Akai MPD32 Operator's Manual
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Akai MPD32 Operator's Manual

Usb/midi pad control unit
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OPERATOR'S MANUAL

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Summary of Contents for Akai MPD32

  • Page 1 OPERATOR'S MANUAL...

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    TABLE OF CONTENTS FRONT PANEL OVERVIEW..................1 REAR PANEL OVERVIEW..................3 HOOKUP DIAGRAM ....................4 DISPLAYING INFORMATION ................. 6 NOTE ......................... 6 NOTE AFTERTOUCH (Channel Pressure) ............6 CONTROL CHANGE ..................6 CONTROL AFTERTOUCH ................7 MIDI MACHINE CONTROL COMMAND (MMC) ..........7 PREVIEWING ....................

  • Page 5: Front Panel Overview

    [PROGRAM CHANGE] – Pressing this menus, displaying data, and affecting change button will enter Program Change mode. In on MPD32’s options and parameters. this mode, you can send a Program Change or Program with Bank Change message to a [VALUE] (Push to Enter) – This dial is used hardware or software module.
  • Page 6 Edit Mode). Tap Tempo does and intuitive to play. not work when the MPD32 is set to External PAD BANK buttons – These 4 buttons sync. switch among pad banks A, B, C, D. Each...

  • Page 7: Rear Panel Overview

    Alesis F2 expression MIDI OUT – Use a five-pin MIDI cable to pedals. connect the MIDI OUT of the MPD32 to the KENSINGTON LOCK – The unit may be MIDI IN of an external device. secured to a table or surface using this MIDI IN –...

  • Page 8: Hookup Diagram

    MIDI OUT port of MPD32 Connect a USB cable from your computer to the MPD32. The unit will be powered through the USB connection. Alternatively, if you do not wish to use a computer in your setup or if you wish to power the MPD32 externally, please plug in the included 6V-1A DC power adapter.
  • Page 9 MPD32 to a MIDI Clock generated by your software DAW. Make sure that your software is set up to send MIDI clock to the MPD32 and that the unit’s MIDI Clock setting is set to “External” (see Global Mode). This will ensure that Note Repeat is synchronized to the tempo selected in your software DAW.

  • Page 10: Displaying Information

    DISPLAYING INFORMATION As you are working with the MPD32, the LCD will help you keep track of what values are being sent to external devices. There are several kinds of information that the MPD32 will display while in use: NOTE, AFTERTOUCH (Channel Pressure), CONTROL CHANGE, MIDI MACHINE CONTROL (MMC), and PREVIEW MODE information.

  • Page 11: Control Aftertouch

    CONTROL AFTERTOUCH AFTERTOUCH MIDI PORT The knobs and faders on the MPD32 can also be INDICATOR AND CHANNEL AFTERTOUCH set to transmit AFTERTOUCH information. VALUE Please see ‘Editing Knobs and Faders’ (page 15) for more information on setting knobs and faders to transmit Aftertouch.

  • Page 12: About Modes

    MPD32 every time. (page 9) Edit Mode This mode allows you to edit the configuration of the MPD32. Edit Mode is a powerful tool for customizing your set-up. In this mode, you can make changes to how the pads, knobs and faders are behaving. For example, you...

  • Page 13: Preset Mode

    MPD32 every time. The MPD32 features different Preset banks which you can load and write to. When you turn on the MPD32, it will automatically go into Preset Mode and Preset 1 will be displayed on the screen. You can also press the [PRESET] button at any time to call up this mode.

  • Page 14: Edit Mode

    EDIT MODE Pressing [EDIT] calls up Edit Mode. NAVIGATING EDIT MODE In this mode, you can edit the 1. Press [EDIT] to enter Edit Mode. settings of the currently selected 2. To select the controller you wish to edit, simply engage it – this will Preset.

  • Page 15: Edit Mode Parameters

    EDIT MODE PARAMETERS CONTROLLER PAGE 1 (EVENT TYPE) PAGE 2 (PARAMETERS) MIDI CHANNEL (field 1) NOTE NUMBER (field 2) NOTE PLAY MODE (field 3) PRESSURE BEHAVIOR (field 4) PADS MIDI CHANNEL (field 1) PROGRAM CHANGE NUMBER (field 2) PROGRAM CHANGE BANK M (MSB) (field 3) BANK L (LSB) (field 4) MIDI CHANNEL (field 1)

  • Page 16: Editing The Pads

    EDITING THE PADS The pads on the MPD32 can be set to transmit Note or Program Change information when they are hit. The default operation of the pads is set to Note, which means that the pad will generate Note On/Off messages to trigger sounds.

  • Page 17: Note Parameters

    Note: Software modules or drum machines are often programmed to trigger sounds based on specific Note Numbers associated with each sample. You NOTE FIELD may have to experiment setting different Note Numbers on the MPD32 to find the range that is suited for your application. PLAY MODE FIELD...

  • Page 18: Program Change Parameters

    PROGRAM CHANGE PARAMETERS The following list of parameters can be accessed if the pad event type is set to Program Change. MIDI CHANNEL FIELD Program Change messages can be sent on one of two MIDI Ports, A or B, and one of 16 MIDI Channels on each port (i.e.

  • Page 19: Editing Knobs, Faders And Expression Pedal

    EDITING KNOBS, FADERS AND EXPRESSION PEDAL The knobs, faders and expression pedal input on the MPD32 can be set to transmit Control Change or Aftertouch information. In addition, the endless knobs may also be assigned as an Increment/Decrement function. The default operation of knobs, faders and expression pedal input is to transmit Control Change information.

  • Page 20: Control Change Parameters

    MIDI PORT/CHANNEL FIELD Note: When not used via USB, only knobs and faders assigned to port A will be transmitted via the 5-pin MIDI port on the back of the MPD32. CONTROL CHANGE FIELD In this field you can set which MIDI CC # the knob or fader will transmit when it is used.

  • Page 21: Aftertouch Parameters

    MIDI PORT/CHANNEL FIELD Note: When not used via USB, only knobs and faders assigned to port A will be transmitted via the 5-pin MIDI port on the back of the MPD32. MINIMUM RANGE FIELD This field is used to specify the minimum value that the knob or fader can transmit.

  • Page 22: Increment/Decrement Parameters (Knobs Only)

    INCREMENT/DECREMENT PARAMETERS (knobs only) The endless knobs on the MPD32 may also be used as an increment/decrement NRPN function. This allows you to use the knob to increment and decrement through parameters as opposed to sending an absolute value. Please note that the implementation of NRPN functions depends strictly on the software with which you will be using the MP49.

  • Page 23: Editing Buttons

    EDITING BUTTONS The buttons on the MPD32 can be used to transmit Control Change or Program Change information. 1. Press [EDIT] to enter EDIT MODE. 2. Press the button you would like to edit. 3. On Page 1, turn the [VALUE] dial to select ‘CTRL CHANGE’...

  • Page 24: Program Change Parameters

    PROGRAM CHANGE PARAMETERS Buttons can also be assigned to transmit Program Change messages when pressed. The following list of parameters can be accessed if the button event type is set to “Program Change”. MIDI CHANNEL FIELD Buttons can send Program Change messages can be sent on one of two MIDI Ports, A or B, and one of 16 MIDI Channels on each port (i.e.

  • Page 25: Editing Note Repeat

    EDITING NOTE REPEAT The MPD32 features the Note Repeat function, which can be found on our legendary Music Production Center (MPC) models. With Note Repeat enabled, you can repeatedly trigger a sound by simply holding down a pad. The sound will be retriggered at a rate equivalent to the currently selected Time Division. With the Note Repeat feature, you can record a phrase that would be difficult to record in real time, such as 16 beat hi hat, snare roll, etc…...

  • Page 26: Note Repeat Button Mode

    NOTE REPEAT BUTTON MODE The following screen will appear if you select “TOGGL-MOTRY” on Page 1. In this field, you can select whether the [NOTE REPEAT] button will behave in a momentary (MTY) fashion, where pressing the button turns on the Note Repeat function and releasing it turns it off, or in a toggle (TGL) manner, where pressing the button turns on the Note Repeat function and pressing again turns it off.

  • Page 27: Editing Time Division

    The Time Division feature works in conjunction with Note Repeat. When Note Repeat is enabled and a pad is held down, the MPD32 will output notes at a rate equivalent to the Time Division setting. To change to a new Time Division setting, press [TIME DIVISION] and select a new rate by pressing its corresponding button (1/4, 1/4T, 1/8, etc.).

  • Page 28: Editing Transport Control

    MESSAGE FORMAT EDITING TAP TEMPO Each Preset on the MPD32 can have a default tempo associated with it. Every time that the Preset is loaded, the BPM setting will be loaded automatically. To edit the default tempo, press [EDIT] to enter Edit Mode.

  • Page 29: Editing Footswitch Inputs

    EDITING FOOTSWITCH INPUTS The two footstwitch inputs on the rear of the MPD32 can be used in a variety of different ways. For example, footswitches can be used as conventional MIDI CC switches. In addition, footswitches can also be used to trigger specific pads on the top panel (for example, to play out a kick drum sequence).

  • Page 30: Drum Pad Parameters

    As we mentioned previously, footswitches may also be used to engage and disengage specific functions on the MPD32. Simply select which function you would like to control with the footswitch: NOTE REPEAT – footswitch will turn Note Repeat feature on and off.

  • Page 31: Global Mode

    MIDI Channel or a RESET ALL CONTROLLERS command. ALL NOTES OFF is a special MIDI message used to turn off any notes that might be playing on the MPD32. It is often used to recover from erroneous stuck notes.

  • Page 32: Lcd Contrast

    MIDI velocities, based on a certain ratio of the input / output velocity that characterizes the particular curve. The Pad Velocity Curve feature is intended to help you optimize the pads on the MPD32 for your particular playing style and can add expressivity and control to your performance.

  • Page 33: Pad Threshold

    PAD THRESHOLD FIELD MIDI CLOCK – Page 7 MIDI CLOCK is used to synchronize devices together. In addition, MIDI Clock on the MPD32 is used to synchronize the Note Repeat feature. The MPD32 can be a master or slave for MIDI Clock transmission and reception.

  • Page 34: Save Setup

    MPD32, the data will override the data of the original Preset which was sent to your SysEx editor. For example, if you transfer Preset 5 to your SysEx editor and then send it back to the MPD32, the data will overwrite Preset 5.

  • Page 35: Program Change Mode

    This allows you to tell a hardware or software device which sound to play. For example, if your MPD32 is controlling an acoustic drum patch on your DAW, using a Program Change command allows you to easily switch to a percussion patch.

  • Page 36: Resetting Factory Defaults

    RESETTING FACTORY DEFAULTS If you ever would like to restore all the presets to the factory default, do the following: Press [>] - this will open the SAVE screen. Press [>] again - This will open the PRESET NAME screen. Press [>] to move past each letter in the current program's name until the last character is reached.

  • Page 37: Frequently Asked Questions

    Question: Are the knobs on the MPD32 endless? Answer: The knobs on the MPD32 are endless pots. This allows you to limit the range of the knobs, as well as use them as increment/decrement controls. Please note that your software application must be able to receive and recognize NRPNs for Increment/decrement functions to work.

  • Page 38: Troubleshooting

    Unplug the MPD32 from the USB hub and connect a USB hub. directly to your computer. Ensure that the MPD32 or “USB” MIDI device is listed as Software application not set an active MIDI source in your application. Usually, the to receive MIDI data from the MIDI settings can be accessed through the application’s...

  • Page 39: Technical Specifications

    Slave connector x 1 (MIDI over USB) DC IN 6V DC, 1A CONTACT INFORMATION Please visit the Akai Professional website (www.akaipro.com) regularly for additional information, news and firmware upgrades for the MPD32. For additional technical support: EMAIL: support@akaipro.com TEL: 401.658.4032 (U.S)
  • Page 41 MANUAL REVISION 1.01...

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