Panorama P4 - USB MIDI Controller Keyboard with Nektar DAW Integration, White

I got this a few days ago, and I am in love. I tried a bunch of keyboards that are popular as Reason controllers, and they just felt cheap, or didn't have very intuitive controls. This keyboard is just about perfect for me. First, it feels solid. The controls don't stick, and the buttons don't feel cheap. Everything feels top-notch. I hate having to fight my instrument to get control over it. No problems with that here. Sliders slide without a fight, rotaries all glide. Would be nice if rotaries had tactile feedback, but you can't get everything for $499. The keyboard is semi-weighted, and feels almost like a piano keyboard, so it requires some force to play, unlike a lot of cheaper keyboards. I like the feel of the keys a lot. In Reason, the P4 just works. Workflow flows. It makes everything in Reason feel more "real," as opposed to a wall of graphics you have to constantly click on, pulling your attention away from the keyboard. I can sit at the P4 and fiddle with all kinds of settings without turning my head towards the monitor. For example, if I'm trying to get down a track, I can record and re-record it as often as I'd like with just a few button pushes. Transport controls are right there, with an undo button to remove tracks I don't like. Four presses, and I've stopped, deleted, gone back to 1.1.1, and started recording again. If I'm fiddling with an arpeggiator, there's a software hold key that will virtually hold down the keys I've already pressed so I can fiddle with the arp setting without my fingers going numb. (Just one example of many.) It only has 12 pads, but it's stupid easy to work with in Kong, because there's a software button that let's you change the top row on the fly from C (banks 9-12) to D (13-16). Nektar does an excellent job of supporting the latest Rack Extensions. It works well with Antidote, Viking, Korg Polysix, and a bunch of others, and they update pretty frequently. (Looks like about every month or so.) The PX7 Rack Extension synth only has basic control support, not deep support over all 6 operators. Apparently that's Propellerhead's call, not Nektar's. PX7 integration isn't as good as, say, Antidote integration, but the P4 still makes the PX7 easier to play with. I can patch-surf, change the basic controls, or change PX7 algorithms from the P4. Just changing the algorithms from the keyboard is huge for me, because that means each PX7 patch has 32 options to play with. If you want to modify the operators, you have to do that with the mouse. The display makes it really easy to figure out what you want to do, so don't worry about black on black buttons/dials/sliders. After a few days, it becomes intuitive. Setup can be a little bit tricky for newbies (just a little), and the Nektar website could use some streamlining to make the obvious information easier to find, but I'm not taking off a star for that. Just don't auto-add it as a control surface in Reason, or else you'll get errors. Follow the instructions on the Nektar website.

First, this device is just a pretty machine! It's aesthetically just very attractive, that's what grabbed me when I stumbled on it. I said "What is that? I GOTTA HAVE THAT BOARD!" 2nd DID I tell you that this device is just a very pretty machine? OK. It's performance capabilities are well worth the money. The ability to shape and control sound is beyond belief. Everyday I use it feels like the first day of Kwanza...or Haunaka...or Xmas, or whatever you celebrate. It's useful with just about any DAW but it was MADE for the Reason DAW. With Reason by Propellerhead (which as an FL Studio kid I was reluctant to use at first but highly surprised and now hooked) the keyboard is fully functional...it's the only DAW that works with P6 in two way communication. I.e. change parameters on the computer changes parameters on the board and vice versa. I'm a big FL Studio user and was disappointed when I discovered functions are very limited unless you go in and set up your automation templates. But Reason with all of its bundled instruments and effects more than over compensate for the switchover. And while the DAW is bout' $350 a free demo version online of Reason 10 is available for download and fully functional...you just can't save songs, but a real audio engineer doesn't let that stop him/her. The other beautiful part is control of Reasonz mixer DAW from the board. Dude...THE FRIGGIN VOLUME CONTROL IS MOTORIZED AND MOVES BY ITSELF WHEN YOU PROGRAM IT IN MIDI. What other controller does that? More stuff puts this joint among the stars but I'm not getting paid for this review...find out for yaself. E.g. the P6 can control the mixer in Reason seamlessly. But if you decide not to use Reason you'll still enjoy the effective P6 MIDI integration and control of whatever DAW you do use. So whatz thumbs down with this baby? 1. The manual SUUUUUUUCKS...it's a 4/10. But a real audio engineer....well you get me. But the owner of Nektar, Neil's and his tech team in Stockholm are VERRY helpful and quick about answering questions via email. Really. After a while I felt guilty because I kept sending them questions about the P6 but I think because they love what they do at Nektar, making us happy makes them happy. And their website is an 8/10 when it comes to getting you the right driver and firmware for your device as well as other info, so count that as a plus. 2. The Nektar website pushes the Bitwig DAW...dude, smile at that offer and keep it movin' right on over to Propellerhead and download the Reason Demo...you won't be dissatisfied. I simply wasn't impressed with Bitwig. Reason 10 is miles above what they used to be back in the day. Instruments, effects, workflow and SOUNDS. The sounds are really nice and the pallatte is diverse in synthesis type. From thick lush pads to crisp bells and ambient strings to classy and classic solo patches...you won't get bored, and that's even before you start tweaking the knobs and sliders on the P6. Nektar really needs to push the Reason DAW...its the logical choice for this axe. So get your P2, P4 or P6 TODAY!!!

Acquistata su Amazon Wharehouse a meno della meta' del prezzo, questa tastiera vi fara' dimenticare l'uso del mouse se usata con uno dei molti DAW compatibili. Io la uso con Reason 10 ed e' praticamente perfetta tanto che ti fa dimenticare l'uso del mouse potendo pilotare il 99% delle cose dalla tastiera stessa. All'avvio bisogna programmarla con il firmware del daw che intedete usare dopodiche' e' tutto godimento. I pad per le percussioni forse sono leggermente duri ma comunque rispondono bene e la tastiera, pur non essendo pesata, e' ottima. Unico neo, se proprio vogliamo trovarne uno, e' la necessita' di un alimentatore esterno SOLO per la motorizzazione del main fader, io personalmente non l'ho ancora usato e quindi basta un cavo usb collegato al computer per alimentarla, senza quindi la necessita di un alimentatore extra (io uso un Macbook Pro del 2015). Consigliatissima anche a prezzo pieno !

this is an excellent controller keyboard, particularly for 'Reason' software it is heavier than expected, but seems quite durable the keys, buttons, dials, and sliders feel great cannot keep my hands off of it very satisfied with this

Ce clavier est probablement le meilleur qu'on peut trouver. Superb avec Cubase 8.5 et, j'imagine, les autres. MAIS il faut prévoir un bon moment pour apprendre ce qu'il faut faire avec les plugins qui ne sont pas 'mapped'. Les notices ne sont pas suffisamment écrit en détail. Malgré tout ca, il est le top de top; il faut, simplement, du temps.

Le daria 5 estrellas si no fuera pq venia la caja interior llena de polvo y lo peor, una tecla en mal estado q se queda un poco pulsada.Lo hubiera cambiado pero me urgia trabajar con el. Yo lo uso con la DAW REASON 11 suite y la implementacion con el software creo q es la mejor del mercado junto con una pantalla a color con menus muy claros y faciles.

… Usato anni logic pro e questa tastiera mi ha dato veramente la possibilità di non toccare per niente ne mouse ne tastiera del computer ..... Facilissima installazione ..... Perfetta sincronizzazione con logic ....