Anyone wish to comment on the feel of the pads on the Nano Pad in regards to velocity layers.  My Studio Logic 88 key controller is hard to get a dynamic midi drum part out of. 
 
I've tried the pads on the Akai keyboards and the drum controller. I think I have tried the Maudio as well.  I found you had to really pound them for loud notes if you set the sensitivity so that you could get to the lower velocity layers in Superior Drummer. 
 
Also, can you program the pads for different notes?
 
Thanks.

I have the NanoPad 8. Love it, useful.

Hey Dave. I have the Korg padkontrol and never use it. I've just been playing drums on a keyboard for so long I guess that it's just easier. Also, For me, there are a lot of learning curves I don't want to deal with either. (I still haven't got past  having only 16 pads and how and where to assign sounds to them)
 
To answer your question though, the velocity sensitivity seems fine as far as the machine goes. It might be a different matter for what you are accustomed to if you're used to keyboard drum programming.

Drum programming on a weighted keyboard always bugged me. I was never truly able to do fast enough hi hat programming so I went to pads or synth action keyboards.

timidi
Hey Dave. I have the Korg padkontrol and never use it. I've just been playing drums on a keyboard for so long I guess that it's just easier. Also, For me, there are a lot of learning curves I don't want to deal with either. (I still haven't got past  having only 16 pads and how and where to assign sounds to them)
 
To answer your question though, the velocity sensitivity seems fine as far as the machine goes. It might be a different matter for what you are accustomed to if you're used to keyboard drum programming.

There's more to it for the interest in the NanoPad.  I have this narrow strip of empty real estate on my mix desk that it might fit in nicely.

Hi Dave,
 
I purchased the original Nanopad when they first came out. IIRC you can program them for different notes or CC#s. The velocity sensitivity was just as good as most midi keyboards and I believe? you could use the editor to also define the range of the velocity. For the size and price it would be hard to find anything like it.
 
The only problem I had is that the pads are kinda cheap gel/rubber material and they will take a form. I made the mistake of putting mine in the box and storing it with an old Sonar manual on top of it for a few months. When I removed it to use again the pads did not work very well. I was able to search the net on how to repair the pads and it did work. I really had no idea they would take a set like they did.
 
Long story short, The NanoPad does work for its intended purpose, its small, and it is cheap/inexpensive. If you have not used any of the Nano series the driver setup is a little weird for a 64bit install but you only have to go through it once. (actually, you need to load the drivers twice. :)
 
I still use the NanoKontrol frequently to control Omnisphere, the NanoPad rarely, and I wouldn't recommend the NanoKey to anyone.
 
Kind regards,
Rick

Rick,
 
I considered the NanoKey as well because I figured for tappity, tappity, tap, tap, tap things it would work like the NanoPad.  But I figured that you couldn't change the note sent out on each key.  I like to group pads in odd arrangements that make it easier to play over different sample sets.

Yup, you can't change the note number on the NanoKey. You can put it into CC# mode and change the CC# per key but not sure what good that would do for your application. About the only thing you could do is create your own drum maps or custom kits... 
 
I just pulled out the NanoKey and tried it with EZdrummer running in Solo and I lack the ability to control the velocity very well. If that was my drum contoller I would be doing a Lot of editing....
 
Just verified that you Can change the note number with the NanoPad. In fact, you can have each pad play up to 8 notes at the same time. Perfect for anyone wanting to play a 60's type Heroin induced drum solo... 
 
Hope this helps some but they are just my opinions. Too bad you can't try one out before you buy.
 
Kind regards,
Rick 

My NanoPad has been plug and play since I got it. Works well on Mac, PC running 32 and 64 bit.

I've found a good quality, semi-weighted keyboard works best for expressive "finger drumming". Not big on most controller keyboards these days for their action and feel, but some of the older synths from years gone by have excellent keyboards on them for keyboard drumming.