The MPD series of controllers are similar to the MPC, only they rely on your computer and its sound libraries to work their magic. The main advantage gained with any member of the MPD family is that you can quickly and affordably use an MPD controller with the music software of your choice. Let's go in-depth as this Product Spotlight illuminates the MPD series.
MPDs are MIDI-over-USB performance pad controllers for programmers, producers, writers, DJs, and others musicians. Built around the controls and technology from Akai Professional's industry-standard MPC series, you can use MPDs for a wide range of applications from the studio to the stage.
These controllers enable you to apply take the touch and approach of the MPC to nearly any software for recording to sequencing, as well as hardware devices like samplers, sound modules, and more!
ALL HANDS ON DECK
The heart of the MPD is its controls – after all, this IS a controller. Its bank of 16 velocity and pressure-sensitive MPC pads are an Akai Pro exclusive and they give you the same kind of musical, natural input that producers the world over have used to fuel their mega-hits. You can access four different banks of sounds from the MPC pads for 64 sounds at your fingertips.
The MPDs also borrow the MPC series' assignable Q-Link controllers, enabling you to control nearly any parameters in your software in real time. The MPD 24 has eight Q-Link knobs and six Q-Link faders for fourteen real-time control parameters. The MPD32 gives you eight assignable Q-Link faders, eight assignable Q-Link 360° knobs, and eight assignable Q-Link buttons so you'll spend less time with the mouse and more time actually making music. Even better, each Q-Link can access three different parameters for a total of 72 real-time Q-Links! 
The MPD32 also gives you two assignable footswitch inputs and an expression-pedal input for even more ways to control and perform. You can assign any parameter to any of the Q-Links or pedal inputs, so you could change patches with a button, adjust the compression level on a fader, and control the delay time with the expression pedal, just to give one example.
The MPDs also gives you a dedicated set of transport controls for instant access to the most commonly used DAW or sequencing-software controls without even thinking about touching the mouse.
PEERLESS MPC FEEL
While the MPC pads and Q-Links might be the heart of the MPD32, its brain is transplanted directly from the MPC. That's because the MPD32 is not just a control surface; it contains some of the key MPC technologies that have made the MPC the de facto standard it is. MPC Note Repeat is a capability that enables the MPD (or MPC) to automatically play a rhythm pattern, such as 16th notes on a hi-hat, for accuracy and speed of entry, while constantly varying the velocity just by varying your finger pressure on the pad.
MPC Swing comes standard on the MPD32 and is sometimes referred to as "the heart and soul of hip hop" because it turns perfectly aligned sequences into human feeling time alignments. You can specify exactly the degree and timing of swing you want to apply for the perfect feel. Both MPDs also have MPC Full Level and MPC 16-Level on their pads.
PLUG AND PERFORM
The MPDs send MIDI information over their plug-and-play USB interfaces so you can use them with your Mac or PC without installing any drivers. The USB connection even powers the MPD so the included USB cable is all you need. The MPDs come with a custom versions of Ableton Live Lite production and performance software so you can start creating right out of the box and FXpansion BFD Lite virtual drum studio software. In addition to Live, BFD, and nearly any other MIDI software, you can also drive any MIDI hardware, such as synths, sound modules, samplers, sequencers, drum machines, and more.
Whether you want to trigger and control in the studio or on stage, the MPDs give you a compliment of Akai Professional input and control devices with the feel of the MPC that is peerless in software or hardware. You can get even more information on the MPD32 and MPD24 by visiting their main pages.
