MPC2500 w/ Black Pads from MPD16

wutup ppl.. just wanna start off by saying I been lurking a long time, finally posting..
been using a 2000 for over 10 years.

I just bought a 2500 today and also still have an mpd16 that I have not used in a while, so it sits collecting dust.
the 2500 I have needs a new rotary encoder for the Q3 knob, and the knob itself, and I figured when I installed that I would also add some black pads.. then I remembered the mpd16 pads are black as well.

SO...I would assume the pads are the same in terms of size and all that..
just wondering
1. has anyone tried using the black mpd16 pads on a mpc2500?
2. if so , does everything line up and feel the same?
3. are the black pads in the mpd16 basically the same black pads that places like mpcstuff sells?
I don't really wanna strip apart the mpd16 if its worthless. I'll just sell it instead.

also one more Q.. speaking of mpcstuff.com.. I was looking for the rotary encoder & knob for the Q3 on their site and found the entire Q-link pcb with the 2 sliders and 2 knobs, but not just a single rotary encoder.
does anyone know if you MUST replace the entire Q-link pcb to accomplish this? or can you obtain and just replace the encoder itself.. I would think you can, but who has the encoder to buy?

THANKS.. sorry for such a long 1st post..
this site is sick!

oh yea i forgot.. just so you guys don't think im slackin.. I did call mpcstuff about the rotary encoder for Q3, and I have been waiting to hear back..

ehhh.. nevermind.. I got anxious for an answer so I took both the mpd16 and the mpc2500 apart and found the answers I was looking for.

YES the pads for the mpd16 and mpc2500 are interchangeable and YES it is possible to replace just the rotary encoder on the Q-Link PCB. Furthermore, the rotary encoder for the volume and record level appear to be the same identical kind as used on the Q-Link PCB.

hope this helps someone, somewhere, sometime.

PEACE

How about the "Feel" of the pads ??
Do the MPD pad feel the same as the MPC ??

D-One wrote:How about the "Feel" of the pads ??
Do the MPD pad feel the same as the MPC ??

good question.. to be honest.. the mpd pads felt a little bit heavier(like actually holding them uninstalled from the device, not tapping them). as if the blocks of the pads were denser rubber.
I also was looking online VST's website and whether its the black or grey pads their site says for use with MPC60, 60II, 3000, 2000, 2000XL, 4000, and 2500, and the MPD midi controllers. I compared the black from the mpd and the grey from the 2500 side by side and they were identical.

as far as feel when playing them, I couldn't notice a difference in terms of response , but the black pads did feel just a little tackier.. not sticky.. just.. i dunno.. hard to explain.

and oh the ONLY thing I DONT like about the black ones is that they get dirty and dusty easy and show up every little spec of dust and fuzz, plus the dust and fuzz sticks to em.. makes em look dirty black and not just black.
I usually just use a little rubbing alcohol and wipe em down real fast to keep em feeling and looking clean.

i know we in the 2500 forum.. and we have all seen pics of 2500 wit black pads.. so
here is a side by side of the mpd16 with grey pads from the 2500, and the original black pads.

which looks better?

(click on pics to enlarge)


LOL, if ANYONE says they like the mpd16 with grey pads, then im putting the black ones in my 2500..

here is what she looks like presently...

keep that lil mpd 16 with the grys and throw those black pads on that 2500 and start rockin!

What I would like to see is black pads on an MPD 18. Fiyah!

Bankroe wrote:keep that lil mpd 16 with the grys and throw those black pads on that 2500 and start rockin!

thats exactly what I did yo.. it looks sick too.. Im bout to black out all my buttons too I think..
Im trying to decide what kind of color combo I wanna go with..
I was thinking of doing white screen and white LED's and maybe white or grey sides..

OR leaving all the LED's RED, and doing red sides, but still a white screen.. I couldn't stand a red screen.

the first thing I wanted to do was a blue screen and invert the polarity.. in other words.. a light backround with dark text.. instead of a dark backround with light text, which someone already has here..

or course all this will be when I have time.. which will be soon at some point since I have to send my 2500 in to akai for warranty work. it'll take like 2 weeks. so Ill have time order everything then.. for now im banging

opinions?

Black on Black or Black on Red are the only color schemes i would rock on the 2500. i have the 2500 and im just gunna do black pads,black out most of the play/stop buttons and put red volume knobs on qlink 1/2 and both volume knobs. oh ya and the red memory slot plate.. i think that'll a nice touch.. oh ya and as far as the reverse polarity on the screen... i wouldnt even.. if u throw a blue screen on a blacked out 2500 that will look clean.