NEKTAR IMPACT GX49 USB MIDI Keyboard Controller

The NEKTAR IMPACT GX49 is a 49-note USB MIDI keyboard controller built for producers and players who want full-size keys and real DAW control without a desk full of faders and pads. Its 49 velocity-sensitive keys use a synth action with four velocity curves plus three fixed settings, so the keyboard can be soft and expressive for pads or firm and even for fast synth lines. Beside the keys sit seven transport buttons with a secondary level that doubles them to 14 MIDI controls, a modulation wheel, a control knob, and octave and transpose buttons, all backed by Nektar DAW Integration, which maps the keyboard’s transport and track controls to the DAW instead of leaving them as generic MIDI messages. It connects over USB, draws its power from the computer, and works with the major DAWs that home studios actually use.

Why Choose NEKTAR IMPACT GX49 USB MIDI Keyboard Controller?

The NEKTAR IMPACT GX49 earns its place because it gets the balance right for a first or second controller: full-size keys that feel like an instrument, not a toy, in a footprint that fits a normal desk, with transport control that keeps hands off the mouse during recording. The velocity curves matter more than they sound: a player with a light touch and a player who digs in can both get an even, musical response by choosing the right curve, and the fixed settings give consistent velocity for drum programming and step input. Nektar DAW Integration is the other reason to choose the GX49 over a generic keyboard: transport, track selection and mixer basics follow the DAW’s own workflow, so recording, playback and navigation happen from the keyboard while the screen stays on the arrangement.

Key Features of NEKTAR IMPACT GX49 USB MIDI Keyboard Controller

• 49 full-size velocity-sensitive keys: Synth-action keyboard with 4 velocity curves plus 3 fixed settings for expressive or even playing.
• Transport control with a second level: 7 transport buttons with a secondary level for 14 MIDI controls in total.
• Nektar DAW Integration: Transport and track control mapped to major DAWs, with template setup for Pro Tools.
• Performance controls: Modulation wheel and assignable control knob, plus octave and transpose buttons.
• USB powered and portable: Single USB connection for data and power; no separate power supply needed.

Best Suited For

The NEKTAR IMPACT GX49 suits home-studio producers, keyboard players adding a controller to a laptop rig, and beginners who need full-size keys rather than mini keys. It suits desks where a 61- or 88-note board would crowd the monitor speakers, and sessions where transport control matters more than pads and faders. It is not the choice for finger drumming or for mixing with hardware faders: it has no pads and no fader bank, so producers who need those should look at the Impact LX range instead.

Setup and Connection Guide

Connect the NEKTAR IMPACT GX49 to the computer with a USB cable; the keyboard is bus-powered and needs no mains adapter. Install the Nektar DAW Integration files for your DAW from Nektar’s support pages, select the GX49 as the control surface in the DAW’s preferences, and choose a velocity curve that suits your playing touch. Play software instruments from the keys, use the transport buttons for record, play, stop and navigation, and assign the control knob and modulation wheel to the parameters you reach for most. Keep the keyboard on a stable surface at a comfortable height, and use the octave buttons to reach the full MIDI range beyond the 49 physical keys.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the NEKTAR IMPACT GX49 work with my DAW?

Yes, with Nektar DAW Integration for the major DAWs, including Ableton Live, Bitwig, Cubase, FL Studio, GarageBand, Logic, Nuendo, Reaper, Reason and Studio One, plus a template setup for Pro Tools.

Does the NEKTAR IMPACT GX49 need a power supply?

No. It is powered over its USB connection from the computer.

Can the NEKTAR IMPACT GX49 play sounds on its own?

No. It is a MIDI controller, not a synthesiser: it plays software instruments and hardware sound modules connected over USB or MIDI, but it makes no sound by itself.

Technical Specifications

The table below summarises the published specifications of the NEKTAR IMPACT GX49 USB MIDI Keyboard Controller. Where a detail varies by region or by the software version supplied at purchase, the supplied manual for the exact unit remains the final reference.

Explore Related Products

For a keyboard controller that stays in reach of the whole session, this Nektar Impact model is the desk-sized answer. Browse the full Pro Audio Video range for matching cables, controllers and accessories. For the manufacturer’s own reference material, see this Nektar Impact range reference listing.