Was recently given Akai LPD8(new), Does anyone know if compatible with Studio Instruments?

short answer is yes... much like my novation launchpad sends midi notes

BUT you might have to assign it they keys for the pads , by it's own software.

record to a BLANK midi channel using the akai for midi.. it's just so you know where the notes are assigned.

that'll tell you what the pads are.. note wise

the first pad should be 35 / 36 for bass/kick drum normally .. if you notice it's say 12 higher... 2 choices.. adjust your akai's settings.. or go global options and set base octave to -1..

I don't have SI.. but I'm assuming the drum bit has a lot in common with session drummer.

the right click thing.. you might have midi learn? then you can hit the pads...

OR / AND also you might be able to setup the unit to use ACT.. assuming GT4 has that (I don't own that product)

does it list the cc# number when you mouse over? those are the numbers you need to set in your akai's editor software.. or just train it using ACT
I notice they have dials.. if SI has volume controls for each drum, either set it to do midi learn OR setup via ACT..

I'm having to speak "generally" but a lot of products share common factors.

well you need to setup the controller.. then the ACT thing itself and train it...

or you probably can just use midi notes and CC's.. when you start up SI... when you have the3 interface up for the drums , can you right click on the volume things? and do midi learn?

with the pattern start / stop things , it's different keys.. the first octave IRC..  so you should be able to assign the pads to that... as normally they are defined / setup for the single drum hits and not start/stop pattens..

have you seen Robin's video about SI drums?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UquKaN5Ruio

if you press f1 , you get help up? maybe it list's the CC's you need to assign to the akai?

well you got the akai from a "real" shop? maybe they can show you in the shop how to set it up ?

as all the pads are , is midi notes..  in the right corner where the clock is , you get midi showing that it's triggering right? and when you just record a midi track... it plays notes??? if you go into the PRV (piano roll)... and mouse over the notes...

does the first pad , lower or up give you a value of say 35 or 36? maybe c0 or c1 if it's 12 higher.. go into your global options and set ya base octave to -1 ... and it should revert to 36 and be able to trigger..

if your triggering 2 notes..hhm thats odd.

http://www.youtube.com/wa...tw&feature=related

the note for the kick is normally C0.. to start you off.. try that with 1 pad on the left.. if that doesn't work.. try setting it to c1...

you have set the akai as the input to SD also?!?! the key is the editor that page shows.. if you can set it up for standard midi drums it SHOULD map OK to Session drummer etc.

I just had a quick look in SD3.. so when you click on say the kick/bass drum.. it'll say "note 35.. and 36" right?? that "note" is

http://tomscarff.110mb.co...umbers_for_octaves.htm

so in the akai software you set the pad to c1... OR c0.. it depends on what "middle C" to akai is ..as it can be 1 octave higher or lower.

are you sure you also have it ticked in the midi section and selected as the input to trigger the drums?

the key is your akai editor software though.. to set it up.. and yep maybe your friend would know the score better..

patience is really needed, with these things.. failing that, coming back to it with a fresh mind. the SD and SI , drum bits are probably sharing some of the same code.. so aren't so different.

you might find once you get it sorted it was something really straight forward.. thats always the way.

I was tempted to get one of them pads myself still.. I bought a launchpad by novation, but that doesn't have the velocity thing which the akai thing does.

well regardless of what hardware / sequencer it is.. here's what I normally do

check the website for the latest version of the software (cd one is normally old)

install WITHOUT the device plugged in, unless it implicitly asks for it...

reboot with said device in... should say "found.. installing" and when AOK then I run sonar.

go into the midi setup section in sonar.. should be listed... tick it

have a midi track, but have the akai as the input... arm / record it.. and you should get midi notes drawn from the pads..

if you scroll over the notes you should see the key + note number..

as you said yaself the SI drums show the note numbers.. e..g. 36 = c1/c2 (depending if your using c3 as "middle" C)

I think , make a list of all the SI numbers.. go into the akai editor.. and put them in.. I'm not sure IF the lite version of sonar has / supports drum maps.. again that might be a route to take

but the first thing , is well make sure you got it installed + functionality of some sort..

Must be a problem with editor from Akai, I got the Midi info from help within SI drums, gave all the numbers and notes, for each drum. I put them in the editor and try to save them, not sure where I'm supposed to save them but Ive tried everywhere, and it just reverts back to the same 8 sounds I get. Editor starts me out in C#3, and 61, no way of changing this, so I tried to compensate with that nothing, I give up!

I've tried it all, Midi to 10 countless changes to pads, and every combination of upload/commit I quit! Think I just got a bad set, will find out tomorrow, S2 is on sale for 149.99 from Toontracks, and I know the Korg Nano Pad comes with the Lite E-z Drummer software, so I might just swap out, still under my 14 day warranty, Korg has a XY pad too,so, we'll see. Like I said I'm taking my laptop with me, gonna make them install it, and see how it does, I live 60 miles from the place I purchased it, and I forgot to mention, when I got home the first night with it, no USB cable, so had to go back and get it, should have been enough of a hint right there,lol! Have called twice with no return calls, so I'm a little more than frustrated, but thank you so much, most people dont care much about the little man, I appreciate it! Will let ya know, soon as I'm up and "drummin'"

Said srew it, just got back with Alesis SR-16, it makes sounds(woohoo), but seriously, I thank you for helping me out, now, I can bug everyone about how this works! Just kidding, maybe, but I couldn't take it anymore! So far having fun, but have not plugged it in to laptop yet, was given M-Audio Midisport UNO from dealer, and was told, "should have no problems with DAWS" So until I hook it up, I just wanted to thank you again for hanging in there with me!