I'm looking at the Nektar LX-61+ controller. I'm not a keyboard player, but I do pretty much all my projects by myself, so a.) I need to have something to trigger soft synths and MIDI drums, but b.) anything very elaborate would be wasted on me, while c.) this thing is within my budget. Apparently it has some limited capability to control the DAW (I use SONAR Platinum). This would be cool, but not a dealbreaker if it doesn't work. Its only output is USB, which brings me to my question:
In the past I have never tried to play keyboards live on stage, but in the event that I ever want to try this, are there any MIDI sound modules out there that I could plug this controller into? Or is it possible to convert USB to MIDI? Or would I have to use a PC on stage?
 
If anybody knows anything about this unit I'd appreciate your input. Thanks!

You want to get a Keyboard that feels good to you, keyboards are just like guitars.  I like my Roland A 49 as it's a nice size for my desk and it has a feel I'm used to. I found when I tried a lot of the controllers were  weird feeling. Like my Akai Synth Station 25. I can barely play parts on it,, but I got it for $40 and use it for travel. 
 
If you play live you just need a small laptop, no need for sound modules anymore,, you have it already with Sonar collection

Cactus Music
You want to get a Keyboard that feels good to you, keyboards are just like guitars.  I like my Roland A 49 as it's a nice size for my desk and it has a feel I'm used to. I found when I tried a lot of the controllers were  weird feeling. Like my Akai Synth Station 25. I can barely play parts on it,, but I got it for $40 and use it for travel. 
 
If you play live you just need a small laptop, no need for sound modules anymore,, you have it already with Sonar collection

Thanks! I hear you on the topic of "feel." I could never buy a guitar without playing it. But I'm not a keyboard player, so "feel" doesn't mean as much to me there. I picked the Nektar controller based on online reviews, including those of users, the majority of whom said the keys felt good to them. I know I'm taking a chance, but even in the huge metro area where I live I have not been able to find one in a store that I can play. I went to Guitar Center (even though I have no intention of ever giving them another dime) and none of the controllers they did have on display were even hooked up to anything.
 
It's good to hear I could (in theory) bring a controller and a laptop to a live gig and somehow make that work. That was my main concern buying a device with no MIDI output.

No real need for midi any more unless, like me, you have some older gear. That was another reason for the Roland as it has both Midi and USB. You can use the USB just for power and use the Midi port so I also liked that option. 
 
 

If the device is MIDI class compliant I think the MIDX-20 will work.
 
 http://www.primovasound.com/index.html
 

rsinger
If the device is MIDI class compliant I think the MIDX-20 will work.
  http://www.primovasound.com/index.html
 

Thanks. But based on what Johnny Cactus says, I'd be inclined to take a laptop loaded with SONAR. I don't own any MIDI sound generators, but I do got me a computer.