a VERY cheap midi controller, then buy this, and some better pads.

Comments about Akai Professional MPD18 USB MIDI Pad Controller:

This MIDI Pad Controller is awesome! It's small and easy to move around or put in a backpack. It works really easily with Ableton and FL Studio. I love it. It's very cheap and it's the best it can be for it's price. I love my Akai MPD18! I would recommend one for anybody.

Comments about Akai Professional MPD18 USB MIDI Pad Controller:

I had luck, this thing came without flaws ...

its doing its job very well. Only the note repeat could have been implemented better.

Had a Padkontrol before and found it uncontrollable, because oversensitive, and at
low volumes, the Padkontrol was unreliable. The MP18 is unreliable at low
pressure too, but this is only for the lowest velocity.
But this thing is right: you have to hit hard to get a loud sound, thats how it should be!
Everybody who thinks the pads suck, doesn't understand that in order to realize
5 different velocity levels, you need that!

Comments about Akai Professional MPD18 USB MIDI Pad Controller:

The AKAI Professional MPD18 Compact Pad Controller is ok. I bought for Image-Line FL Studios. The pads are not the best responding to touch. This is my first time using a MIDI Controller. I am still learning how to used it. But it make it easier making far more convincing drum beats instead of the step sequencer inside Image Line FL Studio. It is an excellent value on a budget. Next time, I will upgrade to AKAI MPC24 with the faders and knobs.

Comments about Akai Professional MPD18 USB MIDI Pad Controller:

Overall I'll give it a 7 out of 10. Mostly very good value, but not a high end product.
The feature set is slim, but this is a bare bones device. If you want a set of pads to input MIDI - you got it. It will not substitute as a chromatic instrument controller, or as a DAW control surface. One major feature missing is the MIDI DIN jacks. The only MIDI is USB, which means it can only connect to a computer. I had thought to control a drum module with it on stage - can't do it. That said, my computer programs recognized it with no glitches and the pads are fairly sensistive (7 on a scale of 1 to 10 for sensitivity). The software to program the pads is simple and effective and works. I did suffer some frustrating hours figuring out that I had to save new pre-sets over the existing ones in order for the machine to recognize them on upload - but once past that hurdle it was simple and reliable.
The build quality is ... light. It is plastic and has very little mass. It is not built like a tank, as they say. That said, all the parts work (for now) and I have no particular complaints because no part of it has broken for failed to work.
Tremendous value. It works. If you want a MIDI input device, and are buying new, this works and you probably can't beat it for the price.

Comments about Akai Professional MPD18 USB MIDI Pad Controller:

It's working great with Mixrcraft Pro Studio 5, just conect MPD18 on computer USB port, click load button on Addictive drums and play! I wish that rubber pads are little more touch sensitive, you really have to hit them hard to produce sound, so I always have Full level control button turned on.
I didn't explore all possibilities till now. Working well with XLN Addictive drums.
It looks solid and durable, just rubber pads had to be more sensitive.
I received AKAI MPD18 free with XLN Addictive drums in one package, so that's great value for invested money.

Comments about Akai Professional MPD18 USB MIDI Pad Controller:

overall i give this product a big fat 10 NO REGRETS on this product at ALL!hope my review helped you,
i rate this a 10 out otf 10, do to the fact when you actually get in n your mind its only a controller so as long as your used to your software, you most deffinitely gunna love this product, has faders note repeat full levels and 3 banks, i always use the full levels and note repeat at times, greaat features!
as they say akai is great, yes it is a wonderful company, im a 16 yo producer and i use these mpc style pads to the max, for hip hop/soul beats, everything on this product is stable and efficient to alll needs!
fantastic product, the values of it go to further extents, stripped down to what you need, i had no problem with this.

Comments about Akai Professional MPD18 USB MIDI Pad Controller:

The MPD18 by Akai is the older brother of the MPD16.
Complete with an editing software, the MPD18 has 16 velocity sensitive pad you can use to trigger anything you need!

The pads on the MPD18 are a great place to start. They feel great to the touch and to mash on but unfortunately that is about al they are good at. The mid to high level velocities are picked up very well but the when you try to hit it softer it bounces up and down when recording the midi data into software. It is great to use in its FULL LEVEL mode as well so everything you capture will be at maximum veolcity.

The fader is great and sturdy. I have used it as a filter control and a cross fader and it woks great. The fader addition makes this unit great for the portable dj as well.

The built in presets make this a great tool for the artist just getting into music production. There are 16 stock presets, 12 of which allow each pad to take a note in a specific key. This is a great way to jam out some interesting melodies really quick.

All in all I believe the MPD18 controller is great for the Entry or Mid Level buyer. It is a little stripped down then the M Audio Trigger Finger but feels much more professional (especially the fader). Other than the problems with the low velocity on the pads, the MPD18 by AKAI is a great buy
The controller has been stripped down to the bare essentials needed in a midi pad controller. Knobs and multiple faders would have been nice but I would not expect the same price point with those features.
Like most of Akai products this unit feels professional. It is sturdy and can take a decent beating, especially if you are hard on the pads.
The built in software and the editor cd are an amazing addition. The scale modes being built in are great and the FULL LEVEL options give you plenty of bang for your buck with this controller.

Comments about Akai Professional MPD18 USB MIDI Pad Controller:

If you've read others reviews in which people mention the lack of sensitivity and the need to hit the pads HARD, well, it's pretty much the truth. It DOES work OK as it is out of the box. If you're not interested in creating truly expressive percussion which realistic velocity then you might think the it's a great little unit as is. Personally, I want the expressiveness in the beats and it just doesn't cut it out of the box. As mentioned in another review, there is in fact a gap between the pad and the sensor inside the case. It's about 1mm -- that's 1mm too much. If you don't mind voiding your warranty then pop the cover and insert a thin shim behind the underside of each pad and close it back up. I used three pieces of duct tape to get the desired thickness with the adhesive side to the pad, not the sensor. It's so simple and makes a HUGE, HUGE, HUGE difference in the usability of this product. I was ready to return it and though for $99 it was worth trying the "fix." It did it and problem solved.The unit is well made in and out. I love the form factor and more compact size. It's a great tool overall. I'm sure there's just a slight manufacturing quality control issue somewhere that hopefully will be remedied at some point.

Comments about Akai Professional MPD18 USB MIDI Pad Controller:

I've been using FL Studio for quite a while, and like H.I.N.D.U. (who also reviewed this MPD18), I was completely fed up with trying to draw in midi drums shapes, or - worse - using loops that completely dehumanize the track. I use EZDrummer (which I also recommend), and record various genres, mostly rock/alt/indie. I was looking for a midi drum controller that was (a) simple and (b) sturdy. I didn't need all the bells and whistles that come with the AKAI MPD26 or MPD32. I just wanted a plug and play midi controller for drums. The MPD18 fits that bill perfectly. Features: Excellent if you want something simple. It's got a lone fader, and 16 pads, some presents, and a few other buttons that are relatively handy (though I've not yet found a need for them). If you have drum software/samples, and you're just looking to record midi drums with a human touch, the MPD18 is really all you need.Quality: It's excellent and very sturdy. Unlike some other products out there (like the M-Audio Trigger Finger). It's not rock-solid like an MPC, but it's not going to break down on you. I don't think the buttons are too hard to push. In fact, the sensitivity scale is pretty good - the intensity of the beat depends on how hard you hit the pad - this is obviously critical for humanizing the beat.Value - For under $100, this is well worth it. Overall - This is great. Again, if you're looking for a simple midi interface to control drum beats (with a human touch), the MPD18 is more than sufficient. I suspect it's also great for controlling other samples, for hip hop, etc., if that's what you're looking for. It's basic. But given that, it's great. And better than its counterparts from Korg and M-Audio.