Nektar Impact GX61 USB MIDI Controller Keyboard with Nektar DAW Integration

Model I bought - Nektar Impact GX61Software I use - FL StudioFirst impressions were very good. Sat next to my M-Audio Oxygen 61 I dare say this looks smarter with it's straighter/box shaped lines. Some might argue that it's basic and boring looking, but that was the exact reason I bought it. I already have midi controllers and needed a keyboard to focus on my key playing without all the distrations of knobs and pads. So the minimal look really appealed to me. You do get a few buttons such as an octave changer, a transpose button. A pitch shifter wheel etc. All of which are a welcome treat. One feature i did find useful was the key velocity adjustment. (Something you don't usually get on budget or lower end models.)The overall build quality of the GX61 is brilliant! I didn't expect too much from a keyboard that cost so little yet one of the first things I noticed was how well it was put together. It has a nice bit of weight to it and although it is plastic, it doesn't feel cheap and tacky. It has a thickness and feel of a more expensive product.At first the keys did feel and sound a little clunky when playing hard and fast. (compared to my used and worn in Oxygen 61) However, I soon got used to it once they'd been played for a few hours. It didn't really seem too apparent and definitely not annoying enough to justify any negative feedback. If you play with headphones or your volume quite high you wont hear a thing. So it's all good. Oh! And they're full sized keys incase you were wondering.Inside the box you get a set up guide, a software installation slip and a usb cable. Apart from the usb cable I didn't bother with the rest, the keyboard plugs into my PC and laptop and is recognised by FL studio straight away. No need to download and install anything extra the setup was very simple! On the back of the keyboard you have an on/off switch, an input for the usb cable and an input for a sustain pedal (which is not included)At under £100 it is great value for money. It has a very sophisticated and classy look incomparison to some other models on the market. If you're out there looking for your first keyboard and wanting to learn the piano (or even use it purely as a midi controller) then the Impact GX61 could be the perfect first keyboard. For a more experienced player who is perhaps wanting to go from a 25 or 49 to a 61 then it's a very good investment and upgrade. For the price this thing is going for... This is probably the best 61 key midi keyboard on the market!

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.

Bought for grandson. Bit more than I wanted to pay and I could have purchased this model cheaper elsewhere but would have had to wait for supplier to re-stock and pay for delivery so it kind of balanced out.Plug and play - worked fine with couple of different piano learning apps on my PC. (Package included USB cable.)Full-sized velocity sensitive keyboard is the real attraction to help my grandson learn and easily switch between the midi and the piano. Compared to my own midi/other lower cost midi keyboards it appears, at this point at least, to be really good product/value for money.Not tried any of the functions or opened the manual... I'll leave that to my grandson to explore further :-)