13 thoughts on “What’s The Best MIDI Drum Pad Controller?”

1. The best ones out there are DrumKat. You can even use sticks, which is what I prefer. But the cheapest one is at least a $1000. As far as “finger” ones go. I believe the Korg ones are. But I prefer using sticks. Do your research HARMONY CENTRAL is a good place to start for reviews. Also, most of the BIG online companies, have user reviews. Hope this helps.

2. I agree, DrumKats rock. I use to use a Roland SPD into my Akai,
   it was a great way to lay down beats. I also dug the ‘hand’ & ‘stick’
   modes, I could hit it w/ sticks or my hands, very useful.

3. Im really sorry but this is nonsense. I went out of my way to try all three of these units out. Thrust me, the pad kontrol velocity response is far better. If you open one up you can see why, they use a different velocity sensing mechanism to the others. You can play very lightly on it. So I bought one…well two actually 🙂

4. oh i agree with lightronix NI's maschine is great and it comes loaded with drum kits, ableton rulesssssss

5. oh i agree with lightronix NI's maschine is great and it comes loaded with drum kits, ableton rulesssssss

6. Akai would be good if the software didn't corrupt the hardware to the point of being unusable. DON"T UPDATE AKAI FIRMWARE!!!! you may just ruin your device. Akai sucks

7. Akai would be good if the software didn't corrupt the hardware to the point of being unusable. DON"T UPDATE AKAI FIRMWARE!!!! you may just ruin your device. Akai sucks

8. Akai would be good if the software didn't corrupt the hardware to the point of being unusable. DON"T UPDATE AKAI FIRMWARE!!!! you may just ruin your device. Akai sucks

9. I owned the pad kontrol and I certainly disagree that it's sensitvity is that great. I was so disappointed I sold it after three months of trying to make it work well (not that the other two tested were great either).

   Sadly, the best two I've used are on the large MPC or the Roland sample workstation. They have the best feeling to me, unfortunately, the same pads don't make it into their controller only models. 🙁

10. I owned the pad kontrol and I certainly disagree that it's sensitvity is that great. I was so disappointed I sold it after three months of trying to make it work well (not that the other two tested were great either).

    Sadly, the best two I've used are on the large MPC or the Roland sample workstation. They have the best feeling to me, unfortunately, the same pads don't make it into their controller only models. 🙁

11. I owned the pad kontrol and I certainly disagree that it's sensitvity is that great. I was so disappointed I sold it after three months of trying to make it work well (not that the other two tested were great either).

    Sadly, the best two I've used are on the large MPC or the Roland sample workstation. They have the best feeling to me, unfortunately, the same pads don't make it into their controller only models. 🙁

12. I got the trigger finger from m-audio and got it at a local pawn shop for 70 bucks!. it took an hour to figure out how to use it with propellerhead’s Reason after research on the web. Here’s a tip : go to reason’s preferences and make sure you add device (in Keyboards and control surfaces section) as midi keyboard-no controls. Then press ”Memory recall on your trigger finger then press the p16 key. Along the process i have a oxygen 25. to tell you the truth, i am pretty much satisfied of its usage on REASON. basically, it depends on what you want to do. KONG goes great with the machine. I find the padkontrol prettier but i didn’t tested it. It is a lot more expensive but seems to have way more features and i like the lighting on the pads.

13. I still love my Boss Dr.Rythym DR-5 as a controller for progamming in step mode, I also use the Radium midiman.