Novation Impulse 49 Keys USB bus-powered MIDI Controller Keyboard – Robust, ultra-responsive, full-size piano keyboard with aftertouch and velocity-sensitive pads – works on Mac or Windows

After using many controllers that felt more like toys than tools, I found this one which is fantastic. Yes, it is bulky, but that's because it is made like a tank. Customer support is also great and promptly sent me some new rubber feet pads on request.In terms of software compatibility, I've used it extensively with both Logic and Ableton on a Mac. The automap software is pretty bad, so I just did manual configuration in Logic which took all of 15 minutes. The Ableton controller implementation is flawless with no configuration needed.The reason I paid more for this one is it has real MIDI output which I can connect to a Nord Rack synth, and it works flawlessly. Even better, since the knobs on the Impulse are MIDI-assignable, I can control a few of the major Nord functions without needing to reach over to the synth.My only regret is I don't have space for more than a 25 key version at the moment!

Nicely built feature packed midi controller for the price, good for composing as the full sized keyboard has a nice feel not too clunky as it's semi weighted, it has plastic casing so it's not too heavy, nice LED lighting, and clearly marked. A good buy.

This is a great MIDI keyboard. The keys have a quality feel and are nice to play being semi-weighted. The pads are very responsive for drumming and the arpeggiator function on them works brilliantly. 8 faders and a master channel fader - plenty for mixing as you work and you can 'bank' them to assign more channels. The rotary knobs are less great - not very precise as they 'notch' rather than smooth turn and seem too sensitive but they work. If you are looking for a solid keyboard/controller that expands your computer into more of a home studio setup and this is your price range it's an excellent buy. Beware, I had difficulty getting it to work as the USB cable supplied is NOT compatible with USB3 ports. After a few weeks of back and forth with Novation customer services they sent me a high-quality USB cable and it now works perfectly. If you have a fairly new computer with USB3, save yourself the hassle and buy a high quality/speed A to B Male USB cable to go with it.

Can't fault it, the weight, the layout, control options etc all just right, far superior to the cheaper brands I previously used.Excellent customer support, I couldn't figure how to change presets (its simple to do on the Impulse my fault for not reading the manual) they replied and told me how to do it within a couple of days.

I The first thing to mention is that my studio is run with Cakewalk SONAR PLATINUM.The second thing is that I've given up using this controller as a platform for use with this software as I have found the so called 'Automap 4' feature included as set of instructions downloaded from Novations site, (which incidentally leads one to believe it will automatically allow control of almost any DAW, Sonar being one of those platforms), so difficult to set up it hasn't been worth the effort. I am a musician first and not a software whiz kid, I actually found it really annoying … BUT!The third thing I have to mention is that the key bed is great and for the money ... well, really great! I have found the pads are a bit precious about the position you have to strike them (kind of dead centre) but the 'playability' works and although it's always a little difficult getting to grips with a new keyboard, I think it's going to be worth it.Yes, yes I was going to send this back but haven't,(liar liar pants on fire sort of thing). My thinking given time, is that it'll be worth it. I'll just programme the Novations MIDI over time with Sonar's own mapping and in the meantime just use my old Tascam fw1082 as a controller … happy days!Overall my feeling is that Cakewalk Sonar Platinum is the kid the kid no-one wants to play with … and with that in mind you buy this or any other controller and take your chances, but without reservation, for an ordinary playable keyboard, it ticks the box!

I had previously purchased the M-audio axiom.... opened the axiom, pressed the keys... put the axiom straight back in the box.... this one however.. is BEAUTIFUL and WELL worth the extra £30 or so over the M-audio axiom which felt terribly cheap..BUY THIS IF YOU ARE LOOKING AT IT... you will not be dissappointed... the arp feature is AMAZING for Trap hi hat programming and Melodic Arp programming... you can change the hi hat pattern on the fly as you are recording, you just have to hold down the key on the keyboard for the hi hat in your daw/sampler, set your arp speed rate and then tap the drum pads where you want the hat to be triggered or not, the step sequencer 'following light' display on the pads makes it easy... *simple* and its SOOOO FUN and Creative :) the roll(note repeat) function for the drum pads is VERY GOOD TOO!!! the automap works just perfect (Mac Mavericks 10.9.1 with Live 9.1), if you buy Keyboard this you will be HAPPYYYYYYYYY (pharrell williams voice) lol

A sized keyboard, poor spongy keys which don't register even velocity on arrival for the black keys, and a seized keyboard after such a short time is unacceptable from a Novation product.This is way below the lifetime and quality I would expect from Novation. They keyboard felt cheap compared to their previous LE series products - which lasted over a decade before selling working, without the protection and care this one had.The faders are grainy and horrible, and you need Automap to get the most out of it which crashes regularlyI know the black key were faulty with velocity issues, but these further issues and reflection after 6 years is that this is a terrible product and Novation should be putting much better keyboards in all of their products, they clearly are not the company they were and others offer much better quality for the same price