Reloop BeatPad 2 Cross Platform DJ Controller

Product Information

As you can see in our buyer's guide, MIDI pad controllers might look similar, but they are often very different devices, so you have to consider some major functional variations. The physical interface is the most important aspect of a MIDI drum pad. Typically, a MIDI drum pad will have a group of pads, a screen, and a group of control knobs. Korg's SQ-64 is – let’s make no mistake – a sequencer first and foremost, with some MIDI control and lots of connectivity including eight CV outs. In fact it is four sequencers in one: three melodic, with outputs for pitch, mod and gate, and one for drum patterns. Melodic sequencing includes various methods and scale modes – everything is catered for – and drum sequencing is easy, straightforward and dependable with no learning curve. The main grid of buttons is used for a whole multitude of tasks, from song selection, then pattern selection to step selection among others and there are dedicated buttons for mod, pitch and gate channels to keep things nice and simple. Aside from the software provided, the PreSonus ATOM 16-Pad Performance Controller is also fully compatible with other digital audio workstations through USB-MIDI link-up.

beatpad.net www.beatpad.net

The Arturia BeatStep Pro Controller & Sequencer is a good mid-range MIDI drums option, combining solid build quality with a good range of features. It also offers impressive compatibility with MIDI, USB, CV/Gate, and DIN Sync. The unit can be ‘played’ like a keyboard although it’s not as intuitive as it could be. For other MIDI (control and otherwise) options, the global button allows you to set various aspects of the device so it fits with the rest of your gear, including things like 5 or 10 volts for pitch output, CC control mapping and the like. And as SQ-64 doesn’t just output to CV but also to MIDI, it is open to any gear you might care to mention, including hooking up to your DAW to sequence software instruments. However, some MIDI drum pad controllers are more optimized for certain DAWs than others. For example, the Ableton Push 2 was designed with Ableton Live in mind. All its features and settings work best when integrated within Ableton. This latest incarnation is as clear step up from its predecessors. Not only is it smaller and sleeker looking (though with larger pads) but it also adds velocity sensitivity, previously available only on the Launchpad Pro. MIDI drum pads are a lot more fun to use to record beats when making music. Without a MIDI drum controller, you’d need to use your mouse and keyboard to create beats.

These give you extensive control over the sounds and beats that you can make. You can use the effects that come with the drum pad, or you can assign functions to those control knobs from the DAW you’re using. The more money you spend on a MIDI drum pad, the more in-depth the interface will be. Higher-priced pads have dozens of pads to use, whereas mid-range drum pads typically have up to 16 pads on their interface. Controls The pads themselves are durable and both velocity and pressure sensitive, while you have the ability to record from them in real time. More than 8GB worth of drum sounds, synth samples, and instrument loops come pre-installed and the MK3 offers full integration with a digital audio workstation.

Beatpad Free » Download Beatpad Free

For those who are seeking the best pad controller available for a more limited budget, the PreSonus ATOM 16-Pad Performance Controller is able to offer excellent value. It has a few functions on it that can are only available in Ableton, so those functions won’t work when you plug it into a different DAW. Two high-resolution color displays make note editing and sound slicing easy, while the size of the MIDI drum pads makes it an ideal option for those looking to use two-handed techniques. While it's not as powerful as Live’s own Push 2, being more portable and cheaper it doesn't need to be. Its standalone MIDI capabilities give it a distinct edge, too. Version 3 adds a powerful standalone polyphonic sequencing mode, which can be used to control hardware without the need for connection to a computer (although it can, of course, be used with plugins too).Sometimes simplicity is key and the Akai Professional MPD218 16-Pad MIDI Pad Controller is likely to be the best MIDI drum pad for anyone seeking a straightforward controller and beat pad. Finally, for those looking for a top-of-the-rage option, with as many features as possible, capable of professional use, a great choice when searching for the best MIDI drum pad is the Ableton Push 2. A total of 16 pads provide you with the freedom to compose melodies or create drum sequences, while the other options on the hardware include a randomizer, a looper and swing settings. Where other pad controllers might have a sequencer built in, this is a sequencer with pad controls to play, so if you are after that level of compositional flexibility, then this is a great, solid option.

Reloop Beatpad - Reloop

For Ableton Live control, nothing still beats Ableton's own Push 2, which has simply been designed with nothing more than Live in mind so its control focus with that software is second to none and it has become the perfect hardware extension of it. In all, for the price, the Pro is one of the best MIDI pad controllers on the market. It's brilliantly suited to live performance too, and we can see it becoming a centrepiece to a lot of musicians' stage set-ups. Then you should ask yourself if you need velocity sensitivity – can the controller’s pads sense how hard you are pressing them? This is a must-have if you want expressive playing of melodic parts – perhaps to replace your more 'standard' MIDI keyboard – or drum grooves. However, if your priorities are step-sequencing and clip-launching, this is probably a feature you can do without.

Comments

Aux stereo RCA input (with phono pre-amp) for connection of a CD player, iPod or turntables, with separate volume control On top of this, you are also able to add your own custom samples to the collection by connecting an external device via a USB cable, or by inserting an SD card.

Online Sequencer

They give you access to an unlimited number of electronic sounds. While some MIDI controllers come with preset sounds to use, the floodgates open when you use sounds from DAWs and VSTs.Finally, when choosing from among the best MIDI pad controllers, there’s a host of other options worth considering beyond the pads themselves too, including screens, faders, rotaries and more. As with buying any MIDI controller, the most effective way to approach things is to work out exactly what you want to achieve using your new controller, and then consider how each device will help you do this. The flagship of Novation’s distinctive ‘Launch’ range of grid-based Ableton Live controllers, the Launchpad Pro Mk3 is focussed around a grid of 64-velocity sensitive pads. These can be used for triggering Live’s Clips and Scenes, creating drum beats, adjusting mixer functions using ‘virtual’ faders and playing melodic lines using the controller’s Scale and Chord modes. Serving as both a software instrument and a hardware controller, it benefits from 16 large multi-colored, velocity-sensitive pads, as well as almost 50 buttons, giving you a huge amount of control. Most drum MIDI controllers come with some sort of free DAW software. Cheaper ones come with basic software like Ableton Live Lite, and more expensive ones often come with full and extensive DAWs. If a MIDI pad controller doesn’t come with software, make sure that it has onboard sounds to use without needing to be plugged into a DAW. Features Ultimately, it is the compatibility with other instruments that is the real plus point, making the Arturia BeatStep Pro one of the best MIDI drum pad options for those with a wider setup in mind.