NAMM 2020 Demo: Could Nektar’s Aura be your new studio centrepiece?

Features include a TFT colour display, tight plug-in and DAW integration.

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Image: Nektar

NAMM 2020: Nektar has unveiled its multi-functional Aura, which comes with 16 RGB-lit pressure-sensitive pads and a TFT colour display.

The pad design of the Aura incorporates pad repeat mode, which allows users to use pad pressure to control velocity while changing repeat rates with the RGB LED buttons. This feature also comes with several customisable parameters such as Repeat Rate, Gate, Accent Interval and Accent Velocity Offset.

The Aura also comes with a Plugin mode that provides users instant control over plug-in parameters such as pitch, decay or level when programming drums. This mode also automatically assigns relevant parameters to the front panel’s eight rotary knobs, based on the last triggered pad.

Nektar has included its Nektarine 2.0 software with the Aura, which affords users streamlined access to and operation of any VST and AU plug-ins. Using this, creators can stockpile the pad with sounds from either a single plug-in or multiple ones. Each pad can also be independently assigned a specific plug-in for a more customised profile.

Nektarine 2.0 also offers four effects insert slots per hosted instrument plugin, giving users the option of using up to 64 effect plug-ins per Nektarine instance via the Effects buttons. There are also a further four global send effect slots that are controlled for each instrument in Aura’s mixer page.

The Aura’s tight DAW integration supports the likes of Ableton Live Suite, Bitwig Studio, Cubase, Digital Performer, GarageBand, Logic, Nuendo, Reaper, Reason and Studio One.

The Nektar Aura will be available in Spring for $350 (£300). For more information, click here.

Check out all NAMM 2020 news here.

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