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Alesis Control Pad

Item ID: ControlPad

8-pad USB/MIDI Controller with Two Switch Pedal Inputs - Mac/PC

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From Our Research Team:

Take Control of Your Percussion and MIDI Devices!

The Alesis Control Pad USB/MIDI Percussion Controller is a compact percussion pad controller that is equally at home as a performance instrument and as a MIDI programming tool for studio recording. The Control Pad features eight velocity-sensitive pads with gum rubber surfaces for excellent stick response, as well as two trigger inputs for connecting external pads. Percussion setups are stored to internal memory and are accessible via MIDI Program Change commands. You get flexible, easy-to-use percussion and MIDI control with the USB bus-powered Control Pad.

Alesis Control Pad USB/MIDI Percussion Pad Controller at a Glance:
  • Pads and inputs
  • Great for studio and stage
  • A MIDI controller
  • USB connectivity

Pads and inputs
In addition to eight velocity-sensitive percussion pads onboard, this controller includes two trigger inputs for connecting external pads (it's compatible with the Alesis Drum Pad and Cymbal Pad expansion kits), two switch pedal inputs to accomodate open/closed hi-hat and kick drum, and an up/down footswitch input for selecting kits remotely. The Control Pad also includes pad sensitivity adjustment to get the sound that's perfect for you.

Great for studio and stage
The Control Pad is a compact drum/percussion system that functions equally well as a recording tool and as an on stage electronic “trap table”. It's a useful tool for serious recording musicians and percussionists seeking to “lighten the load” in terms of the number of accessory instruments they carry.

A MIDI controller
The Alesis Control Pad is limited only by the sound sources connected to it. As a MIDI controller, it can trigger samplers (sampled sounds and sampled sound effects), drum machines, and synthesizers. Melodic percussion (mallet instruments such as vibes and marimba) can be played by assigning the desired MIDI note numbers to the controller’s various pads.

USB connectivity
Plug the Control Pad into your Mac or PC via USB for a plug-and-play functionality — no drivers are necessary, and no external power is needed. However, if you want to use it without the computer connection, a power adapter is included.


Alesis Control Pad Features:
  • USB/MIDI drum controller for studio or live use
  • 8 high-quality velocity-sensitive percussion pads
  • 2 trigger inputs for connecting external pads (compatible with the Alesis Drum Pad and Cymbal Pad expansion kits)
  • 2 switch pedal inputs
  • Up/down footswitch input
  • USB Plug-and-Play connectivity (no drivers necessary)
  • USB bus-powered (no power supply necessary when connected to a computer)
  • PC and Mac compatible
  • MIDI I/O
  • Pad sensitivity adjustment
  • Stores MIDI setups with program change capability


Alesis Control Pad - Hands on control over drum samples!

Control Pad Image Gallery

Specification Detail
Manufacturer Part Number CONTROLPAD

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Reviews

based on 12 reviews

Better than I thought it would be.

by Joe S. from Milwakee, WI USA
March 13, 2008
Music Background: Hobbyist/Producer
Pros:
+Rebounds like a dampened drum
+Zero Latency
+Looks Cool
+Expandable by 4 inputs
+USB Powered
+I feel more attached to FL studio.

Con's:<... read more [+]br /> -Rubber pad is unlike the slippery surface of a real set.
-Hitting plastic will activate the pad nearest where you strike.

Other Notes:
Someone else mentioned that the output is delayed. READ THE MANUAL! It recommends ASIO4ALL and unplugging other USB device like external drives to lower latency. I've got like 15 USB devices on my pc, and running with a true ASIO soundcard .: Zero Latency. close [-]

AMAZING

by Nick Borgosz from Buffalo, NY
June 20, 2007
Music Background: Recording Engineer, drummer, guitarist, bassist
Great product, very easy to use, and has every feature someone could want. I'm using it to trigger sequences and add electronic drums to back live drums. It does this job perfectly. I can't imagine... read more [+] anyone who knows that this product does not liking it. If you already have a laptop or some thing else that provides the sounds you want to trigger...any other product would just be stupid. Easy programming of midi notes, sensetivity, 4 velecity curves, option to external pads/footswitches...just amazing for the money. close [-]

Finally!!! And it wroks very well too.

by Scott from Irving, TX
March 31, 2007
Music Background: Drummer, Recording Engineer Student
well, its nothing fancy. You hook it up to your computer, open up a percussion instrument, hit the pads with sticks and it makes the sounds come out of your computer. Its that simple! Really!!! You do... read more [+]n't even have to put in a installation CD. The pads have a good feel to them, a lot better then "finger pads". Editing kits is easy, and customizing the pads to suite your playing style is easy as well. Great product and at a good affordable price. close [-]

Performed As Expected

by Rick from Clarkston, MI USA
November 23, 2011
Music Background: Pro
I had a gig in a club with hardly any space allocated for the band. I decided to buy this product and connect it to my Alesis SR-16. I used an acoustic hi hat. I assigned sounds to the pads and plug... read more [+]ged in an old trigger which I duct taped to the beater of my kick pedal and made a surface for the beater to hit. I gave the output of the SR-16 to the pa-no personal monitor. You would probably want a monitor under your control, but everyone understood this was a low volume gig so it was ok. We started out so quiet that the beater hitting the homemade pad was as audible as the rest of the band. As we got louder things blended better. I did not use the "kit" function of the control pad. I instead created a few different sets on the SR-16 and selected them as needed. Anyway, the guitarist/keyboardist and the bass player both liked it. The singer told me she didn't care for it that much. 2 out of 3 ain't bad, as the saying goes. For myself, having to move my own gear, it's hard to argue against it. One trip in/out with a fraction of the weight. Tear down in half the time or less. For what I'm giving up (the sensory experience of an acoustic set) I'm getting a great deal of convenience and many different sounds available (limited only by what you connect it to) with little to no difference as far as what the drummer needs to give the band. Based on this first and only gig so far, I give it a thumbs up. close [-]

Much better than the SPD-S

by Mark from Wellington, New Zealand
March 24, 2009
Music Background: Musician
I've been using the Control Pad for two years, alongside a Roland SPD-S. I've had constant issues with the SPD-S, I've been through three of them. Also, the Alesis Control Pad lets you program a patch... read more [+] where each pad puts out midi datat on a different midi channel. The SPS-S doesn't let you do this, instead it makes you set a global midi channel, ot just for the patch but for the entire unit. Kind of useless. Another thing that sets the Alesis Control Pad ahead of the Roland SPD-S is that the Alesis pad is really easy to fix. I've had a wires come loose from the piezo contacts in both units. The Alesis unit is set out in such a way that makes it easy to resolder, but the SPD-S is full of PCB boards and is impossible to fix yourself. So if you're looking for a midi controller, the Pad Control is the best choice imo close [-]
Read more reviews

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See Also: Drum Sequencers , Alesis , Alesis Percussion Controllers

Alesis Control Pad

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