There may be times when you are working with another DAW, or perhaps controlling a rack full of external devices, that you will find it advantageous to remain on the Fader menu page. It allows you to switch from one MIDI channel to the next and set the relative levels, pan positions and effect send levels very easily.

To enter the Fader menu, press the Fader button (next to the Auto-fader). Doing so will bring up the following display: (Image 1).

In Internal mode this menu behaves like a General MIDI channel strip. Here's what's possible using the default settings for the Auto-fader group:

• The fader will control the volume of the target device using MIDI CC# 7
• The Mute button will transmit values of MIDI CC# 12 
• The Solo button will transmit values of MIDI CC# 13
• The Data encoder will control parameters such as Pan (CC# 10), Send 1 (CC# 91) and Send 2 (CC#93). Sends 1 and 2 correspond to the Reverb and Chorus send levels, respectively.

Note: 'Mute' and 'Solo' are not part of the GM2 specifications, so you may need to reassign them according to the requirements of the software you use.

Each of the arrows on the display menu buttons has a particular function:

• M1/M2 (down/up arrows): Determine whether Pan, Send 1 or Send 2 will be controlled by the Data encoder
• M3/M4 (down/up arrows): Select the MIDI channel number on which the Auto-fader, the Mute/Solo buttons and the Data encoder transmit (Global or 1-16)
• M5: Returns to the Internal mode home page

To change the MIDI CC# assignments for these controls, as with any other, access the Control Edit page from the Internal mode Setup menu. Then move the fader or press one of the buttons to call up the page you want.

Panorama products are set up the same way in FL Studio. In our example here, we use a P6 but just substitute the model number with the Panorama model number of the unit you own and you'll be fine.

You'll need to have completed the driver installation and firmware update for you unit as described in the Panorama installation instructions.

• In FL Studio go to Options/MIDI Settings. See MIDI Settings images on the right.
  
• In the output section set the 'MIDIOUT2 (Panorama P*)' to port 160, in MacOS the port is called 'PANORAMA P* Instrument'.
  
• In the input section, enable the 'Panorama P*' Input port and set it to Generic Controller, with no port number. In MacOS this port is called 'PANORAMA P* Internal'
  
• Enable the 'MIDIIN2 (Panorama P*)' Input port and select "Nektar Panorama P4" from the Controller Type drop down list. Set this input to Port 160. In MacOS this port is called 'PANORAMA P* Instrument'.
  

Panorama should now be connected to FL Studio and the controllers display will appear as shown in the 'Mixer' image on the right.

 

With Panorama and FL Studio now up and running, let's take a look at the functionality. It works quite different from our integration for other DAWs but it's pretty powerful. The 'Control Surface Functions' image on the right provides a brief overview of what each control does. You will notice that all 16 encoders and 9 faders are freely assignable to your liking but the main navigational buttons are configured so you don't have to worry about it. Let's take a look at what each button does:

 

First press the [Track -] and [Track +] buttons. This will bring up the mixer in FL Studio and for each press, either move forward or backwards one mixer insert/send depending on which button you press. 

The info-bar updates showing Mixer insert name/Song Position Meter/Blank (see the 'Mixer Control' image).

Next press the [Patch-] and [Patch+] buttons. This time you are navigating the FL Studio channels with associated instruments and you will notice that the mixer follows the selection also. 

You can also press [Shift]+[Track+] (Bank>) to jump 8 mixer insert/send forward from your current position or [Shift]+[Track-] (<Bank) to go 8 channels backwards. Note: This does not change the assignments of the 8 faders. 

If your Panorama has a motorized fader, now try moving it. This will change the mixer volume for the current mixer insert/send. When you select a new mixer insert/send (using either the mouse or the navigation buttons on Panorama) the motorized fader will move the fader volume position to correspond with that insert/send. The solo and mute buttons associated with the motorized fader will similarly update with mixer insert/send selection. The Fader button allows you to record arm the selected track.

The 5 buttons below the display are currently labeled Pan/Stereo/EQ1/EQ2/EQ3 (again, see the 'Mixer Control' image).

By default, Pan is selected so you can now control pan for the selected Mixer insert/send using Panorama's Data Control. Parameter feedback is displayed in the top info-line. 

Pressing any of the other display buttons will change the assignment of the Data Control encoder to control Stereo (separation), EQ1 Gain, EQ2 Gain, EQ3 Gain.

 

 

If your Panorama is not being recognized by Reason or other DAW applications, Audio MIDI Setup (AMS) can help you identify the problem.

To access Audio MIDI Setup follow these steps:

1. Open a Finder window. (Image 1)
2. Click on the 'Go' menu at the top of the screen and select 'Utilities'. (Image 2)
3. Double-click on the Audio MIDI Setup icon. (Image 3)
4. Go to the 'Window' menu at the top of your screen and select 'Show MIDI window'. If it says 'Hide MIDI window' then you should already see the 'MIDI Studio' window. (Image 4)

Image 5 shows how Panorama should appear in Audio MIDI Setup (AMS).

If your Panorama has never been detected by AMS, it will look like Image 6.

You may need to click the 'Rescan MIDI' button or restart your computer so that AMS can detect your Panorama.

If you see Panorama in AMS as in Image 7, it means that it's detected without the Nektar driver.

Have you installed the latest driver? If so, try restarting your computer.

If Panorama appears greyed out like in Image 8 , it means that the driver is installed but AMS does not detect Panorama.

Try clicking the 'Rescan MIDI' button or power-cycling your Panorama. Are you sure the USB cable is connected to your computer?

Finally, if you see Panorama in AMS with a question mark (Image 9), you may have a driver installation issue.

First try restarting your computer. If Panorama still doesn't get detected correctly, run the Uninstaller that was included in the .dmg file you downloaded, restart your computer, then Installer the drivers again. Make sure your Panorama is not connected when running the Installer.

If you continue to have trouble setting up your Panorama in Reason or any other applications, please contact tech support.

Follow these steps:

1. Open the search bar and type 'Device Manager' (Image 1).
2. Select device manager from the top of the search results.
3. With Device manager open click on the '>' icon next to Sound, video and game controllers.
4. Now right click on Nektar Panorama P1/P4/P6 and select 'Update Driver Software...' (Image 2).
5. Choose 'Browse my computer for driver software' (Image 3).
6. Click 'Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer' (Image 4).
7. Select 'Nektar Technology USB MIDI', 'Nektar Panorama P1' or 'Nektar Panorama P6' then click 'Next' (image 5) .
   Note: If you see more than version listed on this page, choose the most recent one.

Thats it. Panorama should now be detected by your DAW. If you're still having trouble please check the links below or contact one of our support staff.

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Windows 10 MIDI port issue

We have seen an issue with some Windows 10 20H2 installations, especially on computers with Intel Tiger Lake processors. The problem seems to affect a lot of class compliant USB MIDI and Audio devices.

We have had some reports that simply running the automatic update utility in Windows will fix the problem but that doesn't seem to work for everyone.

You can check the Device Manager for a device called 'Intel Smart Sound For USB Audio' and disable it:

1. Right-click on the Windows button in the lower-left corner of your screen.
2. Select 'Device Manager'.
3. Expand the 'Sound, Video and Game controllers' category.
4. If you see a device called 'Intel Smart Sound For USB Audio', right click on it and select 'Disable'.

Once you have done that, restart your computer with the controller connected. Applications should be able to see the controller's ports at that point.

There may be times when you are working with another DAW, or perhaps controlling a rack full of external devices, that you will find it advantageous to remain on the Fader menu page. It allows you to switch from one MIDI channel to the next and set the relative levels, pan positions and effect send levels very easily.

To enter the Fader menu, press the Fader button (next to the Auto-fader). Doing so will bring up the following display: (Image 1).

In Internal mode this menu behaves like a General MIDI channel strip. Here's what's possible using the default settings for the Auto-fader group:

• The fader will control the volume of the target device using MIDI CC# 7
• The Mute button will transmit values of MIDI CC# 12 
• The Solo button will transmit values of MIDI CC# 13
• The Data encoder will control parameters such as Pan (CC# 10), Send 1 (CC# 91) and Send 2 (CC#93). Sends 1 and 2 correspond to the Reverb and Chorus send levels, respectively.

Note: 'Mute' and 'Solo' are not part of the GM2 specifications, so you may need to reassign them according to the requirements of the software you use.

Each of the arrows on the display menu buttons has a particular function:

• M1/M2 (down/up arrows): Determine whether Pan, Send 1 or Send 2 will be controlled by the Data encoder
• M3/M4 (down/up arrows): Select the MIDI channel number on which the Auto-fader, the Mute/Solo buttons and the Data encoder transmit (Global or 1-16)
• M5: Returns to the Internal mode home page

To change the MIDI CC# assignments for these controls, as with any other, access the Control Edit page from the Internal mode Setup menu. Then move the fader or press one of the buttons to call up the page you want.

First, to access the PB Assign page, press PB1 and PB2 at the same time. This will bring up a page that looks like Image 1.

Control Functions
The two large dots on the left side of the display show you what the current assignments are for PB1 and PB2. The one that is lit red is the one that is currently selected for editing, and the red text on the right side of the display shows you the current function for the selected button. In the picture above we can see that PB1 is selected, and its current assignment is Transpose -.

PB2 is not selected, so it is in white. But the text underneath the icon for PB2 tells you that it is currently assigned to Transpose +.

If you want to change the assigned function of one of the Performance buttons (PB), simply press it  to select it. Then choose the desired function using Menu buttons 1 or 2 (the Down/Up arrows).

Here's a description of each of the control functions in the left column. Either button can be assigned to any of the following:

• Transpose -  Transpose the keyboard downward by one semitone
• Transpose +  Transpose the keyboard upward by one semitone
• Program -  Decrease the program number by one value
• Program +  Increase the program number by one value
• Global Ch -  Decrease the Global MIDI channel number by one value
• Global Ch +  Increase the Global MIDI channel number by one value

MIDI FX
The main thing to know about the MIDI FX is that using them involves two controls at the same time: you press and hold the selected Performance button (PB) and move another control such as the Mod wheel, a fader or an encoder. Then what the MIDI FX do is alter the order in which the MIDI data is transmitted by the control being moved.

Without the PB held down, controls transmit data in a linear fashion: from 0-127 and back down again. But with the PB held down while the control is moved, the full range of data is still available, but it will be sent in broken groups: for example, 0-12, then backward from 24-13, then forward from 25 to 37, etc., or some other arrangement of the data.

As you can see, this introduces an element of unpredictability, and it can be a lot fun when applied to filter frequency, say, or an LFO rate, or any parameter that can be controlled. So when you're ready for something completely different, try them out! Because of their non-linear approach they may well be just the missing element that was needed to spice up a performance.

Here's the list of MIDI FX. Some of these would be too complex to describe, so the best thing to do is give them a try! We think you'll find them useful:

• Vortex 7
• Pyramid
• 4 Step
• Back Step 4
• Invert
• RipSaw 7
• Auto Pan
• Invert-Pan

Launching the Macro Editor

You'll be amazed how easy this process is.

• First, press the [Internal] button so your Panorama is in Internal mode.
• The QWERTY features are found inside the Control Edit pages, so press Menu button 5 (M5), which is labeled 'Setup'.
• Use the data encoder to scroll to Control Edit and press M5 again to select that menu option.

We'll be using the Fader page for the following example, so move one of the faders found on the left of the display so we're on the same page. You will want to have your DAW open with a new project so you can see how this works at each step of the way.

What we're going to do is assign Fader button 1 to save the new project within your DAW [**]. So press Fader button 1 and you'll see the following information in the display: (Image 1).

A red circle appears in the Panorama display when a fader button is pressed; that's how you'll know which one is selected for editing. You can see that in the picture above. We've also circled the graphic above Menu button 3 (M3), which sports an icon resembling a computer keyboard. Press this button and the assignment for Fader button 1 will change automatically to look like this: (Image 2).

Now take a look at your computer screen: you'll see the main window for the Macro Editor we mentioned earlier. It'll look like this: (Image 3).

Let's take a quick tour of the Macro Editor window:

• Macro Name: You can name the Macros you create or view the name of the Macros you've loaded on this line
• Load: This button will open a window so you can select one of the Macros and assign it to the Panorama button you just pressed.
• New: When you want to create a new Macro, click this button.
• Learn: Becomes active after you click the 'New' button.
• Clear: Allows you to clear all eight Keystroke lines and start over.
• Cancel: Closes the Macro Editor without saving the changes or selection you've made.
• OK: Confirms the Macro assignment. The name of the Macro you selected will appear in the Panorama display.

Now the real fun begins!

Creating a QWERTY Macro

Click the 'New' button in the Macro Editor window and immediately a couple of things happen:

• The 'Learn' and 'Clear' buttons become active, and
• The 'Macro Name' line is selected and highlighted, giving you the opportunity to name the Macro you will create. (Image 4)

We'll give the new macro a name of Save_file. Now click the 'Learn' button. When you do, two new things happen:

• The 'Learn' button gains a new label of 'Done', which we will click once the Macro keystrokes have been defined.
• The cursor jumps to the Keystroke 1 line and waits for input from the computer keyboard.

Now here's a fact we haven't mentioned directly yet: each Keystroke line can actually hold up to three keystrokes, which allows combination keystrokes to be recorded. This is actually what you do on your computer keyboard without even thinking about it sometimes: we've all held Control and pressed C, or V, or some other combination to tell the computer to copy or paste, or whatever. The Macro Editor will allow three 'simultaneous' keypresses to be considered a single instruction, so a more complex command like 'Save As...' can be executed as well ('Control' + 'Shift' + 'S').

So on with the show, here:

• Press and hold 'Ctrl' and then press 'S' ('Command' + 'S' on a Mac). Those keys will show up in the Keystroke 1 line.
• Lift the keys: the cursor will move to Keystroke 2.
• Press the 'Enter' or 'Return' key. That key will show up in the Keystroke 2 line.
• Look at the Macro Editor screen and make sure you entered the correct keystrokes. If not, press the 'Clear' button and start over.
• Once you're sure you've entered the correct keystrokes, click the 'Done' button in the Macro Editor.
• Double-check the Macro name and the keystrokes. If everything is okay, then click 'OK'. This will enter your Macro into the list of user-definable Macros and close the Macro Editor. (Image 5)
• Now look at the Panorama display. The name 'Save_file' will have appeared next to the word 'Macro' on one of the middle lines in the display, like so: (Image 6)

There are a few things you'll want to remember at this point:

• The QWERTY function you just assigned will not do anything while you're on a Control Edit page. To see it in action you'll need to press 'Internal' to exit to the Internal mode home page.
• Don't forget to save the preset you've been editing, or else your Macro assignment won't be there when you return to that Preset later. It is already part of the Macro Editor's database, though, so you can always re-assign it by going through the steps listed above.
• If you assign a QWERTY Macro to a Pad or an F-Key, remember that those are not saved as part of a Preset; the Pad map or F-Key map will need to be saved to memory in order for those assignments to be preserved. The same thing is true here, though: The Macro you created became part of the Macro Editor's database once you clicked 'OK', so you can always re-assign it by going through the steps listed above.

Loading and assigning a Macro

Let's say you've already constructed a Macro like this: (Image 7).

This series of commands is designed to do the following:

• Open your file browser (Ctrl+O).
• Select the first song it finds with a name that starts with the number 4, and
• Load it into your DAW's active memory (Return).

What you want to do now is assign that Macro to F-Key 4. So here's how to go about that:

• Enter the Control Edit page as described above (Hint: it's under the Setup button).
• Press F-Key 4.
• Press Menu button 3 (the one with the computer keyboard icon).
• Look at your computer screen, where the Macro Editor will have appeared.
• Click the 'Load' button in the Macro Editor.
• Look at the list of Macros that opens. You'll see the 'Save_file' Macro we made earlier, and in this case, you'll see 'Open_Song_4' right next to it: (Image 8).
• Double-click on the Macro you want to assign.
• Click 'OK' in the Macro Editor window.
• Look at the Panorama display: you'll see Open_Song_4 on one of the middle lines in the display: (Image 9).
• Be sure to save the F-Keys map once you've finished your work.

By the way, you may want to click 'Load' sometime and scroll through the list of preset Macros we've included so you can see what's available already. No sense 'reinventing the wheel', as it were.

Filter options in the Browser
When you click 'Load' in the Macro Editor window the Macro Browser opens, showing you the complete list of QWERTY Macros at your disposal.

But if you've made a bunch of them yourself it could take a while to scroll through the entire list to find the one you want. There's a way to simplify the search process: use the Macro Browser's Filter feature. (Image 10).

Use the Filter line to type in part or all of the name of the QWERTY Macro you want to use. For example, you could type in 'aud' and the Filter will display only Macros with names containing those letters: Audio, Audition, Audio In, New Audio, etc.

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[*] If you own Reason as well as another DAW, you can use them both at the same time. That's a topic for a different article, though! So if you'd like to know more about that, read the article titled 'Using Panorama with Rewire'. That will tell you how to link the two DAWs. There's also an article specifically aimed at using Panorama's QWERTY features with Reason and Windows (QWERTY Macros: Quick-select of Favorites in Reason (Windows)).

[**] That was just a simple example; 'Undo' and 'Save' probably already have been pre-assigned to an F-Key for you. Check the F-Keys Map for your DAW inside Panorama to see what's already there.

You can save over 8000 of these things, so it's not like you're going to run out. But the list could become unwieldy if you have accidentally saved some QWERTY Macros that you didn't really need while you were learning to create them. And a simple slip of the wrist can result in an incomplete Macro, or one with an accidental keystroke. So here's how to go about eliminating the QWERTY Macros you don't want.

The QWERTY Macros you have constructed are located inside a file called 'p4.user.cfg', which can be found here:

• Windows: C:\Users\(your-user-name)\AppData\Roaming\nektar\Settings
• OS X: (your-user-name)\Library\Application Support\Nektar\Settings

Chances are pretty high that your computer won't know what application to use to open the Panorama's .cfg (config) file. So after you open the file, tell your computer to use a text editor such as WordPad (Windows) or TextEdit (OS X) to read it.

The next thing to do is search for a QWERTY Macro by the name of 'Save_file' or 'Open_Song_4'. (We created those in the article 'QWERTY Macros: Shortcuts triggered by Panorama controls'.) Once you've located 'Save_file', for example, here is what you'll see: (Image 11).

In order to delete this particular QWERTY Macro, select everything shown in blue below and delete it. But be careful not to delete anything more or less than exactly what is shown or you may disrupt another QWERTY Macro you have created. (Image 12)

Note: the changes you make will not take effect until after the computer has been restarted [*].

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Editing the contents of a QWERTY Macro

Let's say you meant to create a QWERTY called 'Open_Song_5', not 'Open_Song_4'. Here's how to fix that.

First, find the file 'p4.user.cfg' at the location listed above for your OS and open it.

Second, search for the name of the QWERTY Macro ('Open_Song_4' in this case). Here's what that one looks like: (Image 13).

We've circled the data you will need to edit in order to change this QWERTY Macro. Change the '4' to a '5' in each case as shown below, and then save the Config file. Be sure not to change the name of the file; just save it on top of itself. (Image 14)

Note: the changes you make will not take effect until after the computer has been restarted [*].

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[*] Depending on your platform, it may be necessary to shut the computer down before the changes will take effect, not just restart it.

Here are some symptoms which could indicate a problem with the motorized fader.

• Fader does not move during calibration when Panorama is powered on.
• Fader does not move to the position of the volume parameter for the selected track.
• Fader does not move in response to automation.
• Fader resists being moved manually.

To identify the problem, please follow these steps:

1. Turn off your Panorama.
2. Hold the [Internal] and [Play/F10] buttons while turning the Panorama back on (make sure that both USB cables are connected to the Panorama).
3. Continue to hold the [Internal] and [Play/F10] buttons until you see "PANORAMA IN TEST MODE" at the top of the display (Image 1).
4. Touch the motorized fader, you should see an red indicator in the lower left corner of the display that says "Touch On".
5. Let go of the motorized fader, now the indicator should be grey and say "Touch off". Is that what you see here?
6. Move the motorized fader all the way to the top, then all the way to the bottom. You should see a fader graphic moving on the display as you move the motorized fader. Do you see that?
7. Now move the first black fader (just to the right of the motorized fader) all the way up and all the way down. The motorized fader should move along with the black fader. Do you see that?