The MPC Range of products are only mappable within the MPC Software, or when used standalone.
The MPC Studio is designed to be used with the MPC Software (Standalone or Plug-in). Outside of that, they are practically unusable.
Only get the Studio MK2 if you are
all in with using the MPC 2 Software.
If you want a Controller that works well with software and is mappable to 3rd-party applications: Maschine Mikro or Maschine MK3. PreSonus ATOM may also work (very budget choice). Also, MIDI Controllers with 16 Pads (Oxygen Pro, KeyLab MKII, LaunchKey MK3, etc.) may be good enough - not very iPad-friendly, though.
If you want a Controller that works well with software and is mappable to 3rd party applications, but also works well with an iPad: Nektar Aura Beat Composer - probably the more optimal choice, since it can also run off of AC power.
I disagree with the following statement:
Just grab an MPK or MPD (which ironically provide better integration with the MPC Software than the Studio Mk 2 in many respects...).
Outside of having more rotary knobs to be used as QLinks, these controllers are not even in the same realm of integration as the Studio MK2 with the MPC Software. The Studio is far, far superior. I don't even think the extra QLinks can even come close to making up the deficit, frankly. It is that huge.
The MPC Studio MK2 is basically an MPC One in Controller Mode with less Q Links and the large display removed. Neither the MPK nor the MPD are even in the same realm of production quality of integration with the MPC software. The MPDs are notorious for inconsistencies in production quality.
And that's ignoring the far superior pads and triggers on the controller.
I'm flabbergasted someone would make such a statement. It's demonstrably false.
If you want a controller that will work well with MPC Software and be usable with an iPad, you should go with the Aura Beat Composer and map it yourself. If you're content with using a PC but want to be able to use the controller with other DAWs, then Maschine is better. Aforementioned, the PreSonus ATOM is cheap and may work, as well.
Again, MPC Studio MK2 is for people who are all in with the MPC Software.
I actually think the lack of a controller editor is a massive competitive disadvantage for Akai, and something they probably should reconsider. The controller costs too much to be limited in this way (I own one, but it costs as much as an Oxygen Pro 49 that also has 16 Pads and all the DAW Controls/Note Repeat/Theory Features/etc.
Ironically, the Oxygen Pro line is broken with MPC 2 because Akai's MIDI Map doesn't seem to work. the controllers are about as usable as a KeyStation with the MPC Software. Not even the transport controls work properly, and the pads are don't map correctly (you need to set all your drum programs to Chromatic). The faders and rotary knobs are basically useless.
On the flip side, and actually ironic, their Native Instruments MIDI Maps are flawless.
If you have any relatively recent laptop, I would use that over any iPad that doesn't have an M1 SoC, anyways.