In the battle for portable MIDI controllers that will fit in front of your laptop and not bust your budget, there are 2 clear contenders: the Korg NanoSeries and the new Akai Laptop Series of controllers. To help you decide which controller might be the strongest, we pit them against each other in a battle of performance. Read on to learn who won our mini MIDI prize fight.
MIDDLEWEIGHT BOUT
Akai LPK25 Vs. Korg NanoKey
Tale of the Tape
Round 1: Build Quality
Both controllers can take a beating, but the aesthetic choices of the LPK25 make it a much more attractive and robust-looking controller. The extra height also means you might actually be taken seriously playing on the keys, while the nano key is truly a glorified computer keyboard with large black and white keys.
Round 2: Features
The LPK boasts one of the only clear features of these minimal devices. Its equipped with a fully-functional arpeggiator with tap tempo, 4 types of arpeggiation and 8 different note values. The NanoKey is the only keyboard with pitch bend capacity, and both have the ability to move up or down the full octave range. The LPK has a sustain button for great expression, while the Nano has a mod button for single-direction modulation.
Both controllers boast velocity sensitivity, but just as with the pads, the accuracy of that sensitivity is very different on each of these controllers. The Akai keyboard has a clear range of velocities, making it easy to play soft or loud notes, while I found it impossible get the Korg to play anything lower than 40% velocity.
Round 3: Performance
The key difference in performance is the keyboard layout and feel of each controller. The Akai is obviously structured in a more traditional keyboard layout and does look and feel like a real keyboard, including the ability to naturally play chords, which is significantly more difficult on the NanoKey. The NanoKey on the other hand has the same key action as a typical laptop keyboard. It’s responsive, but hardly the feel you want while playing a musical keyboard. For $40 street price, the NanoKey is a decent value, and an inexpensive way to get a mini keyboard, but a $20 bump in price on the Akai LPK25 provides what I’d judge to be a 200% increase in performance.
Winner
This was an easy fight to predict from the outset, as the smaller and less robust NanoKey got seriously beat up by the larger and more mature LPK25. Both controllers offer an inexpensive and portable way to get a MIDI keyboard but only one — the LPK — actually gets the job done.
TITLE FIGHT
Akai LPD8 VS. Korg NanoPad
The Tale of the Tape
Round 1: Build Quality
The LPD8 wins this round hands down. Even though they are both plastic controllers, the Akai feels like it will take more of a beating, and the pads are more sturdy and playable. Even the knobs on the LPD — although short — felt like they could take some serious turning. My biggest gripe with the NanoPad is the X/Y pad, which over time became defective. Hard button presses or pressure would send eratic data from the X/Y pad, even if my hand was nowhere near it.
Round 2: Features
The combination of an X/Y pad and 12 pads is a nice layout for controllerism and cue-point juggling. Without 6 pads per deck, it would have been hard for me to pull off my popular we will rock you routine on YouTube. The LPD8, while lacking the fun-to-play-with X/Y, comes back with a nice punch of its own: 8 knobs for greater analog control and flexibility. It’s a toss up on which feature set is really better. For sampler playback and volume control in Serato Scratch Live, the LPD8 is a clear winner, but for 5 cue points and a play toggle, the NanoPad is nearly perfect.
While both controllers profess to have velocity sensitiviy, the Nano’s velocity is not very playable and really only offers mid and high ranges. The LPD8 offers a much truer velocity range, with sensitivity down in the lowest values.
The LPD8 also features an interesting feature called CC mode, where you can play 8 analog CC’s with the pads — offering a creative way to work with FX through the pads.
Round 3: Performance
Performance is synonymous with joy of use and reliability, and in both of these departments the Akai really shines. The backlit pads light up orange when you strike them and are a lot of fun to play. They are also MIDI programable, so you can get LED feedback for things like stored loops, cue points or active FX. The Nano’s pads are firm and playable, but don’t have the same feel or size as the LD8, which are comparable to most of the other Akai pad products. The 8 knobs, while not full size, were remarkably playable and sturdy for such a low-profile product. Korg attempted the same thing on its NanoKontrol, and had much less impressive results. The only drawback of knobs with a low height is that they can only be manipulated with the finger tips — not with the full fingers. This results in a tweak-able feel and not a real performance action.
The X/Y pad on the Nano is a lot of fun to play with, and when applied to FX creates great results. Unfortunately my X/Y pad has been basically rendered useless by continuing manufacturing defects which send out random data and mess up the mix, making the X/Y pad a nice tool to look at but not to use.
Winner
Korg’s NanoPad really struck gold with the idea of small, inexpensive controllers that are portable and easy to use. However, Akai has come in late in the game and really stolen the show with a much better-quality controller that is a clear winner in 2 out of 3 rounds. With the prices basically the same, its an easy choice to go with the more robust and significantly more attractive Akai LPD8.
Is it possible to replace those small LPD8 knobs for the Chroma Caps Knobs? It would be very cool!!
I prefer the LPD8 all the way but Akai’s LPD8 Editor app sucks. Comparatively, Korg’s Nano Series Editor app is way better.
I prefer the LPD8 all the way but Akai’s LPD8 Editor app sucks. Comparatively, Korg’s Nano Series Editor app is way better.
I prefer the LPD8 all the way but Akai’s LPD8 Editor app sucks. Comparatively, Korg’s Nano Series Editor app is way better.
Do you have a midi mapping for the akai lpd 8?
Akai is clearly the best choice over Korg, But don’t let the reputation of the nanoKey and the nanoPad fool you, Because teh nanoKontrol is AMAZING for the price, Works great, had it for a few months and everything still works perfectly fine. Just ordered the LPK25 though the nanokey looks outright ridiculous X D
Akai is clearly the best choice over Korg, But don’t let the reputation of the nanoKey and the nanoPad fool you, Because teh nanoKontrol is AMAZING for the price, Works great, had it for a few months and everything still works perfectly fine. Just ordered the LPK25 though the nanokey looks outright ridiculous X D
please make a mapping for traktor scratch pro to substitute the stupid x1 controller
Although the Akai is built far better then the the software is utter shite and practically makes the unit unusable. It crashes Logic Studio when you try to quit the DAW and Akai has ignored 23 emails to date from their support website (I’ve had it for 23 days). This thing is only as good as its shitty software.
[quote comment=”40880″][quote post=”2893″]I think Korg get these made in the same Chinese factory which McDonalds use to make their happy meal toys.[/quote]
I doubt that. Happy meal toys never break.Just got my grubby hands on the LPD8 & my grubby fingers are aching to get busy with a proper grubby choon. oy!
[quote post=”2893″]I just received my nanoPad replacement unit from Korg, and it is broken right out of the box!! None of the pads work, but the X-Y pad does work.
The nanoPad this was supposed to replace was used for about a week and then unused up until a week ago, at which point I discovered that half the pads did not work correctly.
Absolutely the worst product I have ever purchased in my life.[/quote]
Yeah, same as mine. about 2 hours accumulated use, the 12 pads stop working completely, but the X-Y pad works. I think Korg get these made in the same Chinese factory which McDonalds use to make their happy meal toys.
can both the nanoKEY and the lpk25 send control data set to each key?
[quote comment=”34528″]I’ve owned most of these products, and the AKAI LPD8 is by far my favourite. I use 2 LPD8s, though an LPD8 coupled with a NanoKontrol would be a nice combination too.
I replaced one of the knobs on my main LPD8 with a big fat m-audio knob, which makes it pretty good for use with Lives cross-fader.[/quote]
Hey Dude,
any chance those mappings for the dual LPD8’s can be found anywhere? I use svensat’s mapping from the DJ TT forums, but I can’t get good response out of anything but scene 3 (cue control on deck A on pads, and FX control on the knobs). I’m looking to diversify my setup, and a better mapping system might help.
Thanks in advance!
Question…I have Traktor Pro and a Reloop DJ2 Interface Edition. I’m gonna buy Korg NanoPad or Akai LPD8 for essentially Hotcue/Cue and Fx’s Control because my Reloop don’t allow me to use cues and loops like I please.
My doubt is the possible conflict of mapping in traktor using reloop mapping and using Korg/Akai mapping? Will it happen?
Thanks in advance.
Any help write it here or use fabio.cassiano.lopes@gmail.com
[quote comment=”27886″]I’ve had to replace my nanopad 4 times because its such a POS. I’ve written to korg, asking them how they could put their name on such a defective product.
The Korg Nanopad is the worst music gear I’ve had in the last 17 years.
I’m going back to Guitar Center to swap it out again, and order the AKAI.
AGAIN, STAY AWAY FROM THE NANOPAD unless you want useless broken cheap Chinese made plastic[/quote]
I just received my nanoPad replacement unit from Korg, and it is broken right out of the box!! None of the pads work, but the X-Y pad does work.
The nanoPad this was supposed to replace was used for about a week and then unused up until a week ago, at which point I discovered that half the pads did not work correctly.
Absolutely the worst product I have ever purchased in my life.
I want an LPD16! The pads on the LPD8 are BETTER than the MPD32. I hope AKAI use the same technology in new, bigger pad controllers.
I’m waiting for the same thing!
AKAI!!!
I’ve owned most of these products, and the AKAI LPD8 is by far my favourite. I use 2 LPD8s, though an LPD8 coupled with a NanoKontrol would be a nice combination too.
I replaced one of the knobs on my main LPD8 with a big fat m-audio knob, which makes it pretty good for use with Lives cross-fader.
Oh man. I’m gonna buy two of these, and tape them together :)!
Can someone help me out with mapping issues with Nanopad and VDJ 6.05 I just puurchaaed a nanopad and having nightmares trying to map it with VDJ 6.05. I’m about ready to through the thing through the window! Very Frustrated!! I am new to MIDI mapping but not stupid either, in fact I sell very sophisticated software for a living but this thing is driving me crazy. I don’t know if is the nanopad or the software.
In VDJ they already include some native mapping elements for scenes 1 & 2. Most of these amppings I really don’t want to use. I am trying to map in on scenes 3&4> Would like to control loops, effects and samples.
After 30 hours of experimenting all I can get to work is one pad SC3 b6 and I have no idea how I did that! Late last night I almost thought I had it fiqured out than I lost most of the mappings.Some items that I mapped actually changed to a different pad assignment for no known reason.
Does anyone have a tutorial on how to map this thing with VDJ. I have been on their forum but can’t find a lot of useful tutorials.
I need a stroke by stroke explanation to program one “action” and than I can figure out the rest hopeflly.
Any Help would be greatly appreciated, before I send this thing back on Monday!
DJ Chuck
Great review, I’ve just when to the shop last Thursday and got one. I’ve been trying to create a minimal and custom setup in Ableton Live 8 for controllerism or DJing. This was the main reason I got the LPD8. I’m posting my setup and templates in my web site if any one is interested.
Please visit http://livekaos.cz.cc/ or http://livekaos.blogspot.com/.
Thanks. I went back and change all of the notes to different notes and used the midi learn option. it worked!
Do you have any place / link / site that you recommend for me to learn more about Midi. I still feel like I am reading Greek!
Thanks again for you help!
@SamzSon – ive not got FL9 but the pads on the LPD output midi NOTE data. Youll by default usually have drums set to C0 in your sequencer? Use the Akai editing software to change the midi notes, or map the drums to more amenable note positions.
Failing that use midi learn?
Help!!! I bought the Akai LPD 8… yes it is solid, good feel, etc. But for the life of me I can’t get it to work with FL Studio 9.
I have looked everywhere for a how to! On FL Studio the FPC (virtual Drum Machine) was built after the MPC and yet FL has no plugins/programing for anything AKAI!
I can get the knobs to work but not the pads and I have spent hours.
If you don’t know how to get it to work specifically for FL Studio then can you at least point me to a place where I can learn all about midi mapping so that i might figure it out.
Please and thank you!
Do not waste your time on the Korgs. My nanopad failed after an accumulated use time of approximately 2 hours. The akais are definitely a notch up in quality for a very small increment in price.
I have three Nanopads. One of them has a defect on scene 01, where the whole bottom row of pads trigger notes that are way off the default (like C-2 instead of C2) I tried reprogramming it with the Korg Kontrol Editor but it doesn’t work. Now most of the pads in that nanopad won’t stop playing the notes after you hit them. The other two nanopads are starting to display the same symptoms. I can’t really use the Akai since I’ve developed my playing with the 6 pad per row configuration. I wish Korg would make a 6×6 pad controller.
I’ve had to replace my nanopad 4 times because its such a POS. I’ve written to korg, asking them how they could put their name on such a defective product.
The Korg Nanopad is the worst music gear I’ve had in the last 17 years.
I’m going back to Guitar Center to swap it out again, and order the AKAI.
AGAIN, STAY AWAY FROM THE NANOPAD unless you want useless broken cheap Chinese made plastic
Does the akai lpk25 work with cakewalk software?
For my small setup, I have chosen a combination of nanokontrol and LPD 8 – Korg for Tone control, Loops and hotcues, while the akai controls browsing and effects on 2 Programs, so you can’t mess up either of them. Mapping takes some time when you do it first, but is fun to understand. Great to stock in a backpack. NI Audio 2 DJ, a HD-25, that’s it. Kewl!
I m a big fan of the nano korg.Price,very light and plug and play and compatible within a min with Torq.Worth definitly.
It stopped working before I ever had the chance to put it in a bag lol.
I got a new unit now. Took the other back to Guitar Center.
So far, I have had better results from my VAIO vgn-nw120j/s keyboard… Except that the keys are smaller. It’s kind of like a mac’s keyboard.
The pads on the Akai are pressure sensitive and soft so I don’t know but I think it messes me up. Maybe I just need to get used to it…
Did you unplug the unit before you tossed it in your bag? Just asking cos I too have a habit of leaving it plugged in so I dont forget any cables. But if you have a faulty unit, just exchange it. I have had no bother with mine so far….(now reaching for a piece of wood ha ha ha)
One thing that is COMPLETELY horrible about BOTH units is….
MINI USB.
These machines are instruments that should be built in some sort of manner that make the withstand just a tiny beating.
I just got my AKAI LPD8 two weeks ago and it’s already busted. In fact, it busted after merely setting three cue points, and about 10 minutes of use.
Maybe it busted after that but I really only used the thing lightly (and I mean lightly) for about 10 minutes just to test it out. The rest of the time it sat there in front of my djm600 on my dresser in my room…
Less than a week later, the night before my next gig, I turned my gear on to set some cue points and freshen up for the event and… VOI-LA… The thing didn’t work.
I reinstalled Serato and that wasn’t the problem… I even re-imaged my laptop and that didn’t fix it either.
I got all sorts of driver/device errors and Serato would not recognize the unit at all.
So after all that, I plugged it into a desktop PC and the device manager went berserk.
I am convinced it is either the mini USB cable, or mini USB port.
If “PRO” instrument manufacturers want to use mini USB for whatever reason, they should at least not make the connector be on the outside edge of the unit.
It should plug in underneath the unit, parallel to it’s length and then have at least 2-4 recessed alleyways with hooks so that the cable can run out of any of its four sides.
This would give the user not only the ability to run the cable out of different sides of the unit, but also make dramatic turns with the cable as it came out of the unit (as if the unit were corded).
This would give you more placing options, as well as providing more durability for the port and the cord.
If you are going to advertise a portable product that is going to be toted around and thrown in a bag as everyone demonstrates it, at least make it somewhat durable. It hardly survived my room!
Sorry if I seem a bit on edge, but this thing kept me up all night because I really want to use it.
Thank you for this review. My finger is on the trigger ordering the Akai. Seeing the photo camparison, i prefer the bigger pads. I’ve had the padkontrol in the past, one of the pads started working erradic, gonna go back to Akai this round.
[quote comment=”23754″]Ooops…. I have just revealed I came from the future along my vci 1000. Haha!
No, really, just a typo error… booh[/quote]
how do you have it mapped.
i still cant seem to get it right.
Ooops…. I have just revealed I came from the future along my vci 1000. Haha!
No, really, just a typo error… booh
I have been using the korg for a few weeks along my new vci 1000 and I love it. Pads feel right, size i cool, and the xy controller is really handful. A bit plasticky yes…. but what else can you ask for that price?
As a personal opinion I prefer having bigger and more pads than knobs on that controller because I have all the knobs I need in the vci. I also think it’s better to keep things separated. Knobs on the vci, and cue point fx control on the nanopad. But yeah, that is personal taste.
OK I have have it around a week, software not that intuative to use, although u will work it out eventually, actually pretty good; I was just feeling a lil special at the time.
However, using this for FX/Loop control in traktor scratch duo is amazing (want to upgrade now ha ha), dual and triple, or even all six chained fx at once if your really feeling mental. Mapping in “LEARN’ mode couldnt be easier, just remember to export your final mappings and keep them safe!!
I have mine set up to control fx on page 1 with 2 pads for modifiers(shift keys, if you think about it its almost another 12 pads controls!) which allows me to use corresponding pads plus a modifier to select a different effect, loops & hot cues on page 2 again modifiers double the functions of pads here, cue/cup/play on page 3 and browse /load /sync on page 4. As far as scene indicators go, it lights up when you hit prog button, if you aint gonna change the scene or just wanted a heads up, just hit pad select again and return to your mix. You do kinda have to remember what controls u assigned and where. Practice makes perfect tho!!!I probably wont be using it much in internal mix mode as I use TS duo (way more fun!!).
Knobs are for fx parameters and sizes or loops or browse control. I played with settings in TS MIDI mapper eg sensitivity etc and I felt direct contols were fine. The rotary knobs are short, but I actually reckon if you swap them out you will wear the device’s solder points quicker as you will increase the leverage forces, keeping them short means you cant slam them 2 hard or accidentally damage them quite as easily. It also means u have to be precise, which should be important to anybody’s mix.
Anyway for 45 squid I its a well built, solid little masterpiece. A no nonsense launchpad thats portable and reliable. I love it, C’mon Akai!!! YAAS
[quote comment=”22945″]Too well!
excellent comparison.
Ean u have the best dj’s blog in the planet!
without question!
I’m thinking to buy the 2 akai’s.
you think?[/quote]
I agree this site is bad ass.
THE NANOKONTROL TRUMPS THEM ALL!!!
More buttons, faders, and scenes…
>Just wait about 1 month and you will get the mid figher which is exactly that! W/O an XY though
🙂
Ummm…Ean can you please explain/elaborate? What is “mid figher” ??
I really like the look of the LPD8. It’s a massive shame that there is no indicator to tell you which bank/preset you are in, though… 🙁
should be great to make the same comparison Dj-Tech i-Mix Reload against Vestax VCI-100 …. EAN, pls let me have yr adress , i am going to send you onr Free of charge , from HONG KONG , if you accept to make that comparison , YOUR CALL now.
[quote comment=”23030″][quote comment=”23029″]Can’t wait to buy LPD8.
Idea for ableton users (launchpad comarative) LPD16 which would be double height: 16 pads, same 8 pots, x/y pad and navigate buttons or more pots/encoders.[/quote]
Just wait about 1 month and you will get the mid figher which is exactly that! W/O an XY though
:)[/quote]
oh man now im excited! new product?!
The AKAI ones really are a whole lot better because the Keys Korg uses are seriously toys.
Can you guys put up your affiliate link at Amazon with these reviews? I’m going to buy some gear because of you, you might as well get a little scratch.
the lpd8 is quite possibly the perfect controller to control fx if you’re a dvs user.
Ean,
I know it’s been said already but this site is ace for digital dj’s.
I was toiling with my budget over a nano kontrol or a nano pad??? Along comes the Akai LPD8, wicked a bit of both worlds, perfect for live FX control & loops. Just bought one and I cant wait to get my grubby hands on it Mwaha-ha!
[quote comment=”23029″]Can’t wait to buy LPD8.
Idea for ableton users (launchpad comarative) LPD16 which would be double height: 16 pads, same 8 pots, x/y pad and navigate buttons or more pots/encoders.[/quote]
Just wait about 1 month and you will get the mid figher which is exactly that! W/O an XY though
🙂
Can’t wait to buy LPD8.
Idea for ableton users (launchpad comarative) LPD16 which would be double height: 16 pads, same 8 pots, x/y pad and navigate buttons or more pots/encoders.
just got the lpd8 couple days ago. (sold after reading this article)
i love it but
to be honest, i have tried a few mappings for it but im still having trouble getting it to work with my vci 100 (arcade). anyone else having the same probs? any feedback would be great.
I have owned all the Korg Nano stuff. I liked the idea and the size but the quality was pretty poor.
I thing the NanoKontrol had a better quality than it’s counter parts.
The NanoKey was great for extra “buttons” but a few of mine broke and I wasn,t even mashing hard on em.
I was excited about the Akai stuff before it was released. When I saw them in the store the LPK seemed ugly and bulky at the bottom. The LPD just seemed to lack pads.
Then I saw this and forgot all about NanoKeys and LPKs.
http://www.miditech.de/images/2008/i2series/GarageKey-klein.jpg
And the idea of Arcade mods seems much more attractive than a Mididrum pad to me.
Sweet article Ean 🙂 I have been waiting for a comparison on these devices!
i reckon djtechtools should do an article on how to best map the LPD8 with traktor!
at the moment i use it like this:
Pad 1-8 : Hot cues 1-4 Deck A and Hot Cues 1-4 Deck B
Knob 1: FX wet/dry. Left FX Unit
Knob 2: Effect 1 amount
Knob 3: Effect 2 amount
Knob 4: Effect 3 amount
Knobs 5-8 : SAME but for RIGHT FX UNIT
CC1 – SHIFT (hold down and rotate knob 2/3/4 to change effects
CC2 – Effect 1 on/off Left Deck
CC3 – Effect 2 on/off
CC4 – Effect 3 on/off
CC 5-8 : SAME but for Right Deck
Im sure there are better ways to map the lpd8 than this? Anyone wanna share how they use their LPD8?
Too bad they dont fit more knobs in! Would love to have FILTER Easily accessible at anytime on a dedicated knob for both decks!
I dont have any issues with my nanopad (Ok Im lying, I find myself having to unplug it from time to time to reset it, but it doesnt hinder my performance. I really love using the x/y pad, AKAI needs to come up with something like that to really compete) NanoPad/Kontrol with Hercules RmX is a solid combo of midi controllers. If and when I get a VCI then I wont miss the nanopad as much since I have touch sensitive jogs to perform a similar behavior.
thanks for this – was just about to replace my KORG nanopad because it broke after about half a year of sporadic use. Half the pads hang (notes that won’t stop playing) or don’t respond at all anymore!
The XY pad is fine though, so it’s now functioning as pitchbend/vibrato for my midikeyboard which lacks those 2 controls..
Anyway – gotta check out the Akai now.
jay
Wish the Akai had more buttons, though. 8 is simply not enough for me.
Fantastic comparisons. Have not used the Akai, however, the reputation of the company is legendary to say the least, and it seems the new midi boards are going to be setting more standards for others to build and improve upon. Looking forward to great new midi mapping guides for the LPD8 in the near future. Thanks Ean!
[quote comment=””]I have a confession though. I am a shady bastard. I totally swapped out the guts of a new nanoPAD I purchased at GC with the guts of the old nanoPAD that was broken. So now I have two nanoPADs for the price of one, but the newer one is breaking now too…. =([/quote]
whoops…that didn’t make sense ^^^
what i meant was I swapped out the guts of my broken nanoPAD with a new nanoPAD i purchased from GC, and then I returned the broken one and got my money back. shady, but effective.
Just ordered my Akai LPD8 can’t wait to play with it!
Thanks for this one. I’ve been trying to decide between the LPD8 and the nanoPad.
Pretty much confirms the direction that I was leaning in.
I’m pretty harsh on most hardware, so I think that if there are any durability issues at all, I’m better off leaning toward the more robust option. Definitely would prefer to have the extra pads, over the rotaries, but I can live with it. Actually, the CV mode seems quite useful for some of the stuff that I do already with the controller I have.
Interesting article but I’m still waiting for more Traktor Pro tips/tricks.
For fifty quid the LPD 8 really is a steal for a controller:).
too funny Ean! my nanopad just started acting stupid last night. This will be the SECOND one to break in one year.
However I must say that Korg is pretty great about replacements as long as you keep your receipt. They actually sent me a brand new nanoPad as a free replacement, and didn’t even ask me for the old one back.
I have a confession though. I am a shady bastard. I totally swapped out the guts of a new nanoPAD I purchased at GC with the guts of the old nanoPAD that was broken. So now I have two nanoPADs for the price of one, but the newer one is breaking now too…. =(
i guess I deserved it for being shady, but then again I originally purchased a product that is MEANT TO BE HIT. shouldn’t it work longer than a few months?
i’m going to wait on buying the Akai pads to see just how long they last. How long have you really had the Akai LPD8 to test it’s quality?
[quote comment=””]
i didn’t see this brought up or mentioned yet, so i thought i’d ask.[/quote]
The midi-channel can be assigned per Preset.
I reviewed the Akai LPD25 earlier also mentioning the software.
See here:
http://en.www.ali.dj/akai-lpd8-review/
i have a question. with the akai’s, do they come with some type of editing software like the korg’s do? i think they call it korg kontrol or something. do the akai’s only send on midi channel 1? or is able to be changed?
cuz what if some folks want to get an lpd8 to use for effects in conjunction with whatever controller they already have, only to find the midi msg’s overlap on each device…
i didn’t see this brought up or mentioned yet, so i thought i’d ask.
I have been looking for a good button pad type controller. I want merge together, a bunch of samples into one mp3 file, then set cue points within each file that associates each button to certain cue point; thus making a make shift sampler within in Traktor using Decks C + D….
f*ck the VFX-1 i’m going to pick up one of the LPD’s for 1/4 of the price!
As you would expect i guess, the korg nano pad hasn’t the best build quality, 2 of the pads on mine don’t work anymore or when they do they work when they choose, kinda get loose and out of place after time…
[quote comment=””]I ordered e few minutes a go… hope to have it tomorrow, so that I can begin with the mapping this weekend. Of course, i will share it with you… 🙂
EAN KEEP ON!! You are a pioneer!![/quote]
I ordered e few minutes a go… hope to have it tomorrow, so that I can begin with the mapping this weekend. Of course, i will share it with you… 🙂
EAN KEEP ON!! You are a pioneer!!
the akai pad looks perfect as an FX controller for TPRO – an on/off button, 3 parameter toggles, d/w and then 3 parameter knobs. perfect.
Hi guys, great post.
What about the nano kontrol.
I love my bcr2000 and Im looking for something with some faders and a Xfader not too big.
Any suggestions?
When I get my lpd 8 I’m deffinitly going to see if I can replace those knobs for something more robust!
The lpd 8 is deffinitly the winner not to mention it will look super sexy under my vci 100 se 🙂 Has sort of the same colour scheme going on. Now if DJ techtools could just make some super intuitive mapping for the lpd 8, maybe to utilize the two new extra effect banks in traktor…hint hint, Or maybe i could just make on myself haha. I was thinking of a mapping that could contain just single button control for short loops on the fly and some beat jump functionality. Some extra features that arent on the vci 100 se.
Well, what hasn’t been mentioned: the nanoKEY can send control data on each key – that is certainly very useful, indeed. I like the keys of the Akai controller since they are almost like real keys. But I hate that the piece of gear is sooo thick. It really makes it ugly.
The nanoPAD is great to use with live to control the FXs – just like a KAOSS-pad.
What is missing in a way: the nanoKONTROL. The combination of all three pieces give you more functions than the two Akais.
🙁 (notebook trackpads work for years without failure)[/quote]
If just the LPK25 had more buttons…. I got a Nanopad but my X-Y is also pretty much useless (it *could* be so much fun for FX). Now if Akai got an LPK out with 8 buttons in a row (even 6 would do), I’d buy it in a heartbeat… I’d be perfectly happy even with a direct clone of the Nanopad, just really fully and reliably working 🙁 (notebook trackpads work for years without failure)
I’m totally buying a pad for this weekend, and chopping up some DAFT PUNK!
Too well!
excellent comparison.
Ean u have the best dj’s blog in the planet!
without question!
I’m thinking to buy the 2 akai’s.
you think?
I have the Nanopad and i have to say its great so far =)
Well… no surprise the Akai won. The product was already there, they just had to make it better, wich wasnt that hard. So to say Im still pretty much in love with my NanoKOntrol 🙂
My korg ones broke within a few months~ the inside connector of the USB got stuffed up and now its not working. AKAI ones have been awesome so far! True, we could use a bit more buttons~ but as it is akai lpd8 is pretty purrfect
oh and by the way anyone know if theres any custom Pots for these? Would love to take off the stock knobs and swap them for bigger ones
The Akais do kick quite a bit of butt. (that’s a tech term, ya’ll)