Novation Impulse 49  is a professional USB MIDI Keyboard controller. As well as a precision keyboard, drums pads and a full control surface, it comes with Ableton Live Lite, Novation’s Bass Station synth and a Loopmasters sample pack.

The ultra-responsive 49 key keyboard is semi-weighted with aftertouch so it feels like a musical instrument. Impulse 49 enables highly expressive playing styles due to its high scan-rate. This means it sends very accurate information about your playing style to your music software, translating subtle differences in dynamics extremely effectively. You can add further character to your performance with the pitch and modulation wheels. The 8 drum pads are perfect for sketching beats and triggering samples, but they do so much more: All 8 are back-lit with multi-coloured LEDs which means they can step through arpeggiator sequences, allowing you to warp and change the pattern in real time! There is also a beat roll function, which enables you to improvise with drum patterns on the fly. In addition to this, the drum pads can be used to trigger clips in Ableton Live. They light up yellow if a clip is loaded, green if it is playing and red if it is set to record.

Impulse 49 is designed to give you full hands-on control of your music-making software. The knobs, faders and buttons give you control over your DAW’s mixer as well as plug-in instruments and effects. The large custom LCD screen shows important information about what you are controlling. Impulse has transport buttons that allow you to play, stop, record, loop and move forwards and backwards in your software.

Impulse 49 can be USB powered from your computer or if you want to power it independently you can use a simple USB power adapter (not included). There are expression and sustain pedal inputs on the rear panel, and it has MIDI in and out ports so you can use it as a USB-MIDI interface. This means that you can control external MIDI instruments with Impulse, and you can also use it to enable your music software to trigger external MIDI instruments.

Key Features

• Precision 49 key semi-weighted keyboard with aftertouch
• Professional control surface gives you full control of your DAW including mixer, transport and plug-in instruments and effects
• Back-lit drum pads allow you to warp arpeggios and improvise with rhythm patterns – they also launch clips in Ableton
• Large LCD screen displays control information
• Hardware design is tough and rugged
• Comes with Ableton Live Lite, Novation’s Bass Station synth and a Loopmasters sample pack
• USB powered, with expression and sustain pedal inputs as well as MIDI in and out ports for connecting external MIDI instruments