Use pad controller (akai mpd) like a drummachine?

Hey,

I was wondering if there is a solution out there since I don't find anything.

I want to use a pad controller (akai mpd 26) to program and sequence beats. There are 4 x 16 pads, so at least I could program 4 different samples. I'm thinking about a way like the ableton push controller works... There are 16 steps and I can just click them on and off.

Since my program of choice is reason and the way to program midi controllers is pretty limited I was wondering if a drummachine within ableton live could be programmed like that or if there are any other software solutions out there.

I DON'T want to know how to use a pad controller to trigger pre-programmed sequences or play live... just to make clear

Thaaanks...

Well in the meantime i build a reason patch with very basic functionality. If anyone is interested, I will share.

Bumping this because I can't be the only one with that question? Any big community for producers out there to recommend?

Bumping this for the sake of it.

And the question which apart from the Volca Beats or MFB 522 would be affordable funny drummachines?

Using a controller like you're talking about with Ableton is basically what the controller was designed for. So yes, there are probably several different ways to do what you want with Ableton.

If you're wanting a step sequencer (it's kinda hard to tell what you're really wanting), I think you can do that too, but I'm not sure the exact procedure. I have an Akai Max49 that has that functionality on it already, so can't really help on the Ableton side, sorry.

And Boss DR-550.

thanks for the replys. yeah, i think what im looking for, profesionally speaking, is "using the pads to control a step sequencer" exactly, not to trigger clips or pre-programmed fx or stuff. any direct solution in ableton or would i have to build a work-around?

is the boss good fun? thinking about getting the volca beats...

LOL. I was joking about the Boss. It's the first drum machine I ever used and it is absolute shite. It can't even keep time on its own. Would probably be fun to circuit bend though...

Get the Volca Beats. Everything I've heard about them is A+.

i've got an electribe er-1 now... does the job amazingly good... my first piece of "real" equipment

i've managed to build a step-sequencer within reason though but the akai mpds without visual feedback are a bit unpractical...

still want to build a tb-303 emulation with reason and the pads though...

in reaper i set up my computer keyboard as a virtual midi keyboard and then made tracks with samplers triggered by the midi notes, each with a midi note repeater plugin, so i have a button for whatever drum sample and amount of hits / speed of hits i want (limited to the number of usable buttons). i have the samplers reference generic sample file names so i can toss in whatever samples easily by replacing the files. it's a lot of fun to jam with. dunno if that helps.

Launchpad + numerology does this amazingly. You can even use multiple launchpads now for a larger sequencing surface.

  On 3/2/2014 at 12:19 PM, slightlydrybeans said:

Launchpad + numerology does this amazingly. You can even use multiple launchpads now for a larger sequencing surface.

hey slightlydrybeans, are you using multiple launchpads? i use numerology and one launchpad. i love it for synths. But choosing drum samples for the drum machine is very tedious on my computer. do you just load each sample individually? I prefer reaktor where I can load a sample map of 128 samples, and then scroll through them to see what works best.

yeah i just use reason. should switch to live but i don't like it somehow.

  On 3/2/2014 at 3:00 PM, Hanratty said:

 

  On 3/2/2014 at 12:19 PM, slightlydrybeans said:

Launchpad + numerology does this amazingly. You can even use multiple launchpads now for a larger sequencing surface.

 

hey slightlydrybeans, are you using multiple launchpads? i use numerology and one launchpad. i love it for synths. But choosing drum samples for the drum machine is very tedious on my computer. do you just load each sample individually? I prefer reaktor where I can load a sample map of 128 samples, and then scroll through them to see what works best.

 

oh I don't really use samples. :D I use drum spillage. It could be easily setup I'd bet to tie the randomize button to a controller though. I know what you mean though, having to open the whole file dialog each time to load a sample is less than optimal.

I only have one LP atm, but I'd love to pickup one of the new small ones.

You can do this with Nerve (drum machine vsti) & a Korg PadKontrol as they give you a 'special' version to run in this way - the pads light up too so you can see the hits etc.