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Akai Professional MPX8 SD Sample Pad Controller

Sample Player with 8 x Velocity- and Pressure-sensitive Pads, Onboard Reverb, Tuning Control, Editor Software (Mac/PC), and Both MIDI and USB Connectivity
28 Write review Item ID: MPX8
$109.00

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Akai Professional MPX8 SD Sample Pad Controller
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Sample Simplicity with Pad Playability!

Simplicity is the key to the Akai Professional MPX8 SD sample pad controller. This versatile, compact sample player gives you eight great-feeling velocity-sensitive and pressure-sensitive pads you can use to trigger samples and sounds. An included drag-and-drop sample editor simplifies managing your sounds, and the MPX comes with a massive library of built-in sounds to get you started. Onboard options include tuning control and reverb, and with both MIDI and USB connectivity, it's easy to integrate your Akai Professional MPX8 into the rest of your rig.

Related Videos: MPX8 SD Sample Pad Controller

Akai Professional MPX8 SD Sample Pad Controller Features:

  • 8 x velocity-sensitive and pressure-sensitive pads
  • Add sound samples via standard SD card or use the extensive built-in library
  • Can now use stereo samples with the free firmware v1.1.01 update
  • Tune, add reverb, save sample sets for easy recall
  • USB MIDI plus standard MIDI inputs and outputs
  • Drag-and-drop sample editor for Mac and PC included

Additional Media

MPX8 SD Sample Pad Controller User Manual
5 of the Most Famous Hip-hop Samples Ever Used
NAMM News: Akai Professional MPX8

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Tech Specs

  • Type: Sample Pad Controller
  • Internal Sound Engine: Sample Playback
  • Pads: 8 x Velocity-sensitive Pads
  • Sounds: 21 Built-in Sounds, Over 300 additional in Akai Pro Loop Library
  • Presets: 8 Built-in Kits, 99 User Kits
  • Polyphony: 8-voice
  • Sampling: Sample Playback
  • Effects: Reverb
  • Analog Outputs: 2 x 1/4" TS (main out)
  • Headphones: 1 x 1/8" TRS
  • MIDI I/O: 2 x 1/8" TRS Type A (in, out), USB
  • USB: 1 x Type B
  • Storage: Up to 32GB SD/SDHC Card
  • Software: Sample Kit Editor
  • Power Source: USB power supply (included)
  • Height: 1.3"
  • Width: 11.6"
  • Depth: 4"
  • Weight: 1 lb.
  • Manufacturer Part Number: MPX8X110

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Customer Reviews

2.9 out of 5

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Exactly what I needed on stage.

I purchased this MPX8 SD to run my band's intro and samples between songs. I always disliked the silence between tracks when on stage. This unit worked flawlessly for my needs. I had this next to my drum set and you just tap the unit and it plays. The pads are touch sensitive so I made sure to give it a full and direct hit.

Setup was super easy and it the unit keeps everything organized. I even picked up a second SD card to have my others bands intro and track intros/outros on there. A simple switch of the SD cards and you're all set to go. Highly recommended and easy to use.

Audio: Gersey Deoful "Intonation of the Coven Winds"
by Joe H from Belleville, NJ on

It does what you need and does it well

I don't understand why this little unit has gotten so many poor reviews. It's a very simple device - it plays back samples that you load in from an SD card from either the eight pads or from MIDI. And once you get your SD card and your "drum kits" set up, it does this quite well. And the price point is pretty good - there's really nothing else like this until you spend over double the price of the MPX8.

It is a bit confusing at first, and it actually works best when used with a "destructive" audio editing program like Audacity, Wavelab, Sound Forge, etc. (I'm sure you know of lots of free ones). Yes, there's software from Akai that is available, but that software is frankly confusing and doesn't actually work that well. But all you need to do is record your samples (or extract from CD or MP3 file) and copy them to the SD card - you can then create drum kits containing eight samples that it can play back. The MPX8 ONLY works with 44.1K/16-bit WAV files, mono or stereo, so you'll need to save your samples to exactly that format, which is of course exactly the audio CD standard.

For example, I programmed this unit to play the intro samples to "Uptown Funk" which I had on CD, triggered by keys on my controller keyboard. I simply used my favorite audio editing program to extract the song, and then grabbed the intro and cut it into three mono 16-bit WAV files which I then copied to the SD card from my laptop. From there I created a new drum kit and specified that the first three pads play back those three WAV files. The loaded WAVs can be assigned to any MIDI key number, and can be played back as either one-shot, held, or looped. They can also be tuned up or down by four semitones (if you need more you should do it in your audio editor), and there is also onboard reverb which is a really nice touch. Note that the manual states that you can only use mono WAV files, but there's been an update since then that allows stereo files as well.

Other reviews have complained about the time it takes to load the samples, and I have to wonder how big the WAV files are that those reviewers are trying to load? No, the loading time isn't perfectly instantaneous, but it only takes a few seconds to load an entire drum kit full of samples unless the samples are many seconds long. To reduce loading time, it's best to use only mono samples unless you really need stereo, which will cut the loading time in half of course.

There are really only two limitations to the MPX8. The main one is that there's no way to turn off velocity sensitivity and have a sample that ALWAYS plays at the same volume regardless of pad or MIDI velocity, and this is definitely an inconvenience - especially in live performance when you always want a sample triggered at the same volume. Akai, can you address this in a future update?

The second limitation is minor - the unit ONLY responds to MIDI channel 10 and you can't change this. If you want to integrate this with your keyboard controller, make sure it can create a zone that will play on MIDI channel 10 or else you'll need some kind of MIDI rechannelizer box such as the MIDI Solutions Router or Event Processor.

So the bottom line is if you need dedicated sample playback, get this and ignore the software that is available for it. You don't need the software to use the unit successfully.
by Sweetwater Customer on

Perfect for beginners or advanced players.

Priced perfectly for those of us who are old school and want to delve into the world of sampling. Simple to use and program but powerful enough to enhance any performance or recording needs. Just what I was expecting plus a whole lot more.
by Jim from Kansas City area on
Music background: Multi Instrumentalist with over 50 years experience.

Really good sampler for the money

Our church uses this for samples that are in our songs during live programs works seamlessly with a drum pad over midi
by shannon from Jasper, Texas on
Music background: sound renforcement

my new sampler

i was beyond pleased with the service & attention to detail that you guys offered ... shipping was super fast ... product is great ... thanks so much .. i will be doing more business with sweetwater without a doubt
by tommie steindl from wisconsin / chicago on
Music background: dj / remixer
See also: Beat Machines, Akai Professional, Akai Professional Drum Machines & Samplers
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