NAMM 2023 - Nektar Aruba

video upload by sonicstate

"At NAMM 2023, Sonic State caught up with Tim Chandler to see a live integration demo of Nektar's Aruba, which enhances the beat-making experience with Ableton Live using Max for Live devices. Tim demonstrated the integration by showing Ableton Live and Aruba running side by side. He explained how five settings within the integration need to be enabled, particularly the Clip Record mode and Auto Trim Recorded Clips feature, which trims the empty space at the start and end of a clip. Tim went on to demonstrate the basic DAW integration with Ableton Live, including controlling the arranger loops, track selection, and scene selection.

The demonstration moved on to where Aruba excels with Live, which is controlling the drum rack. Tim showed how Aruba automatically updates to give slices on the rack when loading a loop, with the bank up and down buttons moving up and down the rack. He then showed how to switch slices to be simple one-shots and change the color of pads using the pad coloring feature.

More information on Aruba can be found on their official websites.
Aruba Price: £269.00
More info:
• https://nektartech.com/aruba-beat-com..."

Aruba’s hardware is all about realtime access and performance: A host of controls ensures direct access to key features without any menu diving. At the center are 16 large RGB pads – they are velocity and pressure-sensitive and can be fine-tuned to match your personal playing style. ARUBA’s 8 heavy-duty 360-degree rotary pots are always assigned to control a selected feature’s parameters with their assignments shown on the color TFT display. 4 display buttons give access to additional settings, MIDI assignments or secondary menus. Dedicated buttons make it easy to switch between different modes: Internal MIDI controller, drum machine style sequencer, Pad Repeat or DAW Control are always just one button-press away.

The hardware Step Sequencer is programmed like a classic drum machine from the 16 small RGB buttons. Each pad can be programmed, or recorded in real-time, with its own independent sequence. You can solo, mute or trigger sequences simply by hitting a pad and control other parameters from the pots, which makes the Sequencer an excellent realtime performance tool. The MIDI Out on ARUBA’s back lets you sequence external MIDI gear and can also be used as a MIDI interface from the computer.

Then there’s the transport section for DAW Control: With Nektar DAW Integration everything’s set up for instant control of your DAW’s transport functions from Aruba. In this mode, the pots let you set locators, select tracks, navigate and even set up a connected footswitch for transport control. Without DAW integration, the transport buttons can be assigned to MIDI functions or to control the sequencer. The 2 footswitches are also MIDI-assignable. Aruba’s feature set is greatly enhanced when connected to the included Nektarine software. Eight mode buttons give one-press-access to key Nektarine functions, including Mixer, Pad Setup, Instrument and FX plugin control, browsing and solo/mute. When a mode is selected, the eight 360 degree analog pots offer smooth control of the selected mode’s parameters and in particularly, deep plugin control of your VST, VST3 and AU plugins. Control the assigned plugins, sends or insert FX from Aruba – with full parameter feedback on Aruba’s screen. Many plugins are already pre-mapped for control but you can also create your own mapping, as deep as you like.

ARUBA stores 16 user Internal presets for pad configuration and pot MIDI control assignments. When paired with Nektarine, an ulimited amount of pad configurations can be saved complete with plugin and Nektarine settings. Pad’s are programmed from the Pad Setup mode which also includes menus for Chord and Scale, so you can use the pads to play melodic parts or assign chords to each pad.