Akai MPD24 hardware and/or firmware issues
I obtained an Akai MPD24 on the 26th of December last year and I’ve been experiencing some issues with the endless encoders. I’m thinking it may be hardware related, because it just does not “feel” right. I have not really dove deep into the unit, so I did not notice this until quite recently. Here are the related issues, so please reply if you are experiencing the same issue or have anything else to add…
Pads: ALL FINE, aftertouch/pressure or whatever works fine.
Faders: ALL FINE. Knobs:
- Knob k1 - Slightly jumpy on descending messages, feels tight compared to the rest.
- knob k2 - EXTREMELY JUMPY, FEELS LOOSE never goes past 50%, Useless.
- Knob k3 - NON FUNCTIONAL (No midi information being sent), FEELS LOOSE compared to other knobs.
- knob k4 - Very jumpy, you can kinda use it.
- knob k5 - Normal, works fine, feels nice.
- knob k6 - Very jumpy, you can kinda use it.
- knob k7 - Normal, works fine, feels nice.
- Knob k8 - Normal, works fine, feels nice.

March 19th, 2007 at 4:30 pm
near the same problem here, the K4 goes insane, and the K8 no respond at all.\r\nStranger thing is that sometimes they work again. And the disfunctionnal knob are not always the same.
March 22nd, 2007 at 5:58 am
It’s a shame really. I took the unit back and got a new audio interface in exchange. (Got a Presonus Firebox, which is an excellent little unit to replace my old Aardvark)\r\n\r\nNot sure what I want to get now for faders and knobs. Maybe a Faderfox, M-Audio Axiom 25, or even perhaps a CME Bitstream 3x.
May 13th, 2007 at 7:52 am
Yeah, my MPD24’s been very disappointing and the latest firmware hosed my box, now it doesn’t work at all. According to a commenter this happened to 7 other units as well:\r\nhttp://jordanbalagot.com/blog/2007/03/31/im-a-sucker-for-hype-the-mpd24-sucks-so-far/\r\nAkai says “Unfortunately it sounds like this will need to be serviced.”
July 24th, 2007 at 3:30 pm
K5 is totally screwed - it keeps changing parameters constantly.
August 14th, 2007 at 4:00 pm
My box is gone !\r\nIt doesnt work after trying to download the upgrade.\r\nThis is fucking crazy,please dont make me hate you Akai.
May 3rd, 2008 at 2:07 pm
This sucks balls. My first ever midi pad controller and it blows. No power/ fried/ whatever you wanna call it it’s apparently isn’t worth the postage on a pickle!!!!!!! F+%K