MIDI Pad Controllers

A MIDI pad controller is a USB device with a grid of pads that you use to launch clips and samples in Ableton Live or FL Studio, or for finger drumming. It makes no sound on its own; the software on your computer or tablet does the playing. Here you'll find 8 × 8 grids for clip launching, such as Novation Launchpad, Akai APC Mini MKII and APC64, as well as smaller controllers with 16 velocity-sensitive pads, for example Akai MPD218, Korg nanoPAD2 or PreSonus ATOM. Some models add keys, faders or a step sequencer alongside the pads.

8 × 8 grid or 16 pads?

A 64-pad grid is mainly used for launching clips and scenes in Ableton Live. Each pad matches one cell in Session view, and the colour of its backlight shows whether a clip is playing. This is how Novation Launchpad X, Launchpad Mini MK3, Launchpad Pro MK3, Akai APC Mini MKII and APC64 work; Novation FLpad is a grid designed for FL Studio.

Controllers with 16 larger pads are built for finger drumming and triggering samples. They include Akai MPD218, Korg nanoPAD2, PreSonus ATOM, IK Multimedia iRig Pads, Arturia BeatStep and Fender Motion 16.

What should you look for in a MIDI pad controller?

• Velocity sensitivity: the pads on Launchpad X, Launchpad Pro MK3, APC64 and FLpad respond to how hard you hit them; APC Mini MKII and Launchpad Mini MK3 launch clips without dynamics.
• Aftertouch: Launchpad Pro MK3 and APC64 have polyphonic aftertouch, meaning they sense the pressure on each pad individually.
• Additional controls: APC40 MKII and APC Mini MKII have faders for mixing, APC Key 25 MKII adds 25 keys, and Arturia BeatStep Pro has its own step sequencer.
• Software: the Akai APC and Novation Launchpad ranges are designed for Ableton Live, FLpad for FL Studio; the others control software via standard MIDI.

You'll find Akai MPC and Native Instruments Maschine, which combine pads with a sequencer and their own sound library, among the grooveboxes. Sampling pads and multipads are designed for playing with sticks. Controllers with keys, faders or knobs are listed under MIDI controllers.