6.1 Nektar Map Files

A Nektar map file is at the core of a good plugin control experience. It not only maps plugin parameters to Nektar hardware controls but also allows for organization of assignments in a structured navigation system that makes it easier to quickly find and control any parameter.

Parameters can also be renamed to appear as clearly as possible on a Nektar hardware product’s display. Nektar map files have already been created for most of the popular plugins and can be user-customized or build from scratch.

  • Once mapped, a plugin can be controlled transparently from your Nektar hardware, every time you load it.
  • Mapping is independent of patch selection.
  • If a plugin is not mapped, the Control view provides tools for you to create your own or customize a factory map.
  • Custom user maps are saved in the following directory on your computer: Documents\Nektar\Nektarine\Mapping Files. Saving a map does not overwrite the factory map. You can remove it, or move it to another computer, any time.

Nektarine Control view

6.2 Assigning Parameters to Controls

Changing the default control assignments on a plugins Home page, is often the first reason to customize. There are two ways to do this:

  • In Nektarine’s Control tab, Move a parameter from the left parameter list and drop it on the control it should be assigned to, within the page.
  • Use your Nektar product’s Learn function to assign parameters by first moving the parameter in the plugin GUI and then moving the control it should be assigned to, on the controller. See the specific PDF instructions for how to operate Nektarine from your Nektar product.

 

Nektar Learn is in many cases the fastest option, particularly when it’s hard to identify specific parameters in a list with many parameters.
Assignments can be changed on any selected page using the above method. To select a page, either click on it in the right pane tree structure in Nektarine’s Control menu or select it from your Nektar hardware as described in the PDF instructions.

 

6.3 Page Templates

Nektar Panorama products have both rotary and fader controls. Different page templates are used to make sure parameters are assigned to the correct group of controls as well as to ensure the display is updated accordingly. Mapping for a product that only feature rotary controls, such as Aura, by contrast only make use of the ‘Instrument Encoder’ template page.

To change the Page Template click the popup field and select one of the following options:

  • Instrument Home
  • Instrument Encoder
  • Envelope Type 1 Buttons:  Show faders in two groups of 4 each which makes the template ideal for ADSR envelope control. Fader buttons can be mapped in addition and are displayed under the faders.
  • Envelope Type 1 Encoders: Same as the previous template except the buttons are replaced by encoder controls.
  • Envelope Type 2 Buttons: Faders are laid out in a traditional group of 8 mixer view.
  • Envelope Type 2 Encoders: Same as the previous template except the buttons are replaced by encoder controls.

Either ‘Instrument Home’ and ‘Instrument Encoder’ can  be used for any rotary control page.  On Panorama the display Home view is a little different to make it visually clearer that the home page is selected but functionally it doesn’t make a difference otherwise.

Envelope Type templates are only applicable to products with faders. Panorama P-series has both buttons and encoders associated with the faders so it’s possible to map by changing the Page template during the process. Mapping is not discarded if the template is changed to a different Envelope Type.

 

6.4 Display Buttons

The 4 display buttons on Nektar products can be mapped either to parameters or page navigation. Mapping a parameter to a button is done the same way as any other control by either using drag and drop from the parameter list or Nektar device learn.

To use a display button for page navigation, first select the button. Next click in the field and select a page from the popup list. Click the ‘Page Button’ to confirm.

Nektar mapping frequently use the display buttons to navigate sub pages. To preserve display buttons for parameter control, it’s also possible to cycle through pages using only one display button. The process is the same as with page buttons but instead click ‘Cycle button’ to confirm.

 

6.5 Customizing Parameter Names

With parameters assigned to controls, it’s often apparent that the default parameter names are not structured well for a hardware display.
The process of adding a custom parameter name is thankfully easy in Nektarine. In the left-hand pane you see the list of parameters. Double-click in the ‘Display Text’ column and type in a name. Press [Enter] when you are done.
The harder part is to avoid shortening the name so much that if it’s learned on the map file’s home page, you can still identify it correctly. For example, speed, rate or time can be used in multiple parts of a plugin including effects, LFO’s and envelopes. A good solution is to first name the parameter as it appears on the plugin’s GUI, then add the part of the plugin it controls. For example a parameter named Layer1_Env1_Attack looks better if it’s renamed to Attack Env1 L1.
As you build your map file, it becomes more obvious how parameters should be named in context and you don’t have to start by renaming every single parameter. It can be done a bit at a time as you see the need.

 

6.6 Map Page Options

The map files page structure evolves in the right hand pane of the Control menu. If a Nektar map file is not already present for the loaded plugin, you’ll see 4 pages listed (Page A,B,C,Fader Home). At the bottom of the pane are buttons with the following functions:

Move Up/Down: Moves the select page up or down in the current page hierarchy.
Add Page: Creates a top level page.
Add Subpage: Converts the currently selected top-level page assignments to a Subpage, as well as creating an additional empty Subpage. Click on the header page and the click the [Add Subpage] button again to add more sub pages.
Remove Page: Deletes the currently selected page.
Undo: Click to undo the last action.
Redo: Click to redo.
Save Changes: Save the map file to the following location: Documents\\Nektar\\Nektarine\\Mapping Files. If you saved by mistake simply delete the file in that directory. Next time you reload Nektarine, the mapping will appear as it did before you made changes in the Nektarine Edit tab.
Add new parameters to current map: When ticked, this function will freeze the current mapping and allow parameters to be added. This requires an explanation: Some plugins do not expose parameters by default so you, the user, have to enable parameters for automation and control. Companies that use this approach include Spectrasonic, Steinberg, UVI and others. Because parameters for such products are not fixed, it can happen that mapping is lost when a new parameter is added. Make sure to tick this option when building or editing maps for plugins that work this way.
Sync Device Page Select: When ticked, page selection from your Nektar product or Nektarine will sync.
Naming a Page: Double-click on the page name and enter a new one. Press [Enter] when done.

 

6.7 Creating a Page Structure

Using the above tools, a page structure can quickly take shape. It’s a good idea to create the page structure as early as possible. Start by reviewing the plugin GUI, noting how many pages you might need for each section. Note how many control buttons you might need also since this affects how many subpages you are able to create. The process is of course organic and it’s typically in use that you realize which pages are needed and how best to structure the map but a little upfront consideration goes a long way to make it easy and straight forward.

The next thing to consider is navigation so you can find each page fast. Top-level pages can be navigated easily by pressing the [Menu] button on your Nektar product and then scroll through the list to select a page.
Subpages can be navigated from within the top-level page structure but it needs to be set up first. Here is how:

  • Click on one of the 4 display buttons in the Nektarine GUI, to select it.
  • Click either ‘Cycle button’ or ‘Page button’ depending on what works best with your subpages.
  • Cycle Button: Choose this option if you want the selected button to toggle/cycle through all the created sub pages.
  • Page Button: Chose this option if you want the selected button to navigate to a specific page. Select the destination sub page from the popup field. A display button is needed for each page with this method so with 4 subpages, all 4 display buttons will be needed for navigation.
  • Selecting a page template determines if the page contains assignments for fader or encoders. If you change the page template after assigning parameters, those changes can be cleared.

The image (right) shows a page button assignment to display button 3.

Display button 4 is selected and will be assigned to subpage ‘Osc 2’ if the ‘Page button’ is clicked.