More info on the Panorama controller for Reason 6
The basic idea of the Panorama is a custom front end controller for Reason 6, based around a MIDI keyboard and plenty of knobs and sliders.
Mixer
Channel strip
The mixer channel strips in Reason are comprehensive and like the real world hardware – quite long! Panorama breaks the channel strip down in to manageable localized sections, accessible at the push of a button. From the mixer menu described in Part 1, you have access to EQ, Dynamics, Inserts and Sends across the buttons below the display. The encoders to the right of the display map to the targeted channel strip in the mixer. If a track is selected in the sequencer, the corresponding mixer channel becomes targeted. Alternatively, you can target a mix channel using the 8 buttons when set to ‘select’ mode (described in part 1).
Here we are taking a closer look at how Panorama access’s the EQ parameters.
Panorama allows you to gain access to Reason’s mixer at the touch of a button. Here you see the Reason mixer channels assigned to be operated by each of Panorama’s controls. The display gives you an accurate overview of what parameter each control is assigned to as well as current value state. Let’s look at the display screen in some more detail.
Panorama is our vision of how a great controller should work. Yes, there are many ‘generic’ controllers on the market already but we have yet to find one that satisfies our criteria of operating the software, as if it’s hardware – That’s Panorama. Panorama uses a communication protocol that has been custom designed for Reason 6, putting control – every control – at your fingertips. There’s nothing generic about this controller. Panorama really does access all areas.
Nektar Panorama general specifications
- 49 note weighted keyboard w/aftertouch
- Pitch bend + modulation wheels
- Motorized fader
- 9 50mm faders
- 9 encoders above the faders
- 8 programmable LED buttons
- Display
- Additional 8 encoders
- 12 velocity and pressure sensitive pads
- Navigation and menu buttons
- Transport control
- Sustain socket
- Pedal socket
The whole design is custom for Panorama including the keybed. Our communications protocol that handles interaction with Reason 6 is also custom. The main idea behind Panorama is to complement the computer ,so a user can have immediate access to areas of Reason where tactile control is an advantage without having to reach for the mouse which typically disrupts workflow.
Or to put it in other words: Panorama is first an instrument and gives the user the experience of operating Reason, as if it was hardware.



