Nektar Aruba MIDI Pad Controller for Beat Making and Performance serves as a versatile beat making and performance tool, featuring 16 hyper-sensitive RGB illuminated pads, a built-in drum machine-style step sequencer with recording capabilities, a flexible pad repeat engine, and excellent plugin control.

The accompanying Nektarine software and drum library transform Aruba into a comprehensive beat making solution 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 playing your audio samples or combining various plugins with other content to craft unique sounds. All settings, including pad configurations, are saved within your DAW project or Nektarine Multipatch for easy retrieval.

Aruba and Nektarine provide a robust beat creation platform at your disposal and can be integrated into any DAW as a VST, VST3, AU, or AAX plugin, allowing you to work in your preferred environment. Create your beats with ease and enjoyment!

Aruba's hardware emphasizes real-time access and performance, featuring 16 large RGB pads that are velocity and pressure-sensitive, 8 heavy-duty rotary pots for direct parameter control, a color TFT display to show assignments, and dedicated buttons for mode switching.

The hardware Step Sequencer mirrors a classic drum machine format, allowing programming or real-time recording of sequences for each pad. The MIDI Out enables external gear sequencing and serves as a MIDI interface. The transport section provides seamless DAW control, with Nektar DAW Integration simplifying transport functions.

Connect Aruba to the Nektarine software for enhanced functionality, granting quick access to Mixer, Pad Setup, Instrument and FX plugin control, and more. The analog pots offer precise control of parameters, particularly plugin settings. Save user presets for pad configurations and MIDI control assignments, with the ability to store unlimited pad configurations when paired with Nektarine.

A PAD INSTRUMENT THAT RESPONDS TO YOU
ARUBA's 16 RGB-illuminated pads offer excellent sensitivity for finger drumming, triggering even with the lightest touch. The pad sensitivity is pre-set or auto-trained for consistent performance and optimal trigger response. If necessary, sensitivity can be manually adjusted for each pad individually.

Velocity curves are not just chosen but can be customized to your preference. Instead of sifting through various curves, simply adjust until you're satisfied. A Bias parameter allows you to modify the overall velocity curve response, ranging from linear to logarithmic or exponential. Additional velocity options include a Dynamic response where the velocity value is set at a midpoint with the rest of the curve adjusted accordingly. For a more precise response, Fixed and step options are also available.

Pad pressure can be assigned to Aftertouch (channel and poly), Pitch Bend, or MIDI CCs. Utilizing pad pressure can add a dynamic element to your performance, especially with sustaining sounds like long kicks or effects. Once configured, pressing a pad can slightly bend the pitch of a percussion sound, similar to playing a Djembe.

Each pad is illuminated with an RGB LED, offering a total of 16 distinct colors for visual feedback.

PAD REPEAT
ARUBA's Pad Repeat engine is easily accessible, featuring a dedicated on/off button and settings menu for direct use. Utilize Repeat to generate rolls or intricate percussive patterns that may be challenging to play manually. The repeat settings offer extensive customization with real-time adjustments for groove and speed control – all conveniently located on ARUBA's 8 potentiometers.

Need quick Trap-style hi-hat sequences? The initial 6 RGB LED buttons above the display instantly alter repeat rates. Enhance your rolls by adjusting velocity through pad pressure while changing repeat rates with the LED buttons. Additional parameters such as Repeat Rate, Gate, Accent Interval, Accent Velocity Offset, Swing, Trigger Mode, and Clock Source are available for further customization.

DRUM MACHINE-STYLE STEP SEQUENCER – WITH RECORD
The on-board hardware step sequencer is a valuable tool for crafting creative beats. By pressing ARUBA’s ‘SEQ’ button, the 16 LED buttons below the pots transform into the beloved classic 16-step programming interface. Each pad represents a pattern, triggering the assigned note to play.

Enabling the sequencer’s Record button lets you play the pads and capture the played notes with their velocity values in individual patterns. This method is a quick and enjoyable way to construct 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). Each pattern (one per pad) consists of up to 64 steps divided into 4 parts. The 16 patterns are collectively known as a Collection, and up to 16 Collections can be saved internally for later use.

ARUBA’s sequencer prioritizes interactivity and performance: Parts can be triggered in any combination at any time, facilitating the creation of new variations effortlessly. Each pattern, and even each part within a pattern, can have a different length, making it easier to generate poly-rhythms.

Switching patterns to new sounds is straightforward: With one pattern per pad, adding a slot in Nektarine with a new plugin will make the new sound play for that pad and pattern without the need to stop the sequencer.

Key Features

• Velocity- and pressure-sensitive pads with 16 RGB color illumination
  
• 8 potentiometers with heavy-duty construction, offering 360 degrees rotation
  
• TFT color display with 320×240 px resolution, equipped with 4 soft buttons
  
• 16 RGB LED buttons for enhanced visual feedback
  
• 8 dedicated Nektarine buttons for quick access to Patches, Mixer, Pad Setup, Plugins, and more
  
• 6 mode buttons for versatile control options
  
• 7 Transport Buttons with LED illumination for seamless navigation
  
• Complete MIDI programmability for pads, switches, and potentiometers
  
• 16 Presets available for storing all internal settings (except when using Nektarine)
  
• Sturdy housing featuring an aluminum top for durability and protection.

Technical Specifications

Connections
MIDI Out connector
1/4” TRS footswitch socket (for up to 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 4,5 cm(H), 1,4 kg
System Requirements
USB class compliant (no driver needed)
USB Power Requirement: 500 mA
9v DC Power Requirement: 500 – 600 mA, center positive
ARUBA: 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 10.11 or higher
Step Sequencer
Stores 16 Collections of 16 Patterns each
Each Pattern with up to 4 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 operationLatch automation on/off
Pad Repeat Engine
8 adjustable real-time parameters incl. 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
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 per instrument (AU / VST / VST3 FX)
4 send effect plugin slots (AU / VST / VST3 FX)
Pads View for easy kit overview and fast kit creation from the integrated Browser Pane
Mixer View for kit mixing
Store instrument & FX plugin patches + Nektarine Multi-Patches
Browser Settings are remembered per plugin slot
Handles all pad-, plugin- & patch-management with complete control from ARUBA
Control page editor for customizing Nektar plugin 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 saved as ‘Default’ load as default – all browser settings can be saved with tags 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 Integration Supports
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