NektarAruba MIDI Pad Controller for Beat Making and Performance serves as a versatile beat making and performance tool, featuring 16hyper-sensitive RGB illuminated pads, a built-in drum machine-style stepsequencer with recording capabilities, a flexible pad repeat engine, andexcellent plugin control.
The accompanying Nektarinesoftware and drum library transform Aruba into a comprehensive beat makingsolution compatible with any DAW. Utilize your preferred drum instrument plugin(VST/VST3 or AU) or start creating with the included DP-1 drum player, K1 Kick,S1 Snare, and T1 Tom synth instruments.
Customize your kits by playingyour audio samples or combining various plugins with other content to craftunique sounds. All settings, including pad configurations, are saved withinyour DAW project or Nektarine Multipatch for easy retrieval.
Aruba and Nektarine provide arobust beat creation platform at your disposal and can be integrated into anyDAW as a VST, VST3, AU, or AAX plugin, allowing you to work in your preferredenvironment. Create your beats with ease and enjoyment!
Aruba’s hardware emphasizesreal-time access and performance, featuring 16 large RGB pads that are velocityand pressure-sensitive, 8 heavy-duty rotary pots for direct parameter control,a color TFT display to show assignments, and dedicated buttons for modeswitching.
The hardware Step Sequencermirrors a classic drum machine format, allowing programming or real-timerecording of sequences for each pad. The MIDI Out enables external gearsequencing and serves as a MIDI interface. The transport section providesseamless DAW control, with Nektar DAW Integration simplifying transportfunctions.
Connect Aruba to the Nektarinesoftware for enhanced functionality, granting quick access to Mixer, Pad Setup,Instrument and FX plugin control, and more. The analog pots offer precisecontrol of parameters, particularly plugin settings. Save user presets for padconfigurations and MIDI control assignments, with the ability to storeunlimited pad configurations when paired with Nektarine.
A PAD INSTRUMENT THAT RESPONDSTO YOU
ARUBA’s 16 RGB-illuminated padsoffer excellent sensitivity for finger drumming, triggering even with thelightest touch. The pad sensitivity is pre-set or auto-trained for consistentperformance and optimal trigger response. If necessary, sensitivity can bemanually adjusted for each pad individually.
Velocity curves are not justchosen but can be customized to your preference. Instead of sifting throughvarious curves, simply adjust until you’re satisfied. A Bias parameter allowsyou to modify the overall velocity curve response, ranging from linear tologarithmic or exponential. Additional velocity options include a Dynamicresponse where the velocity value is set at a midpoint with the rest of thecurve adjusted accordingly. For a more precise response, Fixed and step optionsare also available.
Pad pressure can be assigned toAftertouch (channel and poly), Pitch Bend, or MIDI CCs. Utilizing pad pressurecan add a dynamic element to your performance, especially with sustainingsounds like long kicks or effects. Once configured, pressing a pad can slightlybend the pitch of a percussion sound, similar to playing a Djembe.
Each pad is illuminated with anRGB LED, offering a total of 16 distinct colors for visual feedback.
PAD REPEAT
ARUBA’s Pad Repeat engine iseasily accessible, featuring a dedicated on/off button and settings menu fordirect use. Utilize Repeat to generate rolls or intricate percussive patternsthat may be challenging to play manually. The repeat settings offer extensivecustomization with real-time adjustments for groove and speed control – allconveniently located on ARUBA’s 8 potentiometers.
Need quick Trap-style hi-hatsequences? The initial 6 RGB LED buttons above the display instantly alterrepeat rates. Enhance your rolls by adjusting velocity through pad pressurewhile changing repeat rates with the LED buttons. Additional parameters such asRepeat Rate, Gate, Accent Interval, Accent Velocity Offset, Swing, TriggerMode, and Clock Source are available for further customization.
DRUM MACHINE-STYLE STEPSEQUENCER – WITH RECORD
The on-board hardware stepsequencer is a valuable tool for crafting creative beats. By pressing ARUBA’s‘SEQ’ button, the 16 LED buttons below the pots transform into the belovedclassic 16-step programming interface. Each pad represents a pattern, triggeringthe assigned note to play.
Enabling the sequencer’s Recordbutton lets you play the pads and capture the played notes with their velocityvalues in individual patterns. This method is a quick and enjoyable way toconstruct a beat, adding steps intentionally or intuitively. Editing is simple– just use the 16 step buttons to add or remove note steps while recording.Each step adheres to the set play rate for each pattern (default is 1/16). Eachpattern (one per pad) consists of up to 64 steps divided into 4 parts. The 16patterns are collectively known as a Collection, and up to 16 Collections canbe saved internally for later use.
ARUBA’s sequencer prioritizesinteractivity and performance: Parts can be triggered in any combination at anytime, facilitating the creation of new variations effortlessly. Each pattern,and even each part within a pattern, can have a different length, making iteasier to generate poly-rhythms.
Switching patterns to new soundsis straightforward: With one pattern per pad, adding a slot in Nektarine with anew plugin will make the new sound play for that pad and pattern without theneed to stop the sequencer.
Key Features
- Velocity- and pressure-sensitivepads with 16 RGB color illumination
- 8 potentiometers with heavy-dutyconstruction, offering 360 degrees rotation
- TFT color display with 320×240 pxresolution, equipped with 4 soft buttons
- 16 RGB LED buttons for enhancedvisual feedback
- 8 dedicated Nektarine buttons forquick access to Patches, Mixer, Pad Setup, Plugins, and more
- 6 mode buttons for versatilecontrol options
- 7 Transport Buttons with LEDillumination for seamless navigation
- Complete MIDI programmability forpads, switches, and potentiometers
- 16 Presets available for storingall internal settings (except when using Nektarine)
- Sturdy housing featuring analuminum top for durability and protection.
Technical Specifications
Connections
MIDI Out connector
1/4” TRS footswitch socket (for upto 2 footswitches using optional Y-adaptor)
USB connector
PSU connector (PSU not included)
Kensington Lock connector
Weight & Dimensions
30,1 cm (L) x 23,1 cm (D) x 4,5cm(H), 1,4 kg
System Requirements
USB class compliant (no driverneeded)
USB Power Requirement: 500 mA
9v DC Power Requirement: 500 – 600mA, center positive
ARUBA:works with Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 10 orhigher. Mac OS X 10.5 or higher, Linux (Ubuntu)
Nektarine and Nektar DAWIntegration: Windows 8,10 or higher. Mac OS X 10.11 or higher
Step Sequencer
Stores 16 Collections of 16Patterns each
Each Pattern with up to 4 partsfor a total of up to 64 steps
Dedicated programming interfacewith 16 RGB buttons and parts selection buttons
Real-time performance features(solo, mute, instant start options and more)
Trigger sequencer parts in anycombination at any time
Independent settings per part(play rate, step length, velocity, accent, gate, swing and more)
Extensive editing features all theway down to step level
Internal and external clockoperationLatch automation on/off
Pad Repeat Engine
8 adjustable real-time parametersincl. note length, accent level and interval and repeat rate
Dedicated Repeat rate settings& activation buttons
Display soft button for instantassignment of pressure to velocity
Tap tempo feature
Internal and external clockoperation
Nektarine
AAX, AU, VST or VST3 pluginversion and stand-alone application for OSX & Windows
Load any VST, VST3 and AUinstrument plugins
DP-1 drum sample player included(supports AIFF and WAV files, up to 24 Bit / 192 kHz)
16 instrument plugin slots
Each instrument slot with choke,volume, pan, mute/solo, sends 1-4 controls
4 effect insert plugin slots perinstrument (AU / VST / VST3 FX)
4 send effect plugin slots (AU /VST / VST3 FX)
Pads View for easy kit overviewand fast kit creation from the integrated Browser Pane
Mixer View for kit mixing
Store instrument & FX pluginpatches + Nektarine Multi-Patches
Browser Settings are rememberedper plugin slot
Handles all pad-, plugin- &patch-management with complete control from ARUBA
Control page editor forcustomizing Nektar plugin maps or creating new ones from scratch
Full parameter feedback: displayupdated in real-time
Scale and Chords mode for buildingtracks
Multi-Patch with Pad settingssaved as ‘Default’ load as default – all browser settings can be saved withtags for slots tag ‘kick’, slot 1, etc.
Drum Sample Library with 500+sounds and patches including acoustic, electronic and drum machine samples
Aruba Nektar DAW IntegrationSupports
Ableton Live Suite
Apple Logic + Garageband
Bitwig 8-Track + Studio
Cakewalk by Bandlab
Cockos Reaper
MOTU Digital Performer
Presonus Studio One
Reason Studios Reason
Steinberg Cubase + Nuendo
