The LPD8 laptop pad controller is a USB (Universal Serial Bus)-MIDI controller for musicians, producers, DJs & other music creators. It measures less than 13 inches across & weighs less than a pound to easily fit into a laptop case, backpack or messenger bag for extreme portability. The LPD8 is based on Akai Professionals MPC line of iconic music production stations. Producers who love the feel of the MPC & want to work with software on their computer will find that the LPD8 gives their laptop the controls they prefer over a mouse & keyboard. The LPD8 has eight orange light-up pads that are velocity sensitive for programming rhythmic or melodic parts. The pads can also send program-change information to software. in addition, the LPD8 has eight assignable Q-Link knobs you can assign to virtually any parameters in their software for hands-on control. The LPD8 works plug & play with Mac & PC & requires no software driver installation or wall power for operation. It has four memory banks for programming & recalling settings appropriate to different software programs you use.