Nektar, the company known for the Panorama P4 and P6 USB controller keyboards that feature deep integration with Propellerhead’s Reason, have announced Panorama integration with Steinberg’s acclaimed DAW Cubase.
Panorama is designed with DAW navigation and workflow in mind, making it easy to control Cubase while performing or recording without having to reach for the computer mouse or the QWERTY keyboard. Each control, transport or navigation button is automatically mapped to Cubase with a logical layout that’s completely transparent thanks to Panorama’s high resolution TFT display.
When changing tracks using the Track -/+ buttons, the track name and the type of track is called out on the TFT display. The Panorama P4/P6 motorized fader automatically adjusts its position according to the volume of the current track selection.
Panorama mainly controls Cubase through 3 dedicated modes; Mixer Mode, Instrument Mode and Transport Mode. Each of which is engaged at the touch of a button. Mixer mode controls the Mix Console with up to 8 channels controllable at the same time. 8 faders are assigned to volume, 8 encoders assigned to either pan or the sends from 1 to 8 and the 8 LED buttons assigned to control channel mute, solo, record arm or select.
Panorama’s second group of 8 encoders control the selected track’s channel settings including EQ, Inserts (as well as plug-in selection and editing), FX sends and Quick controls.
Instrument Mode addresses the active VST Instrument when an instrument track is selected. Just like Reason Instrument Devices and Rack Extensions, many VST instrument plug-ins are pre-mapped and organized in logical modules and menus that completely reconfigure Panorama assignments as needed. For VST plug-ins that are not pre-mapped by Nektar, users can create their own customized VST maps, store and save for use in future sessions. Parameters are easy to assign using a simple Panorama control learn menu so there is no new software or GUI’s to learn.
Transport mode features a big time display, L and R locator positions and control over important functions during song composition like setting pre/post roll, precount, punch in/out, tempo, record mode and click level. Markers and loop cycle positions can also be stored/recalled during a session.
A fourth Internal mode provides access to Panorama’s many generic controller keyboard functions for control of outboard MIDI equipment or other MIDI software. The Pads menu in addition makes it easy to create setups for various VST pad instruments with its 20 Pad-Map memory locations.
Cubase users will also benefit from Panorama’s unique QWERTY macro function which allows up to 8 QWERTY shortcut commands to be sent to Cubase with the push of one button or pad.
Panorama will support Cubase, Cubase Artist and Cubase Elements version 6, 6.5 and 7. Earlier versions may be supported at the time of launch. The Cubase integration will be available as a downloadable update to existing Panorama users free of charge and is expected in March 2013.
More information: Nektar
