Cumberland, RI USA (October 19, 2016) — Akai Professional, a leading manufacturer of music equipment for performers and producers, today announced the introduction of their LPD8, the world’s first Bluetooth MIDI pad controller. Recognizing a critical need in the market for a portable pad controller that’s light and compact but robust and full-featured, the LPD8 gives musicians the ultimate in beat-making capability and total freedom of motion.

The LPD8’s six UI buttons and eight assignable slim-design pots deliver a truly versatile range of performance options. The newly added Full Level button guarantees your patterns are loud, clear and at an equal velocity, when even volume is a must. The LPD8 Wireless also has a Note Repeat button, perfect for the electronic performer who loves creating build-ups before the drop. Artists can use the NR Config button to control and hone in Swing and Time Division parameters.

Another advantage of going cord-free: No more accidentally disconnecting the USB connection or tripping over power cables in the middle of a performance.

Music Apps—enhanced

The LPD8 Wireless can also connect to any iOS device. Used in tandem with beat-making apps such as iMPC Pro, the LPD8 Wireless provides enhanced compositional control and expressive power over any music creation app, while maintaining a truly mobile setup.

Two of a Kind

Paired with Akai Professional’s new LPK25 Wireless Bluetooth MIDI-enabled keyboard, these two controllers form an outstanding combo of wire-free musical portability. The musical possibilities for mobile producers and performers are virtually unlimited.

Features

  • MIDI over Bluetooth to iOS, Mac OS X and Windows
  • USB MIDI, works with virtually any music software or DAW
  • 8 backlit velocity-sensitive drum pads to send note or program changes
  • 8 assignable knobs for controlling virtually any parameter
  • 4 programmable memory banks
  • Editing software for Mac and PC included
  • USB bus or battery powered (3 AAA, not included)
  • Plug-and-play USB connection for Mac and PC, no driver required

“The LPD8 Wireless delivers exactly what mobile producers and performers have been waiting for— great beat-making coupled with freedom of motion and no cords to worry about,” said Dan Gill, Product Manager for Akai Professional. “This unit changes the wireless musical landscape completely.”

U.S. retail is $XXX.XX. It is available now.

For more information, visit akaipro.com.

### About Akai Professional

The world’s most influential manufacturer of music production gear, Akai Professional develops creative technologies to empower music makers with tools that are unmatched in expressive capability. Akai Professional is best known for creating the legendary MPC, an instrument that has inspired generations of producers and performers and spawned entirely new genres of music. Akai Professional is a part of the inMusic family of premiere music brands.