DIY'd a ghetto fix for the horrendous pads on the #MPC500: black electrical tape. Took about 4 to 4½ inches of it and folded it over itself 5 times (sticky side in) to make a littlw black rectangle, and popped one of those under each pad.

Night and day. The 5 layers was a guess, but it was a good one. They feel surprisingly like the pads on a classic MPC. Super responsive, and the velocity sensitivity feels far more natural.

The outer edges and corners of the pads still sorta "squish" like they did before, but I wouldn't notice it if I wasn't looking for it.

Coming from previously owning an #MPC2000, I honestly don't know how Akai let the 500 and 1000 out the door with these pads. It's actually embarrassing, and I can only hope the more recent ones have moved on from this squishy hollow "button" action.

I was ready to sell this thing within 24 hours of getting it, but this turned out so surpisingly well, I think this will be the beginning of a beautiful friendship...

#akai #mpc #drummachine #groovebox #sampler #sampling