Nektar recently unveiled their brand new mobile USB MIDI Controller Keyboard, dubbed the Impact LX Mini. It was designed to deliver the same power as their Impact LX range in a more portable format. The Impact LX Mini features powerful real-time and intuitive control features without the need for menu-diving. With tactile control, two arpeggiators, drum pads, mini-keys, and Nektar DAW integration, it aims to deliver everything you need to create.

The keyboard has Nektar’s newly developed keyboard with 25 velocity-sensitive mini-keys. Users can choose between four velocity curves and three fixed values to tailor the response to their playing style. It also has dedicated octave buttons for swiftly shifting the octave and Part 2 buttons for transpose. In addition, the keyboard has a joystick that provides four modulation controls in one. By default, it can control the pitch bend, modulation, and foot pedal but is freely assignable to any MIDI CC# number. Another feature that is often missing from mini-keyboards is the footswitch socket for connecting a sustain pedal. Nektar has included this for the LX Mini, and polarity is detected automatically on boot-up.

LX Mini has 7 Transport buttons with a shift button that can double the number of assignments to 14. Using Nektar DAW integration, this can be upped to a third level for a total of 21 functions. The controller also has eight knobs for instant access to arpeggio and more, while the Page button doubles the number of assignments. In addition, it has eight velocity-sensitive pads that work great for finger-drumming. Thanks to four pad maps, it is possible to have a total of 32 note assignments. Those who want to control their virtual instruments like hardware synth will love the dedicated Instrument Mode button. It switches the knobs to control instrument parameters in most DAWS. Nektar has even added screen printing to make it easy to remember assignments like Osc Tune, Level, Mod 1, Resonance, Envelope Amount, etc. Nektar Daw integration currently supports Ableton Live, Bitwig, Cakewalk, Cubase, Digital Performer, FL Studio GarageBand, Logic Pro X, Mixcraft, Nuendo, Reason, Reaper, and Studio One. Nektar is even bundling Bitwig 8-Track with the controller to get users started. It features 50 software instruments and effects that can be used on up to eight audio or MIDI project tracks.

Check out the complete list of LX Mini features below and visit the official website (https://nektartech.com/impact-lx-mini/) for more information:

• 25 velocity-sensitive mini keys
• 4 velocity curves (soft, default, hard 1, hard 2) + 3 fixed values
• Joystick for pitch bend, 2 modulation controls (MIDI assignable)
• Footswitch jack 1/8″ (adapter to 1/4″ included)
• Octave up/down buttons with LED indicators
• Transpose via Shift + Part 2 buttons
• Part 2 LED buttons (assignable to momentary keyboard shift, transpose, layering MIDI notes and switching MIDI channels (includes Latch option)
• 7 transport buttons for DAW integration or MIDI assignable
• Shift button activates secondary level for a total of 14 accessible MIDI button functions (plus 3rd level for another 7 functions with Nektar DAW Integration)
• 8 velocity-sensitive LED Pads (4 pad maps)
• 8 pots (x2 via Page button, functionality changes according to mode)
• Volume pot with LED settings indication (MIDI-assignable)
• Nektar DAW integration support*

Nektar DAW Integration for Impact LX Mini currently supports: Ableton Live, Bitwig, Cakewalk, Cubase, Digital Performer, FL Studio, Garageband, Logic, Nuendo, Reaper, Reason, Studio One. Includes template setup for Pro Tools.

The Impact LX Mini is expected to be available at resellers worldwide from November 2021 at a MSRP of $119.99 USD.