Nektar Impact GX49
O
ne of my biggest
gripes with
controllers are
those that
promise
straightforward
DAW integration
and don’t deliver! So can the GX49
live up to its promise?
The USB ‘class compliant’ GX49
looks sleek in its black plastic shell.
Everything feels solid and the pitch
bend wheel has a nice/precise
tension that allows very accurate
bending! All the major controls are
found on the left, including a dial
which defaults to MIDI volume,
octave and transpose buttons that
are backlit (and which change colour
to denote the octave selected) and
seven further MIDI-assignable
rubberised backlit buttons. There’s
also a secondary level available via
the Shift button, giving you 14
buttons (total) for MIDI-assigning
duties. Above the buttons are the
default DAW assignments which
include cycle, stop, play, record,
click on/off and advance bar forward/
back (hold for fast forward/back) – so
all the basic functions you use
regularly. Press Shift to access the
secondary DAW functions including
track up/down, patch up/down, and
three switch modes (these default to
mixer, instrument and smart controls
when using Logic X).
The keyboard has a nicely deep
key travel and the well-balanced
springy feel facilitates fast accurate
enough features onboard for
speeding up everyday tasks. The
USB power via an iPad/camera
connection kit and class compliant
USB driver are real bonuses too.
Those wanting more real-time
controls/pads/sliders should look at
the more fully-featured LX/Panorama
ranges but if you need a cheap,
well-built, simple to use controller
that feels great and has solid basic
functionality, then look no further!
playing, both for synth lines and
sounds that normally demand a
weighted action (such as pianos); it
straddles both of these remits well
and I would have no hesitation using
the GX49 to play detailed piano
parts or synth leads/chords/basses.
Written above the keyboard you’ll
also notice functions accessed via
the Setup button and these
functions allow custom MIDI
set-ups/assignments to be made/
stored if you don’t want to use the
included DAW templates (your
custom settings are stored on power
cycle). It’s a shame that you can’t
store more than one custom set-up
onboard, but it’s all very intuitive.
DAW integration-wise, this is the
fi rst controller I’ve reviewed that
actually does everything it promises!
I registered on the Nektar site,
downloaded the Apple integration
template for Logic/GarageBand,
restarted Logic and that was it!
As a simple no-nonsense
controller, the Impact GX49 does the
job effortlessly/reliably with just
THE PROS & CONS
+
Very reasonably
priced but
well built too
Velocity-sensitive
keyboard is suitable
for both synth
playing and piano-
type duties
Very easy to use,
with refreshingly
simple DAW
integration/set-up
-
Apart from the
buttons there’s only
one real-time
assignable dial
There’s no
aftertouch,
arpeggiator or simple
step-sequencer
Only a single set of
user/custom MIDI-
assignments can be
stored onboard
FM VERDICT
9.0
While basic, the GX49
speeds up everyday DAW
tasks and won’t break the
bank either. And even my
cat could set it up!
I would have no hesitation
using the GX49 to play
detailed piano parts or synth
leads/chords/basses
Nektar Impact GX49 | Reviews
89
FMU309.rev_nektar.indd 89 10/08/2016 16:30