Akai pad controller LPD8

[steviobee]

Whilst I would love to get myself an APC40 for ease of control, I don't really do the amount of live shows to warrant it. However for the odd live stuff that I do, I would like to trigger a few cues and adjust the x y z dials and maybe a few other things. I was looking at a LPD8, a very basic pad controller that would suit my needs if once the workspace was setup in Beyond I could trigger a few live cues, etc.



Has anyone used one of these with Beyond and is it any good, it is a very good price and very portable and would save fiddling with a mouse on the certain dials i use.

I may just grab one at £30 and give it a go anyway.....

[mihai1880]

My suggestion is to get something with more faders and knobs. 8pads will never be enough anyway, and you can always trigger the cues from the laptop's keyboard.
Also I'd recommend to have a look at the new line of Behringer midi controllers, you can find them on their website. I didn't get the chance to use one, but the specs look good, a lot of buttons and faders for a decent price.

[steviobee]

My suggestion is to get something with more faders and knobs. 8pads will never be enough anyway, and you can always trigger the cues from the laptop's keyboard.
Also I'd recommend to have a look at the new line of Behringer midi controllers, you can find them on their website. I didn't get the chance to use one, but the specs look good, a lot of buttons and faders for a decent price.

Cheers mihai,

I had looked at a few others, but was thinking for the money, it's the dials on the LPD8 that are more use to me, you are right though, it is very limited but is only £32!

I have just had a look at the Behringer site, they don't seem to have anything with more faders, etc that's cheaper than an APC40. If I'm going to spend nearer £200, I would just get the Akai APC40, especially as it is plug and play with Beyond.

[mihai1880]

Yes, I guess your budget is quite limited. You can have a look at http://www.amazon.com/Korg-nanoKONTR.../dp/B001H2P294 . there are some other simmilar products from different manufacturers. Or, if you have an Ipad you can get for 5$ Touch OSC and design your own control surface,

[badger1666]

You will see the korg at lem steve a few people use them
They are great controllers and cheap too

[steviobee]

Yea cheers guys, just been looking at the Korg nano pad and kontrol2, they look pretty good.. Maybe I'll wait to check em out at UKLEM then!

[colouredmirrorball]

My suggestion is to get something with more faders and knobs. 8pads will never be enough anyway, and you can always trigger the cues from the laptop's keyboard.
Also I'd recommend to have a look at the new line of Behringer midi controllers, you can find them on their website. I didn't get the chance to use one, but the specs look good, a lot of buttons and faders for a decent price.

What are these new midi controllers you speak of? I only found the old BCR and BCF controllers.

[The_Doctor]

If you can, get a Peavey PC1600x. Don't worry if the buttons are knackered so long as the faders are ok for the most part. You could get one of the best ever made, cheaply, that way. I got one, and having recently worn out some buttons during months of code testing, I replaced the lot in an afternoon with parts from RS. Even got nice coloured switch caps which helps a lot. Especially in a darker room.. Doepfer did a Drehbank, an amazing device, but much more expensive and rare. But you stand a good chance of finding a PC1600x. If it's anythign less than 150 quid, grab it with both hands and don't let go. Ask me for RS part codes if you need them later.

One thing to get, if you want to build your own console, is Doepfer's 'Pocket Electronics'. It does pots or rotary encoders, switches, any mix of up to 16 controls. Very cheap, very excellent. But only do it if you're really after a full analog hardware console to generate MIDI because the rest is all DIY.

[mihai1880]

Have a look on their website under Products/Dj Controllers. It's the CMD series. for example DC-1 or LC-1, have same functionality as a Kontrol F1 from NI, but for less then half the price .

[steviobee]

Yes, I guess your budget is quite limited. You can have a look at http://www.amazon.com/Korg-nanoKONTR.../dp/B001H2P294 . there are some other simmilar products from different manufacturers. Or, if you have an Ipad you can get for 5$ Touch OSC and design your own control surface,

You will see the korg at lem steve a few people use them
They are great controllers and cheap too

Have had a great deal on the Nano 2 bundle, just over £20 each with USB hub and case, probably won't use the Nano KEY2? but look forward to getting the Kontrol2 and Pad2 all sync'd up...

Are they simple enough to setup with Beyond? - will no doubt picking a few brains at LEM!