The Nektar Aruba is a powerful beat creation and performance instrument. Aruba features 16 hypersensitive RGB illuminated pads, an onboard step sequencer, flexible pad repeat engine and plug-in control. It brings an exciting drum machine-style workflow to any DAW or external MIDI setup.

With the included Nektarine 2.0 software, Aruba becomes a plug-in control powerhouse for VST, VST3 and AU plug-ins. Work it as a single multi-sound drum plug-in or host a comprehensive kit using multiple plug-ins. Setting up Aruba’s pads is fast and intuitive, with real-time auditioning. Nektarine can host up to 16 different instrument plug-ins at once. Each of Aruba’s pads can play its own plug-in. Any pad can be rerouted to a new plug-in by creating a plug-in slot and loading a patch or plug-in directly from Aruba’s browser. Pad assignments are saved as part of a DAW project/song or a Nektarine Multi-Patch for instant recall.

Aruba’s Plugin mode provides instant control of hosted instrument plug-in parameters. When programming drum sounds, quick access to key parameters such as pitch, decay or level is essential. Nektarine makes short work of this by auto-selecting the relevant parameters for control with Aruba’s eight rotary pots, based on the last triggered pad. Nektar plug-in maps ensure that even plug-ins with thousands of parameters have seamless control.

Nektarine 2.0 provides four FX insert slots per hosted instrument plug-in. This gives up to 64 insert effect plug-ins per Nektarine instance. Dedicated Aruba FX buttons enable selection and control of hosted effects plug-ins. Each Nektarine instance has another four global send effects slots. Their send levels are controlled for each instrument plug-in from Aruba’s mixer page. Other mixer page controls are volume, pan and mute/solo for each plug-in slot.

Nektarine’s Browser is designed to manage thousands of patches. Find features like customizable tags and sorting tools, with full control from Aruba. Browser settings are independent for every instrument and effect plug-in slot. They are stored with a Nektarine Multi-Patch or even a DAW project/song, along with all other settings. Nektarine can be run in any DAW hosting AAX, AU, VST or VST3 plug-ins, or as a standalone application in Windows and Apple OSX.

Pad Repeat Engine
Aruba’s onboard pad repeat engine is directly accessible. It features a dedicated on/off button and settings menu. It’s a great tool for creating dynamic rolls by using pad pressure to control velocity while changing repeat rates with the RGB LED buttons. The Repeat engine is customizable. Parameters include Repeat Rate, Gate, Accent Interval, Accent Velocity Offset, Swing, Trigger Mode and Clock Source.

Hardware Step Sequencer
On pressing Aruba’s SEQ button, the 16 LED buttons below the pots become the classic 16-step programming interface. 16 patterns (one per pad) with four parts, comprising of up to 16 steps each, add up to a total of 64 steps. This provides flexibility for inspired beat creation. A set of patterns can be saved in one of Aruba’s 16 Collections. Aruba’s sequencer is all about interaction and performance. Parts may be triggered in any combination at any time. Each pattern, and each part in a pattern, can have a different length. This simplifies the creation of interesting poly-rhythms. Many of the editing features go all the way down to step level and include play rate, velocity, accent, gate and swing. Internal and external clock modes ensure perfect sync. The sequencer may also be used stand-alone for MIDI instruments connected to Aruba’s external MIDI Out.

DAW Integration
The dedicated DAW button assigns Aruba’s surface to take control of many popular DAWs. This opens up Nektar DAW integration features, such as extended transport control, track selection, project navigation and more. Nektar DAW Integration software is included for Ableton Live Suite, Bitwig, Cubase, Digital Performer, GarageBand, Logic, Nuendo, Reaper, Reason, Studio One and Sonar/Cakewalk. Seven transport buttons are fully MIDI assignable, including MMC commands. They can be used to set up transport control for any software not supported by Nektar DAW integration.

MIDI Programmability
While Aruba is designed for control of Nektarine, it can be used as a self-contained, programmable USB MIDI pad controller in Internal mode. It connects with hard- and software via USB or the MIDI output jack. 16 presets store pad and control assignments. They can be used for the 16 pads, eight pots, seven switches and two footswitch connections.
Step Sequencer
Stores 16 Collections of 16 Patterns each
Each Pattern with up to four parts for a total of up to 64 steps
Dedicated programming interface with 16 RGB buttons and parts selection buttons
Real-time performance features (solo, mute, instant start options and more)
Trigger sequencer parts in any combination at any time
Independent settings per part (play rate, step length, velocity, accent, gate, swing and more)
Extensive editing features all the way down to step level
Internal and external clock operation
Latch automation on/off
Pad Repeat Engine
8 adjustable real-time parameters including note length, accent level and interval and repeat rate
Dedicated Repeat rate settings & activation buttons
Display soft button for instant assignment of pressure to velocity
Tap tempo feature
Internal and external clock operation
Nektarine
AAX, AU, VST or VST3 plugin version and stand-alone application for OSX & Windows
Load any VST, VST3 and AU instrument plugins
16 instrument plug-in slots
Each instrument slot with choke, volume, pan, mute/solo, sends 1-4 controls
4 effect insert plug-in slots per instrument (AU / VST / VST3 FX)
4 send effect plug-in slots (AU / VST / VST3 FX)
Store instrument & FX plug-in patches + Nektarine Multi-Patches
Browser Settings are remembered per plug-in slot
Handles all pad-, plug-in- & patch-management with complete control
Control page editor for customizing Nektar plug-in maps or creating new ones from scratch
Full parameter feedback: display updated in real time
Scale and Chords mode for building tracks
Multi-Patch with Pad settings save as ‘Default’ load as default—all browser settings can be saved with tags for slots tag "kick," slot 1, etc.
Aura Nektar DAW Integration Supports
Ableton Live Suite
Apple Logic + GarageBand
Bitwig 8-Track + Studio
Cockos Reaper
MOTU Digital Performer
PreSonus Studio One
Reason Studios Reason
Steinberg Cubase + Nuendo
Hardware
16 RGB color illuminated velocity- and pressure-sensitive pads
8 heavy-duty potentiometers (360 degrees, endless)
TFT color display with 320×240 px, including 4 soft buttons
16 RGB LED buttons
8 Nektarine buttons for direct access to Patches, Mixer, Pad Setup, Plug-ins and more
6 mode buttons
7 Transport Buttons with LED illumination
Fully MIDI-programmable pads, switches and pots
16 Presets for storing all internal settings (not required when using Nektarine)
Rugged housing with aluminum top
Connections
Panorama T4/T6 MIDI controller
Studio One version 4 or higher
Windows 7, 8, 10 or higher, Mac OS 10.7 or higher
Other
Dimensions (LxDxH): 11.85" x 9" x 1.77"
Weight: 3 lb.
System Requirements
AURA: USB class compliant (no driver needed) works with Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 10 or higher. Mac OS X 10.5 or higher, Linux (Ubuntu)
Nektarine and Nektar DAW Integration: Windows 8, 10 or higher. Mac OS X 10.7 or higher

Orders are generally shipped the following business day after payment is received. For example, if your order is placed and paid for at 1 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, Music & Arts will ship it on Monday. We are only shipping eBay orders via standard ground shipping at this time (3-7 business days for delivery once the item leaves our warehouse)

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Our products are backed by our 45-Day Satisfaction Guarantee. Our commitment to you is to ensure that you are completely satisfied with your purchase.

New Gear: If you’re not satisfied, neither are we. If for any reason you’re not completely satisfied with your purchase of a new item, simply return it in its original condition within 45 days of purchase (see exceptions below) and we’ll give you a full refund. It’s that simple.

Returned items must be in original, brand-new condition, showing no signs of wear or use such as belt-buckle or pick scratches, scuffs, dings or scrapes on the instrument or collateral materials. Items must also include all original packaging, manuals, warrantees and accessories or your return may be subject to a return handling charge.

Your refund will be promptly processed upon successful evaluation of your returned item from our trained category professionals. Refunds are made for product value only, excluding shipping and handling charges. If you received Free Shipping on your order, the value of the uncharged shipping cost will be deducted from your refund.

Limitations and Exceptions

Returns of the following products must be made within 10 days of shipment - Stringed instruments priced at $1999.00 or more. The following products cannot be returned – Clearance items, Apple products, items identified as non-returnable, discontinued items, electronic software downloads, demo gear, vintage instruments, strings, reeds, computers, tubes, earbuds, earplugs, recorders, tin whistles, flutophones, "world" wind instruments, harmonicas, raw-frame speakers, drumheads, drumsticks, turntable cartridges, fog fluid, clothing/footwear, body jewelry, sheet music, cleaners, polishes and polishing cloths, software/soundware, books, CDs, DVD's, vinyl records, and videos.The following fees apply to Band & Orchestra returns - All returned woodwind and brass instruments incur a $10.00 sanitization fee. Returned bows are assessed a $4.00 restocking fee. Returned mouthpieces over $300 incur an $8.00 sanitization fee; the fee for mouthpieces under $300 is $4.00.