AKAI on LPD8 firmware upgrade: Abandon all hope!

DJ Software & Apps Controller Mappings
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AKAI on LPD8 firmware upgrade: Abandon all hope!

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 :slight_smile:

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. :slight_smile:

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

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I think not :disappointed:

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

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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.

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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

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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.

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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 :confused::confused:

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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?

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

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OK so its not that

I’d like to help

I have and LPD8 and this week I’d like to set it up for traktor

I use it in my studio at the moment

Question 1

what is it that you are trying to do and why do think it is not possible?
give an example.

Question 2

What leads you to believe that there is another firmware version of the LPD8?

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All I know is actually from different forums and the fact I didn’t manage to do it. Here is one of the threads that discuss the problem: http://www.native-instruments.com/forum/showthread.php?t=95518

As for your 2 questions:

Question1: I’m trying to do the following: On Chained effects, effect unit 1, the sevond effect is filter. I’ve programmed the button to behave as “toggle”. So, when I press it once it will turn the filter on, and when i press it again, it should turn it off. What I want is to indicate, by the LPD8’s pad LED that the filter is on. I’ve put a copy of the Effect 2 on controller signal and switched it to “Output”. This should light up the LED when the effect is on. But this doesn’t work. I hope I’m clear, my English is not that good.

Question2: The answer is the URL I’ve posted above.

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hi

Thanks for the link. I am reading it now. its a few pages.

I have firmware 00.0102 (is this the same as yours?)

so you are not getting any midi making the lights change, is this correct?

I will run some tests on my LPD8 if it is the same

Does anyone else have any ideas, i’m a bit new to the traktor side of this :confused:

I took a few notes from other people from the NI post but I’m not sure if these solve the issue:

[quote]If Traktor seems unresponsive to the LPD8, but is receiving MIDI signals try this:
When you first import the TSI, go to settings, then controller manager and choose the LPD8 under devices. Click on the in port (thumbnail 4) and choose the LPD8, see if it works. If it does then change the in port back to All Ports.

P.S. For the life of me I cant get the lights to work with midi out from Traktor, if anyone has any hints I’d appreciate it, btw I’ve read the thread on the Native Instruments forum but for some reason it doesnt seem to[/quote]

[quote]It seems to me that Traktor only sends the signal to turn on/off the light once, and Akai sends the signal to turn it off as soon as you release the button. So if you release the button before Traktor sends the signal the light will stay on. Hence why it tends to only stay on if you tap it lightly.

If it’s a toggle button you can set the button it’s self to be a toggle in the LPD8 editor, and just set the mapping in traktor to direct. This will let the button stay on, but then it won’t turn on/off when you push the button with the mouse. I’ve decided to just leave it alone. Lights semi-working and blinking on the beat is good enough for me.[/quote]

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Exactly what i’m trying to do at the moment and it does work … kind of … not.

So the problem is the that the lights flash on and off internally. So it looks like this:

1.You hit the button
2.LPD8 Flashes LED
3.Traktor starts effect and sends out to LED to turn it on
4.you release the button and the LPD8 turn the LED of.

Sometimes it kind of works but generally not. what you can do is use a midi translator, put a delay on your outs and set it to like 100ms or something like that and the led on signal comes after the lpd8 turned it off internaly though thats not the best think with heavy button mashing.

To try out if this works for you too just set the out to a different button than the one you are pressing.

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Is there any news? It calls soft takeover mode and it doesn`t work for this AKAI, Korg Nanokontrol, M-Audio Evolution UC-33 E and so on. The same problem occurs in Ableton.

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I have the same issue with toggle function fail.

No matter what I’m using the lpd8 with, the toggle function sucks. To toggle on and off you have to push it 4 times, one push light on and effect toggled, second push light off and noting else, third push toggles the effect off and light comes back on pad, fourth push and light turns off and no toggle. This is retarded. What should be simply a press on with light to reflect that it’s on and press off to turn off with light reflecting that it’s off. Does not work.

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I figured that one out.

If you want the toggle function to work correctly with feedback to the lpd8 so you can see on your controller that your mute is on or off then you need to map the lpd8 in CC mode, not note mode which is also PAD mode.

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“Use Toggle mode for LPD8’s pads (using Midi Note) and Hold mode for buttons in Traktor. It works for me like a dream”

Tested and working!!! THANKS!! :slight_smile: