[Case] Nektar Impact LX25 MK3

Impact LX mk3 MIDI controller keyboards combine an expressive, redesigned keybed with 9 full-resolution encoders, 8 faders, 8 velocity sensitive pads and tons of buttons to give you instant access to performance or DAW integration features.

New performance features include Scale, Chord and Hold with Nektar custom DAW integration bringing the best out of controls with innovative new features and a workflow tailored to compatible DAWs.

Impact LX mk3 also supports Native Instruments NKS control standard which ensures compatibility with thousands of plugins even in DAWs not supported by Nektar DAW integration. With Impact LX mk3 the hard work is done, so you can focus on your creativity.

Feel Every Note

The newly redesigned keybed is truly worthy — smooth, responsive, and built for expressive play. With minimal friction and a firm touch, it lets you connect more deeply with your instruments.

Paired with pitch bend and modulation wheels, plus a footswitch input for sustain, you’ve got everything you need to shape your sound with nuance and emotion.

Effortless Control at full resolution

The encoders are the foundation of control and constantly in use. So their solid and precise performance is important.

You get near-enough a full resolution in one rotation without skipping a step. Working seamlessly with Nektar DAW integration you get relative control which means no parameter jumping or pickup functions to worry about.

Precision at Your Fingertips: Global Encoder & Display Feedback

If you had to pick just one control, the large global encoder would be it. Offering the same benefits as the other encoders but with added precision, thanks to its larger surface, it’s your ultimate tool for fine-tuning.

The best part? It works independently of mode selection and has a bunch of powerful options with Nektar DAW integration.

Faders – mix or envelope control

Faders provide a truly unique control experience, evoking the satisfying tactile feel of mixing or adjusting envelope parameters.

On Impact LX mk3 that’s exactly what the faders are designed for. Little is left to the imagination with silkscreen added above the faders to indicate their default assignments.

MIDI programming right from the board

Impact LX mk3 is a MIDI controller that augment functionality with Nektar DAW integration. It’s still a MIDI controller of course and you can program controls in Preset mode directly from the hardware.

In Setup mode, use the large encoder to select menu options and program MIDI messages immediately. All settings are stored over power cycling with options to additionally store in 5 presets and 8 pad maps.

Build your kits, non-stop!

For groove and beat creation, 8 velocity sensitive pads make life easy. Calibrated to trigger at a light touch, finger drumming is a reality, with a nice and even velocity response.

The “Pad Learn“ feature allows you build kits as you go. Hit a pad, play a key. It’s that easy. In fact, keep Pad Learn on and let your kit evolve with your music. Non-stop!

Customized for your DAW

Nektar DAW integration is beyond anything you have seen before. Innovative new features builds on our previous work and give you the best possible workflow with your DAW.

With Nektar DAW integration you can:

• Create loops or navigate your DAW using the LED buttons.
• Record freely and have the looper automatically create your loop.
• Click any parameter and control it instantly.
• Full mixer control including channel volume, pan, sends, mute and solo.
• Control plugin instruments.
• Seemless switch to NKS control on track selection.
• Navigate tracks and DAW functions.

Nektar custom DAW integration is designed for Ableton Live Suite, Bitwig Studio, Cakewalk/Sonar, Cubase (13 or higher), FL Studio, Garageband, Nuendo,, Logic Pro (10.8 or higher), Reason, Reaper and Studio One (5 or higher).

Looper

The Looper follows the play position and uses the 9 LED buttons to provide quick navigation of the timeline and setting of loop points. Press a button to move the playhead to that position. Hold a button and press another to set loop start and end.

In the video clip we move the playhead from bar 49 to the starting location, using the global encoder.

When ready, hit Loop Record. Loop record performs several tasks in one – removing the need for a mouse during composition.

As seen in the video, Loop record first triggers recording and then on the next press plays back your recording, looped and trimmed.

Here, Loop Record is used several times to quickly create a performance with variety and interest. It would have been so much more work to stop, reset loops, adjust part lengths and play points instead!

Global control

With the global encoder you can adjust mixer channel volume and pan even when instrument mode is active or you can adjust filter cutoff and resonance while you are in mixer mode.

Best of all, you can control pretty much any parameter, including insert/effect plugins by just clicking the parameter. Click, control! It’s that easy.

Selected parameter control was first introduced in our Panorama CS12 channel strip controller which can also control at fine resolution (10 bit instead of 7 bit). So we added that option to Impact LXmk3 integration as well.

In the video’s you can see that Impact LX mk3 also display the formatted parameter values directly from the DAW. That really comes in handy when you are in the detail with fine control.

In the mix

With a single button press, the Impact LX mk3 automatically maps the eight faders to the first eight channels of your DAW’s mixer. You can quickly navigate through groups of eight channels using the Bank Up/Down function, while the large global encoder controls the currently selected track.

The buttons beneath each fader correspond to their respective channels, allowing for easy muting or soloing of tracks. The eight encoders control pan for each of the eight channels and can be switched to control channel sends by pressing the page button.

To optimize your workspace, the Impact LX mk3 also includes convenient shortcuts for opening and closing your DAW’s mixer and instrument plugin windows.

Control plugin instruments

You probably already figured out that the yellow labels on LX mk3 are for use in instrument mode. We map instrument plugins with parameters that correspond to the printed labels so you should near enough always get a result.

If your DAW has quick controls, Smart Controls or macro’s Impact LX mk3 is set up to control them. If there is a parameter learn function, we have you covered there also with neat shortcuts that ensure the process is fast.

In the video we show LX mk3 controlling Korg Polysix using the default mapping.

Controllling plugins using the NKS standard

The Native Instruments NKS control standard is implemented in thousands of plugins with controller mapping ready to go. From Impact LX mk3 you can change presets, select map pages and of course use the 8 encoders to adjust parameters.

All you need to do is insert NI Komplete Kontrol on tracks in your project and LX mk3 coonects seamlessly. Nektar DAW integration automatically detects Komplete Kontrol whenever a track is selected.

Performance Tools That Inspire

• Scale Mode for Effortless Melody: Automatically keeps your playing within a selected scale, making it easy to explore new melodic ideas without hitting wrong notes.
• Chord Function for Instant Harmony: Trigger full chords and intervals—like octaves, 3rds, or 5ths—with a single key, including powerful sub-octave options and user-defined chords.
• Smart Chords for Musical Consistency: Combine Scale and Chord features to generate harmonically correct chords no matter what note you press.
• Hold Feature for Evolving Sustain: Sustain notes or chords hands-free and gradually add or remove notes, perfect for building ambient textures or evolving drones.