Novation Impulse 61 USB/MIDI Controller Keyboard

Impulse 61
Impulse is a range of professional USB/MIDI controllers. They each have a precision keyboard and a full control surface powered by a brand new version of Novation’s Automap control software – Automap 4 (which makes getting hands-on with your DAW/plug-ins fast and simple). Impulse also has 8 back-lit drum pads which can warp arpeggios, roll beats and launch Live clips.

Precision Keyboard: Ultra-responsive semi weighted keyboard with aftertouch
Impulse has a precision ‘players’ keyboard. It is semi-weighted with assignable aftertouch and has been designed to feel like an instrument rather than a computer peripheral. In addition to feeling good, it is incredibly accurate – this means it can translate musical expression (how you play the keyboard) extremely effectively. So your performance is reflected exactly by the synth or software instrument you are triggering.

Automap 4 control software: Spend more time making music, less time reading user guides
Many MIDI controllers have knobs, faders and buttons, but using them is difficult and time consuming! Impulse (as with all Novation controllers) comes with Automap control software. This gives you instant mapping to the things you need to control, meaning you can make full use of faders, knobs and buttons on Impulse to get hands-on with your DAW and plug-ins. The control surface allows you to get hands on control for your DAW and plug-ins. We have worked with all the major DAWs and plug-ins to make sure that you get instant control of your mixer, transport controls and plug-in instruments and effects.

Multi-function drum pads: Warp arpeggios, roll beats and launch clips in Ableton Live
Impulse has 8 quality-feel drum pads which are velocity-sensitive with aftertouch. These are back-lit with 3-colour LEDs which means they can do things other drum pads can’t, like warping arpeggios in real time, rolling beats and launching clips in Ableton Live (Ableton Live Lite 8 comes with Impulse).

Works with all major DAWs and plug-in instruments and effects
Novation has worked with major music software manufacturers to ensure Impulse gives you instant hands-on control. In addition to the major DAWs, Impulse & Automap 4 have been specially designed to give you full control of 3rd party plug-in instruments and effects, like Native Instruments, Waves or FXpansion.

Automap Control Software – instant mixer, transport and plug-in control
So many controllers promise customers hands-on control of their music software and fail to deliver. Novation controllers are different; they come with Novation’s revolutionary new Automap 4 software.

What is it?
Automap is a piece of software that comes with all Novation controllers. It makes it fast and simple to control your music software with knobs, buttons and faders. It has been used by many top musician/producers since 2006.

How can it help?
Impulse gives you control over the mixer, transport and plug-ins of all major DAWs, as well as plug-in instruments and effects that don’t come with your DAW, like Native Instruments, Waves or FXpansion. Automap enables you to see instantly which knobs, faders and buttons are controlling which part of your software. It also makes it easy to quickly change what the knobs are controlling.

See what you are controlling
Automap has a software edit page that looks just like the Impulse control surface. This labels what each knob, fader and button is controlling, because with so many things in your DAW and plug-ins, it is easy to lose track of what is assigned to what. You can hide this window once you are finished with it, so you can continue making music.

Get instant control
Impulse’s controls can be used to control your plug-in instruments and effects. When you open a software instrument/effect, the 8 knobs will already be linked to commonly used parameters. If you want to control different things in your software, just press the ‘Learn’ button, click on the software parameter, and wiggle the knob that you want to control it. This way you can get hands on control of exactly what you want almost instantly.Instant mapping: click, touch, it’s assigned!