Korg MPS-10 Drum Pad: Ultimate Tool for Drummers and Producers

Korg has been on the warpath recently, releasing a raft of new products including the Keystage MIDI keyboard and Kaoss Replay dynamic sampler. Their newest release comes in the form of a drum sampler pad called the MPS-10. This is a new direction for Korg but they have brought some fresh ideas to this tried and true concept with the MPS-10.

One of the key differences is that the top 4 ‘strip’ pads can also send MIDI CC data to the built in effects on the MPS-10. What this means is you can use those pads not only to play sounds but to also change the parameters of these built in effects. For example, you can assign a filter to the strip pads and as you work your way along those pads the filter will open or close, depending on the direction. This also works incrementally – hitting different parts of the same strip pad will change the parameters of the effect, it isn’t just one value per pad. This makes the CC capability far more natural and dynamic.

It also has 4 loop ‘lanes’ which can be overdubbed, even between different kits and BPMs. This opens the MPS-10 up to some wild songbuilding capabilities such as polyrhythms and genre bending. Entire songs can be built and performed using the 4 loop lanes which makes the MPS-10 a great tool for live performing.

In terms of layout there isn’t much difference between the MPS-10 and the other drum pads. There are 6 large pads with the 4 narrow, ‘strip’ pads raised across the top. There are multiple ins and outs, a USB interface and data capabilities (for loading your own samples) and a nice bright LCD screen to get around the kits, sounds and effects.

I also found the pads to be very durable and responsive, an important element in any drum related instrument as they usually get put through the ringer far more than a keyboard or guitar. I went to town on the MPS-10 and it ate my hits up and was hungry for more, with no marks or visible wear on the pads. The pads were able to keep up with my double strokes, flam triplets and other rapid rudiments with ease.

Korg have (in my opinion) come out with a winner with the MPS-10, whether you’re looking for something to spice up your drums during live performances or a new bit of kit to compliment your synths in the studio.