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Nektar Impact LX 61+ 61-Key USB MIDI Keyboard Controller

4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 699 ratings

Controller
Brand Nektar
Number of Keys 61
Connectivity Technology USB
Special Feature Nektar DAW integration for most popular DAWs
Model Name Impact LX+

About this item

  • Powerful Control Center: Impact LX61+ features 26 programmable real-time controls: 9 x 30 mm faders, 9 x MIDI buttons and 8x potentiometers. Each control is fully programmable to send unique MIDI messages and can be stored in any of the 5 user presets
  • Pads For Beats and Grooves: The 8 pads are great to play. Dynamic and sensitive, they are ideally suited for finger drumming. Assign sounds or MIDI notes to the pads is quick and easy with Impact's unique Pad Learn feature: Activate, just hit a pad to select, and press a key on the keyboard to assign the MIDI note
  • Nektar DAW Integration: Nektar DAW Integration takes Impact LX+ way beyond the functionality normally offered by USB MIDI controller keyboards: Give the mouse or trackpad a break and navigate projects, control the mixer or tweak plugins directly from Impact LX+
  • Transport and Navigation: Navigate your projects: The 6 dedicated transport buttons are always within reach and mapped to control Cycle, Rewind, Forward, Stop, Play and Record. Dedicated Track up/down and Patch up/down buttons are located below the display
  • Mixer Control: Press Mixer and the first 8 Impact LX+ faders are assigned to control 8 DAW mixer channels. The alternate Bank up/down function moves assignments to the next or previous group of 8 channels. Channel mute and solo can be controlled from the buttons under the faders. Pan for the selected group of 8 channels is handled by the 8 pots. Fader 9 adjusts volume for the currently selected mixer channel as well as master volume

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Nektar Impact LX 61+ 61-Key USB MIDI Keyboard Controller


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Product guides and documents

What's in the box

  • Impact LX61+ Keyboard
  • USB Cable
  • Owner's Manual and 6ft USB cable
  • Bitwig Studio 8-Track Licence card
  • 5 Cherry Audio full version plugins
  • Product Description

    The Impact LX61+ MIDI controller keyboard delivers unrivalled control, features and options that make it fun to create music and easy to set up. It works with any computer music application as well as offering comprehensive smart controller functionality, not even available on many premium products. With this instrument you are ready to make music in seconds: Plug in the included MIDI cable and let your Windows, OSX or iOS operating system take care of the rest.


    From the manufacturer

    LX61+ Header

    NEKTAR IMPACT LX61+ : TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR DAW AND VIRTUAL INSTRUMENTS!

    The Impact LX61+ MIDI controller keyboard delivers unrivalled control, features and options that make it fun to create music and easy to set up. It works with any computer music application as well as offering comprehensive smart controller functionality, not even available on many premium products. With this instrument you are ready to make music in seconds: Plug in the included MIDI cable and let your Windows, OSX or iOS operating system take care of the rest.

    What's more, Impact LX+ hooks up automatically to your DAW: The included Nektar DAW Integration software turns Impact controllers into fully configured remote controls for 11 popular DAWs. Take control of mixer functions, tweak virtual instruments and navigate your projects. With Impact LX+ the hard work is done, so you can focus on your creativity!

    • 61 note velocity sensitive full-size keyboard
    • Works with all MIDI music applications
    • 26 fully programmable realtime controls, 5 user presets
    • Smart controller functionality with Nektar DAW Integration for 11 DAWs
    • Connect via USB to Windows, OSX, Linux (Ubuntu) or Apple iOS devices (iOS req. camera connection kit)

    LX61+ keyboard

    LX61+ powerful control center

    LX61+ PADS FOR BEATS & GROOVES

    KEYBOARD

    The Impact LX+ has a 61 note, full-size velocity sensitive keyboardand lets you choose between 4 velocity curves that cater for different playing styles including a soft and hard touch. Dynamic and expressive, it is calibrated for all styles of music.

    Dedicated buttons for octave and transpose buttons as well as pitch bend & modulation wheels are within reach, so you can quickly shift the keyboard or apply additional articulation as needed. Better still, the 4 buttons can be assigned to control additional functions such as Global MIDI channel, MIDI program or LX+ user preset select.

    POWERFUL CONTROL CENTER

    Impact LX61+ features 26 programmable real-time controls: 9x 30mm faders, 9x MIDI buttons and 8x potentiometers. Each control is fully programmable to send unique MIDI messages and can be stored in any of the 5 user presets. So you can control up to 5 different devices and switch between them seamlessly, in addition to DAW integration. If you switch "Null" on, any parameter values are stored when you change presets so you avoid parameter jumping.

    Used with Nektar DAW integration, the control options increase substantially, providing flexible pre-mapped DAW control giving you the best of both worlds.

    PADS FOR BEATS & GROOVES

    The 8 pads are great to play. Dynamic and sensitive, they are ideally suited for finger drumming. Assign sounds or MIDI notes to the pads is quick and easy with Impact's unique “Pad Learn“ feature: Activate, just hit a pad to select, and press a key on the keyboard to assign the MIDI note. Done!

    You can save your setups in 4 Pad Maps for recall at any time. With Nektar DAW Integration active, the pads are automatically mapped in Reason or Bitwig for instance and provide a true drum machine feeling, including visual feedback using the pads' colors.

    DAW INTEGRATION

    Nektar DAW Integration takes Impact LX+ way beyond the functionality normally offered by USB MIDI controller keyboards: Give the mouse or trackpad a break and navigate projects, control the mixer or tweak plugins directly from Impact LX+. To help you make the most out of your screen real estate, LX+ also has shortcuts for opening and closing your DAW's mixer window. And the best is, that there is no complicated setup or programming: Our powerful pre-configured setups take care of mapping everything for you. DAW internal devices are pre-mapped, and factory maps for many popular 3rd party instrument plugins are also included. Simply install and start making music!

    DAW INTEGRATION SUPPORTS:

    Bitwig, Cubase, Digital Performer, FL Studio, GarageBand, Logic, Nuendo, Reason, Reaper, Sonar & Studio One.

    TRANSPORT & NAVIGATION

    MIXER CONTROL

    INSTRUMENT CONTROL

    TRANSPORT & NAVIGATION

    Navigate your projects: The 6 dedicated transport buttons are always within reach and mapped to control Cycle, Rewind, Forward, Stop, Play and Record.

    Dedicated Track up/down and Patch up/down buttons are located below the display.

    Press "Shift" to get access to alternate functions such as Goto L, Set L, Set R, Undo, Click and Mode (implementation details depend on the DAW).

    MIXER CONTROL

    Press "Mixer" and the first 8 Impact LX+ faders are assigned to control 8 DAW mixer channels. The alternate Bank up/down function moves assignments to the next or previous group of 8 channels.

    Channel mute and solo can be controlled from the buttons under the faders. Pan for the selected group of 8 channels is handled by the 8 pots. Fader 9 adjusts volume for the currently selected mixer channel as well as master volume.

    There are even shortcuts to open and close your DAW's mixer windowfrom Impact LX+, so you can make the most out of your screen real estate and instantly see what's going on.

    INSTRUMENT CONTROL

    In "Instrument" mode, you can control virtual instrumentsdirectly from the hardware. Nektar mapping takes care of assignments automatically. Many DAW devices and plugins are pre-mapped to match the screened blue control labels, so you can start tweaking right away. The knobs are assigned to typical oscillator and filter parameters, and the faders let you tweak amp and filter ADSR envelopes. In many DAWs, the Page button gives access to a second page of knob assignments.

    Nektar "Grab" lets you assign parameters to controls instantly: Simply hold "Shift" while moving the instrument parameters you want to control, followed by moving the knob, button or fader you want them assigned to. Done! Some DAWs even support saving grabbed parameters to a Nektar map for future use.

    LX25+ VERTICAL LX49+ VERTICAL LX61+ VERTICAL LX88+ VERTICAL
    Impact LX25+ Impact LX49+ Impact LX61+ Impact LX88+
    Customer Reviews
    4.5 out of 5 stars
    1,488
    4.5 out of 5 stars
    902
    4.4 out of 5 stars
    699
    4.4 out of 5 stars
    413
    Price $119.99 $179.99
    Keyboard (Velocity Sensitive) 25, synth action 49, synth action 61, synth action 88, semi-weighted, 3 zones
    Pitch Bend / Mod Wheel
    Octave Shift / Transpose Yes / Yes Yes / Yes Yes / Yes - / Yes
    LED Pads (Velocity Sensitive) 8 8 8 8
    Knobs (potentiometers) 8 8 8 8
    Faders 1 9 9 9
    Transport Controls / Buttons (Assignable) Yes / - Yes / 9 Yes / 9 Yes / 9, illuminated
    Foot Switch Connector / MIDI Out Yes / - Yes / - Yes / - Yes / Yes
    USB Bus-Powered / PSU Connector Yes / - Yes / - Yes / - Yes / Yes
    Nektar DAW Integration & PlugIn Control

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    Price$149.99$219.00$269.00
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    Get it as soon as Wednesday, Sep 18
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    AudioDeluxe
    number of keys
    61
    49
    61
    61
    hardware interface
    usb
    usb
    usb
    usb
    connectivity tech
    USB
    USB, MIDI
    USB
    USB
    model year
    2016
    2021
    2023
    2023

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    Customer reviews

    4.4 out of 5 stars
    699 global ratings

    Customers say

    Customers like the quality, functionality, and value for money of the audio MIDI controller. They mention the keys feel great, everything works superbly, and it integrates well with Logic Pro. Some say the documentation is pretty straightforward, and the product is easy to set up and use for beginners. However, some customers dislike the sturdiness and have mixed opinions on the build quality.

    AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

    18 customers mention "Keyboard quality"14 positive4 negative

    Customers like the keyboard quality of the audio MIDI controller. They mention the keys feel great, are expressive enough, and touch sensitive. Some say the keys are basic and a tiny bit wobbly, but never cause problems. Overall, most are satisfied with the quality and comfort of the product.

    "...Keys feel great, 61 keys is the right range of octaves for most music, and the overall build quality is pretty fantastic. I couldn't be happier!" Read more

    "...The keys are expressive enough for me to play what I want, if they were a bit more weighted it would be perfect...." Read more

    "...The keys on this are pretty basic, a tiny bit wobbly, but never cause problems when playing...." Read more

    "...That being said - it is a great keyboard (for the price range). Keys have a decent weight to them and are easy to play...." Read more

    13 customers mention "Functionality"13 positive0 negative

    Customers are satisfied with the functionality of the audio MIDI controller. They mention it works superbly, has great response and sensitivity, and integrates very well with Logic Pro. Some say the keyboard feels cheap, but for $200 bucks, it never causes problems when playing.

    "...I use this pretty much only with Reason. Everything works superbly. I'm a percussionist primarily, and the pads on this keyboard are awesome...." Read more

    "...keys on this are pretty basic, a tiny bit wobbly, but never cause problems when playing...." Read more

    "...better (the knobs and whatnot feel kind of cheap) but functionally everything works great...." Read more

    "...It integrates very well with Logic Pro although the keyboard feels cheap, but for $200 bucks...it does the job withoutbreaking the bank." Read more

    9 customers mention "Value for money"9 positive0 negative

    Customers appreciate the value for money of the audio MIDI controller. They say it's a nice buy and a great product.

    "Great product, plug and play, my DAW immediately recognized it!..." Read more

    "The product is fine for the price, however it's not the same keybed as found in the LX88+ and so feels quite cheap/spongy to play...." Read more

    "...IMO - best MIDI controller for under $200, and nicer than some more expensive ones...." Read more

    "Nice and priced right. the Keys feel great and so far customer service has been prompt to answer and questions and concerns...." Read more

    7 customers mention "Ease of use"7 positive0 negative

    Customers find the audio MIDI controller easy to set up and use. They mention it's easy for beginners, the documentation is pretty straightforward, and it'll plug and play with no installation required. Customers also appreciate the good DAW integration, fully customizable controls, and a ton of features.

    "...Fully customizable controls within (Logic Pro X) I actually like to control the drawbar settings within my organ plugin as well...." Read more

    "...The documentation is pretty straight forward, and I'm pretty confident I'll get the more advanced stuff sorted out when I need to...." Read more

    "...It has a ton of features that I don't even really need, but could be useful to lots of people. The pots and knobs are pretty decent quality...." Read more

    "This thing is unbelievably easy to set up and use...." Read more

    13 customers mention "Build quality"9 positive4 negative

    Customers have mixed opinions about the build quality of the audio midi controller. Some mention it's well-designed and stable, while others say it'd be better if the knobs and other parts were made of better quality.

    "...the right range of octaves for most music, and the overall build quality is pretty fantastic. I couldn't be happier!" Read more

    "...I really really love the blocky simplistic retro style, it reminds me of some older Casio or Yamaha keyboards from growing up...." Read more

    "...Build quality could be better (the knobs and whatnot feel kind of cheap) but functionally everything works great...." Read more

    "Let’s are well designed and more stable than some other keyboards in this price range. I like it." Read more

    4 customers mention "Sturdiness"0 positive4 negative

    Customers are dissatisfied with the sturdiness of the audio MIDI controller. They mention it came damaged, with the side flap torn and the main volume slider completely broken.

    "...the 2nd one i received today via fedex is torn by the side flap and when i inspected the keyboard it had minor smudges on the keys and the body..." Read more

    "...Also, the main volume slider is completely broken. Anything past a tweak of 100 and it resets to 0...." Read more

    "The product came damaged I should have listened to the review that stated that they sell defective keyboard." Read more

    "Yet to operate the product - Received as damaged! verily disappointed." Read more

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    Top reviews from the United States

    Reviewed in the United States on January 13, 2024
    Pattern Name: ControllerVerified Purchase
    Great product, plug and play, my DAW immediately recognized it! Fully customizable controls within (Logic Pro X) I actually like to control the drawbar settings within my organ plugin as well. I have both 49key and 61key of this unit. Amazing
    Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2019
    Pattern Name: ControllerVerified Purchase
    I did not experience the seller trying to pawn off a used keyboard, so hopefully those days are behind them. I got everything up and running with my DAW (Sonar/Cakewalk) with no problem. There are still some details I have to work out, but that's just because I haven't put in the time to get everything working. The documentation is pretty straight forward, and I'm pretty confident I'll get the more advanced stuff sorted out when I need to.

    Keys feel great, 61 keys is the right range of octaves for most music, and the overall build quality is pretty fantastic. I couldn't be happier!
    2 people found this helpful
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    Reviewed in the United States on March 11, 2019
    Pattern Name: ControllerVerified Purchase
    I purchased this to replace my trusty old Roland JV-30 which finally gave out on me after many happy years. I use this pretty much only with Reason. Everything works superbly. I'm a percussionist primarily, and the pads on this keyboard are awesome. Great response and sensitivity. Sequencing realistic-feel-sounding drums , specifically cymbals and hats are a blast with it. The pitch bender is awesome and really lets you inflect some style into your sounds. The keys are expressive enough for me to play what I want, if they were a bit more weighted it would be perfect. Overall I would suggest anyone in need to pick this one up. It's also not very heavy which is a plus for anyone on the go.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
    Reviewed in the United States on February 22, 2019
    Pattern Name: ControllerVerified Purchase
    I make music for fun, not for money, so this is perfect for me. I have used real pianos, cheap synths, and everything in between. The keys on this are pretty basic, a tiny bit wobbly, but never cause problems when playing. It has a ton of features that I don't even really need, but could be useful to lots of people. The pots and knobs are pretty decent quality. I really really love the blocky simplistic retro style, it reminds me of some older Casio or Yamaha keyboards from growing up. It was super easy to set up for FL Studio 12 and 20, Kontakt, and overall makes playing music a lot more fun.

    I could see this not being "good enough" for someone who was a producer or anyone who prefers the feel of weighted keys. Still, if all you do is music for fun, this is great.
    5 people found this helpful
    Report
    Reviewed in the United States on March 3, 2018
    Pattern Name: ControllerVerified Purchase
    update 4/23 : for the 3rd time i was sent a used keyboard (unless this is an issue with alot of their boards)...i even think it might be the one i received first because the first b key feels the same way...like a rusty scratchy feel with minor noise...its a very minor issue that just annoys me but it doesnt affect the keyboards functionality and im sick of the return process...i purchased insurance so im gonna just settle with this one unless for some reason it becomes non functional in any way

    Update: i gave this 1 star but i cant fault the product because the distributor sent me something that was already opened and soiled by someone else...this controller is great so im giving it five stars because i dont want the rating to drop but i might get a refund and purchase from amazon but from a different distributor...i hate the back and forth so much that a small part of me is considering keeping this thing smh

    i love the keyboard but the 2 they've sent so far appear to be used...the first keyboard both the amazon box and the product packaging had a hole and the 2nd d key was noticeably loud when compared to the others when struck, it would come and go. i dont know if it was due to what had punctured the box...

    the 2nd one i received today via fedex is torn by the side flap and when i inspected the keyboard it had minor smudges on the keys and the body under some of the knobs...after running through the keys i noticed the 2nd c note was noticeably louder, 2nd f note bottomed out easily...i havent even plugged it in yet...i love this keyboard but im disappointed that i cant get a new 1 like what i am paying for...i feel so defeated that i might just plug it in and just accept these faults...why shuffle used open items around as new after they've been returned? at least do a decent inspection of the product to see IF IT ATLEAST HAS STAINS...I DONT EVEN WANNA THINK ABOUT WHAT THOSE STAINS COULD BE.
    stuff like this never happens when i purchase gear at a brick n mortar store like guitar center or B&H because u can see the product b4 u leave...im sad but if i lived in west bubble duck with no option of actual stores for Miles id be depressed...im wondering if third times gonna be a charm or should i just get a refund
    3 people found this helpful
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    Reviewed in the United States on September 9, 2023
    Pattern Name: ControllerVerified Purchase
    The product is fine for the price, however it's not the same keybed as found in the LX88+ and so feels quite cheap/spongy to play.
    I'm waiting for the seller (ProSoundGear-Com) to re-fund me the hidden restock fee that was not mentioned when I made the return ($37.50 restock out of 149.99 is huge considering I also had to pay for the shipment).
    The item was returned the same day I received it, no damage, same items and packaging.
    Reviewed in the United States on November 25, 2023
    Pattern Name: ControllerVerified Purchase
    This Keyboard is great if your first starting off or if your a pro that needs another midi keyboard, The Keyboard is ok it could be better but you get what you pay for, I will say it is a lot better than some of midi keyboards at its price point and even higher, so I definitely Recommend this to anyone looking for a good midi keyboard.
    Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2023
    Pattern Name: ControllerVerified Purchase
    Let’s are well designed and more stable than some other keyboards in this price range. I like it.

    Top reviews from other countries

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    Euh mm
    4.0 out of 5 stars All good
    Reviewed in Belgium on December 10, 2023
    Pattern Name: ControllerVerified Purchase
    Nothing much to say about a perfectly fonctionnel product. The bundle gifted for having purchased it makes the deal even sweeter.
    No 5 stars cuz nothing’s perfect but it’d do it again in a heartbeat.
    Mitch
    5.0 out of 5 stars très satisfait
    Reviewed in France on May 4, 2021
    Pattern Name: ControllerVerified Purchase
    Je suis très satisfait de cet équipement que j'ai facilement intégré à StudioOne. Le rapport qualité/prix est excellent.
    Cliente Amazon
    5.0 out of 5 stars Pienamente soddisfatto.
    Reviewed in Italy on April 17, 2021
    Pattern Name: ControllerVerified Purchase
    E' un midi controller completo e professionale, tastiera non pesata ma solida e funzionale, plastiche di ottima fattura, strumento facile e intuitivo nei comandi (con windows 10 non ha bisogno neanche d'installazione e funziona immediatamente) e con un semplice software scaricabile dal sito si configura perefettamente con cubase. la presenza dell'interruttore on/off mi è risultata una cosa molto gradita. La master keyboard mi è arrivata puntualmente in imballaggio solido e perfettamente integro. Acquisto consigliatissimo anche per i professionisti, il rapporto qualità prezzo credo sia imbattibile.
    Customer image
    Cliente Amazon
    5.0 out of 5 stars Pienamente soddisfatto.
    Reviewed in Italy on April 17, 2021
    E' un midi controller completo e professionale, tastiera non pesata ma solida e funzionale, plastiche di ottima fattura, strumento facile e intuitivo nei comandi (con windows 10 non ha bisogno neanche d'installazione e funziona immediatamente) e con un semplice software scaricabile dal sito si configura perefettamente con cubase. la presenza dell'interruttore on/off mi è risultata una cosa molto gradita. La master keyboard mi è arrivata puntualmente in imballaggio solido e perfettamente integro. Acquisto consigliatissimo anche per i professionisti, il rapporto qualità prezzo credo sia imbattibile.
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    GW
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great keyboard, fantastic DAW integration
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 27, 2021
    Pattern Name: ControllerVerified Purchase
    This is a fantastic keyboard for the price. I wanted it to replace my (broken) M-audio midi keyboard and it does the job perfectly. If you are making electronic music you won't have a problem with how the keys feel. I use Bitwig Studio (my keyboard came with a license for Bitwig 8 track but I already had the full version - the 8 track version is great if you don't have a full DAW yet and just want to mess around) and the DAW integration is fantastic. Quite literally plug and play. It came with instructions on how to install drivers etc but none of that was necessary. Simply open up a drum machine VST in your daw, drag your drum samples into it and the appropriate drum pads will light up and you can start tapping out a beat. Open up the mixer in your daw and the volume sliders on the keyboard will automatically adjust the appropriate channel. It really is that easy. It's all very intuitive and simple to use. Although I use Bitwig mostly I have also tested it with FL studio and it works flawlessly there too. This keyboard has hugely improved my workflow as I can control a lot of the DAW without reaching for the mouse and keyboard.
    Overall 10/10 - great value for money. Does everything I needed and more.

    PS. I gave this 5 stars for thickness as I'm smashing out some thicc basslines. I also gave it 5 stars for Sheerness even though I have no idea what that means in this context :)
    Ken S
    5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect DAW workstation solution for the price
    Reviewed in Canada on October 20, 2019
    Pattern Name: ControllerVerified Purchase
    I bought this controller for use with a home studio using Reaper as my DAW and a 27" iMac. Some people still think that this is a keyboard (generates its own sounds) but it is not - it is a MIDI controller and as requires a Digital Audio Workstation (Reaper, Cubebase, Pro Tools, Garageband, etc.,) with VST instrument plug-ins.

    The fit and finish is great and the features this controller has for the price is very good. The transport controls (play, record, stop, etc) and all the faders mapped immediately to Reaper once the Nektar software was installed. Reaper has a lot of JS/VST controls for MIDI so whatever you can't do with the default controller settings can be expanded with the DAW software. Overall, it does exactly what it is designed to do and for the price it's a great deal for beginner and intermediate home studio recording.

    The action of the sliders, pots, and wheels are all pretty solid and feel like they'll last under normal use. The keyboard itself is of good quality. The key action, however, is quite stiff and it would be difficult to emulate playing a real piano. For synth, pad, bass guitar, drum programming, it's perfect. But for piano, it is a bit challenging for two reasons: the key action is a bit too stiff and the MIDI velocity mapping has only 4 default settings to choose from. I found that when I tried playing my piano VST in Reaper, even when I tried to play really gently, the key strike and resulting sound was a bit louder than expected. Changing to a softer velocity setting helped (there are 4 to choose from) but still not what I was hoping for. When I checked the MIDI velocity map in Reaper during playback, the lowest value coming from the keyboard was 15 (MIDI velocity is 0 - 127). If Nektar offered a user-configured MIDI velocity map and lightened up the action just a bit, it would make a huge difference for piano emulation.

    Overall, for a little over $200, this little controller works great. I've already used it to program drum and bass lines and lay down simple synth and piano tracks within a few minutes after setting it up. The size and features make it perfect for my little home studio and I'd recommend it to anyone who is new to home studio recording using DAW/MIDI music creation.
    3 people found this helpful
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