MIDI pad controllers are not only supremely fun when you have the right tools, but they also provide a creative and intuitive approach to writing music. Especially if you’re not a keyboard or guitar player, it’s an easy way to realize your musical ideas, allowing you to get from thought to creation with faster efficiency. Whether you’re just looking to create a fantastic bottom line, or you’re trying to produce a fully fleshed out track, we’ve got some pad controllers that will get you on your way.
If you’re looking for a more general guide to MIDI controllers, check out this page for further reading.
Wallet-Friendly Mini Pad Controllers
If you’re just getting started, have limited space, or simply want something cute to carry along with your laptop, these affordable mini pad controllers should do the trick. The Akai Professional LPD8 MK2 Laptop Pad Controller has eight velocity-sensitive disco-lit pads. Hook it up to your DAW to just produce beats or add samples and loops. The eight assignable rotary knobs allow you to do a bunch of stuff in your DAW, such as tweak the reverb, trim your samples, play with the EQ and more. Like any control surface, you can make this unit fully customizable to your preferences and type of project. And, if you’re short on software, you can make use of the included MPC Beats, which features plug-in instruments, insert effects and expansion packs with loads of drum hits and samples.
If you want a tiny pad controller with a little more flair, the Korg nanoPAD2 Slimline not only offers 16 pads but also features a nifty touchpad that lets you perform music with just your finger. With this touch scale function, you can intuitively play phrases using any soft synth on your DAW. You can also use the arpeggiator function to add variations to your playing.
Classic Beat-Making Controllers
Akai can get pretty sophisticated when it comes to their controllers. Some of their models, which are often geared more towards performance situations, like the APC mini mk2, employ just too many pads for many to deal with. But the Akai Professional MPD218 strikes a perfect balance between being highly playable while also providing enough pads to have a sufficiently wide selection of drum beats or samples available at your fingertips. It’s a perfect home studio companion for those who desire a simple layout yet want advanced features when called upon. You can switch between three pad banks to control up to 48 samples, as well as navigate up to 18 parameters. It also has a useful note repeat button to reactivate pads at a rate that’s in sync with the current tempo. Also, if you want to break away from your computer, you can easily connect it to your iPhone or iPad with a suitable adapter.
Pad Controllers with Sequencers and Analogue Controllers
If you want a pad controller that can control your analog equipment in addition to the software in your DAW, the Arturia Beatstep USB, MIDI, and CV Controller and Sequencer is a solid and affordable choice with sequencing abilities. It’s ideal if you want to perform as a one-man show or improvise while you write in your home studio. You’ll get a ton of functionality here. In addition to the sixteen pressure sensitive pads, you’ll have sixteen assignable rotary knobs, transport buttons and a jogwheel for transposing as well as for adjusting rates and levels. You can store up to sixteen sequences in the device’s internal memory, and in addition to the USB input and MIDI breakout cable, you’ll also find outputs for your hardware synths and other gear.
Pad Controllers for Drummers Who Miss Drums
If you’re a drummer who misses beating the crap out of your drums, consider a pad controller that’s more drum-like. The Keith McMillen Instruments BopPad, is an expressive electronic drumpad with a 10” playing surface. If you like playing with drumsticks or even chopsticks, this pad is for you; it employs a special fabric technology to provide a realistic drum feel, and it can send highly accurate and nuanced MIDI messages to your DAW. Using the available BopPad Editor software, you can pick what data the drumpad will send and how it will be controlled. Each quadrant can send up to six MIDI notes, as well as transmit information like velocity, aftertouch, pitch bend messages and more.
Controller and Music Production Packages
Whether you’re looking to get a complete studio package, or you simply want the best the market has to offer, check out the Native Instruments MASCHINE MK3 Groove Production Studio. It’s not only a powerhouse controller, sequencer and sampler, but also comes with a whopping 8GB of content made by Native Instruments, one of the most popular music software brands in the world. This unit provides a super intuitive interface that’s designed to maximize your creative speed and focus.
Whether you just want to make beats, perform live, or create a fully realized track, this hardware/software package will provide you with everything you need to get started. It should be noted that the MASCHINE MK3 does require a computer to work, so it’s not a completely independent drum machine. That said, once hooked up to your DAW, you won’t need to even touch your keyboard or mouse. Everything can be controlled from the device itself.
The MASCHINE MK3 is also a great sounding audio interface with stereo line inputs and outputs, as well as a headphone output and even a microphone input, which is a rare feature for MIDI pad controllers. It also offers MIDI input and output ports for connecting extra controllers and keyboards. The system may take a while to master, but after spending some time with it, you’ll find that it’s a ridiculously powerful and creative tool for manifesting your musical ideas.
Unconventional Pad Controllers
If you’d like to be unhindered by any limitations set by complicated music theory and just want to intuitively create a musical idea within minutes, the Intuitive Instruments Exquis offers a new approach to writing music. It simplifies the song creation process by offering a more seamless approach. It employs a relatively new MIDI technology called, MIDI Polyphonic Expression (MPE), which is an inclination-sensitive sound control that shapes each note in a spontaneous and polyphonic way. With movement in the pressure a position of your finger, you can modulate parameters like pitch, timbre and amplitude all at once.
The hexagonal pattern of keys aligns harmoniously, complimenting neighboring notes (in thirds), and allowing you to build tuneful chords and melodies without much effort. It’s easy to learn and understand. The keys are backlit indicating a selection of more than 350 scales music scales, which melodically guide the player in the right direction. It comes with a dedicated app that that allows you to pull up sound controls, harmonies and melodies that you can control on the pad with simple and intuitive gestures. You can either compose songs live or program them in advance, making this pad both suitable for live performance and for studio recording. Combine drums, soft synths, loops and samples to fluently produce a highly creative and melodic result.
For more information about the products listed above, including additional features, specs, and highlights, be sure to check out the detailed product page for more information. Or drop us a line below, and we’ll do our best to answer all your comments and questions.
