Trading MPC for MPD! Pad experience anyone?

As i already have a good pc, card and Reason + Recycle, i cannot see why i should use my 2000xl anyone as i'm never doing live work. So... went to my local music store to pursue a quality controller. The only thing they had was a mpd16 but they could order a mpd24 or mpd32. The most important thing is: What is the build quality in comparison to my mpc2000xl?

The mpd32 certainly looks sturdy but i would like to hear from other users out there before ordering.

Youtube has some unpacking vids but... what's the point if the pads are shit. AND. Is it simple plug and play with Reason?

Not stricty a MPC question this one but please help me out on this one.

Regards...

why not midi up the 2000xl instead ?

At the moment i have hooked the mpc to my pc.
I think it's a shame using the mpc as a control surface only.
I'm nog using the sampling or sequence function at the moment and it's better for someone who doesn't like (working with) computers or goes the basic mpc-alone stuff.
That's it...

You could get the MPD 18, it's $99. The MPD32 is plug and play with Reason; so it's safe to assume that the MPD18 will be.

Doglamp wrote:You could get the MPD 18, it's $99. The MPD32 is plug and play with Reason; so it's safe to assume that the MPD18 will be.

I dont think its out yet. Is it?

I have both an mpd16 and an mpc2500.. the pads are the same so much so that I was able to switch the grey pads in my 2500 for the black ones in my mpd16.

as far as the sensor.. when I had the mpd16 open it looked to be the same type used in the 2500, although the model number was just a tad different.

all in all the pad feel and action of the pads feels the same.. but the mpd is not as big a piece of gear so it feels a little "thinner" when you hit it.. not flimsy.. just.. I dunno its hard to explain. I love it though.. nothing wrong with an mpd at all. just an mpc that doesnt sample IMO..

Im selling the mpd actually since I got the 2500 now.

50 bucks if your interested.. its in perfect condition, and clean, like new.
i got pics if ur interested. pm me

Does anybody know if any of the MPD's work with Vista 64. I know the MPD 16 doesn't because I have it and now it's worthless. Vista is pissing me off lately.

I still use Xp. Vista won't even recognise my soundcard. I guess it will take some time before microsoft has solved all the bugs, and I also have the feeling that Akai won't release any updates on the mpd's drivers.

@ Lowtense: If u don't use the mp anymore it's a good idea to trade it for an mpd. I would go for the mpd32. It looks bigger and sturdier then the others, plus it gives u a few nice knobs and faders for controling ur samplers and synths.

Phedeks wrote:Does anybody know if any of the MPD's work with Vista 64. I know the MPD 16 doesn't because I have it and now it's worthless. Vista is pissing me off lately.

I got the same problem. thats why im either going to have to get the 18 if its out or im going to buy the 24 this week.

Hi all! Thanks for the response.

I've purchased the MPD32 yesterday and after unpacking it, i hooked it up to Reason.
A little problematic at first but after installing the 4.01 update it worked great!

About the pads: Some people say they are similar to the mpc2500, but how do these pads compare to the mpc2000? I've concluded they're all the same. The pads don't stick out that much as on a 2000XL and it seems i have to press harder on the pads themselves but this probably can be adjusted on the MPD32.

As for Reason users looking for a pad controller: GET IT! Especially if you work a lot with the ReDrum and Dr. REX.

I had an MPD24 or whatever... the pads are mpc but definitly not the same feel as the mpc.. MPD pads are much more stiff and you have to press down harder..

Pads wrote:I had an MPD24 or whatever... the pads are mpc but definitly not the same feel as the mpc.. MPD pads are much more stiff and you have to press down harder..

No disrespect or anything.. but

the pads from the 16-24-32 are the same rubber pads used in the 2500, the 2000, 5000, 4000, etc.

the physical pads are the same.. the difference you feel is in the size and weight of the device. a 2500 is like 13 pounds and when you hit the pads it has some weight behind it.. the mpd's are smaller or not as beefy, giving the illusion that that they feel tighter. even the sensors are almost identical, minus the side that the ribbon cable leaves from..

Alot of this is all in peoples mind, bases on subliminal preference that you may not even realize.
But hey.. we all are entitled to our opinions!

Phedeks wrote:Does anybody know if any of the MPD's work with Vista 64. I know the MPD 16 doesn't because I have it and now it's worthless. Vista is pissing me off lately.

I don't think so.. but I know windows 7 is coming soon and has a windows xp mode so you can run 32 bit driver sets in a 64 bit environment.
Plus the initial reports thus far from users of Win7 RC are great in terms of performance and stability for DAW usage.
that dont help u now, but I thought I would mention it.

Peace

Menco wrote:Vista won't even recognise my soundcard. I guess it will take some time before microsoft has solved all the bugs

actually that is the responsibility of the sound card manufacturer... they are made to run on windows so it's up to them to make something compatable.

^ ur right

Point is, having the newest os on ur computer won't work better sometimes. Or the os has some serious bugs or the manufacturers of the external devices don't have drivers for that os yet.

A year ago I bought a phonic helixboard. Installed a vista driver (which was very hard to find) but it didn't run properly. But that was a year ago.