I originaly bought it to get better at making beats, but it being USB, you can't use all the features on it. For instance, if you run FL Studio through it, the knobs and sliders don't work. I used it on FL Studio to get better, but I have mastered FL Studio and I thought it was time to take it to the next level and get an MPC1000. The trigger finger is great for beginners, but remember all the features don't work with certain programs, other that, practice on the trigger finger, then get an MPC, that's all I can say.

I recently purchased this great little controller to use with reason. The startup was kind of bumpy as I could not get my computer to recognise a midi signal going through the usb port. I only have one midi in on my m-box 2. I tried everything but to no avail I just could not get this thing to work on usb. Going strait midi worked fine. Anyway to solve my prolem I purchased a m-audio 1x1 midi interface and that solved the problem. Now that I have it working correctly It is a blast to use. It was a fustrating startup but once it was set up correctly worked perfectly.

The Good: Compatibility is excellent and as advertised. The Driver is good and works with SP1 and SP2 though you don't need it unless you want to "rewire".

The bad: Feel! The velocity sensitivity is horrible and not at all predictable. Here's why: the pads are square and a small circle just big enough for one finger is the sensor and the remainder of the square is almost dead!! Therefore, any reliable velocity expression is heavily dependent on hitting exactly the center of the pad which can be very difficult when using two fingers. I think this is a serious design flaw and can't for the life of me understand why the velocity varies radically within the same pad within a 1 cm area.

The solution to the velocity problem is "fixing" the velocity... I could use a keyboard for that.

Good idea -- Bad design

I have a Edirol PCR 50 keyboard it's a great keyboard, but I wanted to try the "pads", all these Pete Rock video's and Kanye West Using Akai's MPC, I naturally went there and started shopping. MPC's are nice but I wanted more of a controller for "redrum", "battery", Maybe trigger a few samples, I seen the MPD. Huge Pads, Akai name you think it would be great!!! WRONG! Terrible, so there is only one other chose the Trigger Finger. Soon as it I opened it I plugged it in, my computer installed it works like a charm.

No matter what program I run it through. Ableton Live (Lite version ships with ), Reason, FL Studio. Freely Assignable ( meaning anything and everything you see, knobs faders, sliders, all can be assigned to whatever. ) Ships with Enigma ( Software used to make your own Presets ), Speaking of Presets it comes with 16 presets Stored, and I use the presets to control anything, Velocity Spreads, Drumkits, Samples, Basslines, A Definite Investment

I have to break myself away from it, because the possibilities are endless. A definite buy, people complain about the velocity and where you hit the pads. You can set the velocity to full throttle across all the pads and barely touch it and it works. Draw a velocity Curve Use the Faders, Dont be lazy! you have more then enough extra time and inspiration if you buy the trigger finger, and you can purchase the mounts at www.M-audio.com

Well Built, Fully assignable, Easy to Install, 150 % Better then the MPD

This little thing has been a great addition to my studio, it's nice to be able to tap out basic beats instead of having to program them within my sequencer. It has really sparked my creativity and is fun for my less musical friends as well. Great companion to BFD, wish it shipped with a keymap for that product, but it was easy enough to create using Enigma (included). My only complaint is that the driver seems to crap out after leaving it idle for a while, but this could be my computer. Easy enough to solve by using a MIDI cable instead of USB - better latency, too. Totally worth the money!