9 thoughts on “Nektar Impact iX 49, iX 61 Controllers Integrate With 11 DAWs”

1. No Aftertouch / pressure?
   No MIDI CC knobs or sliders?

2. Yeah this is a major snoozefest

3. Everyone has different needs. But this actually looks pretty sweet to me. It’s perfect width to sit between my iMac and the PC keyboard/trackpad. Keyboards with sliders and knobs (which I never end up using anyway), making them too wide. Which makes screen either too far or PC keyboard too close.

   There aren’t many MIDI keyboards with this form factor. Wish we had more choice. Only thing I’d improve on this would be semi-weighted keys and maybe aftertouch. Hope, the quality of the build is good too.

4. Yes, the feature set is not cutting edge, the device is exceptionally dull as a list of features, and no serious wealthy western performer would be seen with such an instrument.

   The news here though is the price. The prices are absurdly low. Ridiculously low. $109 for a large full size keyboard. That is less than it costs me to ship a small package overseas with guaranteed delivery less than a month.

   As such this is an accomplishment.

   No, this keyboard is not for lazy white westerners. This is a basic keyboard that will be of tremendous interest and affordability in the majority of the world outside of the colonialist dominated white sphere of domination.

   And that is a good thing.

5. Build quality has become a real sore spot for me. Its generally a case of either buying a flagship to get decent keys or living with clatter. I tried a lot of options and oddly, the winners were the Samson Carbon and a CME XKey. The former is actually easy to play and the XKey has a 3mm throw that makes soloing a lot easier, both for a mere $100. Each has playable high points. I do a lot on an older Korg workstation that has a sweet feel, but adding those two fills my remaining needs. I’d gladly pay more for a solid build, but the makers are getting the larger crowd to accept clacking and shabby buttons, so that’s the majority of the field’s content. If this Nektar range feels good to play, little else matters.

   1. Fungo – their keys are different than everyone else’s – a bit lighter to the touch, and a little wider maybe? The surface of the keys is a matte finish, and doesn’t get slippery from perspiration like many others. This is going by their LX range. The touch on the bigger flagship ‘boards are different.

      I’ve been playing Yamaha keyboards for a long time (solid, stiff, long-ass keys), so the LX was a bit of a departure. BUT, the shape and surface of the keys is strikingly similar to my 110 year old piano. The only thing I didn’t like about the LX was the controls – I had no need for them. All my synths are little boxes, and I control Ableton (et all) with a MK1 Maschine. These look about perfect for what I need. And $500 cheaper than the NI ‘boards.

      1. Completely agree. I am in the same spot. I own Ableton Push and Maschine MK2, Arturia Minibrute and Moog Minitaur. This keyboard is exactly what I need and the price point is perfect. I think they have a great offering in every range and seem to be focused on the right things. I’m impressed with this company overall. Hope to see more from them in the future.

6. wow what a piece of crap, spend your money on a used one from ebay with loads more features.
   FAIL

7. Good and light weight. Just simple enough for me. I use an ipad to control all of my CC parameters. My only complaint is the velocity spikes. The spikes disqualify it from use live.