Akai Professional MPD218 USB MIDI Pad Controller

Building on the success of the MPD18, the new and improved Akai MPD218 is a responsive, lightweight MIDI Drum Pad Controller with universal USB connectivity.

16 Backlit MPC-style drum trigger pads, with full velocity sensitivity and aftertouch

The original MPD series were extremely popular with beatmakers, live musicians and music producers around the world. Their ease-of-use, simple user interface and responsive MIDI input makes them ideal for almost any music creation application.

Considered the most immersive and responsive drum pads available on a MIDI Controller of this size, the legendary hip-hop and house grooves that made the MPC famous are now easily done from a plug-and-go USB controller.

Akai MPD218 Key Features

• 16 Thick Fat backlit MPC Pads with Velocity and Aftertouch
• 48 assignable pads accessible via 3 banks
• 18 assignable 360-degree potentiometers accessible via 3 banks
• MPC Note Repeat and Full Level
• iOS compatible using the Camera Connection Kit (sold separately)
• 16 configurable presets
• Includes Ableton Live Lite (works with all major DAWs and Software Titles)
• USB powered, no AC adapter required

Responsive Backlit LED Pads

The MPD218 features an upgraded set of 16 'Thick Fat' MPC-style drum trigger pads, now featuring LED backlight feedback, while retaining the velocity-sensitive feel and dynamics of the original MPD18. With a total of 48 assignable pads across 3 pad panks, you can map a huge library of virtual sounds to the MPD218 for live performance or seamless studio work in your DAW.

Advanced MIDI Functions

Other functional features on the Akai MPD218 include the Note Repeat and Full Level modes to make drum programming a breeze. As featured on some of Akai's most iconic MPC models, Note Repeat and Full Level modes open up more complex MIDI sequences, and speeds up your workflow. Spending hours clicking in the DAW Piano Roll is no longer necessary thanks to the MPD!

Mobile Ready

Akai Professional also have an expanded control set to maximize the sounds and effects available to the user, iOS compatibility using the Camera Connection Kit and over £200 of free software (Big Bang Drums and Big Bang Cinema from Sonivox, Ableton Live Lite, and Software Preset Editor).

Furthermore, the MPD218 is USB Bus powered, so you can simply connect to a laptop, desktop or mobile device and make beats on the move.

MPC Beats - Beat Making Starts Here

Also included is the new MPC Beats software.

This free software is based on the legendary MPC workflow and allows you to get incredible results with ease in your home studio.

Everything you need is included in this software for you to make great sounding beats in no time.

You'll find MPC Beats incredibly intuitive and inspiring when creating your beats.

Over 80 audio FX plugins are included so you can maninuplate your sound however you wish while VST/AU compatibility allows you to really expand your sound.

All this and much more is yours and it's free with this AKAI hardware!