SETUP
Drivers
No driver software is required for the AKAI MPD226 to be installed. The device is a USB class compliant and your Operating System will auto-install the necessary driver when connected with a USB cable. The unit offers external powering as well, but is not required for the unit to operate (USB bus powered)
VirtualDJ Setup
Download and install VirtualDJ from https://www.virtualdj.com/download/index.html (in case you have not done already)
Once VirtualDJ is launched, a Connect Window will appear. Login with your virtualdj.com account credentials. A Pro Infinity, a Home Plus or a Pro Subscription License is required to fully use the AKAI MPD226.
Without any of the above Licenses, the controller will operate for 10 minutes each time you restart VirtualDJ.
http://www.virtualdj.com/buy/index.html A detection window will appear next, verifying that the device is properly connected.
Click to OK. The unit is now ready to operate.For further software settings please refer to the User Guide of VirtualDJ.
http://www.virtualdj.com/manuals/virtualdj8/index.htmlSOFTWARE CONTROLS
KEY
ACTION
SHIFT (SECONDARY) ACTION
S *SHIFTHold this button down to access secondary actions as described in the SHIFT ACTION column. P **PROG SELECTUse this encoder to select a Program (1-20). By default the unit initializes with Program 16 which is named as VirtualDJ and is pre-assigned with VirtualDJ actions. Push the encoder to load the selected Program. See Advanced Setup for further details related to the other Programs M1 **PAD BANKCycles through the 4 available modes for the 16 PADS. Sampler mode (LED A is turned on), Effects mode (LED B is turned on) , Pads mode (both LED C is turned on and Transport mode (LED D is turned on) M2 **CTRL BANKCycles through the 3 available modes for the 4 CTRL knobs, the 4 Faders and the 4 buttons.
Sampler mode (LED A is turned on), Effects mode (LED B is turned on) and Pads mode (LED C is turned on) 1 PADS 1-16The 16 Pads offer different functionality depending on the selected PADS MODE. See Pads
2 STOPIf playing, stops the selected Deck to the previously used Cue point. If paused, sets the current position as a Temporary Cue point 3 PLAYPlays/pauses selected Deck 4 RECStarts/stops recording your mix 5 *BUT 1/8Selects Left Deck 6 *BUT 1/16Selects Right Deck 7 *BUT 1/32Smart Mix between Left and Right Decks 8 *FADER 1Adjust the Pitch of the Left Deck 9 *FADER 2Adjust the Volume of the Left Deck 10 *FADER 3Adjust the Volume of the Right Deck 11 *FADER 4Adjust the Pitch of the Right Deck 12 CTRL 1In Sampler mode : Select the previous/next available Sampler Bank
In Effects mode : Adjust the 1st Parameter of the selected Effect on Left Deck.
In Pads mode :Select the previous/next available page for the VirtualDJ Pads on the Left Deck.
In Single Effects mode : Adjust the 3rd Parameter of the selected Effect on Left Deck.
In Multi Effects mode : Adjust the 2nd Parameter of the selected FX1 Effect Slot on Left Deck.
In all other modes the Encoders offer the same functionality as without SHIFT13 CTRL 2In Sampler mode : Select the previous/next available Sampler Trigger mode (On/Off, Hold, Stutter & Un-mute)
In Single Effects mode : Adjust the 2nd Parameter of the selected Effect on Left Deck.
In Multi Effects mode : Adjust the 1st Parameter of the selected FX2 Effect Slot on Left Deck.
In Pads mode :Adjust the 1st Parameter of the selected page for the VirtualDJ Pads on the Left Deck.
In Sampler mode : Same functionality as without SHIFT pressed
In Single Effects mode : Adjust the 4th Parameter of the selected Effect on Left Deck.
In Multi Effects mode : Adjust the 2nd Parameter of the selected FX2 Effect Slot on Left Deck.
In Pads mode :Adjust the 2nd Parameter (if available) of the selected page for the VirtualDJ Pads on the Left Deck.14 CTRL 3In Sampler mode : No action assigned
In Effects mode : Adjust the 1st Parameter of the selected Effect on Right Deck.
In Pads mode :Select the previous/next available page for the VirtualDJ Pads on the Right Deck.
In Sampler mode : No functionality
In Single Effects mode : Adjust the 3rd Parameter of the selected Effect on Right Deck.
In Multi Effects mode : Adjust the 2nd Parameter of the selected FX1 Effect Slot on Right Deck.
In Pads mode :Same functionality as without SHIFT pressed.15 CTRL 4In Sampler mode : Adjust the Master Volume of the Sampler
In Single Effects mode : Adjust the 2nd Parameter of the selected Effect on Right Deck.
In Multi Effects mode : Adjust the 1st Parameter of the selected FX2 Effect Slot on Right Deck.
In Pads mode :Adjust the 1st Parameter of the selected page for the VirtualDJ Pads on the Right Deck.
In Sampler mode : Same functionality as without SHIFT pressed
In Single Effects mode : Adjust the 4th Parameter of the selected Effect on Right Deck.
In Multi Effects mode : Adjust the 2nd Parameter of the selected FX2 Effect Slot on Right Deck.
In Pads mode :Adjust the 2nd Parameter (if available) of the selected page for the VirtualDJ Pads on the Right Deck.NOTES
* The 4 TIME DIV buttons 1/4 (SHIFT), 1/8, 1/16, 1/32 and the 4 FADERS, offer the same functionality regardless the selected CTRL BANK (A,B,C). However, these keys offer different MIDI value and are named differently in the default mapping, so those can be assigned with different actions depending on the selected CTRL BANK.
** The PROGRAM select knob and the PAD BANK and CTRL BANK buttons are hardware controls, they do not send any MIDI message, so cannot be assigned to a VirtualDJ action.
HARDWARE CONTROLS
KEY
ACTION
H1 NAVUse the Up/Down/Left/Right Navigation buttons to navigate through the Parameters and Pages when a Program is editedH2 PRESETUse this button to select the Preset mode. When selected, the LCD screen displays the properties of the selected Program when the NAV buttons are usedH3 EDITUse this button to select the Edit mode. When selected, the LCD screen displays the properties of the selected Program when the NAV buttons are usedH4 GLOBALUse this button to select the Global Edit mode. When selected, the LCD screen displays the properties of the selected Program when the NAV buttons are usedH5 FULL LEVELWhen enabled,
the 16 velocity PADS will send full velocity speed, regardless the pushing strengthH6 16 LEVELPress this button to activate/deactivate 16 Level mode. When activated, the last pad that was hit will be temporarily copied to all 16 pads. The pads will now output the same note number as the initial pad but at fixed velocity values that increase as the pad numbers increase (e.g., Pad 1 is the minimum, Pad 16 is the maximum), regardless of how hard you hit them
Note : Makes sense to use this mode in Sampler mode onlyH7 TAP TEMPOPress this button in time with the desired tempo to enter a new tempo (in BPM). This will affect the speed of the Note Repeat feature.
Note: This button is disabled by default since the external MIDI clock source is enabled. If you wish to disable external Midi Clock from VirtualDJ, right-click on the AKAI MPD226 entry in VirtualDJ Settings->Controllers tab.H8 NOTE REPEATPress and hold this button while striking a pad to cause the pad to re-trigger at a rate based on the current tempo and Time Division settingsNote : All the above Hardware buttons do not send any MIDI message, so cannot be assigned to any VirtualDJ action.
ADVANCED SETUP
PROGRAMS & MIDI DEVICES
The MPD226 will be detected as 4 separate units in VirtualDJ Settings->Controllers tab as shown in the image above.
The 1st one (displayed as AKAI MPD226) is the one
pre-defined in VirtualDJ (offers factory default mapping) and sends/receives MIDI/CC messages that use USBA1 to USBA16 MIDI Channels.
VirtualDJ r
eserves Program 16 and regardless of the changes you may do using the Editor or the EDIT mode of the unit, the MIDI Notes, Channels, Colors etc will not be changed and will be reloaded next time you start VirtualDJ.
You may use and program all other Programs (1 to 15 and 17 to 20), but make sure you don't use USBA16 MIDI Channel, or else operation issues may occur.
Since Programs 1 to 15 are pre-defined for other DAW applications, it is also suggested not to use any other Program except the Nr.16, unless you made sure that your preset Programs do not use USBA16 Midi channel.
The 2nd detected unit (MIDIIN2 or similar name on Mac OSX) holds the MIDI notes when USBB1 to USBB16 MIDI Channels are used.
The 3rd detected unit (MIDIIN3 or similar name on Mac OSX) holds the MIDI/CC messages sent when an external MIDI device is connected to the MIDI IN/OUT sockets at the rear panel of the unit.
The 4th detected unit (MIDIIN4 or similar name on Mac OSX) offers the MIDI/CC messages sent/received from the Remote application/device
The MIDIIN2,3,4 units can be mapped as "
Simple Midi" in VirtualDJ.
The Programs can be defined and saved to the unit with the
MPD226 Editor offered at
http://www.akaipro.com/product/mpd226#downloadsRGB COLORS
Even though the unit offers the ability to color the PADS with different colors, those cannot be changed via MIDI. You can only change the
On and
Off state colors from the Editor.
The colors in the VirtualDJ Program 16 cannot be changed. The default preset will be re-loaded each time you open VirtualDJ.
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
For further Technical features and specifications, visit AKAI MPD-226
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.