Hi friends,
I’m interested in a budget pad controller - ideally with MIDI OUT, and somewhat small / portable (so I can use it with both my iPad and my Digitakt - not simultaneously of course).
I came around the MPC Element, from a few years ago - there’s not much info around, but it does seem like a great choice for my needs. What I’m somewhat worried is that I can’t find examples of it beeing used standalone along hardware gear. any users here that could give me feedback about it?
Here’s what the Akai site says info you need is very end of the paragraph. Trs midi ports.
Flexible MIDI Control
Control your favorite music software. MPC Elements comes with everything you need to make music right away, and, because it operates via standard MIDI, you can also use MPC Element to control any MIDI music software you already have. An 1/8-inch MIDI input and an 1/8-inch MIDI output are both onboard and special 1/8-inch to 5-pin MIDI cables are included.
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yeah I read that… but I’m somewhat skeptical about it - there’s no mention of hardware operation eve on the promo videos, thinking maybe you have to be connected to the computer anyway to be able to sequence anything via MIDI.
I know it looks like it does, but it seems really strange that I can’t find evidence of that anywhere on the internet.
I used to have one of these. If I remember correctly It can only be powere by usb and it can control external gear through its trs midi ports. Though I used it with an iPad mostly. It was marketed mainly toward computer/iPad users.
Youre probably better off grabbing an mpd18/16.
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MPD18 is only USB…
how did the pads feel on the Element? would you mind telling me what was you’re overall experience with it?
Yeah there’s no internal sequencer in the element. All that was done through the MPC Essentials software.
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It was a decent controller. But I didn’t gel with the MPC Essentials software so basic pad controller usage for me. Pads were good especially considering the slimline design. I also have a mpd 24 and 26 so ultimately the element was redundant.
Forgot they removed the din midi on the 18 when the upgraded it from the 16.
Yeah this is what I like about it… I’m not really looing for a sequencer, just a nicer way to input notes with velocity instead of the Digitakt’s buttons or the iPad’s screen. So the slim design really attracts me, compared to the bulkiness of the other models.
Thanks for the info! they’re not easy to get (impossible here in Argentina) but I’ll have patience and see if I can get one somehow
EDIT: nevermind, just found a screenshot and it seems totally possible
oh! one more question… do you know if the pads can be assigned to different MIDI channels? as to map the to Digitakt’s tracks, for instance. I’m pretty sure it’s possible via the PC editor, but then again you never know
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I don’t have the element, but i have the mpd226, and you can do that on it, so i would imagine the Element has the same flexibility. The mpd editor software gives you tons of customizing options.
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I just bought a used MPC Element. Works fine with MPC Software (the full version), but I can’t find the MPC Essential software for download anywhere on Akai’s site.
Without it, I’m not sure how to put the Element into “low power mode”, where it’s said to work like any midi control surface.
you have to hold the shift button while you power it, IIRC
I got one recently although I had a few problems:
first, I realized it was missing the serial number in the back, so I couldn’t register it, which is a condition to download the software.
since I knew the previous owner, I miraculously managed to get the SN from the previous owner (so… third owner back) and when I tried to register… gave me an error (“This serial number was not recognized, please check the number and try again, or contact support.”)
I contacted support two or three times… they never got back to me. I got an automatic email saying I should’ve been contacted, telling me to check my spam folder… nothing.
It was super frustrating, because it seems to be mapped sort of weirdly (some notes are non-consecutive for example)… and it’s impossible to change the MIDI settings without their damn software.
have in mind that, when used in standalone mode without their software (ie. MPC Essentials or iMPC Pro) you can ONLY use one bank of 16 pads… nothing else will work, and leds won’t light up either. A bit shit indeed.
Forunately, the owner was kind enough as to let me keep it and not pay him until I had a response from Akai (I only payed him for the shipping)…
That beeing said: if you get the software, PLEASE let me know so maybe there’s a way you can share a link or something…? hope you have better luck!
Checking back on this thread.
The MPC Essential worked fine as a rudimentary controller for MPC 2 software, until I switched to an M1 mac.
My ipad is also M1 these days. I tried connecting the Essential through my Belkin USB C dock, powered from a mains outlet. No response.
Is MPC Essential just a fancy oversized beer coaster these days if you’re not on an outdated computer? Or can it be made to function somehow?