Nektar Impact GX61 USB MIDI Controller Keyboard with Nektar DAW Integration

Probably the best sub-£100 midi keyboard on Amazon at the moment. It feels more sturdy and better quality than the usual "popular" plastic brands out there. This appears to be hiding in Amazon and I nearly missed it!5 octaves, 61 keys. It's 38" log and 8" wide and wouldn't look out of place on a proper keyboard stand. The keys at long enough (similar to those old Bontempi Keyboards). The keys have a nice feel. Of course they are not as soft as an expensive keyboard. Ok its plastic, but the keys are quite long and well spaced, so you don't have to worry about playing, like you do on those 37 key things that fly all over the table.I didn't bother with the BigWiz free software as it is restricted to 2 VST plugins and 8 tracks encouraging you to spent a tonne of money to upgrade and the UI looked more complicated than Jean Michel Jarre's workshop. So no thanks.I used it on a 6-core Windows 10 PC using the Reaper DAW (probably the least expensive on the market) and noticed about a 1/3rd of a second delay (latency) which makes you hate USB. But do not dispair - just search the net for the ASIO4ALL driver and install it. Then in your daw just go to preferences and audio devices and swap WAVEOUT to ASIO4ALL and immediately your keyboard will play without no discernable latency!There are 7 velocity curves and that will take you a little time to find one that suits your playing. I switched mine to hard velocity. Be careful if you choose "127 fixed", you may soil yourself upon the lightest touch! To set, its just a case of hitting Setup, Velocity key on keyboard, 1-7 at end of keyboard and Enter, last key on midi keyboard, all functions are marked. There nice soft multi-coloured LED's inder soft pushbutton keys.There's downloadable DAW drivers, providing you register your keyboard's serial number (on the cardboard box it comes in), name/address/email and is available for all the popular DAWs and WIN/MAC OSX (Cubase, digital performer, FL studio, Garageband, Logic, Nuendo, Reason, Reaper, Sonar, Studio one) and templates are available for Ableton live and Avid Pro Tools. Once installed, you can control your DAW by selecting the control surface 'IMPACT GX61' in your DAW's preferences.Pitch bend and modulation feel just right and both potentiometers are assignable. There are 7 assignable midi buttons with a secondary layer (giving 14 assignable) . Power comes from the USB cable, from the PC - so it may not be powered should you decide to plug it straight into a sound module.You can connect to iOS with a camera connection kit (not included) and there is a jack for a sustain pedal.The keyboard has a weight to it that seems greater than the circuit boards I've held up in the past, it won't slide about. There's probably some artificial bricks in there. But no heavier than 2 laptops would feel.It nice to be able to record; then press a key to fly back to track start; change instrument and record without having to reach for the mouse.So far I am impressed. Now I need to find some nice VST instruments!

After a recent stroke, had to retire my beloved Strat as right arm no longer works. Bummer after 40 years playing it. Cannot give up music so I become a one handed keyboardist! 61 keys too big for me but I got a good deal on it, free delivery and no waiting time so I was convinced and the deal was done,Arrived next day with typical Amazon promtness and I was away. Installion was breeze with windows 11 and Studio One, software does it for you. On registry at nektartech.com, you're given the file needed for the DAW you select. No other involement by me, just that, and it's all done!Keyboard's basic transport works like a dream, I didn't want pots and sliders to distract. Keys themselves are very good. I don't find then noisy (as I've read...), no mismatches, and well balanced. Unit is pretty light to transport, but sits very well on a table. It plays superbly.Overall its all plastic but well made/assembled and metal would be superfluous. It has a look and feel way above it's price.It's astonishing value, superbly made and very well laid out, a winner!

It's not the best midi controller keyboard out there but it's pretty impressive for a product under £100. Lots to love and works well with Ableton Live.When using with Ableton, it is very important that you follow the instructions step-by-step to ensure all functions work correctly. Otherwise none of the control-surface buttons do anything of any value.Having said that, even then I've not managed to get the potentiometer dial to do anything with Ableton yet.The keys are full size (like a piano) and well weighted. Being a piano player, I was worried that they might be too light for me, but the weight is really good.On the downsides (and yes, you ultimately do get what you pay for), the velocity curves are a bit hit-and-miss, and I found that I get on best with the linear curve. The default ("normal") one just didn't work for me, especially with Addictive Keys (the piano plugin) when trying to play the same as on my piano, it felt like it was randomly making some notes more quiet. With the linear curve I find myself being able to play with expression. Having said that, it's certainly not the same as a good quality hammer-action digital piano (which are five to six times more expensive, for an entry-level one).When I first start using the keyboard, I also found the keys a little noisy. Having said that, I don't really notice it any more as I use it with headphones most of the time.So, in summary, great value for money for a midi controller keyboard. If you are looking for a keyboard in the first instance and the midi side is secondary, you might want to look at a decent Yamaha keyboard or digital hammer-action piano. But those are a lot more expensive of course.