---
product_id: 17666737
title: "Akai Professional MPD218 - USB MIDI Controller with 16 MPC Drum Pads, 6 Assignable Knobs, Note Repeat and Full Level Buttons and Production Software"
brand: "akai professional"
price: "₩351332"
currency: KRW
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 11
category: "Akai Professional"
url: https://www.desertcart.kr/products/17666737-akai-professional-mpd218-usb-midi-controller-with-16-mpc-drum
store_origin: KR
region: South Korea
---

# USB-powered, plug & play 16 ultra-sensitive MPC pads 18 assignable 360° knobs Akai Professional MPD218 - USB MIDI Controller with 16 MPC Drum Pads, 6 Assignable Knobs, Note Repeat and Full Level Buttons and Production Software

**Brand:** akai professional
**Price:** ₩351332
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Summary

> 🔥 Beat like a pro, anywhere you go! 🔥

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** Akai Professional MPD218 - USB MIDI Controller with 16 MPC Drum Pads, 6 Assignable Knobs, Note Repeat and Full Level Buttons and Production Software by akai professional
- **How much does it cost?** ₩351332 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.kr](https://www.desertcart.kr/products/17666737-akai-professional-mpd218-usb-midi-controller-with-16-mpc-drum)

## Best For

- akai professional enthusiasts

## Why This Product

- Trusted akai professional brand quality
- Free international shipping included
- Worldwide delivery with tracking
- 15-day hassle-free returns

## Key Features

- • **Expand Your Beat Arsenal:** 3 pad banks unlock 48 fully assignable pads for limitless creativity
- • **Pro-Grade Software Bundle:** Includes Ableton Live Lite & MPC Beats for instant studio-quality production
- • **Expressive Performance Tools:** MPC note repeat and full level buttons deliver dynamic, professional beats
- • **Plug, Play & Produce Anywhere:** Compact, USB-powered design perfect for on-the-go music production
- • **Precision Control at Your Fingertips:** 18 assignable knobs let you tweak every DAW and plugin parameter seamlessly

## Overview

The Akai Professional MPD218 is a compact, USB-powered MIDI controller featuring 16 velocity-sensitive MPC pads, 18 assignable 360-degree knobs, and 3 pad banks for a total of 48 triggers. Designed for producers, DJs, and musicians, it offers MPC note repeat and full level controls for expressive beat making. Bundled with Ableton Live Lite and MPC Beats software, it delivers a complete production experience on PC, Mac, and iOS devices.

## Description

Beat Production - Anywhere Akai Professional’s MPD218 is a MIDI-over-USB pad controller perfect for producers, programmers, musicians and DJs alike. Its intuitive blend of MPC controls and technologies mesh with seamless USB connectivity to bring the feel of classic beat making into the world of computer music production. At the heart of MPD218 are 16 ultra-sensitive, hyper-playable Thick Fat MPC pads, ideal for triggering drums, one-shots, melodic samples, basslines and more; with 3 pad banks available and a pressure- and velocity-sensitive specification, expand MPD218’s performance capability to 48 fully-assignable, ultra-reactive triggers that capture every subtlety and nuance of your performance.

Review: In the right hands, this is a great MIDI controler! - I'll start off by saying that I'm a performing musician (woodwind and brass instruments) as well as a composer and arranger who works with music notation software. I bought this hoping it would help me in writing percussion parts. I have returned it. Having said that, however, I am very impressed with what it can do and recommend it for people who work mainly with Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) software. As a MIDI controller it has amazing capabilities and can work to control other MIDI devices such as synthesizers, modules, lighting and much much more. All of which make it a great tool for performers who work mainly in the rock/pop/rap/hip-hop/ska fields. It's compact, it responds nicely. The sensitivity of the pads can be adjusted only on a global scale, so either all the pads are very sensitive or not very sensitive according to how it's adjusted. I didn't use it enough to see how accurate the reviews which mention accidental double-strikes or accidentally triggering pads which aren't the ones being struck are, but I can imagine that if the sensitivity is set so that very little pressure is needed it would be possible to get responses from pads which aren't the ones being struck. The user should (as with all musical gear) spend a lot of time practicing with this device before trying to perform live with it. The price is a lot lower than many other drum pads so this is ideal for people just beginning to investigate the use of this sort of device. The sounds which come with it and the software that can be installed with it will be great for some but they left me less than impressed. But that didn't bother me and shouldn't bother anybody else because most people who will be using this will have their own preferred sound libraries to be working with. What this is NOT -- this is NOT a replacement for an electronic drum set. This is NOT an inexpensive device for learning to play the drums. What this IS -- it is a MIDI controller with which a person can create beats, with which a person can control other devices.
Review: Great Akai product - It’s a typical Akai product. Durable, responsive, compatible, and comes with loads of bonus software. The pads are a little stiff. I gotta smack em purdy hard but they just need to be broken in. It’s compact and looks dope. Doesn’t feel too light and cheap or too heavy and out dated. Very durable. Connects via usb. Plug and play all day. If you travel bring it with you on the plane and plug it up to your laptop and you’re back at it. If you’re looking to run it as your main drum pad tho in a home studio setup drop the additional $100 and buy the studio MPD. This is definitely for travel purposes

## Features

- Beat Production, Anywhere - Ultra-portable, feature-packed and USB powered pad controller with 16 thick fat MPC pads for triggering drums, melodic samples, effects and more
- Expandable Banks - Easily accessible dedicated controls for three pad banks provides a total of 48 assignable pads
- Assignable Control - 18 fully assignable 360-Degree potentiometers accessible via three banks for controlling DAW, virtual effect and virtual instrument parameters
- Feature Packed - MPC note repeat and full level controls for immersive expressive performances
- Comprehensive Software Suite Included - Ableton Live Lite, Drum Synth 500 by AIR Music Tech
- The MPC Production Experience - Includes MPC Beats Software complete with the finest features and essential production tools from the Akai Professional MPC Series
- iOS Connectivity Covered - Control your iOS apps and open up a world of pad control capability using the Camera Connection Kit (sold separately)

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| ASIN | B0116X17JW |
| Best Sellers Rank | #1,108 in Musical Instruments ( See Top 100 in Musical Instruments ) #5 in Computer Recording MIDI Controllers |
| Color Name | Red LED Pads |
| Compatible Devices | Akai Professional’s MPD218 is a MIDI-over-USB pad controller perfect for producers, programmers, musicians and DJs alike. |
| Connector Type | USB |
| Customer Reviews | 4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars (7,072) |
| Date First Available | June 3, 2025 |
| Hardware Interface | USB |
| Hardware Platform | PC/Mac/iOS |
| Instrument Key | Any |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Item Weight | 2 pounds |
| Item model number | MPD218 |
| Material Type | Plastic |
| Musical Style | Electronic |
| Number of Keyboard Keys | 22 |
| Product Dimensions | 10 x 8 x 2 inches |
| Size | Standard |
| Supported Software | Ableton Live |

## Product Details

- **Brand:** Akai Professional
- **Connectivity Technology:** USB
- **Model Name:** MPD218
- **Number of Keys:** 22
- **Special Feature:** Backlit Drum Pad, Compact, Portable, Programmable, Touch Sensitive Pad

## Images

![Akai Professional MPD218 - USB MIDI Controller with 16 MPC Drum Pads, 6 Assignable Knobs, Note Repeat and Full Level Buttons and Production Software - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81IsX6D+FiS.jpg)
![Akai Professional MPD218 - USB MIDI Controller with 16 MPC Drum Pads, 6 Assignable Knobs, Note Repeat and Full Level Buttons and Production Software - Image 2](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81h6nEn1EHL.jpg)
![Akai Professional MPD218 - USB MIDI Controller with 16 MPC Drum Pads, 6 Assignable Knobs, Note Repeat and Full Level Buttons and Production Software - Image 3](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81dlXXlwehL.jpg)
![Akai Professional MPD218 - USB MIDI Controller with 16 MPC Drum Pads, 6 Assignable Knobs, Note Repeat and Full Level Buttons and Production Software - Image 4](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71C-G3HM1pL.jpg)
![Akai Professional MPD218 - USB MIDI Controller with 16 MPC Drum Pads, 6 Assignable Knobs, Note Repeat and Full Level Buttons and Production Software - Image 5](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/8182UTAK7HL.jpg)

## Available Options

This product comes in different **Size, Style** options.

## Questions & Answers

**Q: can you change the sensitivity on the pads?**
A: you can change the velosity in a DAW

**Q: I want to use this for live music samples and sound effects during my Podcast.  Is this possible with this board?**
A: Hi, Akai Pro support here! Yes, MPD218 is suitable for this purpose! The supplied software (MPC Beats) will allow you to drag and drop your chosen samples with ease!

**Q: I think i know the answer to this, but is there a 5 pin midi adapter?  i don't want to use a computer.  i want to use outboard gear.**
A: Hi, Akai Pro support here! Thanks for your question. Our MPD218 will only send MIDI via USB. With this said, our MPD226 will allow you to send MIDI via the 1/8" MIDI output; x2 1/8" to 5-pin MIDI adapters are supplied with our MPD226. I hope this helps and If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us directly - amzsupport@inmusicbrands.com 
Thanks, Krishan

**Q: can i use it to be vj?**
A: Hi, Akai Pro support here! The MPD218 can trigger virtually any sound and is compatible with any software that supports MIDI input. If your software allows the input of MIDI data from an external controller, this will be compatible.

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ In the right hands, this is a great MIDI controler!
*by D***Y on November 6, 2024*

I'll start off by saying that I'm a performing musician (woodwind and brass instruments) as well as a composer and arranger who works with music notation software. I bought this hoping it would help me in writing percussion parts. I have returned it. Having said that, however, I am very impressed with what it can do and recommend it for people who work mainly with Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) software. As a MIDI controller it has amazing capabilities and can work to control other MIDI devices such as synthesizers, modules, lighting and much much more. All of which make it a great tool for performers who work mainly in the rock/pop/rap/hip-hop/ska fields. It's compact, it responds nicely. The sensitivity of the pads can be adjusted only on a global scale, so either all the pads are very sensitive or not very sensitive according to how it's adjusted. I didn't use it enough to see how accurate the reviews which mention accidental double-strikes or accidentally triggering pads which aren't the ones being struck are, but I can imagine that if the sensitivity is set so that very little pressure is needed it would be possible to get responses from pads which aren't the ones being struck. The user should (as with all musical gear) spend a lot of time practicing with this device before trying to perform live with it. The price is a lot lower than many other drum pads so this is ideal for people just beginning to investigate the use of this sort of device. The sounds which come with it and the software that can be installed with it will be great for some but they left me less than impressed. But that didn't bother me and shouldn't bother anybody else because most people who will be using this will have their own preferred sound libraries to be working with. What this is NOT -- this is NOT a replacement for an electronic drum set. This is NOT an inexpensive device for learning to play the drums. What this IS -- it is a MIDI controller with which a person can create beats, with which a person can control other devices.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Great Akai product
*by J***E on February 7, 2026*

It’s a typical Akai product. Durable, responsive, compatible, and comes with loads of bonus software. The pads are a little stiff. I gotta smack em purdy hard but they just need to be broken in. It’s compact and looks dope. Doesn’t feel too light and cheap or too heavy and out dated. Very durable. Connects via usb. Plug and play all day. If you travel bring it with you on the plane and plug it up to your laptop and you’re back at it. If you’re looking to run it as your main drum pad tho in a home studio setup drop the additional $100 and buy the studio MPD. This is definitely for travel purposes

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ High Quality -- Engineered Solid -- Works With Everything
*by N***R on February 21, 2026*

Amazing Price Extreme High Quality --this has a full back and side cap piece, there are no seams or gaps. The materials are amazing quality built to extreme detail. Works plug n play with everything I've hooked up to it. Linux, Android, Roland S1 Synth, Korg Volca Beats Synth. HARD TO BEAT.

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*Product available on Desertcart South Korea*
*Store origin: KR*
*Last updated: 2026-02-28*