I work on Mac and usually write drums as midi with a sampler (Battery from Native Instruments or ExS 24 in Logic).
I‘Ve thought it’d be really cool even to play drums and records rhythms via midi using a drumpad. I got 100$ for Christmas, what drum pad do you recommend?

I don’t know too much controls, just some pads and maybe volume fader but it’s not so important
Thanks

 

I don't find them really usefull.Don't you have a midi keyboard to do that?

 

Last edited: Dec 18, 2018

Add $60 more and you can get this:

Akai Professional MPD18 Compact Pad Controller

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B...veASIN=B002LNBG1Q&linkCode=as2&tag=incepin-20


I use Akai drum pads, but on an MPK series. This is basically the same minus the keyboard.

 

@OP I'd try to find the MPD 18 on ebay within your budget, the pads on the 218 look a little suspect to me. The actual pads from the MPC's/MPD18 are legendary.

 

I agree. That $60 extra, if you can't find it cheaper elsewhere, would be a better pay off in the long run. The MPD 18 made The Best MIDI Drum Pad Controller... https://www.wirerealm.com/guides/best-usb-midi-pad-controller

 

MPD the pads are really really great. Especially for the price.

 

Over 10 years ago I borrowed DD-55 from a friend to trigger drum sounds in Reason, it worked great and was a lot of fun, especially if you know even a little bit of drumming(there was even percussion mode to make pads more sensitive to play with bare hands)
So I would just try some cheap models and return them, if not working properly for your purpose.

https://www.thomann.de/fi/alesis_percpad_percussion_pad.htm (req. MIDI interface)
https://www.thomann.de/fi/kat_ktmp1_multipad.htm

 

Depending on what you prefer, 4 big pads [which is precisely enough to put down beats] that you can bash with your hands or real drumsticks, or 16 or more small pads you have to bash with yor fingers, I would decide between Alesis Percussion Pad or Kat Multipad [Kat should be slightly better quality?], or Akai MPD-18, or even MPD-32. I got my Akai MPD-32 for less than 100 euro from E-bay and it's like new. Those faders and knobs on it can come very handy for mixing and changing sounds while you're drumming.

There is one thing with Akai pads, though. You have to hit them pretty hard since they're not sensitive enough, even at the most sensitive setting. You can really work out, if not break your fingers drumming on this thing, but there is a relatively easy solution - Akai pads sensitivity enhance kit.

 

Yes to all of the above A friend gave me an MPD32 a few years ago and I also found the velocity lacking. My solution was to lift the hood and put two strips of electrical tape over each trigger, under the pads. Now they are super responsive and it's much more fun to play with

Quick ebay search turned up a ton of sub-$100 options and the tape/sensitivity trick with work on any of them Let us know what you end up doing

 

Agree with Sinewave. I also have an MPD32. It"s a solid product, very well-built, but the pads are not sensitive enough: you have to hit really really hard, even with the highest levels for sensitivity. There are solutions, as mentioned above (the tape thing or substituting the pads) Maybe the new versions (MPD2xx) are different.

 

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Wor...lgo_pvid=3f4fee03-6f84-42ce-980d-871e41a0c069

 

I need to cast a vote for the MPD218. I have a bunch of Akai gear and the 'fat' pads on the MPD2 series (as well as the new MPCs) are on-point-- good sensitivity, very nice feel, etc. Better than the pads on the previous era of Akai controllers.

No less an authority on finger drumming than David 'Fingers' Haynes (if you don't know him, search him on YouTube and prepare to be astounded) vouches for the new Akai pads.

As Nana Banana linked above, the MPD218 is $99 US on Amazon right now-- a steal, in my opinion, and on-point for your budget.

 

NO WAY! I'm getting that! I had no idea that existed. Thanks SineWave!

Exactly why I posted that. Highdom said that's all he had.

 

Can't speak for the MPD2xx series but the pads on my MPK2xx can get pretty sensitive, to point where just touching the pad with slight pressure triggers the sound. I would think the MPD2xx series are similar. Plus those xpresspads peeps use them and the main dude knows his stuff.

David 'Fingers' Haynes, that man is pretty awesome. Never seen him before. Thanks MichaelPatterson. I think in a year or two I'll get that level of control, that's what I'm lacking, that kind relaxed finesse. His style is sorta awkward but man he can work those pads.

 

You can adjust the sensitivity on all pad controllers I believe, I've always been partial to the soft pad feel over the hard stiff button pad stuff but I may need to expand my horizons on that. Nice thread!

 

I think Akai MPD serie is a good choice, i also got an old Korg PadKontrol which brings some good adds like scenes, flam, roll... XY pad control ! i got for a long time and i still use it ;) i'm pretty sure you can find it under 100$ ! Where i live i can find it for 95€...
https://fr.audiofanzine.com/controleur-a-pads-midi/korg/padkontrol-black/petites-annonces/

 

get 2 tabbaco cans, place a singstar mic in each of them, find a audio midi trigger plugin and drum away!

 

Look into getting a used Korg PadKontrol :

https://www.ebay.com/itm/korg-pad-k...h=item33fd97b0d2:g:fN0AAOSwx1FcEaxZ:rk:4:pf:0

SOS review

https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/korg-pad-kontrol

 

Thanks, I appreciate this model and finally buy it!
Works perfectly on drums with Battery 4 and Logic X