I switched from an MPD218 to a Maschine mk3. Should you?
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- čas přidán 6. 09. 2024
- UPDATE (Feb 2019): A LOT HAS CHANGED! DONT BUY AN AKAI MPD218!
I keep all my gear recommendations up to date in this blogpost: bit.ly/2k0EifX
In this video I explain why I switched from playing an Akai MPD218 to a Maschine mk3 for fingerdrumming. I also explain why I still believe an Akai MPD218 might be the best buy for you even though I switched myself.
For a free beginner course to finger drumming, inclusing pad layout and the most basic techniques, visit questforgroove...
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PATREON ★❤♫ / thequestforgroove
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UPDATE DECEMBER 2018: A LOT HAS CHANGED!
Did a new video comparing a lot of devices on their sensitivity and playability >> czcams.com/video/TxRSBx9WW2Q/video.html
This is basically my "what to buy guide for 2019"
I’ve had the MK3 since november and i’m seriously in love with it. I also bought the MPD218 today that use with iphone apps. Awesome device on the go
I just bought a used MPD218 for $50 for use with iOS apps (Koala & BM3). I’ve had a Launchpad X for 2 years and it’s wonderful and useful in the studio with my Mac, but the flexibility of the MPD218 really surprised me. Yes - the Novation Launchpad X has more sensitive pads, but for $50 the Akai is still a great starter device, even in 2022.
hey man, i also play guitar. you talk about the quality of pads for finger drumming. your video was uploaded feb 16,2018. I just watching it now in 6/19/21. this video was really helpful to me. peace and love to you!
Great! Make sure to check out this blog post / video for my latest recommendations: questforgroove.com/gear-recommendations/
Thanks for the review. The comparison to expensive vs cheap guitars really helps too
Thanks! Right now I prefer the Maschine mikro mk3 and the Launchpad X / Promk3 wayyyy more than the mpd218. Theyre probably the best choice for most people looking for a good pad to so some drumming. The akai mpd218 got worse over time. Wouldnt recommwnd it anymore.
Don't buy the MPD218 guys. I just returned my Made in Philippines one as most of the pads are really hard to press (finger strain) and almost impossible to control the velocity even with the curves, simply because the pressure difference between 0 - 127 is so small. I'm better off using a typing keyboard or those cheap rollable e-drums with MIDI support.
Really interesting material! I have a nice tip for mpd218 users : If your device is not ok, you are getting random buttons fired without any reasons etc all you need to do is to adjust the screws from the bottom of the device. It helped me a lot, I had some real super annoying issues before.
Can you be more specific? I have one, brand new, I can't return it anymore and it works like crap. Ghost notes all over the place. Each pad is different sensitive than the other. Plus those annoying double/ghost notes when I hit a pad.
This is actually a private video since it was a livestream for patrons but I'm gonna share it here for now and delete it in a couple of days: czcams.com/video/Nd_rM6zr8_Q/video.html
20 minutes in I actually take apart my mpd218 and talk about it. So just navigate to 20 minutes and you'll see everything there is to know.
I'll delete this link in a few days because it's not meant to be public but I wanna help you out real quick.
I bought the Maschine mk3 as my first beat machine, and I do not regret it. It is everything I thought it would be and more. It does so much more than I even knew about. Only downside is if you go into something like this not knowing anything at all about music or music production like me, it is a HUGE learning curve, and took me about 4 months to learn everything I have learned, being the Maschine software, the controlls on the Maschine, music theory, and rhythm theory, etc.
Yes, learning to make music takes a lot of time, but its so incredibly rewarding because of that!
this video stopped me in my tracks, made me return my unopened AKAI 218 I just got to the store and get the mk3!
I've now spent a day watching mk3 tutorials and cant wait to get the great pads AND get into all the sequencing/sampling it offers. very excited, thanks!!!
Awesome! Makes my day to read this and know I helped someone out!
you lost me at 600 $
This is a pretty old video! Check out the maschine mikro mk3. Very nice, $250!
My latest video about a lot of pad controllers including that one: czcams.com/video/TxRSBx9WW2Q/video.html
Your English explanation was so clear that I was able to understand what you said. This movie helped me which put I buy. Thank you.
This is exactly the video I needed to see. Thank you so much!
Hey thanks! Keep in mind this is an older video. Make sure to check out newer comparisons and gear reviews like this one! czcams.com/video/TxRSBx9WW2Q/video.html
Good review. I even use the sturdy 25 euro MPD24 form Akai (second hand of course, but still as new) to make the difference even bigger with the 570 euro MK3. Ok, the pads on the MPD218 have a slightly better quality in comparison with the MPD24 but the MPD24 (best Knobs and sliders) does the job to.
A very good video with all the much needed context behind your decisions. I think the Akai is for me, if I ever get to the point where I make music for money, I might get the Maschine.
Alright, maybe also read my up to date blog post (this video is old) and watvh the video I have over there. Long story, but it will give you an even better perspective. For example, when this video was made the maschine mikro did not even exist. So check it out: questforgroove.com/gear-recommendations/
Regarding the sensitivity issue of the MPD218 (not triggering with low velocity hits), this issue can be fixed very easily with some electrical tape. There are many guides on how to do it but after much searching I found this one below (actually a review on amazon by a user called Matt) to be the best for the MPD218. It's basically a case of opening the unit up and sticking small strips of electrical tape on to the back of the rubber pad matt so there is a tiny bit less distance between the pad and the conductive sheet behind it. But as I said, Tom explains it in great detail here and it really does work perfectly. Thanks Tom! And thanks Robert of course! Here is the guide:
*There is 3/8" black cloth "pickup coil tape" on Stewmac.com. I use this for guitar work, so I had some on hand, but it just so happens it's the perfect width for this job. I also recommend the Double Stick tape, also available on Stewmac, and using this on the bottom of the black cloth tape. This ensures good adhesion to your rubber MPC pads. The black cloth tape seems to be more consistent than traditional electrical tape, and is easier to work with. Simply cut it into one inch strips and layer them together as needed, with double stick tape on the bottom.
*I'm using 2 strips for most pads. Add more and see if you like the feel or not. Adjust accordingly.
*I've found that setting these up is a balancing act. Every single screw makes a difference: installed/not installed, and how tightly installed, both on the circuit board itself and the red shell/cover that fits over the device. As for the tape: more tape can actually reduce the velocity range/sensitivity, which can be a good thing. Hyper-active pads that are triggering with too much velocity compared to the others may benefit from extra tape, not less. Balancing act.
*Currently I'm using no screws on the circuit board at all. On the hard red plastic cover, I'm using only the 4 outside screws, and have them slightly backed off, about 1/4 turn. This seems to be enough to hold everything in place, and gives great sensitivity response with the least amount of accidental triggering.
*I still get double triggering if I use the "Full Level" button, and I still get some accidental triggering of other pads, though they're usually at such a low velocity you can't hear it. My main problem was the Snare triggering the Closed Hi Hat pad(s), so when I'd do Snare and Open Hi Hat together, often the Open Hi Hat would be completely cancelled out by the Closed Hi Hat pad triggering. Setting up the pad as I've explained here fixed that. It may be that a lot of these pads are defective. But defective doesn't mean "not salvageable." It's a ton of work, and a major pain, yes -- but salvageable, and beyond that, transformable into a great pad controller. Now, back to my original review:
I carefully disassembled the MPD218 and cut electrical tape to fit over the pads. This is a well-known trick online, and the simple idea is this: it reduces the force you need to strike the pads with in order to trigger them, and especially to trigger them fully.
As others have mentioned, the other setup option is to very slightly back off on the screws that hold the circuit board down. You can even leave only the 4 outer screws attached and remove the 4 inner screws. Or remove all the screws on the circuit board completely. I've had the best luck so far by removing all of them completely, and only using the 4 outer screws on the hard red plastic back cover.
Tape method:
Step 1: Remove the screws holding the cover on. You're gonna want a magnetic holder or well-sealed plastic bag to keep the screws in as you remove them...trust me. Now take the cover off.
Step 2: Now remove the smaller screws that are holding the circuit board in place. Then carefully lift the circuit board and place it out of harm's way. You'll see a thin plastic sheet underneath with squares on it. Remove the conductive plastic sheet once you get to it. Remember: it needs to go back on the right way, i.e. the conductive side facing the circuit board, or else it won't work when you plug it back in. Shiny side = insulated side. That goes down on top of the rubber pad. Make sure the conductive Matte finish side is facing up when you're all done.
Step 3: Now you can easily remove the pads. It's literally just a floppy mass of rubber, all one piece, that you can just lift out. Take it out, and get some electrical tape and some scissors or an Xacto knife ready.
Step 4: Cut the tape, similar to how I did it in the picture. On the MPD218, the LEDs are dead center. So if you cover them with tape, the LEDs will be obscured and your pads won't light up.
You can customize it however you want. I'm using two layers of tape. You may like more. You may like less.
Step 5: Reassemble. And you're done! Good job. Now test your MPD218 for responsiveness.
Now I'm enjoying my newly set up MPD218 much more than before. Very, very light touches also seemed to trigger nothing before, whereas now they trigger exactly what I want: very light, soft sounds.
Just be careful with the screws and the circuit board when dismantling and reassembling this thing, and you'll be fine. It's a very easy fix. Just a bit time consuming when it comes to dialing it in perfectly.
Thanks for this! I really should try multiple of these diy solutions including tape and mpcstuff pads upgrade.
Man thank you for this video. I have an MPD218 and I was trying to figure out if it was just the unit that was giving me problems. I suppose it is. Its giving me double triggered notes when I hit it once. Nice hi hat playing too. I wanted to play that pattern but couldn't because of my controller.
Man, you got me. I’m gonna have to upgrade from my maschine mk1 to the mk3.
Never played a mk1 but all I know is that the mk3 pads are awesome!
interesting video bud! A lot of my Akai products have been hit or miss, mainly LPD’s and the MPK’s but my MPD218 is super super sensitive, I was honestly really shocked how responsive mine was
Hey that's great, you can consider yourself a lucky man with that mpd218 :-)
Hey everyone, leave your comments and questions below and I'll answer them asap!
The Quest for Groove Thank you for a very informative video. I am actually really considering picking up finger drummering mostly for live performance, I'm a Latin percussionist in a 7 peace group that I manage. BUT I also get gigs where a quartet is required for the venue. Although Latin is what we specialize in there are some songs with in my playlist the we play like Micheal Jackson, Stevie Wonder etc etc. That being said in your best opinion what should be the the best option for me. And whats the difference between the MPD218 and MPC Studio???
Soul Klave the mpc studio is basically an mpd218 with more buttons that comes with very advanced software. You still need a computer to run it, just like the mpd218. I would not recommend it since the pad quality will probably not be that different.
An mpd218 is always a great buy to get started. You can always return it if you feel you need even better pads. In that case you're gonna have to buy a maschine mk3.
The Quest for Groove Thanks!! You think I should just go with the MK3. Been doing a lot of researching and it seems to be a great pruduct. BUT again I'm just starting with finger drumming... You're thoughts and thanks again my brother!.
The Quest for Groove Hoi!leuke videos. Ik wil de Akai MPD218 halen om beats te leren maken. Moet je een wizzkid zijn om de pads in te stellen? Ik begrijp dat er software bij zit met duizenden drum geluiden. Ben echt een beginneling, en het leek mij leuk om te leren muziek maken.
Het is niet super moeilijk. Check de beginner course op questforgroove.com . Daar stel ik een mpd218 in!
What happened to AKAI build quality? The oldschool MPCs had an amazing build quality. Their new lowbudget devices seem to have really cheap plastic and feel kind of flimsy.
So sad. I would gladly pay some more to get a better quality mpd218!
they want more money for less value. as all other supplier.
UPDATE, based on tips and responses from users I think right now these 3 devices are the best to consider buying:
*Make sure you buy somewhere that has a customer friendly return policy because it might take more than one try to get a nice device.
- Maschine mk3 if you want the best and have the money.
- Maschine mikro mk3 if you want good quality for a moderate price. Quality between devices might vary is what I heard so swap it out for another one if you’re not satisfied right away.
- Presonus atom if you want something good for cheap.
I have an MPD218 and it's a bad specimen. The store I bought it from online didn''t respond on my return request. I elaborated on the reason (it being a bad specimen) they said there would be no refund. It could be sent to Akai for servicing. Do you know if that would work.to return it to Akai??
I have never returned something to akai so I don't know! I guess you should try. Maybe they'll be nice!
You can't edit pad notes on atom which ABSOLUTELY SUCKS!!!!!
Yeah I figured that out later because I mostly use midi learn and almost never edit the pad notes. But jeez... how hard can it be to give users that option. Unbelieveable.
Found a very honest review and I feel like I should also get 2-3 MPD 218s and return the inferior ones.
Yeah and don't forget the tape hack I try out here: czcams.com/video/Y9LkGODzQck/video.html
Just what i needed to know. Should i assume NI Mikro's pad are the same as it's bigger brother?
Thanks for the video.
Everything that you expressed in this video, is what i've commented in other places. & i've used Akai products since the MPC 2000XL (then the MPC 2500 when it first came out, & a few others i immediately returned back to the store). Then recently i bought the MPC Live.. Sometime after the MPC 2500 experiment, i bought Native Instruments Mikkro.. Then the MK1, & have had the MK3 since it first came out. Being a finger drummer too, who appreciates the subtle dynamics of the sweet things that real percussion incorporates (ghost notes, velocity changes, poly-rhythms, off beat, back on beat swing patterns) things i grew to appreciate from playing pots & pans, & table tops (when i was a kid), then later Congas, Djembes & other precussion.. The difference in quality between Akai's (world famous legendary) pads, & Maschine controllers is night & day. After experiencing for years, the true touch sensitivity adjustability on Maschine's controllers (being able to brush the pad lightly & still get sound), when i bought the MPC Live (because of the "Standalone" hype.. i can't use it. you have to hit these stiff pads too hard to get a sound (thats even after you adjust the touch sensitivity). Also the rubber on Akai's pads can make your fingers stick to them too much (unlike Maschine's smooth pads).. After using NI Pads for years, i've found the MPC Live a waste of money that i will have to now sell.. i got the MPD218 because it can be connected to the iPad to trigger DAWs & i like to use it with Beatmaker 3. it helps to have something more portable when you're on the go.. or get stuck on that deserted island you talked about... & i realize not that many beatmakers care about the subtle differences you can stylistically get when finger drumming.. a lot of beatmakers keep their pads at "full level" or even program beats via the step sequencer.. & have very limited relationship with actually playing... But if you want to use your controller like an Instrument.. NI's Pads kill Akai's (world famous legendary) pads. Which i know are legendary because its the Godfather device that all the old school hip hop producers used... But now a days.. there are better options.. even with Sound quality.. Akai needs to step up their game... Thanks for your detailed vid.. i wish i would have seen it before i wasted money on the MPC Live
Hey man, thats a sad but recognizable story! I actually liked the MPC live after tweaking the pad threshold in the settings menu, but I assume you already tried that before giving up on yours... yeah... getting good hardware is the hardest thing as a finger drummer.
Thanks for the video! Was looking for something like this, and now I have ordered an mpd218. It's kinda a turn off that not all mpd218 work equally well, but what can you do. It's still quite a good controller in terms of playability, size, looks and price of course. I personally don't care about velocity sensitivity, since I mostly use launchpads for playing consistently loud stuff (dubstep basses, synth leads etc). From your video I finally saw how compact it really is because I mostly like to play midi controllers like a guitar (hehe) resting on my knee and playing them with one hand from above.
finally got my mpd218 to work the way I want it ....seems to be a software issue with double triggering or echoing only happens for me in abelton drum plugins but works well with addictive drums,alchemy basically anything that is a drum program that emulates a keyboard and it passed melodics no double triggers
Great!!!
Hey ! They have a support page on fixing the double triggering in ableton by adding a “velocity” midi effect to whatever track you’re using with the mpd218. Put the lowest value on the gate of the velocity effect to 20-40 and it fixes everything! Works so well for me
I got the Akai MPD some months ago and its an AMAZING piece of gear. The pads are So sensitive (for my standards), and the best part for me, its very cheap and works perfectly with the ipad. without extra power. So it's perfect for mobile music.I bought mine used and paid only $40 !
Well, if you bought a used one you might actually have gotten one thats a few years old. My older mpd218's are a lot better than what you get if you buy one now!
4:26 wow what a tip!
I know right. Got many more where that one came from.
“Given there is power there” 😂😂😂😂🤣 lost it … great vid 🙌🏾 gonna stick to buying the MPD218
Haha, my mind takes a weird turn sometimes when talking :-) Please check out this more recent video about pad sensitivity, because I talk about the mpd218 again explaining why I think it's an even worse buy right now than it was in the past. After watching that, you should do whatever you want, but at least you have all the info! czcams.com/video/TxRSBx9WW2Q/video.html
The Quest for Groove lol it’s all good 😂😂😂 and thank you so much for the follow up vid! i’ll take a look RIGHT NOW
@@renvicjack628 if you really want something small & portable & will give you dope playability .. i would suggest going with, or at least investigating Native Instruments Mikko... Maschine controllers murder Akai's & going forward you'll be able to do way more with it..
You really can’t compare these two they’re totally diff machines imho
You can compare them in terms of pad sensitivity. For the rest I agree!
I think for pure finger drumming and bang for the buck I can definitely recommend the Maschine Micro MK2 (maybe there will be a MK3 at some point?). It has absolutely awesome quality control (tried 4 different micros) and is still relatively cheap.. and you get Maschine software as a kind of bonus. Granted.. it's not 100$. Also, the Korg PadKontrol is pretty decent.
Thanks for sharing that info. I have never played a Mikro. Maybe something to order and test.
It's definitely not as good as the Maschine Mk3 (those pads are just pure heavenly!) but the Mikro pads are the same as the other Mk2 series.. so the Studio and Mk2 Maschine. Not bad at all but still a notch lower than Mk3, which is fine.. the mk3 is the best in the industry right now in my opinion.
A white pad kontrol might be good. Black ones aren't as sensitive. The mikro mk2 can be a very decent buy! I'd go for the mikro.
Yes it does. The secret mpd218 trick is to order a couple of them, test them.all out, get the one with the best pads and return the others to get your money back. I think I tried 5 of them and one if those was really really good.
And the other ones were fine but not great.
Maschine is really really good 👍🏽
no, i play fast drum and bass, jungle, and the maschine is not as responsive, if you want the BEST trigger : AKAI MPC
Thanks ❤️
And tell me the best website to buy maschine mk3, And I'm from india
Please help me 🙏🏼
Anyway lol i bought a pad that turned to be the worst ever.
Some Chinese one which is so hard to press i didn't even know that it works.
Than suddenly i realized i have a solution!
I installed on my tablet midi drum pads.
And it responded amazingly.
So now im practicing on a tablet that is connected to pc for finger drumming.
Besides the control over volume, it's almost perfect.
Really responsive.. With near zero latency
Hi - thanks for infos.
May I ask you -
What do you think of in comparision:
a) AKAI MPC Studio
b) AKAI MPD225
c) AKAI MPD232
d) AKAI MPX16
Many thanks for your opinion !!!
I haven't tested them all, but out of that list you probably want to get the MPC Studio mk2 for finger drumming.
Good choice humanity has hope!
I just bought the Akai unit. It doesn’t work properly. Some of the pads seem to trigger multiple hits and occasionally trigger pads I haven’t touched. Although I’m knew to this (I’m a guitarist primarily), I can’t be dealing with crappy instruments. A compromise for me will be to get the Maschine Mikro which is a lot cheaper than the full-fledged Maschine Mk3. My only worry is that the Mikro Mk2 was brought out a few years ago. I don’t want to spend ££s only to have them release a Mikro Mk3 next month!!
I heard a few people say that the maschine mikro is actually not as good as the mk3 but haven't tested myself.
I'm really hoping that the market for high quality finger drumming instruments will grow because it's ridiculous that the only 100% quality device I've ever played is the maschine mk3. All the other ones have issues one way or the other.
The only other option is keep buying and returning mpd218s until you've got a good one. That's what I did and I did find one within 2 weeks.
Theres a video on how to fix unintended note triggering here: czcams.com/video/-YJWL4PzWlQ/video.html
I would switch to the mk3. The mpd is kind of bad. I usually make fast beats when I’m beat making but on the MPD218 it’s not sensitive and I play ghost notes, where you hit pads super gentle and fast. The MPD218 cannot do that. The mk3 has lots of more effects and extra buttons and has very sensitive pads. I went to guitar center then barely even touched the pads of mk3 and they all played lol I got started. But a long time ago when we bought the MPD218 I touched the pads so hard and it barely played.
Yeah the maschine mk3 is great. A lot better than mpd218. The 218 used to be built better. Some units play very well but nowadays you'll probably get a crappy one.
thanks for the video! i bought a komplete s88 midikeyboard.I'm a drummer but now i'm studing arrange and write songs .now i want to buy a midipad but i don't know should i buy it? If I will buy ,which one you suggest to choose? If choose to buy a maschine, maschine mikro mk3 will be the good choose or not?thx!
Maybe check out this video: czcams.com/video/yO27H_Cq7bM/video.html
I've had the issue where the pads trigger an extra hit but I haven't had any issue with the pads not being sensitive. It has only been a minor inconvenience for me; easy to remove after recording. I tend to do a lot of little edits to MIDI recordings after the initial performance anyway. I have been considering the maschine mikro mk3 since it's only $250 and you get the maschine software.
patrick bradley disabling aftertouch for each pad in its pc or mac software appears to rectify the issue.
Hello, sorry if my English is bad, I'm using the google translator. I want to ask if it is more convenient to buy an mpd 218 or an mpd 226. I am someone who wants to start in the world of beatmaking, but I have no idea what to buy, then the fact that I live in Argentina and the prices are high.
Probably a 218. It is cheaper and the pads are just as good. Here's a video of me taking one apart and trying to fix the pads to make them respond better: czcams.com/video/Y9LkGODzQck/video.html
what do you think about the Maschine Mk2 vs MPD 218 vs MPD226?
I have never owned a Maschine mk2 so I cannot say, sorry!
I actually moved from the mpd226 over the the mk3 maschine. The maschine is a totally different caliber of hardware altogether. I don't know why they are being compared in this video.
Maschine mk3 is my favourite device for finger drumming ever. Blows everything out of the water except maybe the akai mpc live.
This video is sort of a comparison but only specifically about pad sensitivity, since I don't use any of the other features for my way of playing and creating.
It is also getting outdated. Today, I would not recommend anyone getting an mpd2 series controller, because they don't make em like they used to.
Made a video talking about this and also comparing a bunch of pad controllers on their pad sensitivity last December.
czcams.com/video/TxRSBx9WW2Q/video.html
Sorry you can’t do a vs between those 2. MPC Touch vs Maschine MK3 you can do that
I get this comment quite a lot, but if you actually watch the video you'll notice that I somehow manage to give interesting information and even address the fact that the Maschine is more expensive and whether that matters or not.
I am trying to decide between picking up a mpd218 or spending a bit more on a NI mikro. Do I have to run the NI mikro through maschine? Or can I just use the mikro as a straight up midi controller
Mikro can be used in midi mode completely bypassing any maschine software! I do recommend it over the mpd218. I will test if you can make a 218 better by opening it up and messing around with electrical tape soon but I dont think it will get more responsive than a mikro mk3 to be honest.
Great review, well stated
If the akai or similar budget unit could be interfaced with a smartphone daw via usb, it would be a much cheaper way to have almost the same level of utility of an mpc one or Maschine mk3
Yes! I think this is where we are headed for sure. The new Apple M1 chips in their computers and software manufacturers now adapting to those new chips (which are basically also in iPhones and iPads) should push things towards this type of ultra mobility. My guess is a few more years and it will be mainstream to do stuff like this.
@@TheQuestforGroove Here's hoping! I was really scratching my head when I couldn't find a drum pad + encoder/slider midi controller that would work with Android daws!
MPD218 runs off one usb lead plugged into an iphone. No extra power or wires. Far more portable and convenient when on the go, and i want to do some practice.
Yeah portability is something to consider as well!
One more thing that explains why the price is that high : The mk3 is a real production system coming with the maschine software. The thing is designed to make songs, not finger drumming alone
Also, the MK3 has a built-in soundcard. So as you say, complete production tool.
yeah mpd is good for an start, but later you will need something better than mpd... I did same and switch to mk3 and it was the best invested money... be aware that when you will buy a machine there's a lot of software which you will get from it, complete software - daw, kits, instruments etc... you will not get it from mpd... when you switch, you will regret money of mpd, because you can had 2 more expansions... don't do same like me :/
are the pads about the same sensitivity on the 218 as the mpk mini mk3? tbh i don't like the pads on the mpk that much because they're stiff as shit. light taps don't trigger anything usually. and full velocity notes require at least double the pressure i think they should.
It varies a lot between individual units... that's what's so frustrating. I bought another mpd218 last year which was pretty good. But two years earlier I bought 2 units that were complete shit... Maybe this video will help you a bit, if you want to try and tweak one yourself. czcams.com/video/Y9LkGODzQck/video.html
@@TheQuestforGroove after researching more i ended up ordering the mpc studio pads. it doesn't sound perfect but from what i see, i think it should be solid. hopefully anyways lol
@@cortextickle The one I played (Mpc Studio II) had once pads. So yeah, I hope you got yourself something nice. You probably have!
Thanks for this review. I am planning to get a pad and have been looking at the mpd218 vs machine mikro mk2 (not mk3). I’ve tried the mm mk2 and 3 but have not tried mpd218 and I think I can already decide which to get. I’m already using NI s88 mk2, m32 and Audio 2, so I think I know what’s next. 🤭😁 thx!
Yes! The mpd series has gotten a little worse over the years actually. It's not worth buying at this time.
The best controllers right now:
- maschine mk3
- akai mpc live
- ableton push 2
- mikro mk3
- presonus atom
- novation launchpad pro
The Quest for Groove oh sorry I wanted to say Maschine Mikro Mk3 not Mk2. I’m going to the music shop to get the MM Mk3 tmrw... just called to reserve and it’s the last set available! Glad I watched your video!
Speaking of sensitivity - when you are playing a kick with your thumb and a hihat, for example, with your middle finger, how do you manage to hit them with a different velocity? For me my hand becomes a solid construction when I hit with multiple fingers at the same time, so all the dynamics of Maschine pads gets lost.
The trick is to move your thumb in a different way. You use your wrist to move your hand up and down, but you can then move your thumb in the opposite direction if you want (and practice, because it takes some time to get used to). I address this issue in the Grooving & Improving course on my website. You need an account to see the lessons in the course, but it's free and it takes 1 minute to sign up (if you haven't already, I'm not 100% sure)
This lesson: questforgroove.com/lesson/week-1/ talks about the right hand
And this one about the left: questforgroove.com/lesson/week-5/
Let me know if it's still unclear after watching those.
The Quest for Groove will check your course, thank you!
Semyon Boyko no problem. I'm working on another course on even more advanced hand movements that I make. That'll take a few videos to explain and it'll probably be done in a few months but you need to practice that other stuff in first anyways for a solid foundation. Just so you know there's more coming and it's definitely possible for you to learn how to do this!
I don't think the velocity matters if you are using it as a midi controller because of you wanted something like that notes you could always change the velocity in the event editor so great or decent sensitivity is key for the correct price which is 105 bucks Bois.
Yeah correcting afterwards is always nice with midi. It is annoying though when you hear something in your head , you play it, but you dont hear it because of the pad not triggering. That sort of takes you out of the groove zone. At least with me. So I still prefer a controller with premium pads.
This is an old vid by the way. The mpd218 has gotten a little less good. The new ones seem te be crappier than ones that were produced a few years back.
Maschine mk3 is still doing great!
Would you recommend the Maschine Mk2 mikro over the also mpd218? I’ve found it for not much more money. Also, ease of use with ableton is a factor for me
I'm sorry but I never played a mikro mk2.
Only thing I can say is if you buy second hand: make sure you get a software license key as well. Because sometimes that's needed for firmware upgrades and stuff.
Thanks! What about machine micro mk3?
Yeah that one wasnt released at the time I made this video but it's great value for money!
Hi. Thank you for your sharing many videos that we can use these techniques. Where can I download Mk3 samples or similar? By the way, I'm using Mpd218 :)
The sounds I use come from Addictove Drums 2. Specifically the Black Oyster, Fairfax 1 and Funk kits!
what is your opinion on the maschine mikro mk3 ? is it worth the extrabucks ? or rather get the mpd
Yes the mikro is great. Check out my latest recommendation video which includes it: czcams.com/video/yO27H_Cq7bM/video.html
Hello, what do you mean with your last description update "UPDATE (Feb 2019): A LOT HAS CHANGED! DONT BUY AN AKAI MPD218!" ? I understand than for now all the new MP218 are not well manufactured and are suffering from the trigger problem but maybe i'm wrong. Happy new year by the way.
Yes that's what I mean. But, I will do a test this week where I try and make a new mpd218 better by opening it up and doing some modding with electrical tape on the inside. If that works I might start recommending it again since it's so cheap and if it can be easily "fixed" it might still be a good option for those who are willing to spend an afternoon diy'ing.
@@TheQuestforGroove Perfect, thanks :)
Nice video. What do you thing about mpd226?? is it have a problem with pads too?
Yes unfortunately. Some mpd 226 units are good but the latest one i bought was worse than my mpd218.
The Quest for Groove thanks! But I'm completely confused. I cannot to choose between mpd226(or232) and Maschine mikro mk3. The mpd seems like more useful for me, because I do my main workflow in Logic pro x. Maschine mikro seems like more expensive and attractive, but I’m not sure that a maschine soft will comfortable for me. And it has less knobs and faders. Generally I want the best device(of these two) for finger drumming. Sorry for my eng:)
Probably the mikro mk3 simply because the quality of the individual devices is better most of the time. So there are some bad mikro mk3 units out there but they're rare, whilst there are many bad mpd226 and other devices like that out there.
Hey Mathijs, ook groot fan van de MPD128. Weet jij toevallig of je vanuit bijvoorbeeld Ableton op afstand Programs dan wel Banks kunt switchen met Program Changes oid op de MPD128? Cheers, Reyn.
Dus vanuit ee software switchen van bank? Dat heb ik nooit eerder gehoord. Ben zo geen aeton user maar het lijkt me dat de mpd218 dan een midi-in signaal moet kunnen ontvangen en verwerken. Denk niet dat het kan, maar als je ontdekt dat het wel zo is hoor ik het graag!
@@TheQuestforGroove Ah, ik had een hoop dat jij de oplossing zou weten. Ik zal je op de hoogte houden als het mij lukt! Dank voor je snelle reactie.
The trick to MPD218 is to hit it on the sides instead of dead center
That works with the PreSonus atom as well! With the mpd218 it sometimes does, but sometimes the controller is just not sensitive enough.
its absolutely terrifying that you bought 5 akai's just to find the best one. im shifting my view to korg. idk my love for akai is slowly dwindling....
Yeah it's a difficult situation. I recently re-assesed the situation and bought two akai mpd218's. Brand new. Both of them responded very well... Then I did a video where I 'fixed' one of my crappy mpd218s with electrical tape and in the comments there were people saying they did this as well and that they love their device now, but there were also people saying "I just bought an mpd218 and it so bad it cannot be fixed this way"... It annoys the crap out of me. No consistency...
Can you pls show us how to program the drum patterns like yours in mpd218 pls.
You gotta learn how to play! I have lots of lessons on this channel, but they're all about drumming yourself, not programming. That's sort of my mission with the channel, to show people how they can do more than programming (which is how I started as well) :-)
@@TheQuestforGroove thank you.
AKAI: £68
Maschine MK3 : £480
I feel like there is a slight discrepancy in quality likely here.... perhaps the price difference is a clue...?
Well, the price difference is not translatable into better, more sensitive pads most of the time. If you get an Akai mpc x and pay 2000 bucks, the pads will not be better than a maschine mk3. If you pay 250 for a keith mc millen quneo you're fucked because the pads are not sensitive at all. If you buy a white korg pad kontrol second hand the pads will probably be good. If you buy a newer black korg pad kontrol the pads will probably suck. The maschine mikro mk3 and launchpad x for example (which were not yet released at the time this video was) have very similar pads for less than half the price of the big maschine mk3. With the maschine mk3 you're paying for the ecosystem the dual screens, the knobs etc. Another thing which might be good to know: At the time this video was made $600 for the maschine mk3 was your only option for some seriously good pads. Not anymore. I keep my recommendations updated in a blog post because of the rate at which stuff comes out or simply changes in quality. The akai mpd218s that they're selling now for example are actually a lot less good than the ones they were selling two years ago.
Have you ever tried the pads between the Maschine Mk3 and Akai MPC X? And if so, what were your thoughts?
Not the mpc x, but I id play the mpc live (the first version) and compared to the maschine mk3 I personally preferred the maschine pads. That said, the akai mpc live pads were great as well. Responded nicely and they had a different velocity response curve. So at the time I would say it was a rather personal choice (apart from the difference in price). Right now I would only recommend trying something like the mpc X or live II if you're planning on using them without a computer. For beatmaking and stuff. If you do not need that functionality, the pads of the big maschine mk3 are simply the best you can get. Even the most expensive mpc devices will at most be just as good but not really better. And then the price difference just becomes to big to justify buying one of those premium mpc devices.
set your velocity in your daw or vst for the mpd218 and mine is better than yours ...i can double tap on 1 pad and create 32's and 64 's so that being sad it will double trigger on abelton drum racks but not in NI or Addictive drums
Thanks! I did some more research after this vid and the problem seems to be that newer mpd218 devices have a way bigger chance of being less responsive. :-( If you have a good one, hold on to it because they're pretty rare!
@@TheQuestforGroove I had to break it in and noticed its dependant on how good your daw velocity setting are in the vst which I like because I can assign my own velocity ..but addictive drums is the best for mpd218 and akai should have partnered with them instead of that garbage software ..sounds are good but software sucks for me too much latency
Can allways set the sensitivity and velocity on the 218 fix the problems didnt have to buy many of them
Hey thats a common mistake but the mpd218 does not have this option. De mpd226 and 232 do have it. Unfortunately even with those features they don't work perfectly. This is quite an old video, right now the controller with the best pads for 'cheap' is the masxhine mikro mk3, which did not exist when I made this video. Other great ones are launchpad x, launchpad pro mk3 and nektar aura. Presonus atom is best for a budget option but pales in comparison to the others. Hope this helped a bit! Cheers, Rob
@@TheQuestforGroove i ended up buying a launch pad s was playing with one at a store seemed really nice had features i wanted but they were hundredd dollars more than on the internet
Hey there. Is there any way you can make a video of setting up the 218 with essentials or whatever program you use? Im having an embarrassingly hard time getting it to work
Yeah I recently noticed that a lot of people actually urgently need the basics instead of learning how to play Taylor Swift :-) I think I'm gonna be doing a lot more basic setup tutorials after the breakbeat course is done in 3 weeks.
For now, go to questforgroove.com and check out the 'setting things up' and 'troubleshooting' lessons in the beginner course. Not my best work, since those were the first vids I ever shot in my life but maybe those can help you out a bit.
Hey, man! Thanks for your video! I have one question. I'm planing to buy finger drumming device but that kind of sensitivity as this MPD have, is unacceptable for me. So the question is, can I use Machine MK3 Mikro simply just as controller without Machine software?
Yes you can. The maschine mikro mk3 has standalone midi mode!
Hi, nice video!
I'd like to buy the akai mpd218 but I'm not a launchpad expert...
Can I use the launchpad as a "drum machine"? For example, touching a launchpad button make a drum LOOP starts, not a beat, or with the other button a melody play?
Yeah what you're describing should be possible on a launchpad but you have to be good with a program like ableton to make that work well.
Yeah just assign the track launch to the pad. I do it all te time
Mpd218 connected my amplifiers Church events programes or not at
The mpd does not have sound of it's own. It connects through midi to a computer and you can connect that computer through an audio interface to your sound system.
I am kind of ignorant about these devices, and this might be a stupid question. Anyway, I would like to ask you regarding the Maschine MK3. Can it be used as a standalone (without computer) if my intentions are to use it as a drum kit connected to an amplifier? Thanks and great review by the way.
Hey! These devices always have to be hooked up to a computer unfortunately. There's no sound inside of them, they just trigger a midi signal and then the computer has to actually produce the sound. Not that many standalone units out there besides Akai MPC live, MPC One, and those are mostly for electronic sounding music. You will not get the realistic acoustic drum kit sound, that needs processing power which only computers have. That said... Apple just announced that they'll be putting beefed up iPad chips in their next generation mac computers which means that within the next few years we can probably start hooking these controllers up to our phones and just jam that way... not yet though:-)
@@TheQuestforGroove Thanks much for the reply and the info. :-)
Which one really is good for live gigs? Im an acoustic player but really picky on a drummer.
Therefore i wanna make my own set of drum lines while performing. Are both device able to make preset and play live?
For both devices you'll need a laptop! The maschine mk3 does have an audio interface built in. With the akai mpd218 you'll need an audio interface as well.
If you want a true standalone device you probably need an Akai MPC live. It will sound more like 'samples' instead of real drums though.
For realistic sounding acoustic drums you'll need a pad controller, laptop with software like addictive drums 2 and an audio interface.
Which I want to choose akai mpd 232 or machine
Maschine mk3 has better pads.
232 is cheaper but has basically the same pads as the mpd218.
Great review! Have you tried the Arturia Beatstep? I wonder if the sensitivity is better than the MPD's. They are at the same price.
Thanks! Have not tried the beatstep because I need a 4x4 layout :-)
I'm looking forward to the presonus atom, released on October. They'll send me a unit to review!
Not.the akai its way better on mpd 232 u can adjust the sensivity its same pads as mpc live touch.Maschine mk3 its more sensitive but inferior quality it will not last much not as much as mk1
I just bought the beat step and it is trash the pads are not designed for drumming. It's like tapping on wood. It's more designed for turning off and on patterns.
Thanks for the info! Saves me some trouble :-)
@@TheQuestforGroove no problem I'm dying to return it tomorrow now that Arturia unregistered my product license.
Hi again ! Do you have time to make the same kind of video between your best MPD218 and the Atom ? i have found how to modify the pad sentivity of the Atom, but seems to be impossible to do on the Atom what you're doing at 3:00 of this video on the MPD ! well i'm a fingerdrumming beginner... so... may be.... i'm bad ! lol
Hey The atom is Basically as sensitive as a good mpd218. Problem is nowadays most mpd218s are crap so the atom is actually better.
I can do that move on the atom but let me assure you that that's the most difficult move. Takes a lot if practice. I explain how and provide training steps in my advanced techniques course on questforgroove.com !
@@TheQuestforGroove OK ! Thank you very much ! So the difficulty of the move should be the real reason ^^ ! LOL
Yeah, took me about a year to get it right!
I have a brand new MPD218 and the pads are not equally responsive plus I get ghost notes. Annoying as hell and I might return it. I use Ableton
My question: how good is it to get a used Maschine Mikro without the software instead as far as connectivity?
Ah too bad! Yeah that's the problem with mpd218. Some of them are good and some are less good.
You should be able to use the maschine in midi mode. I never use maschine software so you should be good if you figure out how to get it to work in midi mode. On mk3 its pressing shift+channel but it might be different.
My guess is apart from that you can just follow my instructions in my setting up maschine for finger drumming vid.
Here's the link: czcams.com/video/WhTXrW3TLpc/video.html
Ty for the Good video, very informative.
I want to buy a rc 30 boss loop station. Is possible to loop patterns from the Akai into it?
Thnx! I don't think so because the akai does not have any sounds. Just midi info. So you'd have to hook up tour laptop to the boss rc actually since the audio comes out the laptop:-)
@@TheQuestforGroove and the Alesis sample pad?
@@ROB-vp7ud yeah that could work! It has some sounds built in so if you plug that into the looper you can use it.
@@TheQuestforGroove good news, thank you!
what about the mikromk3?
czcams.com/video/yO27H_Cq7bM/video.html
can you use these devices to trigger live loops?
They're not standalone devices. So with the maschine you would trigger loops inside the maschine software on your computer and with the akai mpd218 you could for example trigger loops in Ableton or something.
@@TheQuestforGroove suuuhhweet
thanks buddy!
You're welcome! Have fun!
Hello TQfG! I am using a Maschine MK1 and I do not like the pads, they feel to hard. And I am thinking about an AKAI MPD 218 because I´m just drumming on the pads, all the buttons, displays and functions are not part of my workflow. Hardware is changing, software is staying so I work with my DAW. Are the MK3 Pads softer than the AKAI Pads? And can you fortuitous compare the AKAI pads to an M-Audio Triggerfinger Pro and its pads? That pads were great, but the device didn´t catch me. In hope of getting response thank you!
Hey! The mk3 pads and akai pads are different but neither of them feel too hard to me.
Unfortunately I've never played a trigger finger before so I can't make the comparison. What I can say is that both devices have way better pads than for example a korg pad kontrol.
Mpd218 is in a way the best thing out there right now if you just use the pads. If you get a good one from the factory it'll be only one step down from the mk3 sensitivity.
Great Answer! THX alot! I´ll see if I order 5 AKAIs for finding the good one... But its a thought! Props2U!
Glad I watched this.... but yeah - lost at $600. Hard to make a comparison between two devices that are only comparable on one level (and standard fender strats aren’t that expensive .. American made? Ok)
The MPD is easy to mod for higher sensitivity by adding a thin layer of rubber to the bottom of the pads. There are a couple of YT videos that illustrate the procedure.
I'm gonna try this myself after christmas! Already bought another mpd218 that i will open up and try and "improve". I'll film all of it ofcourse. Curious to see what happens!
can we connect maschine mk3 to amplifier?
In a way, yes. Because maschine has a built in audio interface with audio outputs. So you can connect those to an amp.
It's not a standalone device though, you'll always need your computer!
So you said a lot changed. I really wanna start finger drumming, and ofc I found the mpd218. So overall, should I buy it? Or if not, which low-budget (max. 120-130 $) pad should I buy?
Presonus Atom! ($150... so just a little over budget but its significantly better than anything else in that price range right now)
Akai mpd218 is too big aloft a risk, you'll probably get a bad one nowadays.
@@TheQuestforGroove yeah, I saw that one too, I'll think about it. Thank you for your fast and clear reply :)
Btw, is there any ways to connect Atom with an android phone? (galaxy a8) If I want to bring it somewhere and I don't want to bring my pc, what should I do?
You might be able to with an adapter so you can plug in the atom in the charging port of your phone.
Then you'll need some app that can receive the incoming midi data and play sounds.
So far, I haven't really found something that's actually awesome for this. It looks like most people stick with their laptops or they just get an MPClive for a lot of money and play standalone without anything.
@@TheQuestforGroove yeah, I'm looking for an app like too. Thanks!
does maschine come with drum kits pre-set? that i can edit? or do i need to create them?
There are a lot of pre made sound sets and loops in maschine but I didn't find a 'regular' sounding drum kit. I use maschine in midi mode and trigger addictive drums 2 with it. So I don't use maschine software at all for drumming.
Can’t you change the velocity in the settings in the Akai ?
No but in every higher model you can. So the mpd226 can do it!
Only downside of taking a 226 or 232 is that the mpd218 just looks the best :-)
I ended up purchasing the Atom, but I still enjoy watching your videos, and it is likely that I will give these pads a try at some point as well. Regarding the MPD218, I wanted to ask you if you've considered using the simple mod where you open the device and put electrical tape bellow the pads in order to close the air gap between the trigger and the electronics? This seems to be the go-to for people, under the premise that after all, it's an instrument and it won't work for absolutely everyone until tweaked. This mod seems to have worked for most people, given them much more sensitive pads...
I haven't tried that actually. I did mess around with the screws on the back of the circuit board, which was the "known" fix at the time.
What about the Maschine mikro MK3? Is it as sensitive as the bigger MK3?
You probably want to check out my follow up videos. I'll link them here >> czcams.com/video/uMRMyC3BQZA/video.html and >> czcams.com/video/TxRSBx9WW2Q/video.html
@@TheQuestforGroove Yes , I did in the meantime. Answered my question, thank you!
I have the mpd218 and i use windows. do you know of any good software for it.
Yeah get addictive drums 2! Its the best.
You might want to wait until they have one of their 50% discount things. They do them 3 times a year. Great deal.
better is to build our own finger Drumming pad using Arduino Mega with Peizos
Sounds cool. You have one?
The Quest for Groove czcams.com/video/c0rsuEIBzdY/video.html
lets talk about why the 2020 lamborghini aventador svj roadster is a better sports car than a ford mustang.
Nah, let's talk about why I personally switched to another more expensive car (and no, its not about the bells and whistles) and why the cheaper car is still a great buy for a lot of people... that said, the cheaper car got even worse over the past two years and I no longer recommend it. The machine mikro mk3 is the best value for money 4x4 device at the moment.
i don’t understand why you can’t use the Maschine so good with other DAWS, I don’t want to learn a whole new DAW just for one piece of hardware..
what I mean is, if I get a Maschine, (im on fl studio & logic) I would have to use the Maschine vst to use the Maschine mk3 in fl studio... there’s really no point bc you can’t play midi notes etc in fl studio, logic, etc. idk. I’m going to take my macbook pro up to guitar center and see if i can try it out there before I buy it.. bc there’s not many tutorials and videos out there that show making beats on other vsts with Maschine... the videos that are out, are usually on the Maschine DAW and not any other DAW.
@@Sheesherscreepers The Maschine can be set into midi mode. Check out this vid >> czcams.com/video/WhTXrW3TLpc/video.html
Would you be able to recommend a controller that has sensitivity comparable to the Maschine without all of its bells and whistles?
Man, I wish I could! At the moment the most premium pads are only available on a premium maschine :-(
I think the best buys right now are:
- maschine mk3: the best but expensive
- mpd218 pr maschine mikro mk2: smaller, less bells and whistles, good sensitivity but variable production quality.
Which means you sometimes get a device where one pad isn't as sensitive as the others. I bought 5 mpd218s and then kept the best one and returned the other ones. My mpd218 is very good. Amazing for $100. So if you can temporarily miss $500 (you'll get the other 400 back after testing and returning) that's the best way to get a quality non bloated device.
Ahh thanks for the advice. I actually already have an MPD218 and while the feel of playing it is great I definitely have the same problem that yours has. My main issue with it (besides double triggering notes) is that the velocity values it produces aren't varied enough and it's especially noticeable on snare rolls or double kicks. It seems to not wanna produce any values from about 15 to 80. I end up getting so many velocity values at 127 it's actually ridiculous, but I'm gonna see if doing the cortex mod from MPC stuff helps at all. I also have a Nektar Impact LX49+ keyboard, and the pads on that, while they don't feel as great to play, actually produce way more usable MIDI and I can play them a little harder without worrying about hitting 127.
Production quality of the mpd218 might have gone down over the past years. The same happened with the korg pad kontrol. Was almost too good to be true when released and now they're not as great. 'Streamlining' the build process I guess :-)
218 needs a mod. did it 2 wks ago and its excellent
Ah nice! Mpcstuff?
@@TheQuestforGroove hi yes. Believe it or not I downgraded to the MPD218 from a modded MPD32 and it is superior to that. I use it for finger drumming and Waves bass slapper into logic and after the mod it is incredible. At the price point its great for the money anyway but just doing the mod allows for every velocity to come through. I'm going to buy another as a back up in case they are discontinued. I would like a Maschine but as Ive invested in a plethora of other controllers and plug ins, this little space saver is a performer and I would reccommend the mod. It eliminates the variance in sensitivity between units you mentioned as the mod can be adjusted to suit the particular unit. Great videos by the way. I watched one of yours and decided to buy the 218 on your recommendation and when i saw that the mod I had done on the MPD32 worked on the 218 I was over the moon. Bass Slapper is fantastic with it.
Very interesting. Something for me to look into in the future and do a video about. Thanks!
Buy 5 and pick the best one? What kind of solution is that....................................
I wouldn't call it a solution. Its more of a workaround. I understand its frustrating but I'm just telling the truth about what I did. Its not my fault akai has bad quality control on their mpd218 units.
Wow I can’t imagine the Mpd218 being more sensitive i can play stupid fast on mine.
Yeah if you get a good one it actually works fine for finger drumming. Problem is there's a lot of bad specimens out there.
@@TheQuestforGroove yeah i saw how yours was I’m seriously shocked! I had one that was so sensitive it would double trigger a lot. I sent it back and got a new one it still ghost triggers but not as much. But I can ghost note on it and roll like a wheel no problem. Im really curious about maschine now though.
@@TheGodclouD Maschine mk3 is better than any mpd218 I ever played. That I can tell you with certainty.
If I may ask why didn't u get a mpc pro
As far as I know the pads aren't any different from the other akai devices (including the cheap mpd218). They're all supposedly have the same pads and therefore I stuck with the maschine since that one has better pads than my akai mpd218.
Obviously I could be wrong, because I did not test the expensive mpc's.