I just wasn’t that easy to operate cubase and plugins with the nectar.
It made a clumsy impression on me after seeing it “live”
But that is just my opinion, it’s not a fact,
So maybe you guys love it for what you want to use it for
Do you mean you saw a clumsy live demonstration of the Panorama ?
Could it be that the user, and not the Panorama is clumsy ? 
actually, they were both clumsy, so I lost my appetite… 
Well… if the user is clumsy, the Panorama would appear to be clumsy too 
Even Cubase can appear clumsy if the user is clumsy !
I think the Panorama line is one of the best, and less convoluted control surfaces on the market. Well implemented.
Although I don’t own/use one, I am seriously considering ordering the P6 version.
Cheers,
Muziksculp
Here is my quick verdict on clumsiness after a few months of semi-regular use:
- Basic stuff is easy, smart and useful (transport, navigating, using the motor fader and such). Non-clumsy.
- Controlling eq and inserts does take a bit of getting used to (i.e. feels clumsy at first). But after a while when it’s second nature I find it liberating and prefer it to fiddling with the mouse. At least for the simpler things.
- For VST:s with lots of parameters, like synths, I tend to use the mouse more than the in-this-case-a-bit-clumsy-Panorama, it’s quicker than having to sift through menus. But the P4 is getting increasingly more action even there.
So it’s not a miracle machine. But it’s better than anything like it that I’ve seen. And looks way cool.
All in my humble opinion.
It’s interesting, but what’s the workflow?
Scenario: you have a few different inserts on a channel(s) say a reverb from Lexicon,compressor from Waves and a delay from PSP.
You move from one plugin to the next, does it auto select that plugin as in automap or you move to next plugin and have to go wade through loads of menus on the controller to select that plugin and tweak it?
Could be really good and easy to use or a nightmare scrolling through loads of menus to get a plugin up for control during which time you could have tweaked it by mouse any way…?
I was interested in one of these Nektar controllers but ended up getting the Novation 25SL MkII and couldn’t be happier. Novation’s Automap software works with every and all VST plugins and most popular DAWs, it’s great.
I slept on biting the bullet for a few weeks before I got one. I’d definitely recommend comparing the Nektar’s software side to Novation’s implementation because I can’t imagine anyone doing it better.
Just my 2 cents.
Had the Novation ZeroSL mkII desktop version , but… sold it … Their Automap app. was a nightmare, it corrupted every VST with some weird wrapper, things began acting funky. Not a good experience for me. 
I still wonder if Steinberg has a new Controller up their sleeves, that they plan to surprise us with. But, I really don’t have the luxury of speculating, and guessing what Steinberg might, or might not offer, for now, I feel the Panorama Line is one of the best options, if not the best as far as implementation goes. (will be using it with Cubase 7 and Reason 7), so it fits my needs perfectly for now, and it is available.
the way novation makes the wrapps is by duplicating the dll files so if there was an issue you only had to delete that dll and rebuild it , ive never had an issue with automap and support from novation is very good , ive just had an email from them on how to wrap HSSE as the new template does not work … no biggy and I love automap .
that’s my 2 pennith
On the Panorama you press ‘Inserts’ to view the selected track’s 8 Insert slots complete with the plugin name within each slot. (this is shown on the TFT display). When the Inserts page is in view, you simply use the data encoder to select the slot you are targeting. You have immediate control over the plugin in that slot. You can also add Insert FXs from the device itself.
So the difference is you don’t need to reach for the mouse to select a different insert in the track in the first place.
I just popped in to Andertons music in Guildford to see if they had a P1 on demo and to my shock they haven’t even heard of Nektar , I had to guide them through the basics of the controller via the website … I should of charged them 
Thanks for that Tim, will try and get a hands on demo, not to sold on the piano black finish though that sort of finish loves collecting greasy finger prints! Would be great to real faders, moving of course as well as expander units to take it up to 16/24/32 channels
Thanks mate, that’s vital info IMHO.
Hope to see that list growing. Glad to see that some of my most used plugs (Waves CLA 2A/76 & SSL, Valhalla verbs) are there but I miss things like the DMG audio EQs, the Elysia comps and some others that I use on a regular base.
That looks nice, but how is the mapping done by the users? Can we edit the display names on the TFT to match the plugin parameters?
Cheers
You edit parameters by putting the Panorama into “Learn mode”. You touch a parameter in Cubase and then the control you want to map it to. Very simple.
Display names are received from the plug-in, can’t be edited manually. Maps are stored on the computer as a separate file for each map, these files are encoded so the are not editable by the users (unless someone figures out the encoding…).
I hear you regarding the piano finish. The thing is, the piano finish just looked far superior than the matt to be honest! Keeping the product clean isn’t really a big deal and we don’t get any complaints from our existing customers. There is even a bundled Nektar cloth in the box!
Sure, for a dedicated mixer unit where you will be mixing several banks of tracks post production, I would say 8 motorized faders are a huge feature. At a glance the P1 looks very much like a mixing unit ofcourse! - but the Panorama series is not really designed in that way as it has far more depth in it’s application. You can ofcourse mix multiple banks with the unit and the faders mute output until they catch up with the software position (seen on the TFT display) - but it’s not the primary purpose of the Panorama series.
The Panorama series is focused on improving general workflow during production. The P1 is a keyboardless version where users can benefit from Nektar’s navigation and plugin mapping system where they may not have the space, or perhaps don’t wish to purchase a second keyboard. It’s also far more portable than a P4/P6!
That said, as I mentioned in an earlier post, the request for a unit with 8 motorized faders has been taken on board, and I’ll add the request for expander boards to that… but I can’t say too much about potential features and future products from Nektar on a public forum!
I can guarantee this. We’ll provide regular updates as we do for Reason users currently as the list of rack extensions grows.
Quick question: can we set up the faders to control the input trim on Cubase?
Cheers!
Hi,
After a bit of head scratching, trying to decide between the Panorama P6 and P1, I decided to go with the Panorama P1, I will be ordering it shortly.
It costs less, and consumes less space in my studio. Since I already have NI’s Maschine mk2 (for drum pads), and several high-quality keyboard controllers, the only feature I would miss is the Motorized Volume fader.
I wish Nektar did not omit the motorized volume fader in the P1, even if the price was a bit higher, I would have purchased a P1. Oh well… I think the P1 will fit my needs, and hopefully improve my workflow when using both Cubase 7 and Reason 7.
Thanks,
Muziksculp
Brave move - give us a review of the unit when you have a chance.
Best luck!
I should be getting a P1 in a couple of weeks. It would be nice to keep this string alive (with Nektar input), or create one at Nektar, to exchange Cubase user tips and feedback.