MPC 2000xl has my favorite pads ever. The 2500 is what I mostly use now. The new MPCs have amazing pads too, I didn’t like the higher profile compared to older models. The 2500 and later allow for velocity zones, layering and sample cycling per pad.
Quneo has bad ass pads too! Not standalone but can be configured for all manner of wizardry
I just had some time with the 2500 SE.Strange I’m sure it sounded a little different to the black one i had a while back but probably imagining it.Anyhow i was quite surprised to find the velocity dynamics (loudness from 0 to 128) did not feel Very pronounced.If thats even possible.Altho i kinda miss it.Had the JJOSXL on it.Finding it hard to live without the sample start on the Q Link.Very cool…
…this akai marketing, that’s always promoting the real feel of their original mpc pads, those pads that made history, because it was THE birth of fingerdrummin’…
only problem…that akai is not that akai…not anymore…since ages…
only the brand is left from that company that was once nr.1 in highend studio hardware samplers in all studios around the globe…
and that day when roger linn joined them for a while, they came up with the mpc concept…
16 pads…one shot samples…hardware sequencer tape machine control like…all with adjustable SWING in percent and velocitiiiiii…feel the groove baby…and use any sound u want to bang it…
right under ur fingertips…
not one brand up to day that has not copied that in some way or the other…
the best deal was always and ever will be this damned mpc 3000…
that had THE pads…and only that had this hi end sampling engine…that made them state of the art…once…close before pro tools came around for real to change the whole “producing” game…
then there was 2000…and 2000xl…than a 4000…or so…at this point there was no real hardware sampler market anymore…mpc’s where the last concept that really worked out…
and after that 4000, which was massive…too massive…akai dispeared…for quite a while…
everafter, once akai was back, akai was not akai anymore…
but they’re tryin’…hard in the beginnig…with mpc 1000…2500…5000…
but not really, so some japanese developer had to come up with jjos to show them how it’s done…
but after lot’s of epic fails, since then, they are COMING BACK FOR REAL…
puh…it’s only higher 21st century standards, i’m afraid, but all those actual mpc controlers, really do fine for good old school hiphopheadsfingerdrummingstyle and anything else…
but no usb controler, no tightest latency will ever give u THAT feel of ULTRA TIGHT DIRECT response… right under ur fingertips on those pads, as on these old hardware one shot samplers…
…but hey…this older akai mpd pad controler here does great for any fingerdrumming…
triggered software, the takt, some nord drum, some lxr all smoothly enough to get something going…
Nobody ever mentions em but the zoom sample traks r pretty tight
Theres a reason why the 4000 is massive…its because its got massive potential.I even rate some of the effects.Proper hardware sampler.But yeah it could be more compacted.Would be cool.The only MPC with A real mod matrix and free flowing LFOs amazingly enough!!!
…yup…a great overkill…too big to fail…and to sell enough…killed them…
Yeah altho its pretty raw i dont think it hits very hard.A combo of that and the SP303/404 would be perfect.With a better sequencer tho…
The only real answer here is MPC. Best pads in the game by far.
i did not like built-in pads in anything (well, except for Roland HPD-15).
using external controllers (Korg PadKontrol, iRig Pads, Launchpad Pro).
Thanks for the history. I never understood the order of the MPC and when the brand changed.
I always knew MPC3000 is the best because it’s what I see on my favorite 90s hip hop producer desk 
Do you have mpc stuff?
Maybe Tempest? Best pads, but expensive and you really need a little time to get it working the way you want it.
Very nice. As I am rethinking my whole setup and selling smaller bits and pieces to fund a more flagship machine I was already thinking to sell my MFB Tanzbar, SP404 to help fund a Rytm MKII or Tempest.
But on the other hand there is also eurorack in combo with Bitwig … so a eurorack sampler would be nice too: and something like a Shakmat 4 bricks rook can do unquantized fingerdrummed sequencing in the rack in combo with a Squid Salmple or a Dave Rossum Assimil8or or a small Squarp Rample.
The modulation possibilities are so appealing!
Does somebody have a Shakmat 4 bricks rook?
Almost bought one last week but I decided to wait and get a sampler first (could use the Grid in Bitwig for that too).
By the way, I don’t think the Tempest is known for the great pads, it’s probably more the deep power of the drumsynths that makes it a beast, I fear the interface though.