The MPD2 Series of performance pad controllers is a result of more than six years of detailed customer research and user feedback. We asked DJs, programmers, producers, and other musicians what you wanted in order to create the most capable, accessible line of pad controllers Akai Professional has developed to date. Its intuitive blend of MPC controls and technologies mesh with easy USB connectivity to bring the feel of classic beat-making into the world of computer music production. We stepped up our game by adding thick, fat, ultra-sensitive MPC pads to create an even more responsive user experience. The MPD218 also has an expanded control set of six 360-degree control knobs (potentiometers) in three banks versus one control on the previous MPD18 model. These MPDs are the perfect bridge between your creativity and your computer-based studio.