Buy this to have it fully run your VST’s and all of the functions! You can get a cheaper controller for that. Do not purchase it just for using the keys to control your VST sounds. This is a great controller to have, but I wouldn’t get it if I was not into working with the auto mapping and other features. You will be able to use it in your DAW as a generic controller or if there is a preset for it you can use that but there probably won’t be with this controller being so new. Setting this controller up is very quick and easy, just make sure the drivers are loaded and that is about it. You will receive a manual that will walk you through most of it, but it is something that seeing it visually will make it a lot easier so like some video tutorials online will work better for most new users. Using this controller with 3rd party plug ins and VST’s can get kind of tricky unless you have general knowledge of Mapping everything. If you have some knowledge of working with AutoMap software programs than you will be right at home with that much needed feature. You will not feel like you are at an expensive piano while on this keyboard but the feel of it is a lot better than what other controllers will give you.

The keys are semi weighted and touch responsive.

It reminds me of some of the M-Audio MIDI controllers. Not that this is my favorite MIDI controller, but I would put it in my top 3 for this price range because of all of the options that it has on it. I would use this with Logic and with Cubase many times. This controller can be used with a Mac or a PC running virtually any system. Everything is fully capable of being synced with any DAW and it comes with Automap software. The Novation Impulse 61 is a 61 key USB MIDI controller that has drum pads, faders and transport controls.

Novation impulse 61 manual pdf