analogym Posted December 29, 2012 Share Posted December 29, 2012 HI, I am considering buy the Novation Impulse controller. Anyone out there own one? Is there any good or bad feedback you might have? I need it to have a full keyboard velocity range and decent responsiveness. Not to mention good programability as well. Thanks, Gym Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delaware Dave Posted December 29, 2012 Share Posted December 29, 2012 I wish they made a 76 key version with midi merge capability and multiple in/out/thru's. 57 Hammond B3; 69 Hammond L100P; 68 Leslie 122; Kurzweil PC3; M-Audio Code 61; Voce V5+; Neo Vent; EV ELX112P; GSI Gemini & Burn Delaware Dave Exit 93 Band Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Emm Posted December 29, 2012 Share Posted December 29, 2012 I've only played a Nocturn 49, but if they use the same action on the Impulse, its got a 5-star feel. I found that it hit a sweet spot between what works for piano and what works for organ. I attribute part of that to the Fatar action, which you see on solid synths such as the DSI PolyEvolver. You should play it for yourself first, of course, but the odds are good its like its predecessor: smooth and responsive, even to trills. Keep it in your Top Three. "Did your father include 'self-righteous, moralistic ass' to your programmed personality, robot? Listening to you is like being forced to endure a vinyl recording of country music with a skip in it." ~ "Universe X" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dana. Posted December 29, 2012 Share Posted December 29, 2012 The Impulse and Nocturn have different actions. I would liken the Impulse action to the action on the M-Audio Axiom Pro and Kurzweil SP4-7. In fact, I think they're almost indistinguishable. I had an Impulse but sold it. I found it too light for piano and electric piano but passable for synth and organ (provided you're not doing smears). I found that when you pressed down a key there would be a stop but then you could push the key down a bit further. I can't recall if it's due to aftertouch but I didn't like it. I would be surprised if you could get smooth 0 - 127 velocity out of it. I can't speak to programmability since I used it solely for plug and play. And lastly, the plastic casing creaks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Schmieder Posted December 29, 2012 Share Posted December 29, 2012 Funny timing of this thread as it popped to the top just as I was writing my question about the Arturia Analog Factory controller variants. Next to the Arturia, I found the new Impulse to have the most responsive keybed action of any current controller on the market (and I was able to try most of them, side by side, yesterday). Slightly heavier action, which I usually prefer, but here's where I felt the Arturia (which uses a CME VX-series keybed) won out: no side-to-side wiggle! Also, the Arturia has WAY better aftertouch. It's also cheaper and comes with extras. Nevertheless, as keybed action is a personal thing, I would say try them all if you can, and be aware that the Impulse is a COMPLETELY different animal from earlier Novation controllers, in ways both good and bad. It has WAY better pads -- probably the best ones outside of the new Akai MAX49. The keybed is firmer in spite of side-to-side wiggle (nowhere near as bad as M-Audio though), but the knobs and sliders are unfortunately a step backwards for Novation. Nevertheless it could make an organ controller as it has the right number. Actual measurements (yes, this is NOT a subjective question, unlike whether you like a keybed's feel) prove that the Impulse does not have a very smooth or reliable aftertouch implementation. This is true of MOST controllers; the Arturia is one of the only exceptions, and possibly this reflects on CME. Eugenio Upright, 60th P-Bass, Geddy Lee J-Bass, Hofner HCT-500/7, Yamaha BBP35, Viking Bari Select Strat, Select Tele, Am Pro JM, LP 57 Gold, G5422DC-12, T486, ES295, PM2, EXL1 XK1c, Voyager, Prophet XL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allan_evett Posted December 30, 2012 Share Posted December 30, 2012 I wish they made a 76 key version with midi merge capability and multiple in/out/thru's. Back in the day, I wished for a dedicated, 76 key USB / MIDI controller..... Actually many did; but 76 seems an invisible number to Akai, Edirol, Novation, M-Audio, etc.. At winter NAMM 2010, one company's rep. looked vaguely confused when I inquired about a 76 key controller - as we stood surrounded by 25's, 49's, 61's, and 88's. Guess I'm from a different techno-generation, or another planet, or something 'Someday, we'll look back on these days and laugh; likely a maniacal laugh from our padded cells, but a laugh nonetheless' - Mr. Boffo. We need a barfing cat emoticon! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marzzz Posted December 30, 2012 Share Posted December 30, 2012 as we stood surrounded by 25's, 49's, 61's, and 88's. Guess I'm from a different techno-generation, or another planet, or something As someone who actually plays keyboards, I always thought that useful keybed sizes would be 88, 76, 61 and 37 (allowing 44 for the Minimoog). If you have 49, you might as well go to 61; and 25 makes no sense to me whatsoever-you can't really play a 25, so it might as well be pushbuttons- or consider a tiny keyboard like the many that are offered from the Korg Nanokey right on up to the McMillen QuNexus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnotherScott Posted December 30, 2012 Share Posted December 30, 2012 As someone who actually plays keyboards, I always thought that useful keybed sizes would be 88, 76, 61 and 37 (allowing 44 for the Minimoog). As a point of interest, the same 44 note range is also used for the Hammond organ manuals on the short-keyboard models like the M-100 and L-100. As I mentioned not long ago in another thread, I really like the idea of a 69... a 61 that goes further down to low E, which would be the smallest possible board that would be well-splittable for LH bass. It would also happen to nicely encompass the true span of a 64-key Wurli (A to C) and a 60 key Clavinet (F to E), neither of which are covered by a traditional 61. Maybe this is the best place for a shameless plug! Our now not-so-new new video at https://youtu.be/3ZRC3b4p4EI is a 40 minute adaptation of T. S. Eliot's "Prufrock" - check it out! And hopefully I'll have something new here this year. ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delaware Dave Posted December 30, 2012 Share Posted December 30, 2012 I really like the idea of a 69.. That's what she said.. 57 Hammond B3; 69 Hammond L100P; 68 Leslie 122; Kurzweil PC3; M-Audio Code 61; Voce V5+; Neo Vent; EV ELX112P; GSI Gemini & Burn Delaware Dave Exit 93 Band Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnotherScott Posted December 30, 2012 Share Posted December 30, 2012 I really like the idea of a 69.. That's what she said.. And either way, it's all about going down... Maybe this is the best place for a shameless plug! Our now not-so-new new video at https://youtu.be/3ZRC3b4p4EI is a 40 minute adaptation of T. S. Eliot's "Prufrock" - check it out! And hopefully I'll have something new here this year. ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marzzz Posted December 30, 2012 Share Posted December 30, 2012 :facepalm: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allan_evett Posted December 30, 2012 Share Posted December 30, 2012 I really like the idea of a 69.. That's what she said.. And either way, it's all about going down... Ok.... I think this deserves its own thread. No, not that; the keybed size issue. 'Someday, we'll look back on these days and laugh; likely a maniacal laugh from our padded cells, but a laugh nonetheless' - Mr. Boffo. We need a barfing cat emoticon! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dana. Posted December 30, 2012 Share Posted December 30, 2012 Back in the day, I wished for a dedicated, 76 key USB / MIDI controller..... You mean last year? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allan_evett Posted December 30, 2012 Share Posted December 30, 2012 Back in the day, I wished for a dedicated, 76 key USB / MIDI controller..... You mean last year? Weird, feels like I've been on this forum for twenty years; but, it's only been four.... Anyhow, my quest is now for a rig with 83 keys on the bottom, and 69 keys on top. We also desperately need a 'smart-ass' Smilie here 'Someday, we'll look back on these days and laugh; likely a maniacal laugh from our padded cells, but a laugh nonetheless' - Mr. Boffo. We need a barfing cat emoticon! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dana. Posted December 30, 2012 Share Posted December 30, 2012 83?! That's just greedy. Me, I'm fine with 69, top or bottom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnotherScott Posted December 30, 2012 Share Posted December 30, 2012 Anyhow, my quest is now for a rig with...69 keys on top. I have a convert! Maybe this is the best place for a shameless plug! Our now not-so-new new video at https://youtu.be/3ZRC3b4p4EI is a 40 minute adaptation of T. S. Eliot's "Prufrock" - check it out! And hopefully I'll have something new here this year. ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Schmieder Posted December 30, 2012 Share Posted December 30, 2012 I've never heard tops referred to as "69" and bottoms as "83" -- I guess the colloquial is always evolving. Eugenio Upright, 60th P-Bass, Geddy Lee J-Bass, Hofner HCT-500/7, Yamaha BBP35, Viking Bari Select Strat, Select Tele, Am Pro JM, LP 57 Gold, G5422DC-12, T486, ES295, PM2, EXL1 XK1c, Voyager, Prophet XL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allan_evett Posted December 30, 2012 Share Posted December 30, 2012 83?! That's just greedy. Me, I'm fine with 69, top or bottom. Yeah, but there's something to be said for those long, tall ones. 'Someday, we'll look back on these days and laugh; likely a maniacal laugh from our padded cells, but a laugh nonetheless' - Mr. Boffo. We need a barfing cat emoticon! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeljjison Posted December 30, 2012 Share Posted December 30, 2012 I've got a Novation SLmk2. The design is much more logical, the USB socket works, its easier to play with proper dynamics (I prefer the feel as well), its lighter, and its also not insanely confusing to operate without automap. I made the mistake of getting an impulse, and I tried a long hard slog at enjoying it, but I ended up switching back. Also, the USB stays in on the SL Mk2 ^_^ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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