Akai: Why are MPC and MPD pads Different??? Are they swappable?

NowWhat · 7th June 2008

Can you swap out MPD pads (thin, hard) for MPC pads (thicker, spongier)

I've seen all the "How to Upgrade" videos on youtube, but I haven't found the answer to if they are interchangeable...

That would be sweet...

WTF with the thin little pads on the midi controllers? and no metal...

temetrepo · 7th June 2008

yes u can
check in mpc-forums for more info some cats over there have done.
one of them posted pics on how to do it

AnonJack · 7th June 2008

i'd like to know why as well...

and even if you can change the pads, aren't the sensors underneath different?

Altitude909 · 9th June 2008

the MPC-2000, 3000, and 4000 pads are identical to the MPD pads and are just a sheet of 16 sensors under a rubber sheet with the squares.

(Akai MPC 2000 2000XL 3000 4000 Pad Sensors)

the 2500 uses a different sensor sheet and the 1000 and 500 use those crappy individual ones that go bad so often.

There is also now an upgrade set for the 1k that goes back to the classic type pads

Akai MPC 1000 Pad Set - New Version Pad Fix Upgrade

AnonJack · 10th June 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Altitude909

the MPC-2000, 3000, and 4000 pads are identical to the MPD pads and are just a sheet of 16 sensors under a rubber sheet with the squares.

(Akai MPC 2000 2000XL 3000 4000 Pad Sensors)

Are you positive that the new MPD's are the same? I felt one at GC the other day and they don't feel the same at all. I am a former 2000/2000XL/4000 user. My buddy has a 3000 at his studio...the new MPD pads feel totally different IMO...or am I trippin here?

Altitude909 · 10th June 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnonJack

Are you positive that the new MPD's are the same? I felt one at GC the other day and they don't feel the same at all. I am a former 2000/2000XL/4000 user. My buddy has a 3000 at his studio...the new MPD pads feel totally different IMO...or am I trippin here?

I cant speak for the the 32 and the keyboard, but I have opened up my MPD16 and it has the exact same pads and sensors as the 2000xl. In fact, they are interchangeable with the MPCs as someone has stated. As far as differences in feel, I dont know, it may be how they are constructed, but the parts are exactly the same. What is even crazier is the fact that buying a MPD16 and gutting it is actually cheaper then buying a new sensor and pad sheet.

I would probably bet that the MPD32 has the MPC2500 pads and sensors though.

AnonJack · 10th June 2008

Yeah, you are probably right about the MPD16. The MPD16 didn't feel that bad...I felt it got an unfair rep when it first came out.

However, I'm positive based off of feel alone that the MPD24 and MPD32 pads/sensors are not the same as the 2000(XL)/3000/4000...how unfortunate. Even the M-Audio TF and Korg pads feel better than the MPD32 imo.

Altitude909 · 11th June 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnonJack

Yeah, you are probably right about the MPD16. The MPD16 didn't feel that bad...I felt it got an unfair rep when it first came out.

However, I'm positive based off of feel alone that the MPD24 and MPD32 pads/sensors are not the same as the 2000(XL)/3000/4000...how unfortunate. Even the M-Audio TF and Korg pads feel better than the MPD32 imo.

Shame. The mpd 16 had all sorts of driver problems for the USB and the pad sensitivity controls we kind of buried in the software so most people complained about how hard they were to trigger. Personally, I could care less about the big controllers they make, I just want the pads anyway and I dont use USB so for me, the 16 was a dream (and I am on my second one)

Zionpro · 11th June 2008

I never cracked open my MPD24, but I know for a fact (based on years of playing on MPC's and two years of owning the mPD) they do not feel the same. The OP described the differences as I would...the MPD pads are thin and hard as opposed to the softer (spongier) , thicker feel of MPC.

The pads may be the same underneath the hood, but I highly doubt it based on the difference in feel...sensors probably are the same.

I'd be interested in swapping at some point...that's if I don't break down and get a 1000/500 first!

Altitude909 · 11th June 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zionpro

I never cracked open my MPD24, but I know for a fact (based on years of playing on MPC's and two years of owning the mPD) they do not feel the same. The OP described the differences as I would...the MPD pads are thin and hard as opposed to the softer (spongier) , thicker feel of MPC.

The pads may be the same underneath the hood, but I highly doubt it based on the difference in feel...sensors probably are the same.

I'd be interested in swapping at some point...that's if I don't break down and get a 1000/500 first!

Do you think it is maybe a question of wear? My mpd pads got significantly softer over time

AnonJack · 13th June 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Altitude909

Do you think it is maybe a question of wear? My mpd pads got significantly softer over time

No, not wear. I agree with Zionpro...the pads are not the same on the MPD24/32 and the 2000. I'm thinking about going out and getting me another 2000XL just as a controller...and for nostalgic reasons. =]

Zionpro · 13th June 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Altitude909

Do you think it is maybe a question of wear? My mpd pads got significantly softer over time

They did get softer with time...well over a year now that I've had it, but still not the same...as MPC

Altitude909 · 14th June 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zionpro

They did get softer with time...well over a year now that I've had it, but still not the same...as MPC

I believe it. There have been new pads/sensors out since the 2500 and I guess that is what they are using in the new controllers. I never wanted anything but the pads so the 16 has always been the perfect controller for me. I used to have a Sequential TOM that I would hook the pads up to and it was easily to most fun drum machine ever since the normal buttons did not send velocity but when the pads were hooked up, it would record the velocity coming from the pads AND it would also record any pitch changes via the slider. The result was crazy 80's break beats..

NowWhat · 21st June 2008

OK SO....

1. There are definitely TWO types of MPC pads. MPD pads are different.

Type I: MPC60 MPC3000, MPC2000, MPC2000XL, MPC2500, MPC4000
Type II: MPC 1000, MPC 500

Type II are more rectangular (not square) but seem to feel the same

2. I opened up my MPD 16 and it has the same 1-piece sensor pad as the MPC. MPD 16 DEF Has different pads from the MPC.

3. MPC2500 and MPD24 and MPD32 have the same sensors.

BASED ON THIS YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO SWAP PADS.

QUESTION:
Has someone compared the MPD rubber pads by themselves to MPC?

Thanks to all !!!

7th June 2008	#1
NowWhat Gear nut Joined: Oct 2007 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 134 Thread Starter	Akai: Why are MPC and MPD pads Different??? Are they swappable? Can you swap out MPD pads (thin, hard) for MPC pads (thicker, spongier) I've seen all the "How to Upgrade" videos on youtube, but I haven't found the answer to if they are interchangeable... That would be sweet... WTF with the thin little pads on the midi controllers? and no metal... __________________ yay!

7th June 2008	#2
temetrepo Lives for gear Joined: Aug 2006 Location: NJ Posts: 697	yes u can check in mpc-forums for more info some cats over there have done. one of them posted pics on how to do it __________________ The way i see it, you can either run from it or learn from it

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7th June 2008	#3
AnonJack Gear maniac Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 201	i'd like to know why as well... and even if you can change the pads, aren't the sensors underneath different?

9th June 2008	#4
Altitude909 Lives for gear Joined: Apr 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,294	the MPC-2000, 3000, and 4000 pads are identical to the MPD pads and are just a sheet of 16 sensors under a rubber sheet with the squares. (Akai MPC 2000 2000XL 3000 4000 Pad Sensors) the 2500 uses a different sensor sheet and the 1000 and 500 use those crappy individual ones that go bad so often. There is also now an upgrade set for the 1k that goes back to the classic type pads Akai MPC 1000 Pad Set - New Version Pad Fix Upgrade

10th June 2008	#7
AnonJack Gear maniac Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 201	Yeah, you are probably right about the MPD16. The MPD16 didn't feel that bad...I felt it got an unfair rep when it first came out. However, I'm positive based off of feel alone that the MPD24 and MPD32 pads/sensors are not the same as the 2000(XL)/3000/4000...how unfortunate. Even the M-Audio TF and Korg pads feel better than the MPD32 imo.

11th June 2008	#9
Zionpro Gear nut Joined: May 2008 Location: South, US Posts: 117	I never cracked open my MPD24, but I know for a fact (based on years of playing on MPC's and two years of owning the mPD) they do not feel the same. The OP described the differences as I would...the MPD pads are thin and hard as opposed to the softer (spongier) , thicker feel of MPC. The pads may be the same underneath the hood, but I highly doubt it based on the difference in feel...sensors probably are the same. I'd be interested in swapping at some point...that's if I don't break down and get a 1000/500 first!

21st June 2008	#14
NowWhat Gear nut Joined: Oct 2007 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 134 Thread Starter	OK SO.... 1. There are definitely TWO types of MPC pads. MPD pads are different. Type I: MPC60 MPC3000, MPC2000, MPC2000XL, MPC2500, MPC4000 Type II: MPC 1000, MPC 500 Type II are more rectangular (not square) but seem to feel the same 2. I opened up my MPD 16 and it has the same 1-piece sensor pad as the MPC. MPD 16 DEF Has different pads from the MPC. 3. MPC2500 and MPD24 and MPD32 have the same sensors. BASED ON THIS YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO SWAP PADS. QUESTION: Has someone compared the MPD rubber pads by themselves to MPC? Thanks to all !!!