Nektar Aura Beat Composer vs Akai MPD 226. Can the Aura dethrone the venerable Akai pad controller?

#AKAI #Nektar #hiphop #production
Heh guys, it's Steve from Featherlight and we just got in the brand new Aura Beat Composer from Nektar. We want to find out how it stacks up against our trusty and dependable MPD 226 from Akai, lets check it out and find out!
Up until now, the Akai has really been our goto drum pad controller and a real workhorse here in the Studio. The new Aura Beat Composer promises much more sensitive pads and more control over the velocity and dynamics, especially if your into precision live performance or finger drumming . In this video, we go deep to find out if that's actually true.
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Mods for Akai Pads and parts:
www.mpcstuff.c...
02:24 INTRO
01:30 UNBOXING
02:19 OVERVIEW
03:35 AKAI FEATURE SET
04:07 AURA FEATURE SET
04:48 AKAI CONNECTIONS
05:10 AURA CONNECTIONS
05:33 POWER OPTIONS
06:04 KNOB COMPARRISON
06:25 AKAI PAD CONFIGURATION
10:12 AURA PAD CONFIGURATION
16:19 AURA SOFTWARE INSTALLATION
16:55 NEKTARINE PLUGIN
23:26 STEP SEQUENCER
25:51 CONCLUSION
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Gear used in my video reviews:
Nektar Aura Beat Composer
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AKAI MPD 226 MIDI Controller
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#Akai #Aura #Nektar #Nektarine #Beatcomposer
Special thanks to Don Morfeus for the Music
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Contacts
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[@DanielSmith-jz7xe]

This was one of the best review / comparison product videos for anything that I've ever seen. No BS, fluff or bias. Just a clear, concise and thorough comparison with great visuals. Very nice work, thank you!

[@Hyper5nic]

Thank you so much for creating this extensive review! I am amazed this controller hasn't been reviewed more because it presents so much value for money.

[@zoolook3264]

Mine arrived today - your video was the clincher for me (Thank you for the time it took to do it). I have to say, I am extremely impressed with it. The amount of fine tuning per pad is very impressive and they are so responsive. I am having so much fun with the hardware sequencer, it's a great addition to my studio.

[@Featherlightstudio]

Thanks, Im glad the video helped, its definitely a beast!

[@MichaelCozineSounds]

This was an incredibly thorough and well explained review. Nice job, mate.

[@impossiblemusicforce]

Unfortunately you are the only one who gives some quality informations! I wish that Aura makes tutorials, in my case ny english is pretty bad too what ut makes it really difficult to come in!

[@gorgeousgeorgeous8861]

Thanks. A really comprehensive review. Sold! Where’s my purse....

[@omgitsbees]

Looking for my first drum pad, and this was a very good review of both pads! I think I am going to go for the Akai with the cost being the deciding factor for me. Both pads sound great, but this is maybe also an incomparable review? The Nektar is twice as expensive, and so it seems like its in a totally different category.

[@Featherlightstudio]

I think for a first drum pad controller, the AKAI is easier to use and still has great pads.

[@johndjameson]

*Just* the comparison I’m looking for. Thanks for making this. It’s so hard to find a pad controller with a built-in editor and a MIDI Out port.

[@reedjose7624]

You prolly dont care but does anybody know a trick to get back into an instagram account..? I was dumb lost my login password. I would appreciate any tips you can give me.

[@benraphael3310]

@Reed Jose Instablaster =)

[@reedjose7624]

@Ben Raphael I really appreciate your reply. I found the site thru google and I'm trying it out now. Looks like it's gonna take a while so I will get back to you later when my account password hopefully is recovered.

[@reedjose7624]

@Ben Raphael it did the trick and I now got access to my account again. I am so happy! Thank you so much you really help me out!

[@benraphael3310]

@Reed Jose you are welcome :D

[@fingerdrummers]

I tried Nektar Aura, however I ended up keeping MPD-226. Nektar's pad sensitivity is not as consistent on the edges. Also I felt the dynamic range (how much room I have between softest and hardest hits) was harder to control.

[@brmbkl]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/r5DSl5iEp7SHra8

[@lextron-audio]

Great comparison and overview video. I’d love to know how well the Aura could integrate with an iPad set up.

[@m-chopbeats7526]

Akai should really be the leader for these kind of controllers

[@Featherlightstudio]

I agree and I am surprised they are not considering they have longest track record of all the pad controller companies. It wouldn't surprise me to see a new high end pad controller from Akai at next years NAMM Show.

[@jimm8594]

You’ve got a great voice, I’m sure you’ve done some voiceover work.

[@Featherlightstudio]

Thanks, I appreciate that.

[@bjamminsincebirth3494]

I wish they would make these with the ability to make drum tracks internally without all the bells and whistles that the One,Live, and X have. I don’t care for their software.

[@Featherlightstudio]

The price reflects that considering these are simply MIDI controllers as the One is nearly 3 times the price for the built in sounds library and the Live II and XL are nearly 1200 US.

[@sekritskworl-sekrit_studios]

How did you get those initial drum sounds out? Are they stored internally?/What do they sound out of? I'm looking at mine and there are no sounds coming out.

[@Featherlightstudio]

Neither of these devices are sound modules, as stated in the video they are MIDI control surfaces that control software inside your computer.

[@sekritskworl-sekrit_studios]

@@Featherlightstudio You did. And, I appreciate that. But being new, and lacking context, not seeing where they were loaded from in advance made it difficult to wrap my head around as in my mind the process flow of loading the software not being present prior to triggering... and then seeing "internal" on the device confused me, and so I kept going back to the beginning, thinking that I had missed a step.

[@kennethjackson4858]

Don’t have a drum pad, but would I need one for doing short films or short documentaries?

[@Featherlightstudio]

Pad controllers are just another way to trigger sounds instead of a keyboard. For programming percussive sounds, they are much easier than triggering from a keyboard.

[@itsrelativ3967]

Pad 1 on my MPD226 blew out. What do I do as far as repairs go??? 12 month warranty has expired.

[@Featherlightstudio]

Check these guys out for MPD parts. they have pretty much every part and mod you can think of! www.mpcstuff.com/akai-mpc-pad-sets.html

[@itsrelativ3967]

@@Featherlightstudio ok

[@pierrefitch]

AKAI Professional MPD226 can this work well with my MPC One for more drum pads ?

[@Featherlightstudio]

The MPC One accepts MIDI In and Out so it should be able to be triggered by the additional pads on the MPD226. I dont have an MPC One to test so hopefully someone can chime in here on that!

[@ninjaxhayabusa]

I'm confused. Can you program melodic parts on one pad/sound? Like using a bassdrum channel to play a bass melody for example

[@Featherlightstudio]

The Aura is a generic MIDI controller and triggers 1 MIDI note per pad so no, you can't program/trigger multiple MIDI notes per pad. However, the step sequencer does allow up to (4) parts per pad, meaning you can have 'variations' of the pattern on that pad but it will still be the same MIDI note. Using the Nektarine host software for live performance, you could load up a different VSTi for every pad. Many VST's like Kontakt and Groove Agent allow you to trigger complete MIDI and sample loops from each MIDI note.

[@ninjaxhayabusa]

@@Featherlightstudio Thanks for the info. Appreciate the detail.

[@pierrefitch]

Nektar Aura is this really okay is it standalone is it worth trying I already own the maschine mk3 and MPC one

[@Featherlightstudio]

The Aura is a 'MIDI controller' only, it doesn't have onboard sounds like the MPC one does

[@pierrefitch]

@@Featherlightstudio is it a pretty good drum kit

[@Featherlightstudio]

@@pierrefitch The pads have amazing control and precision if that's what you need

[@vinylselektaz6475]

Hit the full level button

[@BouwonderzoekMiddelharnis]

The Nectar disappointed me. Incomprehensible and inscrutable and sometimes slow with that built-in software. No reset point to start from somewhere. Buttons with too many double functions and unnecessarily complicated. No button to go back if something is pressed incorrectly. After eight hours of fiddling with it, I gave up.

[@truechristianity74]

Should have compared to MPD 232

[@Featherlightstudio]

Great idea, hoping to get one to compare

[@pascalolivier3228]

nektar aura egal native maschine

[@duhguyfrombrooklyn1693]

Would this work well with Akai’s MPC Software? The Aura seems to have Pads like the Maschine

[@Featherlightstudio]

The Aura Beat Composer is basically a generic MIDI controller that is class compliant so it should work with all programs and apps that can be MIDI controlled.

[@duhguyfrombrooklyn1693]

@@Featherlightstudio excellent thanks for the info

[@creigmatom9431]

Which one is good for hip hop on reaper

[@Featherlightstudio]

Either one as a straight up MIDI controller but the Nektar software absolutely kills for sound creation.

[@creigmatom9431]

@@Featherlightstudio appreciate you bro

[@getbusy21]

I create content on a few channels. I study KZbin alot. Your "FEATHERLIGHT STUDIO CHANNEL TRAILER" needs to be changed ASAP! Your icons need to be changed ASAP! *Your content does not need to be touched at all.* But you do need to create MORE THAN ONE STORY PER VIDEO and cut to different screenshots more often. You are on the cusp of having 100K. Keep up the great work, get embedded sponsors, and try to get a couple more videos out a month. Your graphics/animations, audio/video quality, and content f"n rock! Also, think about NAMM, local studio reviews, and viral (will the MPC work after being dropped off 100' building) videos! AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME!

[@Featherlightstudio]

Great suggestions for sure, we've been NAMM members for over 20 years but it can be challenging to maintain a KZbin channel that's not just a KZbin set but, a full time, commercial recording studio at the same time. Love the MPC idea, if you want to send us yours, we will be happy to drop it off a 100' building and make a video about it! lol

[@getbusy21]

@@Featherlightstudio Keep up the good work! No MPC available at this time! haha thx for the reply!

[@connormckay9429]

How does this do with sampling? I'm looking to become a hip hop producer and I'm torn between this the Mashine and an MPC and sampling ability is a huge selling feature for me especially if it can "lazy chop"!

[@Featherlightstudio]

The Akai and the Aura BOTH are just MIDI controllers, neither can do onboard sampling.

[@philipreed2575]

Good info. Excuse my ignorance, but I don't use midi. I am interested I knowing how many pre installed deumkits or patches on each and if either have a 1/4 inch instrument cable outlput. Thanks

[@Featherlightstudio]

Neither the Akai or the Aura are stand alone sound modules or samplers like a drum machine would have. They are controllers only and are meant to be used to control sounds inside your computer.

[@alchemistrpm82]

@@Featherlightstudio Does the Aura ship with any software besides Nektarine?

[@Featherlightstudio]

@@alchemistrpm82 The Aura is manufactured by Nektar so Nektarine is the only included software.

[@alchemistrpm82]

@@Featherlightstudio It wouldn’t be because it’s manufactured by Nektar (just ask Akai or Novation), but that’s good to know. Thanks

[@christopherlind3233]

Does it function as a sampler or sequnecer

[@Featherlightstudio]

Neither can do sampling but the AURA has a fantastic onboard 16 track, multi pattern sequencer.

[@sidneiribeiro3883]

And the playability of the mpd 218 ?

[@Featherlightstudio]

We've had the 218 for quite a while and it is a solid performer. The pads are solid and responsive for most pattern and live work. However, if you're a finger drummer that requires an extremely light touch and dynamic control, it can't compete with the Aura. But it really was never designed to be either, the Aura is a different category of controller altogether. More like a very responsive keyboard except for percussionists.

[@sidneiribeiro3883]

@@Featherlightstudio Thx !

[@larrytan73]

The mpc studio mk , The mpd32 , Mpc ren etc! should have been compared to the Nektar Aura.. Because what Aura is claiming it can do.... Youu are comparing a 9 year old unit to a newly released unit,,Thats shady! Akai had plenty of options around the time you did this video

[@m-chopbeats7526]

Nektar Aruba, MPDs are similar devices in that they aren't dedicated controllers for their DAWs like Maschine and MPC's are. Outside of Maschine and MPC software their controllers lose a lot of functionality....so nektar Aruba and MPDs are more generic to run in any software.

[@davidvalens3337]

would you buy the nektar Beat composer?

[@Featherlightstudio]

For detailed, realistic drum programming and finger drumming, absolutely

[@davidtadic4979]

in what sense you don't need a computer to operate? is it dawless?

[@Featherlightstudio]

Its a generic MIDI controller, you can control anything that accepts a MIDI input, ie. external sound modules, hardware synthesizers, even your phone apps with the right adapters.

[@_EightySix]

Is it supposed to be pronounced "neck-tar"? Or are you just trying to be yooneek?

[@Featherlightstudio]

lol

[@junito1957]

LOSING THE FLADER IS A BIG DEAL , PASS! IF I WANT GOOD DRUM PAD I GO FOR THE ADAM

[@ACCOUNTANTB]

akai has no sequencer !!!!

[@LucasBittini]

te han pagado mucho dinero para hablar solo de uno. NO se puede aprender nada de videos tan grasientos.

[@Featherlightstudio]

nadie me ha pagado nada de dinero. ¡Compré ambos con mi propio dinero y este video no está patrocinado ni pagado por nadie!

[@LucasBittini]

@@Featherlightstudio pues disculpa. Pero estaria bien hablar de la sensibilidad y velocity de ambos ,de forma objetiva. Gracias por tu esfuerzo, y repito, disculpa.