Nektar announces Aura controller

Want to talk about music hardware or software that doesn't include Reason?
User avatar
EnochLight
Moderator
Posts: 8405
Joined: 17 Jan 2015
Location: Imladris

16 Jan 2020

Win 10 | Ableton Live 11 Suite |  Reason 12 | i7 3770k @ 3.5 Ghz | 16 GB RAM | RME Babyface Pro | Akai MPC Live 2 & Akai Force | Roland System 8, MX1, TB3 | Dreadbox Typhon | Korg Minilogue XD

User avatar
dioxide
Posts: 1780
Joined: 15 Jul 2015

16 Jan 2020

I suggested this (as I'm sure many others did) when the did their first keyboards. At that time Kong was crying out for a well integrated controller - it still is I guess. I'm very interested to see how this pairs with Reason, but also, expecting to be disappointed.

User avatar
demt
Posts: 1357
Joined: 16 Sep 2016
Contact:

27 Feb 2021

Any more info? Thinking of buying.
Reason 12 ,gear4 music sdp3 stage piano .nektar gxp 88,behringer umc1800 .line6 spider4 30
hear scince reason 2.5

Chi-Individual
Posts: 386
Joined: 09 Apr 2020

27 Feb 2021

I have one and I like it. The pads are super responsive. And the build quality is A+. With that I have to say it’s mainly programmed for Immediate use with the drum machines( Kong, Redrum, Both Umph REs, etc.) I haven’t delved deep in the manual to learn how to program it yet but from using it on synths in default mode it’s not set up for chords or key playing and things like that as the pads don’t follow the normal 12 note octave structure, the notes jump around a bit with synths (again haven’t read the manual, I’m sure that can be set up). With that said if you want some pads that feel like they’ll last till Reason 30, if they ever happens, and you want to just plug it in and bang out a beat with the drum modules or use the transport sections I def recommend.

Side note: I don’t know how it integrates with Live, Studio One, FL Studio, or Bitwig but I would like to know how folks are using it since I have all 4 of those DAWs.

User avatar
demt
Posts: 1357
Joined: 16 Sep 2016
Contact:

28 Feb 2021

That sounds like a plus towards getting it,praps next month, thank you.
Reason 12 ,gear4 music sdp3 stage piano .nektar gxp 88,behringer umc1800 .line6 spider4 30
hear scince reason 2.5

User avatar
demt
Posts: 1357
Joined: 16 Sep 2016
Contact:

07 Mar 2021

I've pulled the trigger. If t does 1/2 of what its supposed to do.........you can tell , I think its great!!
Reason 12 ,gear4 music sdp3 stage piano .nektar gxp 88,behringer umc1800 .line6 spider4 30
hear scince reason 2.5

User avatar
Billy+
Posts: 4157
Joined: 09 Dec 2016

07 Mar 2021

This looks very cool, and some of the features are quite intriguing.
IMG_2606.PNG
IMG_2606.PNG (260.89 KiB) Viewed 2858 times
IMG_2607.PNG
IMG_2607.PNG (83.01 KiB) Viewed 2857 times

User avatar
tiker01
Moderator
Posts: 1423
Joined: 16 Jan 2015

08 Mar 2021

Does this have the same RE control like P6?
    
Budapest, Hungary
Reason 11 Suite
Lenovo ThinkPad e520 Win10x64 8GB RAM Intel i5-2520M 2,5-3,2 GHz and AMD 6630M with 1GB of memory.
:rt: :reason: :essentials: :re: :refill: :PUF_balance: :ignition: :PUF_figure:

User avatar
Billy+
Posts: 4157
Joined: 09 Dec 2016

08 Mar 2021

tiker01 wrote:
08 Mar 2021
Does this have the same RE control like P6?
Reading through the information I would have to say no, but it's definitely got some extra features that you don't have on a P6
IMG_2373.JPG
IMG_2373.JPG (182.9 KiB) Viewed 2802 times
But not as many controls.
IMG_2608.PNG
IMG_2608.PNG (629.15 KiB) Viewed 2800 times

Yonatan
Posts: 1556
Joined: 18 Jan 2015

08 Mar 2021

Looks like a Kong gadget...

User avatar
EnochLight
Moderator
Posts: 8405
Joined: 17 Jan 2015
Location: Imladris

08 Mar 2021

Meh... it's a basic Akai MPC Touch knockoff, but without the mature utility app software or touchscreen. That said, for only $350 USD it's a pretty awesome deal, but having something like this would just make me want to buy an MPC One and be able to walk away from my computer. I'm a little salty though, as Nektar never did do a proper follow-up to the Panorama P4/P6 line.
Win 10 | Ableton Live 11 Suite |  Reason 12 | i7 3770k @ 3.5 Ghz | 16 GB RAM | RME Babyface Pro | Akai MPC Live 2 & Akai Force | Roland System 8, MX1, TB3 | Dreadbox Typhon | Korg Minilogue XD

User avatar
Billy+
Posts: 4157
Joined: 09 Dec 2016

08 Mar 2021

EnochLight wrote:
08 Mar 2021
I'm a little salty though, as Nektar never did do a proper follow-up to the Panorama P4/P6 line.
Would love to know what you would have wanted in a follow up?

User avatar
guitfnky
Posts: 4408
Joined: 19 Jan 2015

08 Mar 2021

Billy+ wrote:
08 Mar 2021
EnochLight wrote:
08 Mar 2021
I'm a little salty though, as Nektar never did do a proper follow-up to the Panorama P4/P6 line.
Would love to know what you would have wanted in a follow up?
a subscription service. Nektar+ :lol:
I write good music for good people

https://slowrobot.bandcamp.com/

User avatar
EnochLight
Moderator
Posts: 8405
Joined: 17 Jan 2015
Location: Imladris

08 Mar 2021

Billy+ wrote:
08 Mar 2021
EnochLight wrote:
08 Mar 2021
I'm a little salty though, as Nektar never did do a proper follow-up to the Panorama P4/P6 line.
Would love to know what you would have wanted in a follow up?
So many areas that need improving; where do I start?
  • Improved key bed (yes, they can do better)
  • Motorized faders for all pots
  • 16 pads
  • Pads that actually light up (even the Impact series pads would work)
  • Pads that don't feel like the worst quality pads in the entire industry (seriously, the P4/P6 pads are almost laughably 100% ass)
  • Better build quality (ditch the lint magnet that is the smooth piano surface; at least some metal so it can be gigged with; ditch the rubberized plastic knobs/faders as they always - AND I MEAN ALWAYS - deteriorate into sticky gum).
  • A modern display screen (let's graduate to OLED or at least a better quality LCD).
  • Touchscreen - and the OS support to utilize it.
And that's just off of the top of my head. I'm sure I could come up with more stuff given some time.
guitfnky wrote:
08 Mar 2021
a subscription service. Nektar+ :lol:
If it got me what I just described above, I'd pay for that! :lol:
Win 10 | Ableton Live 11 Suite |  Reason 12 | i7 3770k @ 3.5 Ghz | 16 GB RAM | RME Babyface Pro | Akai MPC Live 2 & Akai Force | Roland System 8, MX1, TB3 | Dreadbox Typhon | Korg Minilogue XD

User avatar
Billy+
Posts: 4157
Joined: 09 Dec 2016

08 Mar 2021

Improved key bed :o

Motorized faders for all pots.
- recall would be better definitely, but cost a lot more.

16 pads.
- definitely would agree, but at what cost? A bigger device or smaller pads?

Pads that actually light up.
- Never liked or seen the need for lights on drum pads.

Pads that don't feel like the worst quality pads in the entire industry.
- can't say I've ever had a problem with them, but also nothing else to compare either

Better build quality.
- I thought they felt sturdy

ditch the rubberized plastic knobs/faders as they always.
- they definitely could have been better, I used talcum powder to stabilise mine about a year ago when we got a heat wave I noticed mod & pitch felt sticky, and I can't say I'm looking forward to replacing them.

A modern display screen.
- I'm actually ok with it

Touchscreen - and the OS support to utilize it.
- can't say I would want a touchscreen

User avatar
joeyluck
Moderator
Posts: 11029
Joined: 15 Jan 2015

08 Mar 2021

Billy+ wrote:
08 Mar 2021
Improved key bed :o
Keybeds are important. A keyboard controller absolutely needs a good keybed. I prefer Fatar, but there are others that would be fine.
Billy+ wrote:
08 Mar 2021
Motorized faders for all pots.
- recall would be better definitely, but cost a lot more.
Very necessary. Behringer proves that quality motorized faders can be incorporated at a low cost. I'm not talking BCF-2000, but the X32 and the X-Touch lines have excellent faders for the cost.
Billy+ wrote:
08 Mar 2021
16 pads.
- definitely would agree, but at what cost? A bigger device or smaller pads?
Maybe a compromise between the two? Other keyboards manage it.
Billy+ wrote:
08 Mar 2021
Pads that actually light up.
- Never liked or seen the need for lights on drum pads.
This isn't just for flashy looks. It's also for organizing your kits and associating different types of sounds with different colors, etc. The Aura has this, so they've got experience with it now.
Billy+ wrote:
08 Mar 2021
ditch the rubberized plastic knobs/faders as they always.
- they definitely could have been better, I used talcum powder to stabilise mine about a year ago when we got a heat wave I noticed mod & pitch felt sticky, and I can't say I'm looking forward to replacing them.
Yeah I'm never buying anything ever again, that is meant to be handled often, that has the rubberized coating.
Billy+ wrote:
08 Mar 2021
A modern display screen.
- I'm actually ok with it
I think a higher resolution could fit more info.

All this said, if there is a keyboard that doesn't slack in certain departments, I'd be willing to pay the money for it.

User avatar
EnochLight
Moderator
Posts: 8405
Joined: 17 Jan 2015
Location: Imladris

08 Mar 2021

joeyluck wrote:
08 Mar 2021
Billy+ wrote:
08 Mar 2021
Improved key bed :o
Keybeds are important. A keyboard controller absolutely needs a good keybed. I prefer Fatar, but there are others that would be fine.
Billy+ wrote:
08 Mar 2021
Motorized faders for all pots.
- recall would be better definitely, but cost a lot more.
Very necessary. Behringer proves that quality motorized faders can be incorporated at a low cost. I'm not talking BCF-2000, but the X32 and the X-Touch lines have excellent faders for the cost.
Billy+ wrote:
08 Mar 2021
16 pads.
- definitely would agree, but at what cost? A bigger device or smaller pads?
Maybe a compromise between the two? Other keyboards manage it.
Billy+ wrote:
08 Mar 2021
Pads that actually light up.
- Never liked or seen the need for lights on drum pads.
This isn't just for flashy looks. It's also for organizing your kits and associating different types of sounds with different colors, etc. The Aura has this, so they've got experience with it now.
Billy+ wrote:
08 Mar 2021
ditch the rubberized plastic knobs/faders as they always.
- they definitely could have been better, I used talcum powder to stabilise mine about a year ago when we got a heat wave I noticed mod & pitch felt sticky, and I can't say I'm looking forward to replacing them.
Yeah I'm never buying anything ever again, that is meant to be handled often, that has the rubberized coating.
Billy+ wrote:
08 Mar 2021
A modern display screen.
- I'm actually ok with it
I think a higher resolution could fit more info.

All this said, if there is a keyboard that doesn't slack in certain departments, I'd be willing to pay the money for it.
^^ This x10000 ^^
Win 10 | Ableton Live 11 Suite |  Reason 12 | i7 3770k @ 3.5 Ghz | 16 GB RAM | RME Babyface Pro | Akai MPC Live 2 & Akai Force | Roland System 8, MX1, TB3 | Dreadbox Typhon | Korg Minilogue XD

User avatar
Billy+
Posts: 4157
Joined: 09 Dec 2016

08 Mar 2021

Well if I had to buy a new keyboard today I would still get a P6, or possibly P4 and that would be the first time I would repeat buy such a product, normally I would look for something new / current but I'm yet to see a new keyboard that I would replace my P6 with.

But a V2 would definitely get my interest.

User avatar
EnochLight
Moderator
Posts: 8405
Joined: 17 Jan 2015
Location: Imladris

08 Mar 2021

Don't get me wrong - I love my P4 (especially since I fixed the nasty sticky knobs/faders). I just wish they had taken it to the next level. The Panorama series literally funded the growth and expansion of Nektar from Day 1 (the P4 and P6 was their only products for years). It's just mind boggling that they didn't do a follow-up. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I'm actually considering getting an Impact LX 61+ for a free standing workstation I just built, but I'm torn between that, NI's Komplete Kontrol A61, and Akai's MPK261. We'll see how it plays out.. Lol :lol:
Win 10 | Ableton Live 11 Suite |  Reason 12 | i7 3770k @ 3.5 Ghz | 16 GB RAM | RME Babyface Pro | Akai MPC Live 2 & Akai Force | Roland System 8, MX1, TB3 | Dreadbox Typhon | Korg Minilogue XD

User avatar
Billy+
Posts: 4157
Joined: 09 Dec 2016

08 Mar 2021

Well some companies find their niche and are happy to stick with it....

And although I say niche what I mean is a well thought out level of integration that blows the competition out of the water.

But a V2 might be nice, just not the touchscreen or flashy lights, I take the points raised better than led screen but I'm easily distracted and put off by led lights all flashing and blinking.

User avatar
Billy+
Posts: 4157
Joined: 09 Dec 2016

08 Mar 2021

I do find the lack of display resolution funny though

Sometimes it's just the patch names
IMG_0250.JPG
IMG_0250.JPG (724.13 KiB) Viewed 2699 times
Other times it's the way it shortens the name
IMG_0230.JPG
IMG_0230.JPG (803.91 KiB) Viewed 2699 times

User avatar
bxbrkrz
Posts: 3810
Joined: 17 Jan 2015

08 Mar 2021

"Nektar. Stretching the imagination."
757365206C6F67696320746F207365656B20616E73776572732075736520726561736F6E20746F2066696E6420776973646F6D20676574206F7574206F6620796F757220636F6D666F7274207A6F6E65206F7220796F757220696E737069726174696F6E2077696C6C206372797374616C6C697A6520666F7265766572

User avatar
Billy+
Posts: 4157
Joined: 09 Dec 2016

08 Mar 2021

Yeah I can't remember what device the patches are from, but I just had to send the pictures to my brother.

User avatar
EnochLight
Moderator
Posts: 8405
Joined: 17 Jan 2015
Location: Imladris

08 Mar 2021

Billy+ wrote:
08 Mar 2021
Other times it's the way it shortens the name
IMG_0230.JPG
IMG_0230.JPG (803.91 KiB) Viewed 2686 times
bxbrkrz wrote:
08 Mar 2021
"Nektar. Stretching the imagination."
:lol: :lol: :lol:
Win 10 | Ableton Live 11 Suite |  Reason 12 | i7 3770k @ 3.5 Ghz | 16 GB RAM | RME Babyface Pro | Akai MPC Live 2 & Akai Force | Roland System 8, MX1, TB3 | Dreadbox Typhon | Korg Minilogue XD

User avatar
Billy+
Posts: 4157
Joined: 09 Dec 2016

08 Mar 2021

I'm sure that the patch is named doubled analog, but hey..... see led low res isn't so bad!

Post Reply
  • Information
  • Who is online

    Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 10 guests