Cheaper Pad Controllers
Im looking at getting a pad controller for samplers effects etc for my DJing 
Have my eye on 2 the AKAI LPD8 which has 8 pads plus 8 or so knobs
Or the KORG nano pad which has just 16 pads
Im thinking the AKAI becuase it has the nobs etc but i could always map alot more effects samplers with the korg.
Does anyone have any exspreience with either of them?
a few weeks ago I had to make the same decision!
i choosed the nanopad2. I never played around with the LPD8 so I can just talk about the nanopad2:
pros
xy-pad
16 pads in 4 banks (every note is assignable and each pad can fire up to 4 notes)
cons
-no LEDs & no knobs
-pads sensibility is critical when it comes to play quiet notes on DAWs (issue&workaround: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xT56ZrIuueU)
-xy-pad is global, so you can´t change the midi notes of the xy-pad for the 4 different banks.
I don´t use the nanopad2 for ableton live (yet), so I don´t mind the critical sensitivity of the pads. I deactivated the pressure sensitive feature because for firing up FX or juggling between HotCues it is not necessary.
The first scene has a DeckalizedGratification mapping by flashflooder.
Second scene is mapped with different FX combinations that are controlled with the xy-pad. (lot of fun)
Third and fourth scene have the classic InstantGratification mappings for Deck A & B
I can recommend the nanopad2 as a cheap addon for an existing setup (in Traktor). (I mainly use the VCI100). If you want a more accurate pad controller to play touch sensitive notes, don´t buy the nanopad2!
Dont buy it or do buy it ? Im useing Virtual DJ PRO 7
don´t buy it when you need accurate touch/velocity sensitive drumpads.
if you just need it for triggering FX & cues: go for it! it´s a cheap/good deal!
Livid BASE all day.
QuNeo all day.
If that is cheap for you then you must be loaded 
!
I’m not really… got one (or two) for free
But seriously, I’d check this pads out 
Dirty cheap for amount of control that comes on board.
BASE is super expensive compared to QuNeo, which you can grab from DJTT for a ridiculous $141.55 today.
However, compared to Push ($600) and Maschine mkII($600), BASE in sort of in the middle. It’s about half the price of flagship controllers like the MPC Renaissance or Maschine Studio.
I think that’s fair to say.
well, I got the nanopad2 for 30 €!!
thinking of getting a launchpad mini and launch control. 
at 99$ each, its not cheap like the lpd or nanopad but i kinda liking those 2
If I was you, I’d go for a launchpad (S?), purely because of the amount of options it gives you… That, plus something like TouchOSC or the MIDI designer app, would rock. That’s essentially my DJing set up, and it works a treat. Super minimal and light!
gosh, do they make the nanopads any better these days?
they were terrible when they first released. would break right away. even djtt stopped promoting them.
i wouldn’t rule out the traktor kontrol f1. i have that and its awesome with the remix decks and theres some sick effect mappings out there. also it comes with the full version of traktor (which is half the reason i got it). its probably $100 more than you wanted to spend but its a really nice controller. theres usually some for sale by users for fairly cheap in the forum here (if you don’t mind used and can get it with the software). the main difference from the controllers you were looking at (i think i don’t have either of them) is it the f1 does not have velocity sensitive pads
I love my launchpad. If you just want pads, it is for sure the way to go. There are a couple great mappings on djtt for it as well.
If you want to figure out a little scripting, try midimasher. I rarely use my LP (not because I don’t like it… more because I’ve been using as minimal of a setup as possible. Before I got my 2d I played most of my sets only on my launchpad), but when I do I use it with midimasher.
My launchpad is badass. Most useful midi pad in existence.
If you are trying to go a cheaper router but still want something that will take some abusebi suggest the vestax padONE. built like a brick shit house and I believe you can find them on the net for like $70. The nanopad is a nice cheap piece of gear but if it is used a decent amount it needs to be replaced quiet often. I have went through 2. The padONE just takes so much abuse.
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