Brand: Akai
EAN: 4540622001383
Feature: Connects to computers via USB and/or MIDI
Is Autographed: 0
Is Memorabilia: 0
Model: MPD16
MPN: 511418

• Connects to computers via USB and/or MIDI
• Connects to such sound engines as the Akai Z4 and Z8 samplers
• 16 MPC-spec pressure- and velocity-sensitive pads generate Note-On with velocity when tapped
• Full-Level mode produces data with a velocity value of 127 regardless of how hard it is tapped
• A 16-Level mode allows you to generate note velocities in 16 steps with the 16 pads

The Akai MPD16 Pad Control Unit connects via USB and/or MIDI to computers and sound engines such as the Akai Z4 and Z8 samplers. The Control Unit has 16 MPC-spec pressure- and velocity-sensitive pads that generate Note-On with velocity when tapped. In Full-Level mode, it produces data with the velocity value of 127 regardless of velocity of the pad tapped. In 16-Level mode the Akai MPD16 allows you to generate the note velocity in 16 steps with 16 pads. The active pad (note number) is the last pad played before the 16-Level key was hit. A bank key switches between 2 banks, allowing access to separate banks of sounds. The Active key enables the fader which outputs MIDI control changes. Parameter settings can be assigned from the computer via USB.

Customer Rating:
Summary: Running version 2.0.0.0 of the USB driver on Windows, still crashes Windows
Comment: I'm running the latest driver and it still crashes Windows XP. In my opinion Akai has done a crappy job creating the driver for Windows and probably only really tested their Mac drivers. The 2.0.0.0 drivers has a date of 2006 so they would have fixed it by now if one was coming.

You can reproduce the crash by just leaving Windows up for some extended period of time - you don't even have to be doing anything to get it to crash.

Now I have no choice but to throw an A/C adapter on it and use the MIDI output of the MPD16 in order to use it. Unfortunately I believe this prevents me from customizing the pads via the MPD16 utility so i'm stuck with the default MIDI notes that are sent - I have to look into this more.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Crashes Windows Vista
Comment: Using this product results in Blue Screen of Death in Windows Vista. Akai has no plans to support Vista with driver updates.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: updated usb driver
Comment: there is an updated driver on the akaipro site that remedies the XP crashing issue

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Beware of "Blue Screen of Death" Crashes in XP on Pentium D Machines
Comment: The MDP16 I just purchased constantly crashes my Pentium D XP machine when plugged in via USB.

There are no problems when connected via midi cable and only using the USB as the power source by "disabling" the device in device manager, but there are some features that are only available via USB.

I emailed Akai support, but never heard back from them. If I had a second chance, I would go with another controller.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: A bargain. But now obsolete.
Comment: Yes, the MPD16 is a bargain right now, since they've been superceded by the Akai MPD24, as well as other competitors' models (Korg PadKontrol, M-Audio Trigger Finger). The MPD16 is an acceptable but very basic drum controller, so long as you don't try running it on USB under Windows XP (I have no idea about Vista). The drivers are well known to regularly cause blue screen crashes in XP. I am doubtful that new drivers will ever appear for Windows or Vista. However, the MPD16 is stable if run as a midi-only interface with an external power supply, with no USB connection to your PC. But with this loss of USB functionality, you'll want to spring for $200 and get one of the newer drum controllers mentioned above.

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