Nektar Impact GXP61 61-Key USB Controller Keyboard w/ Semi-Weighted Keys
The Nektar Impact GXP61 offers a full-sized semi-weighted 61-Key USB Controller Keyboard. Treat your fingers to a dynamic semi-weighted keyboard with velocity and aftertouch that will capture all aspects of your performance. The panel on the GXP61 is based on Nektar’s successful Impact GX-series. This means that it enables advanced DAW integration with extended transport control, track selection and volume control. It even allows you to open/close DAW windows and navigate projects. The 14x assignable illuminated RGB buttons allow direct MIDI program and bank selection. The GXP61 is a capable MIDI controller as well as a DAW controller.
The Impact GXP61 also includes all you need to create software with; Licenses for Steinberg’s acclaimed Cubase LE Music Production Software & Retrologue virtual synthesizer.
Nektar DAW Integration
Nektar DAW Integration and the 8x buttons right above the wheels let you take control of essential tasks in your DAW right from Impact GXP61. Features cover extended transport control including goto and set locators, track navigation, volume control, launching windows and patch navigation without ever reaching for the mouse.
Custom Sensitivity & MIDI Versatility
You can choose from 5 different velocity curves and tailor the GXP61’s keyboard sensitivity to your personal needs. It covers a wide dynamic range of sensitivities from soft to hard touchous. When in the default or NORMAL curve; the keyboard will deliver good control across the whole velocity range right out of the box. In addition, 3x fixed levels let you send fixed velocity values across the whole keyboard if needed.
If you run into compatibility issues when using MIDI; with unsupported Nektar DAW Integration you can still set up MIDI controls. This is thanks to the ability to send out Program messages or MMC (MIDI Machine Control) transport control. In addition, any of the 28x assignable MIDI buttons which include the; modulation wheel, keyboard aftertouch, footswitches and of course the big control knob; can be assigned to send out MIDI cc messages.
The Impact GXP61 will give you all the right expression options needed for live and studio work. Offering a large pitch bend & modulation wheels it also offers connections for up to 3 optional external pedals. You can connect any standard expression pedal to the first, and any standard footswitch to the second socket. Furthermore, if you use an optional Y-cable adapter, the footswitch socket even supports two independent switches. You can also use the Impact GXP61; in stand-alone mode with external MIDI gear. The rear panel includes a 5-pin MIDI out jack and an external power supply socket for powering the unit when not connected via USB.
Get inspired with the Repeat Engine
For creating inspiring rhythmic elements the Repeat Engine is an essential companion. The dedicated RGB buttons give you direct one-button access to; Repeat Rates, Accent, Interval, Swing and routing aftertouch or modulation to velocity. The large Data/Tempo Encoder will turn into a dedicated tempo control; unless the synchronization is set to an external MIDI clock. You can choose one of the 5x different key trigger modes to change Repeat’s behaviour from interesting arpeggio-style effects with human feel to hard-quantized repetitive rhythms. This makes Repeat a fun way to experiment and create those famous “happy accidents”, that makes you come up with unexpected new ideas.
Layer and Switch functions on the Impact GXP61
The Impact GXP61 also has dedicated buttons for direct control of patches and plugin slots. This brings true hardware synth-feel to sound selection. You can load 10x instrument plugins into Nektarine and make them instantly selectable from the hardware. This includes soloing, layering and real-time switching. And like on a stage piano, you can press multiple slot buttons at the same time for instant layering in any combination. Each plugin slot has its own unique browser settings, as well as volume, pan, mute and FX, send parameters assigned. You can also mix the volume for each selected slot using the Data Encoder.
Once you import or save your patches into Nektarine, you can take things further. Each plugin has its first 10x patches available on Impact GXP61 buttons right away. All other patches are available using the Data Encoder. “Direct” mode allows storing 10x complete setups for instant recall. This could be one plugin including a selected patch or even a complete multipatch including multiple plugins. This is a great feature for flexible live setups.
Browsing you Sounds
Nektarine’s browser enables the browsing of patches directly from Impact GXP. And factory patches for many popular instrument plugins are available for download. They are available from the Nektarine support page to get you started. Your own user patches can also be imported or saved, so over time, there will be quite a few patches to choose from in the Nektarine browser. Thankfully, Nektarine has all the tools to help you manage thousands of patches – including patch tagging, search and rating options which make it easy to find exactly the patch you are looking for.
Group tags store a combination of tag settings and make it possible to narrow your options at the push of just one button: Press “Group” on Impact and 10x Group tags are selectable directly from GXP’s number buttons. We’ve printed common group label names such as Piano, E.Piano or Organ right below so it is easy to remember, but of course, you can use them for any group you want and create and assign your own tags. As group tags are global, you only have to define them once and then have them available in all of your Nektarine sessions.
The best part is that the Nektarine browser allows complete migration between DAWs. You can use Nektarine in one DAW, and your plugins can be browsed the same way in any other compatible DAW. This includes the stand-alone Nektarine app.
Impact GXP61 Virtual Keyboard Workstation
The included Nektarine plugin host and librarian software offers you additional controls. It lets you switch complex setups like on a live keyboard workstation including zones, layers and more; build multipatches from multiple instruments and effects plugins. And you can have them available at the press of a button. Nektarine will add powerful control features for your VST, VST3 and AU instrument plugins to Impact GXP61. When you launch Nektarine in your DAW, it immediately communicates with your Impact GXP61.
You can then create Multis with up to 10x instrument plugins. Each with up to 4x insert FX plugins each with the addition of 4x global send FX. All of this is stored in one Multi Patch, and can be assigned to one of GXP61’s ten RGB-illuminated front panel buttons for instant recall. You can also run the GXP61 stand alone. Simply run the also included Nektarine stand-alone app and play your plugins without running any DAW. The Nektarine app turns the Impact GXP61 into a stage-ready live keyboard serving up all your virtual VST, VST3 and AU sound sources.
Also available is the Nektar NX-P(Universal Expression Pedal) and Nektar NP-2 (Universal Footswitch Pedal).