Editor

User Guide
English

Manual Version 1.0

 Table of Contents

Introduction................................................................................................................................. 4

About This Software ............................................................................................................. 4

System Requirements and Product Support ..................................................................... 4

Getting Started ...................................................................................................................... 5

Installation ......................................................................................................................... 5
Setup ................................................................................................................................. 5

Operation .................................................................................................................................... 6

Managing Your Presets ........................................................................................................ 7

About Presets .................................................................................................................... 7
Loading Presets................................................................................................................. 8
Saving Presets ................................................................................................................... 9
Sending Presets .............................................................................................................. 10

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 Editing Controls .................................................................................................................. 11
Pads................................................................................................................................. 12
Knobs .............................................................................................................................. 14
Other Preset Information ................................................................................................. 16

Other Functions................................................................................................................... 17
Auto-Populate Tool ......................................................................................................... 17
Send Multiple Presets ..................................................................................................... 20

Software Menus .................................................................................................................. 21

File ................................................................................................................................... 21
Tools ................................................................................................................................ 23
Window ............................................................................................................................ 23
Help ................................................................................................................................. 23

Trademarks and Licenses ....................................................................................................... 24

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Introduction

About This Software

The MPD218 Editor is a software application that lets you change the MIDI messages sent
from your Akai Professional MPD218. This editor lets you set each pad and knob (across all
available banks) to send a unique command to your software or external MIDI device, giving
you deep, dynamic, and powerful control over your performance.
Please read this manual to get a better understanding of the MPD218 Editor.

System Requirements and Product Support

For complete system requirements, compatibility information, and product registration, visit
the Akai Professional website: akaipro.com.
For additional support, visit akaipro.com/support.

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Getting Started

Installation

1. Double-click the .exe (Windows ) or .pkg (Mac OS X ) installer file you downloaded.
2. Follow the on-screen instructions.

Setup

1. Optional: Connect your MPD218 to your computer using a standard USB cable, and make
sure both are powered on. (If you are using a USB hub, make sure it is a powered hub.)
You can still use the editor without connecting MPD218, but you will not be able to send
Presets to it or load (get) Presets from it.
2. Open the MPD218 Editor.
Windows: The file is located in C:\Program Files\Akai Professional\MPD218 Editor.
Mac OS X: The file is located in Applications/MPD218 Editor.
3. If your MPD218 is not connected to your computer, simply start using the MPD218 Editor!
If your MPD218 is connected to your computer, click the File menu and select MIDI
Setup. In the window that appears, select the following options, and then click OK:
Windows: Set both Input and Output to MPD218.
Mac OS X: Set both Input and Output to MPD218 Port A.
4. Start using the MPD218 Editor! See the Operation chapter to learn more about the
software in depth.

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Operation

MPD218 Editors graphical interface looks just like your MPD218 but with some extra
information about the MIDI messages it sends. All of this information is stored in a Preset,
which determines how your MPD218 will command your software. Learn more about this in
Managing Your Presets.
MPD218 has two types of hardware controls whose MIDI messages you can edit. See Editing
Controls to learn how to adjust the MIDI message sent by each type of hardware control.
Important: Remember that there are three banks of pads and three banks of knobs. When
editing your mappings, make sure you are on the bank you want. Click a Pad Bank button in the
graphical interface to select the desired pad bank. The button will light up, and the values on the
graphical interface will reflect those of the current bank only. All three banks of knobs are visible.

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Managing Your Presets

About Presets

A Preset is a preset file (.mpd218) containing all of the MIDI assignments you make in the
Editor. Using Presets lets you maintain several different control configurations to use in
different situations. For instance, you may use different Presets with different kinds of
software, or you may some Presets for production and others for performance.
Your MPD218 can store 16 Presets at a time. You can store additional Presets on your
computer to load onto your MPD218 with this editor.
This chapter explains how to load Presets into the editor (Loading Presets), save Presets onto
your computer (Saving Presets), and send Presets to your connected MPD218 (Sending
Presets).

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Loading Presets

To edit a Preset, you first have to load it into the MPD218 Editor.
Note: Editing a loaded Preset will not affect the Preset stored on your MPD218. See Sending
Presets to learn how to send the edited Preset to your MPD218.

To load a Preset from your connected MPD218:

1. Click the File menu and select Load
from Hardware.
2. In the Load Presets from Hardware
window that appears, click the Get
button next to the desired Preset
number.
To cancel, simply close the Load
Presets from Hardware window.
If you make changes to any Presets or current settings or assignments on your MPD218
after opening this window, click Refresh to refresh the options.
3. When youre done, close the Load Presets from Hardware window.

To load a Preset from your computer, do one of the following:

Click the File menu and select Open Preset.
Press Ctrl+O (Windows) or +O (Mac OS X).
After that, locate the desired Preset file (.mpd218), and click Open.

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Saving Presets

Saving a Preset on your computer lets you edit it or send it to your MPD218 in the future. All
settings and assignments currently in the editor will be saved in the Preset.

To save the Preset, do one of the following:

Click the File menu and select Save.
Press Ctrl+S (Windows) or +S (Mac OS X).
If this is the first time you are saving the Preset, select the desired location, enter a file name,
and click Save. The Preset will be saved as an .mpd218 file.
If this is not the first time you are saving the Preset, the Preset will save with the same name
and to the same location.

To save a Preset under a different name or to a different location, click the File menu and
select Save As. After that, select the desired location, enter a file name, and click Save. The
Preset will be saved as an .mpd218 file.

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Sending Presets

Sending a Preset to your connected MPD218 lets you transfer the Preset from the editor to
your MPD218s internal memory. All settings and assignments currently in the editor will be
sent to your MPD218.

To send a Preset to your connected MPD218:

1. Click Send to Hardware.
2. In the Send Preset window that appears, click the
drop-down menu to select the desired Preset number.
To cancel, simply close the Send Preset window.
3. Click Send to confirm. Sending a Preset will overwrite
that Preset number on your MPD218.
4. When youre done, close the Send Preset window.

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Editing Controls

To edit the parameters for a pad or control on your MPD218, click it in the softwares graphical
user interface.
Tip: To copy the parameters of one pad or knob to another, simply click and drag it. To
access another pad bank, hover the mouse cursor over the desired Pad Bank button.

2 1

Click one of the types of controls to jump to that section in this User Guide: (1) Pads, (2) Knobs,
or (3) Other Preset Information.

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Pads

These are the available parameters and settings for MPD218s pads.
Note: Use the Pad Bank buttons to access all pads (148).

Parameter Description Available Settings

Type The type of event that will be sent. Note

Program
Program Bank

MIDI Channel This setting determines over which MIDI 116

channel data is sent.

MIDI Note If Note is the selected Type, this assigns 0127 (C0G9)
the note number.

Aftertouch If Note is the selected Type, this Off

determines the Aftertouch settings. Chn (Channel Aftertouch)
Poly (Poly Aftertouch)

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Program Number If Program or Program Bank is the 0127
selected Type, this determines the
Program number.

Program MSB If Program or Program Bank is the 0127

Program LSB selected Type, these determine the MSB
(Most Significant Bit) and LSB (Least
Significant Bit).

Trigger Mode If Note is the selected Type, this Toggle

determines whether it is in Toggle or Momentary
Momentary Mode.

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Knobs

These are the available parameters and settings for MPD218s knobs.
Note: All three banks of knobs (118) are visible simultaneously.

Parameter Description Available Settings

Type The type of message that will be sent. CC

Aftertouch
Increment/Decrement 1
(Inc/Dec1)
Increment/Decrement 2
(Inc/Dec2)

MIDI Channel This setting determines over which MIDI 116

channel data is sent.

MIDI CC If CC or Inc/Dec2 is the selected Type, this 0127

determines the MIDI CC number.

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Min If CC or Aftertouch is the selected Type, 0127
Max these determine the lowest (Min) and highest
(Max) values. (If Min is higher than Max, the
knobs polarity will be reversed.)

NRPN MSB If Inc/Dec1 is the selected Type, these 0127

NRPN LSB determine the MSB (Most Significant Bit) and
LSB (Least Significant Bit).

Value If Inc/Dec1 is the selected Type, this 0127

determines the value sent by an Increment
(CC #96) or Decrement (CC #97) message.

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Other Preset Information

These are the available parameters and settings for the preset in general.

Parameter Description Available Settings

Preset The name of the preset. Standard alphanumeric

characters

Tempo The tempo as indicated in beats per 30300

minute.

Time Division The speed of the Note Repeat 1/4, 1/4T, 1/8, 1/8T,
repetition as a division of the master 1/16, 1/16T, 1/32, 1/32T
tempo or external clock. (T denotes a triplet-based time
division.)

Swing The amount of swing used in the Off (50%), 54%, 56%, 58%,
repeated notes of the Note Repeat 60%, 62%
feature.

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Other Functions

Auto-Populate Tool

The auto-populate feature lets you quickly apply common patterns of assignments to the
pads and knobs, sparing you the time of having to create each assignment manually.
To open the Auto-Populate Tool, click the Tools menu and select Auto Populate Tool.

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To auto-populate a pad or knob:
1. For each type of control (pad or knob), check the box to the left of the parameter to
select it. Only the selected parameters will be auto-populated. You can do this for
multiple parameters.
2. If the parameter has a drop-down menu, click it and select the desired setting.
If the parameter requires you to enter a number, click the field, delete the current number
(if necessary), type a new number, and then press Enter on your computer keyboard.
3. Repeat Step 2 for each additional parameter you want to auto-populate (if necessary).
4. Under Apply to Banks, click each bank to select/deselect it. Only the
selected banks will be auto-populated.
5. Click Apply to auto-populate the selected parameters in the selected banks.
To cancel the operation instead, close the Auto Populate window.

For ranges of notes, you must set a starting note and scale. For ranges of numbers, you must
set a starting number and whether the values will increase or decrease across the bank(s).
These types of parameters are described below.

When the Type is set to Note (for pads), select the starting
note (of a scale) by clicking the Scale drop-down menu,
selecting a scale, and then doing either of the following:
Click the Start drop-down menu, and select the desired
MIDI note value (C-1 G9). The field next to it will
change accordingly.
Click the Start field, delete the current number (if
necessary), type a new number (0127), and then press
Enter on your computer keyboard. The drop-down
menu next to it will change accordingly.

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When the Type is set to Program or Program Bank (for
pads), select the starting program number by doing the
following:
1. Click the Order drop-down menu, and select whether
you want the numbers to increase (Ascending) or
decrease (Descending) across the bank(s) of controls.
2. Click the Start field, delete the current number (if
necessary), type a new number (0127), and then press
Enter on your computer keyboard.

When the Type is set to CC or Inc/Dec2 (for knobs only),

select the starting CC number by doing the following:
1. Click the Order drop-down menu, and select whether
you want the numbers to increase (Ascending) or
decrease (Descending) across the bank(s) of controls.
2. Click the Start field, delete the current number (if
necessary), type a new number (0127), and then press
Enter on your computer keyboard.

When the Type is set to Inc/Dec 1 (for knobs only), select

the starting NRPN number by doing the following:
1. Click the Order drop-down menu, and select whether
you want the numbers to increase (Ascending) or
decrease (Descending) across the bank(s) of controls.
2. Click the Start field, delete the current number (if
necessary), type a new number (016383), and then
press Enter on your computer keyboard. Alternatively,
do the same for the MSB and LSB fields (0127).

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Send Multiple Presets

You can send multiple Presets to your

connected MPD218 simultaneously rather
than sending just one at a time.

To send multiple Presets to your connected MPD218:

1. Click the Tools menu and select Send Multiple Presets.
2. In the Batch Send Presets window that appears, select which Presets you want to send
by doing any of the following:
Click a slots Browse button and then select the Preset file from your computer.
Click and drag MPD218 Editors graphical user interface onto the desired slot.
Click and drag an MPD218 Preset file from your computer onto the desired slot.
Click and drag a folder containing multiple MPD218 Preset files from your computer
onto the desired slot. (The selected slot and the ones below it will be populated
with the Preset files in that folder and its subfolders.)
To remove a previously selected Preset from the list, click its X button.
To cancel, simply close the Send Preset window.
3. Click Send to confirm. Sending Presets will overwrite the corresponding Preset numbers
on your MPD218. If you did not select a Preset to send, that Preset will not be overwritten.
4. When youre done, close the Send Preset window.

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Software Menus

This chapter is a description of the available options in the menus at the top of the window.

File

New: Select this to open an additional MPD218 Editor window. Alternatively, press Ctrl+N
(Windows) or +N (Mac OS X).

Open Preset: Select this to locate and load a Preset file (.mpd218) on your computer to the
MPD218 Editor. Alternatively, press Ctrl+O (Windows) or +O (Mac OS X).

Close Window: Select this to close the MPD218 Editor window. Alternatively, press Ctrl+W
(Windows) or +W (Mac OS X).

Save: Select this to save the MPD218 Editors current settings to your computer as a Preset
file (.mpd218). Alternatively, press Ctrl+S (Windows) or +S (Mac OS X).

Save As: Select this to save the MPD218 Editors current settings to your computer as a
Preset file (.mpd218) with a different file name.

Load From Hardware: Select this to import the current settings from your connected
MPD218 into the MPD218 Editor.

Send To Hardware: Select this to export the current settings from the MPD218 Editor to your
connected MPD218.

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MIDI Setup: Select this option to open the Device Setup window.
If your MPD218 is connected to your computer, MPD218 and its MIDI ports will appear in
both the Input and Output fields. We recommend selecting its MIDI port in each field. This
will let you use the MPD218 Editor while simultaneously using MPD218 with your digital
audio workstation (DAW).
Windows: Set both Input and Output to MPD218.
Mac OS X: Set both Input and Output to MPD218 Port A.
If your MPD218 is not connected to your computer, it will not be available in the Input and
Output fields. This means that you cannot send Presets to it or load (get) Presets from it,
but you can still use the MPD218 Editor to edit and save Presets on your computer.
Click OK to apply your selection and close the window. Alternatively, click Cancel to close
the window without applying the selection, or click Apply to apply the selection without
closing the window.

MIDI Setup for Windows. MIDI Setup for Mac OS X.

Quit: Select this to close the MPD218 Editor. Alternatively, press Ctrl+Q (Windows) or
+Q (Mac OS X).
Mac OS X users: This option is in the MPD218 Editor menu.

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Tools

Auto Populate Tool: Select this to open the Auto Populate window. See Other Functions >
Auto-Populate Tool to learn how this feature works.

Send Multiple Presets: Select this to send multiple presets simultaneously to your connected
MPD218. See Other Functions > Send Multiple Presets to learn how this feature works.

Window

Minimize Window: Select this to minimize the MPD218 Editor. Alternatively, press Ctrl+M
(Windows) or +M (Mac OS X).

Bring to Front: Select this to place the MPD218 Editor above all other open application
windows.

Help

Open User Guide: Select this to open this User Guide.

About: Select this to view information about this version of the MPD218 Editor.
Mac OS X users: This option is in the MPD218 Editor menu.

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Trademarks and Licenses
Akai Professional is a trademark of inMusic Brands, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other
countries.
Mac and OS X are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.
Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and other
countries.
All other product or company names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their
respective owners.

akaipro.com

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akaipro.com