Make a Beat on the Cheap! // Donner StarryPad Review

Make a Beat on the Cheap! // Donner StarryPad Review
Donner have made a name for themselves in recent years for producing solid,, affordable audio production gear like audio interfaces, drum kits, guitars and keyboards.
The StarryPad is Donner’s take on a MIDI drum pad controller that comes in quite a bit cheaper than other similar controllers in it’s class.
In this video i’ll take a closer look and see if it’s worth your time and money!
Use the discount code:
STARRY5OFF
to save 5% off of the Donner StarryPad on Amazon until April 30th
UK: amzn.to/3mP9v9B
US: BEST ALTERNATIVE AS UNAVAILABLE: amzn.to/4cLOoJl
Review unit supplied by Donner
This video is not sponsored. All opinions, views and recommendations are 100% my own.
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[@TheGaragebandGuide]

Use the discount code: STARRY5OFF to save 5% off of the Donner StarryPad on Amazon until April 30th UK: amzn.to/3mP9v9B US: amzn.to/40iVVsW

[@byniasofficial2567]

Damn, Donner went a long way since they started with making kebabs.

[@jarule275]

😂😂😂😂😂😂 Bruh

[@Byronic19134]

I like what Donner is doing and glad companies are finally releasing more simple affordable pad controllers. I'd suggest going for the Presonus Atom tho over this at a similar price point although the Donner is usually cheaper.

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

Nice, thanks for the recommendation!

[@GaryR55]

Yep, I've considered getting the Atom, but for my iPad. Even though I do own a Windows 11 tablet, I'm reluctant to use Presonus Studio One. Trying to stick to an iPadOS workflow and I don't particularly like Windows.

[@mollythestylophone]

Mine comes today. Gonna use it for finger drumming

[@desoconnor7445]

Gosh…someone hit me with a wet fish..I’m astounded at the capability of the Donner Starrypad at the price point.I purchased mine for £59 from Amazon, note that’s pounds not Yankee dollars. I had it integrated with Reaper (windows)and AUM in the IOS environment with a few hours. IMHO the Donner pads perform as well as my machine Mikro II and those of a Nivation controller I have been using. The work flow is simple enough and amazingly you do as reported get the USB C converter as a very thoughtful inclusion . It’s a case of , it seemed to good to be true …but actually it is true ..this device delivers what it promises and all for the price of decent Friday night on the town. 🙏🙏🏿👍🎩✨🎵🎵🎵👏

[@Elwaves2925]

It's not something I'd use but it seems great, especially for that price. Why do they always seem to cheap out on cables/connectors, when it's surely one of the cheapest parts? This is why you never throw working cables away, even if the rest of the kit is gone.

[@SMBorthwick]

I haven't really considered MIDI controllers as I just use iPad natively or as a logic remote controller, but this could be a good starting point to explore. Cheers Patrick.

[@brutalbasspro]

I just haven't heard good things about the Donner party. Glad to see they're still doing well after all these years.

[@m1nnefr3d]

Nice and appealingly small controller presented in a thorough review. Thanks, Patrick 🤝

[@JamieMallender]

Great vid as usual Patrick! I like the look of this. I noticed Donner a couple of years ago. I really liked the look of their stuff so I reached out with an E-mail to see if they might be interested in sending me something to demo. They haven’t replied yet so, I’m taking that as a no, 😂

[@LaidbackSounds]

Do they do midi kebabs too ?

[@GaryR55]

Good thing I have every USB cable known to man.

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

Same. Now I just need to find a use for the several dozen power adapters...

[@GaryR55]

@@TheGaragebandGuide Yep. I like to think the manufacturers are stretching things a bit when they tell us to use only their own adapters. Basically, if it's the same voltage, it should work.

[@JWNRW59]

Can’t find these in Canada.

[@calvinchong8740]

hello - thanks Patrick for doing this video. I was inspired and got myself one. Any chance you can do a video to show how to midi map the pads on the starrypad to drum sounds? I think drums are normally CN 10 which is what the editor has it as. But how do I assign say kick drum to both pads 2 and 3, and snare on pads 6 and 7, etc? The editor is quite confusing - would be so appreciative if you could make a beginner tutorial to explain how it all connects to garageband. I haven't been able to make the transport control buttons to work (well apart from the note repeat button)

[@nickkieper7574]

This is the information I've been struggling to find. How do I assign notes to the pads?

[@marianosantana470]

I know nothing about making beats just want to get this to mess around with my kids. Do I need a computer to get sound?

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

Yes - you use it to trigger sounds in music production software. It doesn’t make any sounds on its own.

[@bambeeification]

Can you connect the Donner Starrypad to an external synth like the Roland mc101, with the "midi out" from the Starrypad into the "midi in" port of the Roland? Can the two devices communicate with each other, and will the pad controller trigger sounds from the synth? Is there any particular configuration in the settings to adjust in order to make this two devices work together? Thanks.

[@marcbrault]

Looks nice... Is there a way to colour code the pads in relation to what they trigger (for example, yellow for cymbals, green for toms, blue for snare, etc) ?

[@mattgee4867]

Can anyone confirm this thing won't boot up when you're using the USB only for power with a charger?

[@mrrafsk]

What the sensitivity like. compared to what other unit?

[@pinkleprechaun52]

OH MY GOSH that iphone is so old. i use to have that when I was a kid and now I'm old

[@jamesorrell7462]

That's a nice little controller. I have been looking at something like this to use in live performance to trigger samples. It's a shame that they haven't got an iOS version of that software, though. It would have been nice to use their software on a more compact device than a laptop

[@SpinxSage]

Was super excited when I saw the discount code, but unfortunately missed it

[@EarleFamBuilds]

I want to assign sound effects for a live Dungeons and Dragons performance. It sounds like it should be fine. Any reason why this wouldn’t work, can I assign sound effects to each pad?

[@neilsm100]

Looks interesting - can it be used to trigger EZ Drums?

[@dylanhoward718]

It's midi so yes

[@juneskeete4975]

Hello ,I like your presentation. I'm very new to this beat box,I will like to know how do you assign the knobs.

[@ColinPowell_AMultitudeofOne]

It looks like a great entry level pad based controller, which is something I have been thinking about getting. Will this work plugged into a MAC (or iPad) via a USB hub? I guess it should do?

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

Yes, absolutely

[@ventedge65]

In this Video for your demonstration in Mac I see that you have a large amount of electric drum kits & maybe other sounds as well. How can I get my IOS instruments/drum kits into my Mac GarageBand? pls hit back with info & thanks for this Video as well.

[@transforminggravity15626]

Super awesome 💯

[@markus918]

Thank you. Thanks to the video, I began to understand a little what's what. But there are misunderstandings... I went to the Storypad Editor and found that the red SEND TO DEVICE button is not active. I can't save the changes. But I vaguely remember that at first I saved something. Was active. And also, GET FROM DEVICE does not work. Only the blue FACTORY RESET is active. I don't understand - what happened? And VSTi stopped sounding on the track. The signal goes, midi messages are recorded, but there is no sound...

[@johngoogleuser3764]

Can I ask, are the pads/buttons soft rubberised material or hard plastic? Thanks

[@Dog_Stare]

soft rubber feel

[@technomad1770]

Just bought one, can I use it in FL Studio's Performance mode ?.

[@abandonbrandon6472]

i bout it after this visdeo i can also say the cable usbc did not work

[@skrobie]

idk where the "starrypad editor" software is that it says it comes with in the manual

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

Download from their website. The link is in the manual too I believe.

[@Dog_Stare]

Found where the KEYBOARD software is on their website.

[@juliesalazar322]

What if my using Microsoft? I tried downloading so many apps and I'm stuck. All I see is a window with a pdf and starrypad.exe. How can I get sound out of my pad🤷‍♀️

[@charlieschannel2996]

Does this work for windows?

[@user-lf9jt6kr7n]

Come hai impostato la tastiera? Please

[@andreacerratofan7305]

7:12 PH Intro?

[@tonybarber3535]

I'm going to buy it thank you for the review

[@husseinsalm5243]

So did you do it ? Is it any good bro

[@tonybarber3535]

@@husseinsalm5243 I haven't bought it yet I totally spaced it out lol

[@epikdemiks2628]

I think donner midi is perfect for Koala Sampler

[@breakwaterlights3977]

Hmmm, interesting! Cheers buddy

[@sammytaylor6473]

does this pad work on android?

[@AhmedAhmed-gu3wv]

ANY MODEL FOR ANDROID ???

[@isweartofuckinggod]

It's not actually cheaper, is it? I'm pretty sure the Akai equivalent is the same price.

[@Joshjamstunes]

I hear there kebabs are pretty good too

[@lunam7249]

8:54 and NOT 1 second of sound!!!!????

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

There are plenty of sounds in this demo. Did you watch the video?

[@lunam7249]

@@TheGaragebandGuide yes i saw your vid, 4 scattered seconds...in the future more subscribers if you play the instrument

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

@@lunam7249 just to clarify for you - you’d use this controller to play the sounds built into your DAW. It doesn’t generate any sounds itself.

[@lunam7249]

@@TheGaragebandGuide ah!!!!!! thank you!!!!!😳😳👏👏❤️❤️

[@thegerman3480]

It's rubbish. Sent mine back to Amazon next day.

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

What didn’t you like about it?

[@arainadvert7999]

I straight up have to finger punch these buttons. If any of ya'll have nerve damage or long nails this is not for you. (':

[@markus918]

Thanks, but where can I get Donner Starrypad control editor?