The Arturia BeatStep is rich in features, and its versatility is one of its many highlights. Our Conclusion: If you want to have the classic feel while still keeping up to date with the modern style, then this MIDI drum pad is for you. The Akai MPD 226 also contains 4 faders, knobs, and switches that round out the entire device. The smooth black casing houses the 16-pad setup with rainbow backlights and, with its smaller interface, allows the device to be transported on a whim. The MPD 226 offers a modernized version of its predecessor by enhancing all of its features while keeping its nostalgic options to its core.

Today, Akai is still providing us with great MIDI drum pads through the Akai MPD 226.

It was essentially the go-to drum pad controller of the decade due to its high-quality features. The Akai MPD60 is one of the original drum pad controllers that dominated the 90s. Here are 10 Best MIDI drum pad controllers: 1. In today’s world, there are viable options that will cater to your needs. MIDI drum pad controllers do not need to be expensive for you to get high-quality features that will allow you to explore different styles of music. Soon the pads became smaller and offered more features. With the help of the advancement of technology, these instruments have become less expensive and integral to the overall performance of an artist. In the early days, most of the drum pads were assembled, much like the classic set of drums, and were played using the fingers so that there is little need to use force to create music. These devices used to have the same size and shape of real drums however, the surface was much more firm to absorb shock. A few decades later, the device has become accessible to a lot of musicians.Īt first, the device was intended to be struck or tapped using drum sticks to generate a signal that would play a sound.

In the late 1980s, musicians and producers were able to develop MIDI or musical instrument digital interface as a way to connect different electronic instruments and computers to create, edit, and record new music.ĭuring this time, it was only professional musicians and producers that were able to get hold of MIDI controller pads as they are quite expensive at the time. Many years ago, musical creativity and innovation were highly restricted with their instruments.

Midi drum pad controller