Nektar
T
oday’s buyers of
keyboard controllers
are spoilt for choice,
but if you’re looking
for a full piano size
88-note keyboard,
said choices are more
limited. One option is Nektar’s Impact
LX88, which has just had an upgrade.
Like its predecessor, the LX88+
combines an 88-key semi-weighted
USB-powered keyboard with extensive
DAW control via nine sliders, nine
buttons, eight knobs, eight pads and
transport controls. These include
dedicated Mixer and Instrument
buttons for pre-mapped control of
mixer settings (level, pan, mute and
solo) and virtual instrument
parameters (envelopes, fi lter and so
on). Knobs and faders have soft
takeover, updating values only once
the current software value is reached,
and many common DAWs are
supported (Logic/GarageBand, Bitwig
Studio, Digital Performer, FL Studio,
Sonar, Studio One, Reaper, Reason
and Cubase/Nuendo). Nevertheless,
be aware the pre-mapped editing
doesn’t extend to mixer plug ins.
Other features include 5-pin MIDI
output, assignable footpedal jack, 9V
DC input for situations where USB
power is unavailable, separate pitch
and modulation wheels, and keyboard
zoning (up to two zones) and layering
(up to two layers) via the Layer and
Split buttons. Rounding things off is
a three-digit red LED display that
shows outgoing MIDI controller
values, and in rather old-fashioned
MIDI keyboard style is also used
instruments is no mean feat.
Nevertheless, as a user it’s the sheer
predictability of it all that counts.
Despite the number of features,
the LX88+ is reasonably compact and
at 18 kilos light enough to be
portable. What’s more the keys feel
good and the mechanical noise is
quite low (both factors that are often
lacking in more affordable keyboards).
The LX88+ won’t suit everyone
(and some 88-key users will be after
a full weighted hammer action). But
at £300 (and with a free copy of
Bitwig 8-Track bundled) it’s a bargain
and well worth testing.
alongside the keyboard keys to edit
various keyboard settings.
So what does the update bring to
the table? First up, the pads have
been overhauled and are now more
sensitive, plus the pads and a number
of buttons are now backlit and
colour-coded to indicate their current
function. Next up, three new buttons
have been added. Default/User next
to the rotary encoders doubles up this
bank of eight knobs, providing 16
assignments in total. Meanwhile Clips
and Scenes next to the pad bank
provide additional operational modes
for the pads that are incorporated into
the DAW integration. Examples
include setting up of markers (Logic
Pro X) and activating scenes and clips
(Bitwig). However, it’s the underlying
DAW integration where things have
improved most. Here, assignments
have been standardised across over
100 common VST instruments, so
typical functions such as amplitude
and fi lter envelopes, fi lter cutoff and
resonance, oscillator pitch and level
appear on the same physical controls.
This has allowed them to confi dently
provide proper labelling of the sliders
and knobs, which bearing in mind the
number of supported DAWs and
THE PROS & CONS
+
Light but solid with
slim build, making it
pretty portable
Good DAW
integration via
bespoke pre-
mappings takes
the hassle out of
getting set up
Backlit pads and
buttons useful in
poorly lit and stage
environments
Great value for a
semi-weighted
88-note keyboard
-
Editing settings via
LED display and key
entry straightforward
but somewhat
old-school
No pre-mappings
for Pro Tools or
Ableton Live
FM VERDICT
8.6
The LX88+ combines a
pretty good keyboard with
extensive DAW integration,
and is about as good as
you’ll get at this price point.
The pads and some buttons
are backlit and colour-coded
to show their function
Nektar Impact LX+ | Reviews
103
FMU315.rev_nektar.indd 103 26/01/2017 12:32