The right MIDI controller depends largely on how you want to enter drum patterns: playing them on pads, switching steps on and off, or controlling a grid in your DAW. A USB-powered model can save you needing a separate mains adaptor, provided you have a suitable USB power source available. Also check the connection and MIDI compatibility with your drum software. For standalone use, Arturia lists an optional USB power adaptor for the BeatStep.
You make beats with a computer and want to know whether the controller can be powered via USB. Check whether your computer has a suitable port free, too. Akai Professional, Korg, Arturia and Novation describe USB power for the models mentioned here.
You’d rather play rhythms in than click them in. Look for velocity-sensitive pads and check MIDI compatibility with your drum software. Korg and Akai Professional specify velocity-sensitive pads for the nanoPAD2 and LPD8 MK2.
You’d rather switch notes on and off one step at a time. A controller with a suitable sequencer workflow may be a better fit than one that only triggers drum sounds via pads. Arturia describes the BeatStep as having a 16-step sequencer.
A good fit if: you work with a computer and drum software, and want to play rhythms in with your fingers. Akai Professional lists USB power for the MPD218; Korg specifies 16 velocity-sensitive pads and USB bus power for the nanoPAD2.
Keep in mind: a pad controller isn’t automatically a standalone step sequencer or sound generator. Check the MIDI note mapping and USB connection for the exact model.
A good fit if: you want to build patterns step by step or control MIDI equipment. Arturia describes the BeatStep as having a 16-step sequencer and USB bus power.
Keep in mind: Arturia lists an optional USB power adaptor for standalone use. USB power doesn’t automatically mean you can work without another power source.
A good fit if: you want to control clips and scenes in Ableton Live as well as drums. Novation describes the Launchpad Mini [MK3] as featuring an 8×8 grid, drum mode and USB power.
Keep in mind: the clip control described is for Ableton Live. A grid alone doesn’t prove that the pads are velocity-sensitive or offer the same integration with another DAW.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Power without an extra plug socket | Check the power method, the cable and connection required, and whether you have a USB power source available. Consider the power requirements for standalone use. | If I have few spare plug sockets, I want to know whether my computer can power the controller through a suitable USB port. Around 33% of consumers say power without an extra plug socket is their top priority. |
| Playing drums in | Check whether the pads are velocity-sensitive, how many pads are directly accessible, and whether your drum software uses the MIDI note numbers. | I want to play rhythms in with my fingers and trigger my drum sounds directly. Around 27% of consumers put finger drumming first. |
| Creating patterns step by step | Check whether the model has a sequencer and how it controls your software or external equipment. Also check what power source it needs for standalone use. | If I’d rather switch notes on and off step by step, I’m looking for a controller with a suitable sequencer workflow. Around 20% of consumers say this is their top priority. |
| Compatibility with your DAW and drum plug-in | Check the features available for your DAW, the MIDI note numbers and any setup required to trigger the sounds you want. | I want the controller to work with the software I already use and offer the features my workflow needs. Around 20% of consumers prioritise software compatibility. |
A controller powered via USB still needs a suitable USB power source that’s available to use. For standalone use, Arturia lists an optional USB power adaptor for the BeatStep.
Before you buy, map out your setup and check the power method, connection and cable for the exact model.
A grid, drum pads and a step sequencer can support different workflows. Novation describes drum and Custom modes for the Launchpad Mini [MK3], while Arturia describes the BeatStep as having its own 16-step sequencer.
First decide whether you want to play parts in, switch steps or control DAW clips. Then check that the exact model supports the feature you need.
Akai notes that the MIDI note numbers used can vary between DAWs and drum plug-ins. As a result, a pad may trigger a different sound from the one you expect.
Compare the note numbers used by your plug-in and controller, and check whether you can change the mapping.
Checking and changing MIDI note numbers can take extra setup time.
The MPD218 is designed around 16 drum pads, while the more compact LPD8 MK2 combines eight pads with eight rotary controls.
The nanoPAD2 combines 16 velocity-sensitive pads with an X/Y touchpad in a slim USB controller.
The BeatStep is worth considering if you want to combine pads with step-by-step pattern entry and connections for other MIDI or CV/Gate equipment.
The Launchpad Mini [MK3] is a USB-powered 8×8 grid for workflows including drums and clip control in Ableton Live.
Not if the model is powered by a suitable USB source. Akai Professional lists USB power for the MPD218, while Korg specifies USB bus power for the nanoPAD2. Do check that your computer has a suitable port free. For standalone use of the BeatStep, Arturia lists an optional USB power adaptor.
Compare the MIDI note numbers used by your controller with those used by your drum plug-in. Akai explains how to change the note numbers for the LPD8 MK2 using the editor, and notes that they can vary between DAWs and plug-ins.
It depends on the controller and the software you want to use. Akai describes the registration, installation and authorisation process for the MPC Beats software supplied with the MPD218. Check which software comes with the exact offer and what setup your workflow requires.
According to the Dutch government, consumers buying from a business at a distance generally have a 14-day cooling-off period; exceptions and the circumstances of the purchase are still relevant. If a product is faulty, the seller is your point of contact for a solution.
The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) states that CE rules may be relevant for certain product groups, and that requirements depend on the type of device. Check the documentation for the exact version; the product category alone doesn’t establish which rules apply to a specific offer.
