Over winter I was so unhappy with Akai's lack of support for the MPX-8 (I hear the MPX-16 has similar issues) that I made a "pre-midi" controller.
My main "want" was to be able to change drum kits via MIDI. Akai didn't implement that believe it or not!
Then menu control (via buttons) and addressing the running status issues. The MPX-8 wouldn't work with my yammy V-drums nor my Kawai keyboards!
So it's called "the MIDI Fix". The basic design (inline not internal) fixed the ruunning status issue, and other stuff, and the internal (for me!) does the button control too.
here's the project page
http://www.freshnelly.com/mpx8.htm
cheers fellow MIDI makers!