By RikkRokker
Sat Aug 13, 2011 2:13 pm
I've read a lot of cross talk and questions about the pad upgrade and it's effectiveness. 'Pad Upgrade' users please post your input here, those considering the pad upgrade with can ask general questions here.
I'm a pad upgrade user and am extremely pleased with the results. However, the results that I achieved were not 'out of the box'.
I purchased the upgrade from http://www.mpcstuff.com, and received the 'official' Akai pad upgrade kit. The first thing I noticed is the EXCELLENT quality of the new sensor sheet, though a bit pricey for the kit, the quality of the build seems worth it. The new rubber pad rubber is not noticably different texture-wise than the old, but the fact that the pads are now a single sheet that overlays the sensor sheet makes it a BREEZE to install and service if needed.
Post installation though, the reality of the shortcomings of the upgrade became painfully obvious. The first thing I noticed was the 'gap' between the sensor sheet and the bottom-strike of the pad. There seems to be a 1 or 2 mil space between them. How does this affect performance? Well if you only use the MPC for tapping simple beats out at 1/4 or 1/8 time, you probably wont notice much, and actually might appreciate the gap because it softens the striking surface of the pad when compared to the original pads and gives it more of a '2000' feel. Problems arise though when trying to trigger beats like 1/16 or 1/32 live, the gap unfortunately increases the travel distance between the pad bottom-strike and the sensor, making these fast trigger times difficult or unreliable when compared to the original pads. No amount of pad calibration fixes this, believe me I tried.
"You mean I dropped nearly $200 and THIS is what I get...Upgrade my a$$!!" Was my initial response. Disappointment not being an option, I contacted MPCStuff and voiced my concerns. I was told that I had some options..."Options? YAAAAY!!!" I like options....especially when the options are inexpensive.
MPCStuff offers the 'Corx' option for $15. 'Corx' is basically a sheet of 1 mil adhesive cork that is pre-cut to fit the bottom-strike of the pad, thus eliminating the 'gap' that caused me so much grief. It is a trade off, the Corx option, as once installed you'll lose the softer striking surface that the gap gave you, and feel more like the original pads with regards to striking feel. I didn't miss the pre-corx feel one bit, I liked the strike feel of the original 1000's pads and the 'Corx option offered that.
MPCStuff also offers a 'Thick Fat Pads' option that actually replaces the entire rubber pad sheet and has the 'Corx' built in. It runs approx $39. I have not tried this option, but plan on giving it a shot just for the sake of experimentation.
Now the real test, the 'feel' and sensitivity of the pads with 'Corx':
One Word,
WHOAH!!!!!!!
The upgrade for me only became an upgrade after the install of the Corx option. I never thought that my MPC could have this accuracy and sensitivity. My pads are now 'hair trigger' sensitive. I literally can barely brush my finger on the pad and it will trigger. I was doing 3 finger rolls (fanning my first three fingers against the pad, akin to doing 'crabs' that are popular with scratch DJ's) with inspiring results. Never could my MPC have done this to the same accuracy with the original pads. It is AMAZING the difference, I feel like I have a whole new instrument. Of course you can adjust the trigger sensitivity to your own liking, but know this (needless metaphor time):
If the sensitivity of the original pads was a lake, then the 'Upgrade' by itself is a swimming pool. The 'Upgrade' with the 'Corx' option is a friggin' Ocean!!!
I would tell EVERY MPC owner considering the upgrade to drop $15 extra and get the 'Corx' option, otherwise you might feel that the 'Pad Upgrade' blues like I did.
If you have a direct question about my experience with the upgrade or want to see a video showing the increase in sensitivity drop me a line at sablerock(at)adelphia.net
Keep on Rokkin' MPC users....
I'm a pad upgrade user and am extremely pleased with the results. However, the results that I achieved were not 'out of the box'.
I purchased the upgrade from http://www.mpcstuff.com, and received the 'official' Akai pad upgrade kit. The first thing I noticed is the EXCELLENT quality of the new sensor sheet, though a bit pricey for the kit, the quality of the build seems worth it. The new rubber pad rubber is not noticably different texture-wise than the old, but the fact that the pads are now a single sheet that overlays the sensor sheet makes it a BREEZE to install and service if needed.
Post installation though, the reality of the shortcomings of the upgrade became painfully obvious. The first thing I noticed was the 'gap' between the sensor sheet and the bottom-strike of the pad. There seems to be a 1 or 2 mil space between them. How does this affect performance? Well if you only use the MPC for tapping simple beats out at 1/4 or 1/8 time, you probably wont notice much, and actually might appreciate the gap because it softens the striking surface of the pad when compared to the original pads and gives it more of a '2000' feel. Problems arise though when trying to trigger beats like 1/16 or 1/32 live, the gap unfortunately increases the travel distance between the pad bottom-strike and the sensor, making these fast trigger times difficult or unreliable when compared to the original pads. No amount of pad calibration fixes this, believe me I tried.
"You mean I dropped nearly $200 and THIS is what I get...Upgrade my a$$!!" Was my initial response. Disappointment not being an option, I contacted MPCStuff and voiced my concerns. I was told that I had some options..."Options? YAAAAY!!!" I like options....especially when the options are inexpensive.
MPCStuff offers the 'Corx' option for $15. 'Corx' is basically a sheet of 1 mil adhesive cork that is pre-cut to fit the bottom-strike of the pad, thus eliminating the 'gap' that caused me so much grief. It is a trade off, the Corx option, as once installed you'll lose the softer striking surface that the gap gave you, and feel more like the original pads with regards to striking feel. I didn't miss the pre-corx feel one bit, I liked the strike feel of the original 1000's pads and the 'Corx option offered that.
MPCStuff also offers a 'Thick Fat Pads' option that actually replaces the entire rubber pad sheet and has the 'Corx' built in. It runs approx $39. I have not tried this option, but plan on giving it a shot just for the sake of experimentation.
Now the real test, the 'feel' and sensitivity of the pads with 'Corx':
One Word,
WHOAH!!!!!!!
The upgrade for me only became an upgrade after the install of the Corx option. I never thought that my MPC could have this accuracy and sensitivity. My pads are now 'hair trigger' sensitive. I literally can barely brush my finger on the pad and it will trigger. I was doing 3 finger rolls (fanning my first three fingers against the pad, akin to doing 'crabs' that are popular with scratch DJ's) with inspiring results. Never could my MPC have done this to the same accuracy with the original pads. It is AMAZING the difference, I feel like I have a whole new instrument. Of course you can adjust the trigger sensitivity to your own liking, but know this (needless metaphor time):
If the sensitivity of the original pads was a lake, then the 'Upgrade' by itself is a swimming pool. The 'Upgrade' with the 'Corx' option is a friggin' Ocean!!!
I would tell EVERY MPC owner considering the upgrade to drop $15 extra and get the 'Corx' option, otherwise you might feel that the 'Pad Upgrade' blues like I did.
If you have a direct question about my experience with the upgrade or want to see a video showing the increase in sensitivity drop me a line at sablerock(at)adelphia.net
Keep on Rokkin' MPC users....