AKAI on LPD8 firmware upgrade: Abandon all hope!

[bitstream]

Hello guy. If you are trying to make MIDI in on LPD8 work, to get some feedback from Traktor Pro, this topic is for you. I was trying to find a way to upgrade my firmware all day, and in the end I decided to write AKAI an email, asking them how to do that. It turns out firmware upgrade is impossible (according to AKAI support). You can find my email correspondence with AKAI Support and my comments on it below:

Me: How can I upgrade LPD8's firmware? My current firmware version is .102, I'm on a windows 7 machine.

AKAI: There are no upgrades for the LPD8 at this time.

Me: I'm trying to get pad LEDs to light up on MIDI in from Traktor Pro. Are you saying that since I got unlucky with the firmware version of the product I won't be able to?

AKAI: Hello,
What you are referring to is not a capability of the LPD8. As this is designed to be a controller, you would use this to trigger a program, such as Traktor, and based on how your pads are configured in the Akai editor software will determine how the pads respond when they are physically pressed, either Momentary or Toggle. However the pad settings will not work the other way around if you are trying to send MIDI into the LPD8, since it is really designed to be used as a controller in transmitting MIDI data.

As you can see, AKAI Support are either unaware of the LPD's capabilities or are trying to make me believe that it can't receive MIDI signals

Me: Interesting, since the newer firmware version supports this feature for some reason... Will there be a way to upgrade the firmware in the future?

AKAI: Hello,
As far as new OS updates, we do not hear of what’s coming in advance but only once they become available on our website.
Please visit our website often, where new drivers will be made available as free downloads as soon as they are available. Each product has it’s own dedicated page on our site where all driver and software updates can be found.

"we do not hear of what’s coming in advance" - I can only conclude there is no communication between AKAI and their support. So, from now on, maybe we need to ask AKAI directly, not their support department?

This is it from me, I hope that this information halps you and saves you some time.

[photojojo]

Interesting, I'm getting ready to buy an LPD 8. Is there a way to tell what firmware it has before buying?

[bitstream]

I think not

[XFX]

firmware .102
it`s annoying. I also have problems with leds and switching through scenes.
waiting for solution from the AKAI.

[bitstream]

Let's all hope there will be a way to upgrade the firmware of the LPD8 soon. It's just not a good practice to manufacture devices with unequal functionality and not fix that.

[RD444]

hi

I got an lpd8 102 version

Am i getting this right

your saying that i cant send midi to it to turn the lights on and off using traktor?

--

also they are saying there is no other version? but you say there is

and they say that you should use the 'toggle setting' on the lpd8 map to change states.

i'm a bit lost

[bitstream]

If you have the .102 version, you can not send any MIDI signals to the device. There is a newer version of the LPD8's firmware, but AKAI say it's not possible to upgrade it. They need to release a firmware upgrade tool, but I'm not sure they will.

[RD444]

cheers dude

but again I'm a little confused

but I'm sure I've sent midi signals to my LPD8

i did it with cubase and made lights come on by setting lpd8 as output

how could we test the theory.

or what is it that the lpd8 wont do again

[RD444]

i know its not possible to use the controller+app at the same time as Controller+editor

that's got nothing to do with this has it?

[bitstream]

No, you shouldn't use Traktor and Editor at the same time. I think it's not possible even.