I've always seen the MPC drum pads on the akai keyboards and it looks like its useful but I don't understand how its so much different then triggering beats with keys.

Is it easier to find grooves with the drum pads just cause they are bigger then the keys and easier to hit? Ok maybe thats a stupid question cause I would assume it IS easier and they're there for a reason.

But how often do you guys find yourselves actually using drumpads for grooves and what not? I'm looking around for a 49 key midi controller but I'm just curious for those who have them, do you find yourself using the pads a lot for drum grooves?
I honestly never even use keys to trigger grooves I always just loop and mouse them in, I'm afraid I'll never use the pads but I don't know what it feels like. So for those who have the tiny pads on the keyboards do you actually use them a lot? Thanks

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Sequencers: FL Studio 9XXL & Reason 3.
Main Synth Bass GTs - Pro-53, V-Station, Sytrus, Subtractor, Trilian, Blue, Sylenth & Z3ta.
Main Synth Lead/Pad GTs - Z3ta, Sytrus, Sylenth, Vangard, Albino & Nexus.
Main FXs GTs - Waves Plugins, Soundtoys, Volcano, FL Native FX.
Hardware - Truths, Echo Audiofire, Virus Snow, & Novation Xio Midi-Synth.

And the reason I ask obviously is the AKAI MPK49:

http://cgi.ebay.com/AKAI-MPK49-MPK-...=item5ad7ce9e35

is $338 while it seems 49 keys w/out the pads are like $100-$150 cheaper. I'm still looking for cheaper ones with the pads gonna go over the novamusik and look right now..

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Sequencers: FL Studio 9XXL & Reason 3.
Main Synth Bass GTs - Pro-53, V-Station, Sytrus, Subtractor, Trilian, Blue, Sylenth & Z3ta.
Main Synth Lead/Pad GTs - Z3ta, Sytrus, Sylenth, Vangard, Albino & Nexus.
Main FXs GTs - Waves Plugins, Soundtoys, Volcano, FL Native FX.
Hardware - Truths, Echo Audiofire, Virus Snow, & Novation Xio Midi-Synth.

I have a pal who has an MPK49 and the drumpads on it are very good.

Same as the MPC pads I believe.

The drumpads I had on my SL49 were rubbish.

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if you're doing anything live it's very cool to use them to trigger clips and what not (also set loop or cue points!). i learned a few years back though that it's WAY better if they light up, i've been stuck in some very dark night clubs wondering which fuckin button i just hit and which one needs be hit. i also had a few corona's.

I have a Trigger Finger that I use to trigger events in Traktor when DJing. I'm waiting to replace it with a Traktor Kontrol X1, but for now I'm stuck with the Trigger Finger. Frankly any pads on keyboards seem too small to be really usable. I think you'd need at least the inch x inch sized ones.

I've been in the same boat as Anthony where I didnt know which pad I just hit, or accidentally hit in between two pads and were not sure which one got triggered. The Korg Kontrol49 or the Maschine would definitely be better suited for live use because they light up.

As for producing, its really just a personal preference thing. Frankly, I cant find a lot of use for them when producing because I generally have my drum samples mapped out on the keyboard and I want as many keys as possible so I can audition all of them.

Where it is useful is if you are trying to record a drum line with a more "live" feel, but I accomplish that using swing instead of trying to play it on a finger pad. As a former drummer I find trying to play drums with my fingers on a pad control to be less than ideal.

Ok I'm just trying to take this all in.

I'm not sure what tehlord meant by "rubbish", maybe the pads on cheaper models are sticky or not sensitive enough, or maybe they are just too small like Eric said (which was one of my assumptions to begin so thanks for clearing that up).

But after watching some demos of the MPK49 I'm pretty sure I'm gonna get that specific model. I was watching demos with people using the drum pads and it does look like its very useful for drum patterns. Very seldom I'll use keys to trigger drum notes and I just don't like the feel, but I think the pads on the MPK will be a lot easier to trigger. When I try to do fast hat grooves with the keys I do find my fingers hitting the wrong keys and messing up grooves so I think if anything it would be nice to have a different way of doing thigns.
Punching in notes with the mouse just gets really boring sometimes. I also LOVE the fact the MK49 has transport buttons on it. Everything is there right on the keyboard so it'll be a lot more hands on no matter what compared to what I'm using now. (the xio as a midi controller). Plus I want some big sliders I've always usually just had tiny knobs (the knobs on the xio are so friggn tiny). Ok great, I'm gonna look around just a bit more but I'm really liking this model. Its a tad bit more then I was looking to spend but I think in the end it will def be worth it just for personal producing. (no live stuff)

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Sequencers: FL Studio 9XXL & Reason 3.
Main Synth Bass GTs - Pro-53, V-Station, Sytrus, Subtractor, Trilian, Blue, Sylenth & Z3ta.
Main Synth Lead/Pad GTs - Z3ta, Sytrus, Sylenth, Vangard, Albino & Nexus.
Main FXs GTs - Waves Plugins, Soundtoys, Volcano, FL Native FX.
Hardware - Truths, Echo Audiofire, Virus Snow, & Novation Xio Midi-Synth.

Of course they are worth it, if you like punching in things while recording. So that the timing is close to perfect or more human, and you can avoid using a keyboards keys for high velocity strikes, that take their toll on the keys after a while.

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quote:

Originally posted by Kismet7 Of course they are worth it, if you like punching in things while recording. So that the timing is close to perfect or more human, and you can avoid using a keyboards keys for high velocity strikes, that take their toll on the keys after a while.

man speaks da troof

quote:

Originally posted by DJ Robby Rox Ok I'm just trying to take this all in. I'm not sure what tehlord meant by "rubbish"

I think he means they are hard like rocks with no movement in them at all, if referring to the novation. mine on the SL 49 are stiff as all shit, where i would expect a little response from them. I mean ther pad shapped an all, but flat and almost lifeless,

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Uses for drum pads

-Percussion arrangements
-Assigning the pad to a paremeter and getting the value live with that rather than twisting a knob

There's some things that really you don't want to be doing with keys

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quote:

Originally posted by Energy_3 I think he means they are hard like rocks with no movement in them at all, if referring to the novation. mine on the SL 49 are stiff as all shit, where i would expect a little response from them. I mean ther pad shapped an all, but flat and almost lifeless,

Pretty much spot on.

The MPK49 is also a very high quality piece of equipment, I think it's pretty good value compared to Axioms and SLs. It sits in a little niche of its own really.

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quote:

Originally posted by tehlord Pretty much spot on. The MPK49 is also a very high quality piece of equipment, I think it's pretty good value compared to Axioms and SLs. It sits in a little niche of its own really.

I now wish i went to an alternative instead of the novation it seems to be nothing but problems for me as a newbee with setup in logic.

but im sure in time with experience it wil get better,

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