AKAI MPD226 USB-MIDI Pad Controller with RGB Backlit Pads

Akai has taken their ever-popular MPD series of pad controllers and refined them with much requested features from over six years of customer research and user feedback to create the MPD2 series. The MPD226 is a part of this series of controllers and sports features that are great for musicians, programmers, DJs, and producers alike.

With plug-and-play USB-MIDI connectivity, this controller can work with both Mac- and Windows-based computers, and can even connect with iOS devices via an Apple Camera Connection Kit (sold separately) to work with most any music making program available. If you are lacking in the software department, the MPD226 includes a suite of software that will get you started, including Akai Pro MPC Essentials, Big Bang Drums and Big Bang Cinema from Sonivox, Ableton Live Lite, and Software Preset Editor.

The MPD226 is equipped with 16 ultra-sensitive Thick Fat MPC pads that are RGB backlit for visual feedback during performances. Along with the drum pads, this controller has four knobs, four faders, and four buttons arranged in three banks for 36 total controls, meaning you can tweak multiple effects with the press of the bank button. There's even an LCD screen that displays pertinent information about different parameters that can be altered on-the-fly for even more in-depth control capabilities.

Features

• 16 Thick Fat RGB-illuminated velocity and pressure sensitive MPC pads
• 64 assignable pads accessible via 4 banks
• 4 assignable faders, 4 assignable Q-Link knobs, 4 assignable Q-Link buttons
• 36 assignable controls accessible via 3 banks
• Classic MPC Note Repeat, MPC Swing, 16 Level, Full Level, and Tap Tempo
• 30 presets total, with configurations for most popular DAWs
• iOS compatible using the Apple Camera Connection Kit (sold separately)
• MIDI In and Out jacks for controlling external gear
• Dedicated transport controls
• Includes Ableton Live Lite, Akai Pro MPC Essentials, Sonivox Big Bang Cinematic Percussion and Big Bang Universal Drums

Specifications

• System Requirements:
  • Mac:
    • 1.25 GHz G4/G5 or faster (Intel Mac recommended)
    • 1 GB RAM (2 GB recommended)
    • Mac OS X 10.4.11 (10.5 or later recommended)
  • Windows:
    • 1.5 GHz Pentium 4 Celeron-compatible CPU or faster (multicore CPU recommended)
    • 1 GB RAM (2 GB recommended)
    • Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, or Windows XP
    • Windows-compatible sound card (ASIO driver support recommended)
    • Quicktime recommended
  • Available USB port