Nektar has introduced Aura, a powerful beat creation and performance instrument that brings an exciting drum-machine-style workflow to any DAW or external MIDI setup.
The Aura comes with 16 hyper-sensitive RGB illuminated pads, an on-board step sequencer, a flexible pad repeat engine and comprehensive plugin control.
Paired with the included Nektarine 2.0 software, AURA becomes a plugin control powerhouse for VST, VST3 and AU plugins. Whether working a single multi-sound drum plugin or hosting a comprehensive kit using multiple plugins, setting AURA’s pads up is fast and intuitive, with real-time auditioning. Nektarine can host up to 16 different instrument-plugins simultaneously, so that each of AURA’s pads can play its own plugin. Any pad can be re-routed to a new plugin by creating a plugin slot and loading a patch or plugin directly from AURA’s browser. Pad assignments are saved as part of a DAW project/song or a Nektarine Multi-Patch for instant recall.
AURA’s ‘Plugin’ mode provides instant control of hosted instrument plugin parameters. When programming drum sounds, quick access to key parameters such as pitch, decay or level is essential. Nektarine makes short work of this by auto-selecting the relevant parameters for control with AURA’s 8 rotary pots based on the last triggered pad. Nektar plugin maps ensure that even plugins with thousands of parameters can be controlled seamlessly.
Aura will be available in the spring of 2020 with a MSRP of $349.99 USD / £299.99 GBP / 349.99 EUR.
More information: Nektar
