AKAI MPD218





for VirtualDJ 8.2+
Last Update : February 2017

 

SETUP


Step 1. Connections


Connect the MPD-218 to a USB port of your computer using the provided USB cable.

Step 2. Drivers


No drivers is required to be installed. The MPD-218 is a USB class compliant device and your Operating System will install the necessary drivers.


Step 3. VirtualDJ


Install VirtualDJ 8 from http://www.virtualdj.com/download/index.html (in case you have not done already)

Start VirtualDJ and login with your Account credentials. A Pro Infinity, Pro Subscription or Plus MPD-218 Controller License is required. http://www.virtualdj.com/buy/index.html

Detection Window
A detection window will appear when the unit is first connected with VirtualDJ, verifying proper connection.

Click to OK



The unit is now ready to operate with VirtualDJ
 

CONTROLS





KEY

ACTION

P PROG SELECT
Hold this button down use one of the 16 Pads to select a Program. Use PROG SELECT + PAD Nr.1 to select Program 1. Only Program 1 is assigned with pre-defined VirtualDJ actions. The other 15 Programs can be assigned from the user.
M1 CTRL BANK
Cycles through the 3 available modes for the 6 CTRL knobs. Sampler mode (LED A is turned on), Effects mode (LED B is turned on) and Pads mode (both A and B LEDs are turned on)
M2 PAD BANK
Cycles through the 3 available modes for the 16 PADS. Sampler mode (LED A is turned on), Effects mode (LED B is turned on) and Pads mode (both A and B LEDs are turned on)
1 CTRL 1
In Sampler mode : Select previous/next Sampler Bank
In Effects mode : Adjust the 1st Parameter of the selected Effect for Left Deck
In Pads mode : Select previous/next Pads page for the Left Deck
2 CTRL 3
In Sampler mode : Select previous/next Trigger mode for Sampler (On/Off, Hold, Stutter and Un-mute.
In Effects mode : Adjust the 2nd Parameter of the selected Effect for Left Deck
In Pads mode : Adjust the 1st Parameter of the selected Pads page for the Left Deck
3 CTRL 5
In Sampler mode : Adjust the Master Volume of the Sampler.
In Effects mode : Adjust the 3rd Parameter of the selected Effect for Left Deck
In Pads mode : Adjust the 2nd Parameter of the selected Pads page for the Left Deck
4 CTRL 2
In Sampler mode : Adjust the Volume of the 1st Sampler Group (if defined).
In Effects mode : Adjust the 1st Parameter of the selected Effect for Right Deck
In Pads mode : Select previous/next Pads page for the Right Deck
5 CTRL 4
In Sampler mode : Adjust the Volume of the 2nd Sampler Group (if defined).
In Effects mode : Adjust the 2nd Parameter of the selected Effect for Right Deck
In Pads mode : Adjust the 1st Parameter of the selected Pads page for the Right Deck
6 CTRL 6
In Sampler mode : Adjust the Volume of the 3rd Sampler Group (if defined).
In Effects mode : Adjust the 3rd Parameter of the selected Effect for Right Deck
In Pads mode : Adjust the 2nd Parameter of the selected Pads page for the Right Deck
7 PADS 1-16
In Sampler mode : The 16 Pads trigger Samples 1 to 16 of the selected Sampler Bank

In Single Effects mode :
Pad 1/9 : Triggers the selected Effect on the Left/Right Deck. If FX Temp is enabled (Pad 8/16) the Effect will be activated while the Pad is pressed (temporary)
Pad 2/10 : Selects the previous available Effect of the Left/Right Deck.
Pad 3/11 : Selects the next available Effect of the Left/Right Deck.
Pad 4/12 : Toggles between the Single FX mode (LED Off) and the Multi FX mode (LED On) for the Left/Right Deck.
Pad 5/13 : Controls the 1st FX button (if available) of the selected Effect for the Left/Right Deck.
Pad 6/14 : Controls the 2nd FX button (if available) of the selected Effect for the Left/Right Deck.
Pad 7/15 : Controls the 3rd FX button (if available) of the selected Effect for the Left/Right Deck.
Pad 8/16 : Toggles FX Temp mode for the Left/Right Deck. Effects will be triggered temporary when enabled (LED On)

In Multi Effects mode :
Pad 1/9 : Triggers the selected Effect in FX Slot 1 on the Left/Right Deck. If FX Temp is enabled (Pad 8/16) the Effect will be activated while the Pad is pressed (temporary)
Pad 2/10 : Triggers the selected Effect in FX Slot 2 on the Left/Right Deck. If FX Temp is enabled (Pad 8/16) the Effect will be activated while the Pad is pressed (temporary)
Pad 3/11 : Triggers the selected Effect in FX Slot 3 on the Left/Right Deck. If FX Temp is enabled (Pad 8/16) the Effect will be activated while the Pad is pressed (temporary)
Pad 4/12 : Toggles between the Single FX mode (LED Off) and the Multi FX mode (LED On) for the Left/Right Deck.
Pad 5/13 : Selects the next available Effect in FX Slot 1 for the Left/Right Deck.
Pad 6/14 : Selects the next available Effect in FX Slot 2 for the Left/Right Deck.
Pad 7/15 : Selects the next available Effect in FX Slot 3 for the Left/Right Deck.
Pad 8/16 : Toggles FX Temp mode for the Left/Right Deck. Effects will be triggered temporary when enabled (LED On)

In Pads mode : Trigger the Pads of the selected Pads page. Pads 1 to 8 trigger the Pads for Left Deck. Pads 9 to 16 trigger the Pads for Right Deck. See Pads in VirtualDJ Manual for further details
H1 FULL LEVEL
When enabled, the Velocity for the 16 PADS is temporary disabled and the Samples play at full volume when triggered. See Velocity for further details.
H2 NR CONFIG
Hold this button down and then use the 16 PADS to to adjust Swing, Hardware Repeat Time/Tempo and select Hardware or Software Midi-Clock. See MIDI Clock for further details.
H3NOTE REPEAT
Hold this button down and then press any of the 16 PADS to repeatedly trigger their assigned actions based on the MIDI-Clock Tempo and the selected Time interval. See MIDI-Clock for further details.



 

ADVANCED SETUP




The 16 PADS offer Velocity and After-Touch Velocity and is pre-defined and used in Sampler mode to control the Volume of the triggered Sample.

In Velocity, the Volume of the Sample is determined by the initial pressure applied to the Pad when pushed.
In After-Touch Velocity, the Volume of the Sample is continuously affected by the applied pressure, as long as the Pad is pushed.

Both Velocity and After-Touch Velocity are disabled by default. Select the special AKAI MPD Pads Page (available only when the unit is connected) on any deck to enable/disable them. Use the 3rd Pad in the Page to reset the Volumes of all Samples to 100% (useful when Velocity is disabled and Volumes are left to 0% on release)


AKAI MPD - Pads Page



While the REPEAT (H3) button is pressed the 16 PADS repeatedly trigger their assigned actions based on a Tempo that can be defined using an Internal or External MIDI Clock.
To toggle between Internal and External MIDI-Clock, hold down the NR CONFIG (H2) button and use PAD Nr.15.

In Internal MIDI-Clock (LED of PAD Nr.15 is Off) , the triggered actions are repeated based on a manual tempo (tap NR CONFIG + PAD Nr.16)

In External MIDI-Clock (LED of PAD Nr.15 is On) , the triggered actions are repeated based on the Tempo sent by VirtualDJ (comes from the Master Deck). In order VirtualDJ to send MIDI-Clock to the device, it needs to be enabled from the Controllers tab of Settings by right-clicking on the MPD218.



Hold NR CONFIG button down and then press PADS 1 to 8 to select a smaller time interval for each repeat (1/4 is selected by default).
Hold NR CONFIG button down and then press PADS 10 to 14 to select a Swing percentage or PAD Nr.9 to turn Swing Off (default)





For further Technical features and specifications, visit

AKAI MPD-218
Product's Page






Hardware Integration Department
2017 - ATOMIX PRODUCTIONS



Reproduction of this manual in full or in part without written permission from Atomix Productions is prohibited.