NEKTAR
Nektar Panorama P4 49 Note USB Keyboard Controller
The Nektar Panorama P4 is a well integrated keyboard controller with incredibly and intuitive workflow. The keyboard is designed to work seamlessly with Reason, Logic Pro, Cubase and Bitwig Studio in particular, however it will work with most DAW's as a plug and play controller.
The P4 is packed full of features to enable your creativity with a balanced keyboard and dynamic, sensitive pads, 93 real-time controls and deep integration with your DAW.
Main features of the Nektar Panorama P4 include:
Keyboard
- 49 note weighted (semi-) velocity-sensitive keyboard w/aftertouch
- 5 velocity curves plus fixed
- Pitch bend & Modulation assignable wheels
- Octave shift buttons
- PB1/2 buttons
- 4 keyboard zones programmable with controller filters and program changes
- 5 keyboard maps store all settings
Pads
- 12 pads with velocity and pressure sensitivity
- 7 velocity curves
- Note-learn,
- Scale mode with 30+ scales and interval setting
- Velocity spread functions spreads the selected pad assignment over all 12 pads, at different velocity levels
- Transpose and Octave shift in both pad-map and scale mode
- Pads freely assignable in Reason mode
- Load or Save to any of 20 pad maps
Preset Controls
- 16 encoders
- 9 45mm faders
- 10 assignable LED buttons
- 11 dedicated transport buttons
- 20 preset locations store all settings including links to keyboard, pad and F-keys maps
F-Keys
- 11 assignable Function Keys (accessible using shift and tranport keys)
- Load or Save to any of 10 F-Keys maps
- F-Keys assignable even in 3 Reason modes
Additional
- 100 mm ALPS motorized fader*
- 6 dedicated assignable navigation buttons
- ASCII/QWERTY macros assignable to buttons and pads
- 3.5” high-resolution TFT display provides incredible navigation and user visibility
- Incredible Reason implementation that lets you use Reason, as if it's hardware
- 4 modes when used with Reason switch between Mixer, Instrument, Transport and Internal
- Presets and setup files for major DAW's and VIs
Connections
- Expression pedal 1/4" jack input (pedal not included)
- Foot switch (sustain) 1/4" jack input (pedal not included)
- MIDI output
- USB port for communication with computer
- USB Micro B connector for extra and external power*
System Requirements
- Mac OS X 10.6 or higher, Windows Vista, 7 & 8 compatible (Windows XP is not supported at this time).
- Reason 5/6/6.5/7 Cubase LE/Elements/Artist/Studio version 5/6/6.5/7
- *Two USB ports or external USB power supply required to power entire unit. One USB port powers entire unit with the exception of the motorized fader
Weight & Dimensions
Dimensions: 33 2/8"(L) x 13"(D) 3 6/8"(H)
Weight: 14 Lbs
- 49 note weighted (semi-) velocity-sensitive keyboard w/aftertouch
- 12 pads with velocity and pressure sensitivity
- Scale mode with 30+ scales and interval setting16 encoders
- 9 45mm faders
- 10 assignable LED buttons
- 11 dedicated transport buttons
- 11 assignable Function Keys (accessible using shift and tranport keys)Additional
- 100 mm ALPS motorized fader*
- 3.5” high-resolution TFT display provides incredible navigation and user visibility
- Presets and setup files for major DAW's and VIs
Panorama P6´s keyboard action uses weights to offset the otherwise increasing tension you would experience from the spring.
This means the down movement is as clean as possible and not heavy or fatiguing to play. We keep the down weight required within the heavy end of common standards for acoustic pianos.
In addition, the dynamic range is much wider than what you experience on most controller keyboards allowing better control of both low and high velocity values.
5 velocity curves gives you choice just in case your playing style requires a different feel. Monophonic aftertouch, pitch bend and modulation wheels, plus foot switch and expression pedal jacks sets you up for performance.
THE DISPLAY SAYS IT ALL
A crystal clear 3.5" color TFT display delivers the information you really need, for each mode or menu. Regardless of whether you are operating Reason or programming MIDI assignments in Internal mode,
the display provides detailed information that makes your workflow fluent and fast. Panorama takes the hard work out of using a controller and makes operations that seem complicated and non-transparent on other products,
straight-forward and simple.
MORE CONTROLS THAN EVER BEFORE
An unrivalled amount of assignable controls makes Panorama the most comprehensive and fully featured MIDI controller keyboard around. 16 encoders, 9 45mm faders, 1 100mm motorized ALPS fader, 10 LED buttons,
28 buttons, 12 pads each with strike and pressure component, foot switch jack, expression pedal jack, keyboard after touch, pitch bend and modulation wheels gives you immediate control of up to 93 parameters at any one time.
You can store settings in 20 presets with individually save and loadable keyboard, pad and F-keys maps. We could argue that it gives you access to over 1500 assigned controls, but that would be spinning it too far.
CONTROLLING REASON HAS NEVER FELT SO REAL
For a Reason user, Panorama is a dream come true. The dedicated communication protocol ties Panorama and Reason tightly together so all you have to do is select the mode and menu you want to control. Panorama does the rest.
3 Reason modes allows you one button press to switch between controlling the Mixer, Device (instrument or effects) and Transport, with the 4th mode, Internal, free to control your ReWired DAW. Learn more
TRANSPORT WHEN YOU NEED IT, FUNCTION BUTTONS WHEN YOU DON´T
It´s hard to go places without transport so Panorama features an extended 11 button transport bar, positions right where you need it controlling: Return to L, Forward to R, Undo, Click on/off, Record Mode, Cycle on/off, Back, Forward,
Stop, Play and Record. Using the shift button, these also double up as 11 function buttons each assignable to MIDI commands or QWERTY macro´s.
SHORTCUT TO SOFTWARE FUNCTIONS
So QWERTY macro´s...... big deal, right? That´s right, its a VERY big deal. Your software has a ton of features and functions that can be activated using QWERTY shortcut commands. Assigning a command to a button so you don´t
have to be near your computer makes life a lot easier. Assigning a string of up to 8 commands takes it to another level. With this powerful feature you could for example enter edit mode, zoom in and select a tool with just one button press.
Or create an instrument or effects track and locate a folder containing your presets so you can select them from Panorama, all with one button press and without looking at your computer. Learn more
PRO-CONSOLE CONTROL WITHIN REACH
The motorized 100mm touch-sensitive ALPS fader gives you pro-console mixer channel control when operated with Reason. Watch the fader move when you change tracks and just move it to change volume. Two LED buttons controls
Solo and Mute so no matter what mode you operating Panorama in, you always have pro-console control within reach.
PADS WITH PRESSURE
Playing drums or percussive parts on a keyboard can be a challenge, but luckily on Panorama you don´t have to. 12 velocity and pressure-sensitive pads with choice of 7 velocity curves will inspire you to play in ways you would never do
on the keyboard. The pads are unbelievably easy to program using the Learn Note function. Press a pad, press a key...it´s that easy.
The Velocity Spread feature quickly spreads one note across all 12 pads, each with its own fixed velocity, making it easier to create consistent and nuanced dynamics.
The Scale-Function assigns each pad to pitches within any of the pre-defined 30+ scales. It´s a quick and easy way to completely change pad assignments while freely changing intervals or transposing the whole set on the fly. Great for
percussive performances with any keyboard sound as well as percussion.
Reason devices such as ReDrum, Dr. Octo Rex and Kong are of course automatically assigned to pads in Panorama P4´s Instrument mode with an additional 4 virtual pads available, when needed.
PORTS & CONNECTIONS
On the back of Panorama you find the connection points you need for foot controls, power and data including:
USB Micro B for external power supply or additional power for the motorized fader (cable included)
USB port for power and data connection to your computer
5-pin MIDI din output port sending data either directly from the unit or from your DAW (working like a MIDI interface)
Foot switch jack, assignable (pedal not included)
Expression pedal jack, assignable (pedal not included)
On/off switch
DESIGN
With Panorama we planned to set a new benchmark for how a controller keyboard should work with software. More daringly we also decided on an ID that´s unlike anything else and yet retains many of the design characteristics of legacy electronic keyboards. A fusion of future and retro in one. To achieve this we had to design all parts from scratch. Nothing is off-the-shelf, not even the keybed which had to be custom designed to achieve the effect of the control panel floating in to the white keys. Sure, there are some compromises but we compromised deliberately and with what we think as the right trade-offs creating the best keyboard controller instrument in its class.