Best Finger Drumming Pad Controllers: 5 Fun MIDI Controllers Under $500
Top pads from Native Instruments, Nektar, Novation and more.
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Let your digits dance with these best finger drumming pad controllers – for not much money.
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Best Finger Drumming Pad Controllers
When Roger Linn developed the Akai MPC60 back in 1988, he likely didn’t intend to help create a new form of musical expression. But thanks to the MPC’s now famous 4 x 4 grid of drum pads, forward-thinking musicians would soon exploit this layout for a new way to play beats: finger drumming.
What started as a quick and convenient way to input beats has blossomed into its own art form, with not just producers but live performers doing incredible things with just their digits. As finger drumming techniques have evolved, so too have the instruments and controllers, with many now specifically targeting finger drummers with ultra-responsive pads and layouts that work well in live situations.
For the finger drummer on a budget or for someone looking to get into the art without dropping a lot of cash, here are our picks for the five best finger drumming pad controllers. Note that these are all MIDI controllers, not standalone instruments, so you’ll also need a computer, DAW and some kind of drum software to go along with it.
Fingers at the ready? Let’s get into it.
Best Finger Drumming Pad Controllers: ESI Xjam
ESI’s Xjam is a 4 x 4 MIDI controller that connects via USB-C. ESI developed it specifically for finger drummers, beat makers and DJs, so it has pads that are surprisingly responsive for the price – they even have polyphonic aftertouch. The body of the unit is made from aluminum as well, helping it feel more substantial than most budget controllers.
Along with the 16 multi-color pads, the Xjam sports six endless encoders, 48 user-programmable scene presets and TRS 3.5mm MIDI out.
Although not perfect, it’s a great product for the price and a solid entry-level controller. Dare we say it’s the best finger drummer pad controller for the budget-conscious?
- ESI Xjam product page
Best Finger Drumming Pad Controllers: Native Instruments Maschine Mikro Mk3
Native Instruments’ Maschine devices have been straddling the line between controller and instrument for 15 years now. They’re also incredibly popular with finger drummers given how wonderfully sensitive the pads are.
If you’re working within a budget and don’t need all the bells and whistles of the full Maschine Mk3 (audio interface) or Maschine+ (standalone), Maschine Mikro Mk3 makes a great compromise. You still get those amazing pads plus a number of other nice features, like transport and function buttons plus the Smart Strip for additional expression. Of course, you also get the included Maschine software. However, you’re not confined to it as Maschine Mikro Mk3 can function as a regular MIDI controller.
Finger drummer The Quest For Groove calls Maschine Mikro Mk3 the best value for money. We’d have to agree, making it one of the best finger drummer pad controllers around.
- Native Instruments Maschine Mikro Mk3 product page
Best Finger Drumming Pad Controllers: Nektar Aruba
Nektar doesn’t get as much attention as it deserves. The controller company offers a variety of solid and affordable options, including Aruba, which has claimed a number of fans in the finger drumming community.
Originally called Aura, Aruba looks a lot like Maschine. It’s a 4 x 4 controller that interfaces with a beat-making plugin hosted in your DAW. It offers a bit more than that, including a drum machine-style step sequencer right on the hardware, a repeat engine and a colorful display. The software, called Nektarine, is fairly robust, offering sample playback, mixing and effects, even drum synthesis. It’s like a full-sized Maschine but for a lot less money.
Of course, we wouldn’t be talking about it here if it didn’t have it where it counts: in the pads. Thankfully we can say that Aruba’s RGB pads are some of the best, with many finger drummers swearing by their responsiveness.
If you’re already deep into Maschine, Aruba probably won’t steal you away. But if you’re looking for a Machine-like experience for a lot less money, maybe it’s time to take a trip down to Aruba.
- Nektar Aruba product page
Best Finger Drumming Pad Controllers: Novation Launchpad Pro MK3
Sometimes 16 pads feels, well, stingy. Imagine if you had 64 pads to work with. If you’re an Ableton Live or Logic Pro user and you want an 8 x 8 MIDI controller for not just finger drumming but also clip launching, check out the Novation Launchpad Pro MK3.
Novation’s top grid controller, Launchpad Pro MK3 allows you to launch clips and scenes, access mixer, device and transport controls, sequence beats – yes, there’s an onboard four-track, 32-step sequencer – plus quantize, duplicate and double. There’s also MIDI in, out and thru. It’s a powerful controller, for sure.
It’s also tops for finger drumming. The RGB pads themselves are “super sensitive” in Novation’s words and generally preferred over Novation’s Launchpad X, which may be more affordable but doesn’t have the same feel.
It may be overkill for the casual finger drummer, but for the Live or Logic superuser who also bashes out the beats two-handed, it could be the best finger drummer controller for you.
- Novation Launchpad Pro MK3 product page
Best Finger Drumming Pad Controllers: DJ Techtools Midi Fighter Spectra
This one’s a little different. remember that song “Marble Soda” from finger drummer Shawn Wasabi? The video shows him going crazy on a 64-pad box full of arcade-style buttons. That’s a Midi Fighter.
Rather than use rubber MPC-style pads, the Midi Fighter devices from DJ Techtools employ arcade buttons. And not just any old arcade button, but spring-loaded Sanwa arcade buttons from Japan. That means that you don’t need velocity sensitivity as the spring handles all that for you. In fact, DJ Techtools claims the buttons are expressive enough for triplets and drum rolls. The company also touts the buttons’ musicality: “With 10mm of musical travel and a clear audible feedback when pressed, this button plays like an instrument should.”
While the Midi Fighter 64 that Shawn Wasabi helped develop is available from the DJ Techtools online store https://store.djtechtools.com/products/midi-fighter-64, the one that fits our stated budget is the Midi Fighter Spectra. With its 4 x 4 array of buttons, it’s the best finger drumming pad controller for arcade action playing.
- DJ Techtools Midi Fighter Spectra product page
More Information
- Quest for Groove home page
- All about MIDI controllers
- All about drumming
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2 responses to “Best Finger Drumming Pad Controllers: 5 Fun MIDI Controllers Under $500”
Nice Roundup, but the omission of either of the Yamaha finger drum boxes is telling.
Nice Roundup, but the omission of either of the Yamaha finger drum boxes is telling.