Novation Impulse 49

Impulse 49 from Novation is a USB MIDI keyboard controller featuring 49 semi-weighted keys with assignable aftertouch. It was designed to feel like an instrument rather than a computer peripheral, and responds more accurately and in a musical manner when triggering a synthesizer or software instrument.

In addition to the keys, the controller features eight rotary controls, nine faders, and eight backlit drum pads, along with the obligatory pitch and modulation wheels. The controls allow for hands-on manipulation of DAW functions, virtual instruments, and plug-ins. The included Automap control software takes the hassle out of assigning the controllers with its instant mapping feature.

The Automap software edit page looks just like the Impulse control surface. This labels what each knob, fader, and button is controlling, and once assignment is finished, the window can be hidden. Control is available over the mixer, transport, and plug-ins of all major DAWs, as well as plug-in instruments and effects that don’t come with a DAW, like products from Native Instruments, Waves, or FXpansion.

The 8 drum pads are velocity-sensitive and respond to aftertouch. They are backlit with 3-color LEDs to indicate the status of the associated clip. A built-in arpeggiator takes advantage of the pads by enabling the performer to warp arpeggios. By switching the 8 pads in or out, the rhythm of the arpeggio can be changed in real-time. The shape, syncopation, and gate time of the arpeggio can also be changed.

Free XLN Addictive Keys Virtual Instrument

Available for existing and new customers, the Addictive Keys virtual instrument from XLN Audio is included when you register your controller keyboard. One full license per account gives you one Addictive Keys instrument

Pick from:

• Modern Upright
• Studio Grand
• Electric Grand
• Mark One

4GB Loop Library from Loopmasters

• A 4GB Loopmasters sample library is included with every Novation product and is packed with professional-quality, royalty-free loops, and one-shots. The library offers a huge range of electronic and acoustic instrumentation, and encompasses all contemporary genres, from blues, funk, and hip-hop to bass, techno, and all flavors of house.

Learn with Melodics

• Free keys and pad drumming lessons with Melodics helps you get the most out of your controller straight out of the box

• Precision 49-note semi-weighted keyboard with aftertouch

• Provides full control of a DAW, including mixer, transport, and plug-in instruments and effects

• 8 rotary encoders

• 9 assignable faders

• 8 large tricolor backlit trigger pads allow for warping arpeggios and improvising rhythm patterns – they also launch clips in Ableton Live

• Arpeggiator with pad-based rhythm editor

• Roll mode on drum pads with aftertouch control of amplitude

• Automap control software makes it fast and simple to assign knobs, faders, and buttons to the music software

• Large LCD screen displays control information with direct feedback from DAW

• Buttons with QWERTY support via Automap

• USB powered with expression and sustain pedal inputs, as well as MIDI in and out ports for connecting external MIDI instruments

Control of 3rd Party Software

Ableton (Ableton Live Lite included with Impulse)

• Mixer control – all channels
• Transport control
• Clip launch using Impulse’s backlit drum pads
• Scene launch
• Plug-in/device control – instant control of Ableton’s own devices as well as 3rd party VST/Audio Units plug-ins

Cubase

• Mixer control – all channels
• Transport control
• Plug-in instrument/effects control – instant control of whatever VST instrument or effect is in focus

Logic

• Mixer control – all channels
• Transport control
• Plug-in instrument/effects control – instant control of Logic’s own plug-ins and 3rd party VST/Audio Units plug-ins

Pro Tools

• Mixer control – all channels
• Transport control
• Plug-in instrument/effects control – instant control of Pro Tools’ own plug-ins and 3rd party RTAS plug-ins

Reason/Record

• Mixer control – all channels
• Transport control
• Instant control of rack devices (Thor, Dr Octo Rex, etc.)

Sonar (Windows only)

• Mixer control – all channels
• Transport control
• Plug-in VST instrument/effects control

Sound Collective

• The Sound Collective is a platform that provides a free third-party software instrument or creative effect to all registered Novation hardware users every two months
• Register your Novation hardware to access innovative software every couple of months courtesy of the Sound Collective
• Free and discounted synthesizers and effects will be available every two months when you purchase and register any Novation product