Musikmesse 2013: Nektar has introduced the Impact LX49, the first in a new range of Nektar USB controller keyboards, designed to be affordable but full-featured.

Based on the technology developed for the higher end Nektar Panorama series, Impact comes pre-mapped and configured. Just like Panorama, which features multiple modes for main control navigation, Impact LX49 allows the user to switch between Mixer, Instrument and Preset modes. Presets include 5 memory locations for users to store their own setups. Navigation options include track change, patch change and a Plug-in button that opens or closes the currently controlled plug-in window on the computer display.

Impact LX49 also features 8 velocity sensitive pads that also can be used as MIDI buttons. A pad learn function enables pad presets to be programmed quickly by just pressing the target note on the keyboard. Four pad memory locations store pad settings for later recall, completely independent of the preset settings.

Here are the details. 

Features:

• 49 note full-size, velocity sensitive keyboard.
• 4 keyboard velocity curve options.
• Pitch bend and modulation wheels.
• 2 Transpose buttons (assignable also to Program, MIDI channel and Preset -/+).
• 2 Octave Shift buttons (assignable also to Program, MIDI channel and Preset -/+).
• 8 velocity-sensitive trigger pads.
• 3 Digit LED display.
• 8 Function buttons .
• 9 30mm control faders.
• 8 control pots.
• 9 control buttons.
• 6 transport buttons for cycle, rewind, forward, stop, play, record.
• 5 preset memory locations.
• 4 Pad memory locations.
• USB port.
• Sustain foot switch jack (pedal not included).
• Supports Standard DAWs right out of the box (installation required): Reason, Logic, Cubase, Nuendo, Garageband, Sonar, Bitwig, Reaper.

Nektar Impact LX49 will be available in Q3 2013 at an RRP of $159.99 USD / 129.99 EUR / £109.99 GBP in stores worldwide. 25 and 61 note versions are planned for release in late 2013.