I just got the AKAI PROFESSIONAL <— remember this word… MPX8 (for my Birthday)

I will keep my gripes short and sweet and list reason not to buy this item, yet.

1. Mono sample playback, despite the stereo out.
2. Editor software not even available??? Seriously they released it without software so you can’t even put your own samples on it.
3. USB not recognised by the computer – So the 3rd one occurred for me but you might be lucky. Maybe a firmware update will fix this problem but they should really include the drivers with the item.

So all in all if you need a doorstop for anything, this is perfect. If you were looking for a sample player then you have 4 or 5 preset kits you can bang around on. You know the 808 and 909 that comes with everything these days, anyway. Moan over I just hope this helps others.

So a product that really was not ready to ship and has been shipped I ask you, is that really very Professional?

UPDATE
Okay, so maybe I was to hasty writing the original review. I apologise to Akai for doubting their genius.

So he is an update to my original review.
1. you can load Stereo samples on… IF you install the Firmware update.
2. The editing software is not available as of yet but you can put your own samples on the machine if they are placed in the root directory of the SD card.
3. My PC still doesn’t see the MPX8 when it is plugged in, so this gripe still exists.

It is no longer a doorstop and for the money I would give it 4 stars now, if they implement the editor then it should be more functional to the average user.

I assumed it was plug in and play but at present it is ‘work around able’.

This little sampler control pad is fun! It stores and plays samples and is easy to use. It’s well made, though very light weight. The lights are bright and it’s easy to use under dim lighting. It’s not built as well, or functions as well, as more expensive models. However, this is very good for an inexpensive sample controller pad.

The SD card is not included, so it’s important to pick one up if you don’t have a spare available. You can have up to 30MB of samples assigned to the pads at one time. Be aware that it always rounds up, so a file that is 3.1mb will count as 4mb. Be sure that you have the latest version of firmware, or update if you don’t. The latest upgrade takes care of a few earlier problems such as the accuracy of the data wheel, and stereo capabilities.

I’m not sure why they didn’t design this to use batteries. For a portable device, it would make so much more sense to allow a battery pack. There are times when this would come in handy, but it’s not practical to plug it in. A friend suggested using a USB battery pack, but I’ve not tried it yet.

On it’s own it initially seems kind of limited, but it offers a lot of possibilities. You can take it further if you use software such as Tabletop that expands the capabilities. Its portable, easy to use, and offers enough features for you to have a good time, no matter where you are.

0 latency response as you’d expect from akai. samples load perfectly(could be a litte quicker) pads feel amazing and are really responsive.