Nektar Impact LX25+ User manual

www.nektartech.com

Content

Introduction 4

Box Content 4
Impact LX Features 4
Minimum System Requirements 4

Getting Started 5

Connection and Power 5
Nektar DAW Integration 5
Register for Updates 5

Keyboard, Octave and Transpose 6

Octave Shift 6
Program, MIDI Channel and Preset Control with the Octave Buttons 6
Transpose, Program, MIDI Channel and Preset Control with the

Transpose Buttons 6

Wheels and Foot Switch 7

Pitch bend and Modulation Wheels 7
Foot Switch 7

Controlling MIDI Software 8

Mixer, Instrument and Presets 8
Global Controls 9

Function Buttons 10

Shift/Mute 10
Snapshot 10
Null 10
Pad Learn 10
Setup 10

Pads 11

Pad Maps 11
Pad Learn 11
Programming MIDI Messages to Pads 11
Pad Velocity Curves 11
Clips and Scenes buttons 11

What the Pad‘s LED Colors Tell You 12

Pads Maps Default Settings 13

Setup Menu 14

Assigning Controls to MIDI messages 15

Control Assign (C3) 15
MIDI Channel Assign (D3) 15
Assignment Types (E3) 16
Data 1 and Data 2 Values (C#3 & D#3) 16
Save Presets and Pad Maps (F3) 17
Load a Preset (F#3) 17

Global Functions and Options 18

Global MIDI Channel (C4) 18
Keyboard Velocity Curves (C#4) 18
Pads Velocity Curves (D4) 19
Panic (D#4) 19
Program (E4) 19
Bank LSB (F4) 19
Bank MSB (F#4) 20
Memory Dump (G4)
Low Power Mode for iOS devices (G#4) 20
USB Port Setup (A4) 21
Factory Restore 21

User Preset 1 GM Instrument 22

User Preset 2 GM Mixer 1-8 22

User Preset 3 GM Mixer 9-16 22

User Preset 4 “Learn Friendly” 1 23

User Preset 5 “Learn Friendly” 2 23

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Dispose of product securely, avoiding exposure to food sources and ground water. Only use the product in accordance with the instructions.

Note: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are

designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio

frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is

no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which

can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.

• Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.

• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.

• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

Impact LX25+

CALIFORNIA PROP65 WARNING: This product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.

For more information: www.nektartech.com/prop65

Impact firmware, software and documentation are the property of Nektar Technology, Inc and subject to a License Agreement.

© 2016 Nektar Technology, Inc. All specifications subject to change without notice. Nektar is a trademark of Nektar Technology, Inc.

www.nektartech.com Nektar Impact LX25+ User Guide 3

Introduction

Thank you for buying the Nektar Impact LX25+ controller keyboard.

The Impact LX+ controllers are available in 25, 49, 61 and 88 note versions and come with setup software for many of the most popular
DAWs. This means that for supported DAWs, the setup work has largely been done and you can focus on expanding your creative horizon
with your new controller. The Nektar DAW support adds functionality that makes the user experience more transparent when you combine
the power of your computer with Nektar Impact LX25+.

In addition, the Impact LX25+ allow for complete user configurable MIDI control so if you prefer to create your own setups, you can do that
too. We hope you will enjoy playing, using and being creative with Impact LX25+ as much as we have enjoyed creating it.

Box Content

Your Impact LX25+ box contains the following items:

• The Impact LX25+ Controller keyboard

• Printed Guide

• A standard USB cable

• Card containing license code for software inclusion

•

If any of the items above are missing, please let us know via email: [e-mail]

Impact LX25+ Features

• 25 note full-sized velocity sensitive keys • 5 User configurable presets

• 8 velocity sensitive, LED illuminated pads • 2 read-only presets (Mixer/Instrument)

• 1 MIDI assignable faders • 4 pad map presets

• 8 MIDI assignable controller pots • Shift functions for Nektar DAW integration

• 1 Instrument page button for Nektar DAW integration
only

• 6 transport buttons • USB port (back) and USB bus powered

• Pitch Bend and Modulation Wheels (assignable) • Power on/off switch (back)

• Octave up/down buttons

• Transpose up/down buttons • 1/4” jack Foot Switch socket (Back)

• Mixer, Instrument and Preset selection buttons • Connect to iPad via Apple USB Camera Connection Kit

• 5 Function buttons including Mute, Snapshot, Null,
Pad Learn and Setup

• 3 character, 7 segment LED display

• Nektar DAW support integration

Minimum System Requirements

As a USB class compliant device, Impact LX25+ can be used from Windows XP or higher and any version of Mac OS X. The DAW integration
files can be installed on Windows Vista/7/8/10 or higher and Mac OS X 10.7 or higher.

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Getting Started

Connection and Power

The Impact LX25+ is USB Class compliant. This means there is no driver to install to get the keyboard set up with your computer. Impact
LX25+ uses the built-in USB MIDI driver which is already part of your operating system on Windows and OS X.

This makes the first steps simple:

• Locate the included USB cable and plug one end in to your computer and the other in to your Impact LX25+

• If you want to connect a foot switch to control sustain, plug it in to the 1/4” jack socket on the back of the keyboard

• Set the power switch on the back of the unit to On

Your computer will now spend a few moments identifying the Impact LX25+ and subsequently you will be able to set it up for your DAW.

Nektar DAW Integration

If your DAW is supported with Nektar DAW integration software, you’ll need to first create a user account on our website and subsequently
register your product to then gain access to the downloadable files applicable to your product.

Start by creating a Nektar user account here: www.nektartech.com/registration

Next follow the instructions given to register your product and finally click on the “My Downloads” link to access your files.

IMPORTANT: Make sure to read the installation instructions in the PDF guide, included in the downloaded package, to ensure you don’t miss
an important step.

Using Impact LX25+ as a Generic USB MIDI Controller

You do not need to register your Impact LX25+ in order to use your controller as a generic USB MIDI controller. It will work as a USB class
device on OS X, Windows, iOS and Linux.

However there are several additional benefits to registering your product:

• Notification of new updates to your Impact LX25+ DAW integration

• PDF download of this manual as well as the latest DAW integration files

• Access to our email technical support

• Warranty service

www.nektartech.com Nektar Impact LX25+ User Guide 5

Keyboard, Octave and Transpose

The Impact LX25+ keyboard is velocity sensitive so you can play the instrument expressively. There are 4 different velocity curves to choo­se from, each with varying dynamics. In addition, there are 3 fixed velocity settings.

We recommend you spend a little time playing with the default velocity curve and then determine if you need more or less sensitivity. You
can learn more about velocity curves and how to select them on page 18

Octave Shift

To the left of the keyboard you find the Octave and Transpose shift buttons.

• With each press the left Octave button will shift the keyboard down one octave.

• The right Octave button will similarly shift the keyboard up 1 octave at a time, when pressed.

The maximum you can shift the LX25+ keyboard is 4 octaves down and 5 octaves up. This covers the entire MIDI keyboard range of 127
notes.

Program, MIDI Channel and Preset Control with the Octave Buttons

The Octave buttons can also be used to send out MIDI program messages, change the Global MIDI channel or select the Impact LX25+’s
control presets. To change the buttons function:

• Press the two Octave buttons simultaneously.

• The display will now show the current assignment abbreviation for a little over 1 second.

• Press the Octave up or down button to step through the options.

Below is the list of the functions that the Octave buttons can be assigned to control. The Display column shows the text abbreviation for
each function as they appear on the Impact LX25+ display. The function remains assigned to the buttons until another function is selected.
After power cycling the default function is selected.

Display Function Value range

Oct Shift Octave up/down -4/+5

PrG Sends out MIDI program change messages 0-127

GCh Change the Global MIDI Channel 1 to 16

PrE Select any of the 5 control presets 1 to 5

Transpose, Program, MIDI Channel and Preset with Transpose Buttons

The Transpose buttons work in an similar way to the Octave buttons with the following function options:

Display Function Value range

trA Transpose the keyboard up or down -/+ 12 semi tones

PrG Sends out MIDI program change messages 0-127

GCh Change the Global MIDI Channel 1 to 16

PrE Select any of the 5 control presets 1 to 5

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Wheels and Foot Switch

Pitch bend and Modulation Wheels

The two wheels below the Octave and Transpose buttons are typically used for Pitch bend and Modulation.

The Pitch bend wheel is spring loaded and automatically reverts to it’s center position upon release. It’s ideal to bend notes when you are
playing phrases that require this kind of articulation. The bend range is determined by the receiving instrument.

The Modulation wheel can be freely positioned and is programmed to control modulation by default.

Both the Pitch bend and the Modulation wheel are MIDI assignable with settings stored over power cycling so you don’t lose them when
you switch the unit off. Pitch bend and Modulation assignments are not part of the Impact LX25+ presets.

Foot Switch

You can connect a foot switch pedal (optional, not included) to the 1/4” jack socket on the back of the Impact LX25+ keyboard. The correct
polarity is automatically detected on boot-up, so if you plug in your foot switch after boot-up is complete, you may experience the foot
switch working in reverse. To correct that, do the following

• Switch the Impact LX25+ off

• Make sure your foot switch is connected

• Switch the Impact LX25+ on

The polarity of the foot switch should now be automatically detected.

www.nektartech.com Nektar Impact LX25+ User Guide 7

Controlling MIDI Software

Impact LX25+ has incredible flexibility when it comes to controlling a DAW or other MIDI software. There are typically 3 different ways to
set up Impact LX25+‘s many controls, though it’s not uncommon to use a combination of different approaches.

1. Install the Impact DAW integration files for use with an existing DAW (must be on our supported list)

2. Set up a DAW with controller learn

3. Programming Impact LX25+ controls for your software

Option 1 only requires installation of our DAW integration files and following the included PDF guide. You will need to create a user here:
www.nektartech.com/registration and register your LX25+ to get access to the files and PDF user guide.

If you plan to use your DAWs learn function or Impacts presets at a later stage, we do recommend reading through this chapter in order to
understand how Impact LX25+ is structured. Lets start with an overview of what is stored in memory.

Mixer, Instrument and Presets

Impact LX25+ has 5 user configurable presets though in reality, the total amount of useable presets is 7. That‘s because the Mixer and
Instrument buttons each recall a read-only preset..

A preset contains control settings for the fader and 8 pots.

The Preset button recalls the currently selected user preset and there are 3 different ways you can recall any of the 5 presets:

1. Press and hold [Preset] while using the -/+ keys (C3/C#3) to change the preset selection.

2. Assign either the Octave or Transpose buttons to change preset (described on page 6)

3. Use the Setup menu to load a specific Preset

Below is a list of what each of the 5 presets are programmed to by default. Each can be programmed with your own MIDI settings which
we will cover later.

Preset Description

1 GM Instrument preset

2 GM Mixer ch 1-8

3 GM Mixer ch 9-16

4 Learn friendly 1 (Fader buttons Toggle)

5 Learn friendly 2 (Fader buttons Trigger)

Presets 1, 4 and 5 are set up to transmit on the global MIDI channel. When you change the global MIDI channel (as described earlier, you
can use the Octave and Transpose buttons to do this at any time) you therefore change the MIDI channel that these presets transmit on.
With 16 MIDI channels available it means you can create 16 unique setups and just change the MIDI channel to switch between them.

A list of controller assignments for each of the 5 presets is available on pages 22-26.

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