Nektar Technology has introduced a new line of Panorama T-series keyboard controllers.
According to the company, the Panorama T4 and T6 ‘deliver a new level of system integration with deep instrument plugin control in any VST/AU compatible host, DAW control, new performance features and extensive MIDI functionality for more user choices than ever before.’
The T-series controllers featured Nektar’s Nektarine plugin control manager software. With Nektarine, Panorama users can control any VST, VST3 or AU instrument with one of the many included maps or by creating their own.
Every plugin parameter change is instantly visible on the hardware display. Nektarine’s graphic UI makes the customization of existing maps and the creation of new ones easy. Maps can be as simple or comprehensive as required, screened synth parameters below Panorama T4/T6’s buttons in the fader section can even be mapped to access parameter groups in plugins such as Oscillator, LFO or Filter.
The encoder mapping will follow suit at the press of a button, multiplying the number of available hardware controls manifold. Nektarine also includes patch library management, making a plugin’s sounds effectively cross-DAW compatible, simplifying the use of plugins across multiple DAWs.
Nektar Panorama T4:
Nektar Panorama T6:
Standard mixing, track selection and transport functionality work out of the box, if a DAW is MCU (Mackie Control Universal) compatible. Advanced features, like access to mixer sends or smart controls in Logic, “grab” plugin control in Reaper or Cubase and device control in e.g. Reason or Bitwig becomes available once Nektar DAW integration is installed.
“Nektar is known for stretching the limits of what’s possible with DAW integration and we continue that work with the new Panorama T4 and T6”, says Nektar chief Niels Larsen. “The introduction of Nektarine allows us to go beyond a DAW’s control options. It delivers a discreet, consistent user experience with expanded functionality such as hosting of up to 8 plugins at a time, map editing and patch browsing from Panorama T4/T6. And because Nektarine runs in any VST/AU compatible DAW, Nektar plugin control is now accessible to music creators using almost any DAW, for the first time.”
Features:
- Nektarine universal deep plugin control
- Supports VST 2.4, VST 3 and AU plugins
- Allows loading of VST plugins in AU hosts and vice versa
- Instant deep plugin remote control access from the hardware in any compatible DAW
- library manager
- Includes maps for many popular instrument plugins and their factory libraries
- Graphic map parameter editor
- Works independent of Nektar DAW Integration
Pricing and Availability:
- T4 $349.99 US / £279.99 / €349.99
- T6 $399.99 US / £349.99 / €399.99
- (Shipping in July 2018)
See the Nektar site for details.
This offers nothing new in hardware or level expression. No polyAT, no high-res velocity, at least no mention of 14-bit resolution on CCs. There is a display which may display some info passed thru from your DAW. Um. Ok.
We’ve seen incremental improvements in terms of access to VI’s and plugins. This does seem to nudge that aspect forward, which is fine.
We’ve seen an almost non-stop procession of nothing-new keyboard controllers. This is the next one.
> There is a display
+1
PolyAT is a lot to ask from a $400 controller…
It’s a fair point. But if Nektar invested some R & D in putting out a more expensive (and really good) controller, I think there’d be a market for it.
We live in mostly a Fatar world, and they are doing some decent designs.
I’m more just pi$$ing and moaning about the nearly constant flow of “new and groundbreaking” controllers that do more or less the same thing.
Polyphonic aftertouch on a a $400 midi controller….are you sh**ing me…really?Not even Nektar’s flagship Panorma,has that.The Nektar’s T-series is a budget version of the Panorma line and a DAMN GOOD offering for the money!Why?Because Nektar’s DAW integration is unparalleled and so simple to set up and the build quality is outstanding,at this price point.
Will I still be able to load & control the mixer rack effects in Cubase? As with the Nektar panorama P6. Unclear from the specifications.
sysex?
Shame they don’t have a midi in for routing. Remember the days when everything had midi in/out/thru?!
Sound like Novation Automap?
Question is, how compatible / stable is it?
Yea, my thoughts exactly. Automap didn’t get the love & support that it deserved. But yea, they did it first!
The last Panorama series was brilliant; much better in functionality (both as DAW controller and standalone MIDI controller) than the controllers from Novation, Akai, Native and Arturia. Unfortunately, the keybed was stiff, and the velocity response uneven. The screen was also a touch small; hard to tell if the new ones remedy either of those things. One of the best things about the older Panorama was the motorized fader – why did Nektar leave that off?
Looks like it has less rotary encoders than my Panorama P1. 🙁
Also… YET ANOTHER CONTROLLER WITH ITS OWN VST WRAPPER? No, thanks. My P1 works great without wrappers, and it supports e.g. parameter names and values feedback from DAW to controller display (in Reaper).