Akai Pro MPD32 Review

Akai Pro MPD32
USB MIDI Control Surface with Drum Pads

Now you can have those famous Akai Pro MPC pads without spending thousands on a full hardware unit.

Somehow, despite most hardware becoming obsolete in the modern project studio, hardware developer Akai Professional [not to be confused with Akai Japan] appears to be going strong. As you may know, Akai Pro’s MPC hardware and iconic drum pads are still used by hip-hop visionaries Dr. Dre, Kanye West and DJ Premier–producers behind some of hip hop’s timeless classics. (The former two still top the American Billboard charts with their productions, and the latter continues to churn out underground New York bangers and exert a major influence over the genre.) But really, most producers from the new generation like to keep things intrinsic, and don’t want an external sound module because then they’ll have to start routing audio outside of their computer … yuk! This is where the Akai Pro MPD32 finds its niche…

What Does It Do?

The Akai Pro MPD32, like its smaller brothers the Akai Pro MPD18 and MPD26, and keyboard sisters such as MPK25 and MPK49, gives producers those iconic pads without the added fuss of having to integrate an external sound module into their recording setup. Whereas authentic MPCs contain all of their sounds in an onboard HD (and therefore normally require a hardware mixer to integrate in the mix, as well as a MIDI connection to interface with a computer), the MPD32 contains no sounds–it’s a simple MIDI control surface designed to control a DAW, with the same layout and design as the real deal.

Eye Candy

The MPD32 looks like an Akai Pro MPC minus the bulk–it’s thinner because it contains less components. It has a pseudo-metallic look, but it’s forged of high-density plastic. Despite its lack of steel, the MPD32 feels sturdy. A blue LCD screen is nestled in its top right corner that glows, like some alien flora from Avatar, in harmony with the midnight hue of the unit. The layout of the drum pads, eight rotary encoders, and eight faders and their eight underlining push-buttons, is uncluttered. The labelling is solid and simplistic, so you’ll never get lost when navigating the controls. The top side of the unit has the Akai Pro logo and model painted on it, so any onlookers will be able to identity your weapon of choice. Underneath the MPD32 are four golfball-sized rubber feet (and a curiously large Akai Pro MPD logo, presumably so people catch a glimpse of the Akai Pro branding when you throw the unit in their face), which means the MPD32 sticks to surfaces like a spider, and won’t fly off during an acrobatic live performance. Overall, the look of the MPD32 isn’t going to blow away a gear whore, but it has a certain charm about it that music producers will appreciate.

Crash Test

MPD32 doesn’t require an external power supply because it is bus powered, and so hooking it up to a computer is as simple as connecting the supplied USB cable. Out of the box, hitting the pads will trigger cells within drum programs in your sequencer, but in order to do this in an organised way, you’ll need to follow the instructions in the manual or via information online … unless you’re some kind of geeky MIDI genius in which case you’ll be able to suss it out yourself.

MPD32 LCD screen

How do you set up the drum pads properly? There are four layers of drum pads in total selectable via layers A, B, C and D, so theoretically one can use up to 64 drum pads at any one time. Firstly, you need to hit a pad to select it, and then start editing that pad’s MIDI note number, by cycling through all 127 note numbers with the singular edit knob. As you do this, different cells should start triggering within your drum program when you bash the pad in question, and you simply find the cell you want to be triggered by that pad and then leave the setting there. This is the only mildly complex procedure that even absolute beginners will have to get over in order to use the MPD32 as a drum machine. Thankfully, the MPD32′s settings can easily be saved in Global Mode, so once you’ve customised your pads for use with your software you’ll be able to recall them later. Due to the clinical quirks of MIDI, some note numbers trigger two cells, and as such, complex and vast drum programs can’t always be fully mapped to the MPD.

MPD32 transport controls

To use the MPD32 as a sequencer transport controller is pretty simple; again just follow the manual’s instructions. Soon you’ll be able to fast forward, rewind, stop, play and record from the device itself. It’s a feature that will soon replace your keyboard shortcuts. Don’t expect to pull off any complex sequencer transport controls unless you know a little bit about MIDI, and are capable of setting up your own MIDI environment within your sequencer or host software.

Now, using the faders and rotary encoders on the MPD32 to control software parameters is not difficult. Once again, a little browse of your software manual should be enough to set you straight. Unfortunately, because the MPD32 is a MIDI device, you’re not going to get a live update of the position of your software parameters, such as faders and pan pots, in real time on the MPD32 LCD. This is because the MPD32 is a pure MIDI device–it simply sends and receives MIDI messages to and from a computer. The computer cannot “see” the MPD32, therefore it is not aware of the position of its faders or knobs until you move one. You’ll need to change the internal MPD32 settings and also change some sequencer settings so that the two devices can properly communicate. Therefore, the physical faders, encoders and push buttons on the MPD are better suited for use with common tasks like resonance and cut-off sweeps, as well as solo and mute functions. A dedicated DAW controller, such as an Avid Artist Control, will not only display all parameter information in its main LCD but also in mini LCDs next to each physical fader and encoder. Obviously, the Artist Control and the MPD are aimed at two very different markets, but the comparison helps to exaggerate and illustrate the limitations of the MPD as a dedicated controller.

The MPD32 has a Note Repeat function which simulates constant staccato hits over time when you hold down a button, but we found it hard to get this working smoothly (the pads became unresponsive and laggy when this function was selected). In all honesty we didn’t care, because the MPD32 is all about the drum pads, which possess exactly the same feel and form as their more expensive counterparts. Even amateurs will see why MPC pads are so legendary after five minutes of playtime. We got so into it, saliva started to seep over the troughs of our lower lips. A keyboard can allow you to achieve the same thing; but having pads laid out in a grid in front of you is a better scenario for making rhythms; tapping a beat. Keys are for melodies, you know.

The more advanced possibilities of the MPD are only limited by the number of its physical controllers and the user’s knowledge of MIDI. If you want to start changing instruments and exerting deeper control over your sequencer–you’re on your own–although we can’t imagine that you’d really need to use the MPD32 for much more than we’ve mentioned already.

The Beef

The MPD32 is the only way for producers to access those legendary Akai Pro MPC pads without shelling out on the heavier, more expensive, more demanding alternative. As a controller, the MPD32 certainly will suffice for beginners, but dedicated pros will probably just want the pads minus the controls (in which case they will require the cheaper MPD18).

The special sound of the original MPCs will always eclipse what a computer can offer because of their DACs, which have a unique, external character. The MPD32 won’t give you the ultimate MPC sound, but it will give you the authentic MPC feel and function. Therefore, the MPD32 is highly recommended to software producers looking to get creative with their drum programming who also demand minimum hassle.

QUALITY: (7.5/10)