Novation
Available in 25-, 49- and 61-key models
(we’re looking at the 49-key version here),
Novation’s new Impulse range of controller
keyboards represents a moderately cheaper
option than their top-end Remote SL series.
Design-wise, the Impulse 49 looks the
business, with red end-cheeks and trim nicely
ofsetting the black bodywork and white decals.
A big blue LED screen and eight tri-colour,
backlit drum pads all add to the visual appeal.
The Impulse boasts eight rotary encoders
and nine faders, each with a dual-function mute/
solo button underneath. The rubber buttons feel
like they would stand up well to regular abuse.
We’re nit-picking here, but the Learn and Shift
functions are on the same key, which can be a
tad confusing when you’re in the thick of it.
The semiweighted keyboard with full
polyphonic aftertouch can be split into four
contiguous or overlapping zones, each on its
own MIDI channel. The keys themselves are a
touch on the clunky side, with the black notes in
particular seeming very squared-of and sharp-
edged. This is probably something you’d get
used to over time, though, after which the
impressive aftertouch and velocity sensitivity
would hopefully take focus.
The velocity- and pressure-sensitive drum
pads light up when hit, and their grippy surface
texture feels suitably responsive and playable.
The Roll button will be applauded by MPC fans,
and there’s also a special ‘clip launch’ mode for
Ableton Live users.
Trust your impulses
The Impulse works ine as a standard MIDI
controller, but it really comes into its own when
used with Novation’s Automap 4 software, which
comes bundled with it (and every other Novation
controller). This enables you to control your
DAW’s transport, mixer and plug-ins directly from
the Impulse. Already compatible with Pro Tools,
Logic Pro, GarageBand, Cubase, Reason and
Ableton Live, this latest version adds support for
Logic Express, Studio One, Digital Performer and
Reaper. It also brings with it a redesigned GUI
and VST3 compatibility.
Automap also enables the Impulse to take full
command of any third-party plug-in without
host-based manual assignment, a feat it achieves
by making Automap-compatible ‘wrapped’ copies
of every plug-in it inds on your system during
the setup process. This could be an issue for
those with huge instrument and efect libraries,
but plug-ins can also be converted individually.
When a wrapped plug-in is loaded, its most
useful parameters are automatically mapped
to the Impulse’s controls, which can be instantly
reassigned via Automap if required. The software
focuses on whichever plug-in is currently active
in your DAW, and – new in version 4 – every time
a control is touched, a notiication box pops up
N o v a t i o n
This mid-range USB controller keyboard comes with the
latest Automap, ofering deep, hands-on DAW control
Verdict
For Plug-in/DAW control with Automap
Built-in arpeggiator
Generous selection of controls
Drum pads
Follow focus feature
Against Somewhat ‘boxy’ keyboard
Automap must wrap third-party plug-ins
Semiweighted keys, drum pads, a decent
array of controls and the excellent Automap
4 make the Impulse a complete solution
Alternatively
M-Audio Axiom 49
N/A » N/A » £270
Matches the Impulse hardware
almost feature-for-feature
Akai MPK49
126 »9/10 » £299
Well laid-out, feature-packed, highly
playable and with a great pedigree
Beneath the Impulse’s set of drum pads
lurks a button labelled simply Arp. Herein
lies a cool six-mode arpeggiator that
tempo-syncs to the host DAW. At the press
of said button, the drum pads turn green.
Each pad now represents a step in an
arpeggiated sequence – if you hold down a
chord, you get an arpeggio, the current note
lighting up yellow as the sequence
progresses. Tapping any of the pads
removes that step from the sequence,
enabling the creation of multiple
rhythmic variations.
Pressing the Arp button with the Shift
key held down accesses the settings page,
wherein you can set the note value and
length parameters, as well as the swing,
direction (up, down, etc), octave and
pattern length settings. A quick press of
the Record button in the transport section
delivers your sequence as MIDI data
straight to your DAW. It’s great stuf.
Seal of arp-roval
at the bottom of the computer screen to let you
know what’s going on. Clicking this box opens
the Automap GUI, replacing the previous Hide
and Resize functionality.
In conclusion, the Impulse 49 and its 25-/61-
key siblings ably ill the gap between the Remote
SL series and the keyboard-less Nocturn,
presenting a great mid-range feature-set at a
competitive price. Automap, meanwhile, is as
fantastic a control system as it’s always been,
with v4’s notiication system and extended DAW
compatibility qualifying as evolutionary rather
than revolutionary improvements.
Web www.novationmusic.com
Contact 01494 462246
86 / / July 2012
> reviews / novation impulse 49
CMU179.rev_impulse.indd 86 5/3/12 10:10:42 AM