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what type (best) of drum MIDI controller should I get?

Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2008 3:01 am
by freeza
ok I hate mapping out/clicking drum rhythms. Me being a drummer/percussionist with like 10 years of experience on my hands I find a drum maching or MIDI controller would be best for me to tap out the rhythms. any suggestions?

Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2008 7:54 am
by stier
I just bought the MPD32. It's a superior product in terms of quality and design. Don't think about it being expensive because it's near perfect, really.
But on these AKAI drumpads you have to work with your hands. If you want to use sticks, get one of the ROLAND drumpads, they are all very nice in terms of built quality.
Another suggestion for 'real' drummers: http://synesthesiacorp.com/

Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2008 11:15 am
by jblake
Korg padKontrol. Around the same price, miles more customisable due to optional modding (http://farmaudio.com/), the pads never double trigger and are more sensitive to feel. Downside is it has no faders. But... It has a native mode where all of the buttons (loads) become midi assignable, which is extttttttttremely useful.
Plus, if you ever decide to do some digital DJing, or live playing, this thing is a massive favourite in the ableton community.

AND IT LIGHTS UP!

Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2008 11:40 am
by lewisr
Im about to buy an M audio trigger finger, Ive read loads of good reviews on it etc, its got 4 faders and some knobs to assign too.

Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2008 7:32 pm
by freeza
Yeah some folks have told me about the trigger finger

Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2008 4:25 pm
by Elkie
anyone know what the pads on that new korg nanopad thingy are like?
was looking at one of those, look almost too good to be true for £50
are the pads velocity sensitive?

Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2008 6:05 pm
by jblake
I actually have the padkontrol, and its solidly made and sturdy, yet light. No problems at all with it.
Nano pads aren't as good as the padkontrol padwise, despite seeming like they would be. They're not very customisable but good for your average stuff. Nanokontrol is probably the best in that series of controllers, but tbh if you're looking for a cheap and space saving way of banging stuff out, the nanopad is worth the 40 quid. If money/space isnt an issue might as well get padkontrol.

Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2008 9:32 pm
by mickledan
i've got a nanopad, it works!

does have velocity sensitivity, which, if i remember correctly is programable using their handy cc editor-

in terms of build, i've not hand any issues, bashing it pretty hard, more acrylic than rubber feel tho imo

Posted: Wed Dec 31, 2008 3:16 am
by subindex
lol do they pay you to say this on internet forums ???

Posted: Wed Dec 31, 2008 10:20 am
by jblake
Haha, nah it's just that sick!

edit: $$$

Posted: Wed Dec 31, 2008 3:08 pm
by whineo
Korg Padkontrol has flimsy build quality
MPD24/32 are beautiful creations

Posted: Wed Dec 31, 2008 3:39 pm
by ninjadog
I also own the pad kontrol, and I also love it. What sold it for me is the x,y pad thing. You could use it for drum rolls, flams, and other things like controlling two parameters of a synth with one finger. I have never had an issue at all, wich I wish I could say about my m-audio crap.

Posted: Wed Dec 31, 2008 7:26 pm
by anthonyfromtheuk
After trying out my friends MPD24 or what ever its called i thought all midi drum things were terriable but for xmas i got a korg pad kontrol and also nativekontrol id have to recommend this at least for ableton as you can use the PK for everything almost never have to use a mouse again. excluding the native control the acctually unit is top quality extremly sensitive if not a bit to sensitive (keep pressing pad i dont mean to by brushing past them). It looks damn cool and is cheap there are better but for the price the korg padkontrol kills it all depends on how much you want to spend

Posted: Wed Dec 31, 2008 10:22 pm
by Sharmaji
i use an alesis controlpad. wicked.

Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2009 11:44 pm
by silentk
I recently got a Korg Nano pad for ma birthday.
does what it says on the tin pretty much, ronseal style.

Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2009 12:11 am
by samkablaam
depends what your usin it for. if your usin it for producin and on a tight budget, prob mini korg thing, or triggger finger, but for djing, there is only one way to go... akai mpd series. lots of faders to assign to pitch controls within torq/serato/ableton, lots of knobs to assign eqs or volumes, and akai standard pads for triggering loops. akai mpd 24 is only 160 or something