Sanderxpander
I really like the Nektar for its features but I don't use it with Sonar much other than for basic VSTi playing. It should be easy to set up the pads to any channel, hit the "setup" button, go to "controller edit", hit a pad and all its parameters (including transmission channel) come up. 

Yep, that's what I did. Set pad channel to 10 (with drums VST on a track) and another instrument on channel 1 on another track. But now, when the channel 1 track is active and I hit the pad, it'll just play the VST on that channel and not the drums on channel 10.
 
I know it's possible in Sonar somehow because I did accomplish the same with the Novation SL49 about a year ago (but can't remember how I did it :D).

Have you set the Input of corresponding tracks to <device> channel 1 / <device> channel 10 ? Plus input echo enabled on both. I mean not the channel of the track, which is the Output channel.

azslow3
Have you set the Input of corresponding tracks to <device> channel 1 / <device> channel 10 ? Plus input echo enabled on both. I mean not the channel of the track, which is the Output channel.

Right on, Sir!
Since it was a fresh install, the default "Always echo current MIDI track" was enabled (I totally forgot about that one). After disabling that, I'm now a step closer and have indeed the wanted output of different sound by keys and pads. Yay!
 
Thanks much for the hint.
Cheers

azslow3

TheMaartian
P.P.S. SONAR doesn't support soft pickup (software value doesn't change until the controller value matches; touch a fader, the value jumps to the current fader position). The only real use I got out of the 9 faders on my P6 was to invert the value they sent and use them for the 9 drawbars on an organ.

Sonar supports soft pickup in ACT plug-in. AZ Controller supports two other modes in addition,  "Instant" and "Endless imitation".
 
Note that unlike LX, P4 has encoders. That is more convenient way to control parameters, no need to "soft pickup", they are always in sync with the software. But the whole feedback (display, fader, leds) can not be organizes since that is undocumented proprietary part.

Thank you for the clarification!

Hello,
 
I had checked out the AZ controller website and some related YT clips.
However, I didn't yet grasp the very details of it (I'm old guy but trying hard to understand though).
 
As far as I've checked, there was no preset or anything regarding the Nektar P4 found on the site.
So I do not understand (yet) if/how AZ controller would be different to the default generic controller setup.
 
One detail coming to mind (what I could not accomplish yet):
Per default, many buttons do send a "127" on push and "0" on release, which is useless to me without a "latch" function.
 
Does AZ controller have the powers to change that functionality?
Any further hints would be appreciated.
 
Cheers

AZ Controller is a "generic" controller. But unlike default one it has the power to define arbitrary logic. The price of this flexibility is the complexity of preset definition. And so most presets was created by myself, in cooperating with device owners (unfortunately not manufacturers, they have not shown any interest, even in this situation where they could get for free what normally costs a lot of $$$).
 
There was no one with P4, so there is no preset for it. But we can create something, in case:
a) you more or less know what you want from the controller
b) that is technically possible (in MIDI mode of P4 and in Sonar, I mean full control of the device is proprietary and unknown and Sonar is not exposing everything to surfaces)
c) you have time and willing for that. We will have to do several tests online (the documentation does not mention several important points), discuss the functionality and later you will need to test the result (probably in several iterations). But you do not need any technical background for that, I can setup everything on your computer remotely and explain where to click to test new presets.

Hello again!
 

azslow3
And so most presets was created by myself, in cooperating with device owners (unfortunately not manufacturers, they have not shown any interest, even in this situation where they could get for free what normally costs a lot of $$$).

 
It's great that you did that and I fail to understand why manufacturers are not interested.
 
Today I tried "Reaper" - which has some P4 integration and I was surprised how much fun the P4 is when other functions than the "Internal" mode actually work. It's amazing that Reaper, with 1/10th of purchase price than the former SPLAT could do it but not Cakewalk:/
It was the first time that I didn't need to touch the PC mouse and could do everything on the P4.
 
But then, that's even more than I really need (more on that below).
 

azslow3 
There was no one with P4, so there is no preset for it. But we can create something, in case:
a) you more or less know what you want from the controller
b) that is technically possible (in MIDI mode of P4 and in Sonar, I mean full control of the device is proprietary and unknown and Sonar is not exposing everything to surfaces)
c) you have time and willing for that. We will have to do several tests online (the documentation does not mention several important points), discuss the functionality and later you will need to test the result (probably in several iterations). But you do not need any technical background for that, I can setup everything on your computer remotely and explain where to click to test new presets.

Ok, here I am, with a P4 in limited operation mode. IF it is of benefit for others too, then I'd gladly participate in creating something useful.
As for myself, I think it's probably better to switch my environment for LIVE playing to something else than Sonar.
Actually I just got VIP 3.1 and am currently testing around with it.
 
a) I don't need a full DAW on stage but what I want from the controller is just some faders and switches, as follows:
 
* Faders (mainly for drawbar control in Hammond Organs);
* Switches (latching/toggle ON-OFF for rotary, tremolo, wah, chorus, distortion etc.);
* Change to different, already setup sounds/tracks (Epiano, Piano, Organ, Strings incl. their FX setup) quickly;
 
Everything else (changing tremolo speed, amp distortion level etc.) would be a helpful plus but that seems pretty much possible already by default MIDI learn functions.
 
My approach by conventional ways was kind of working BUT it was very confusing to operate (see my recent few clips on YT).
 
That approach was: to have five different instruments fully loaded in Sonar but MUTED.
Then unmute each track when needed.
But the P4 has only eight buttons (with light indicators) to toggle stuff. These are the buttons below the eight faders. Since I used five of them already for activating the five used instruments during performance at different times, there were only three buttons left for functions like rotary speed, tremolo|wah|distortion on/off.
 
I checked the Reaper P4 functions and they actually do not use buttons but encoder knobs for switching on/off things. I guess that's better than nothing and I could get used to that.
 
b) For integration with Reaper, I did install "Panorama_P4_Reaper_Integration_Win_25062015.zip" from the Nektar website and "mapping_template_StudioOne_v1.4.zip" for S1. Please let me know if you should need these files.
 
c) My time is quite limited but I'd like to try anyways. It's for the good of humanity after all :-)
I already installed some SYSEX tool and Wireshark (+USBPcap) just in case.
 
Cheers
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

MimoJP
Today I tried "Reaper" - which has some P4 integration and I was surprised how much fun the P4 is when other functions than the "Internal" mode actually work. It's amazing that Reaper, with 1/10th of purchase price than the former SPLAT could do it but not Cakewalk:/
It was the first time that I didn't need to touch the PC mouse and could do everything on the P4.

The integration was done by Nektar, not Cockos. They was also supporting Sonar with Impact (so they know how to do this), but for some reason they have not implemented it for P4/P6.
 

As for myself, I think it's probably better to switch my environment for LIVE playing to something else than Sonar.

Sorry to say (and with all respect to CW...), but I think that is a good idea.
 

c) My time is quite limited but I'd like to try anyways. It's for the good of humanity after all :-)
I already installed some SYSEX tool and Wireshark (+USBPcap) just in case.

I had no intention to "hack" Naktar proprietary protocol. They do not want publish it and I respect license rules.
My proposal was just about MIDI mode, f.e. to focus named tracks (an alternative for switching instruments), control particular parameters in plug-ins across tracks (an alternative for "Remote control", has advantages and disadvantages), have several "layers" of controls with different functions (using the same physical controls).
 
But as I wrote, all that make more sense for recording/mixing then for live play.
 
In any case, we can discuss that online and I can show how AZ Contoller works (on your system remotely). If interested, PM me your preferred day(s)/time (choosing reasonable for Germany and Japan time can be not so easy )

azslow3

MimoJP
Today I tried "Reaper" - which has some P4 integration and I was surprised how much fun the P4 is when other functions than the "Internal" mode actually work. It's amazing that Reaper, with 1/10th of purchase price than the former SPLAT could do it but not Cakewalk:/

The integration was done by Nektar, not Cockos. They was also supporting Sonar with Impact (so they know how to do this), but for some reason they have not implemented it for P4/P6.

 
Ah ok. Well, who knows, maybe it's within BandLab powers to get Nektar controllers integrated.
 
 

azslow3 

MimoJP
As for myself, I think it's probably better to switch my environment for LIVE playing to something else than Sonar.

Sorry to say (and with all respect to CW...), but I think that is a good idea.

 
CW is still my tool of choice for everything else, just not for LIVE performances with the Nektar P4.
 

azslow3 
I had no intention to "hack" Naktar proprietary protocol. They do not want publish it and I respect license rules.
My proposal was just about MIDI mode, f.e. to focus named tracks (an alternative for switching instruments), control particular parameters in plug-ins across tracks (an alternative for "Remote control", has advantages and disadvantages), have several "layers" of controls with different functions (using the same physical controls).
 
But as I wrote, all that make more sense for recording/mixing then for live play.
 
In any case, we can discuss that online and I can show how AZ Contoller works (on your system remotely). If interested, PM me your preferred day(s)/time (choosing reasonable for Germany and Japan time can be not so easy )

I'll just learn how to use Reaper for now, since that is currently my only way to use this Nektar P4 controller as it is intended to, rather than taking up your time for re-inventing some wheel(s).
 
I do appreciate your offer though and I'll definitely check out your AZ Controller when I can make the time for it.
 
 
 
 

MimoJP
 
Ok, here I am, with a P4 in limited operation mode. IF it is of benefit for others too, then I'd gladly participate in creating something useful.
As for myself, I think it's probably better to switch my environment for LIVE playing to something else than Sonar.
Actually I just got VIP 3.1 and am currently testing around with it.
 
a) I don't need a full DAW on stage but what I want from the controller is just some faders and switches, as follows:
 
* Faders (mainly for drawbar control in Hammond Organs);
* Switches (latching/toggle ON-OFF for rotary, tremolo, wah, chorus, distortion etc.);
* Change to different, already setup sounds/tracks (Epiano, Piano, Organ, Strings incl. their FX setup) quickly;
 
Everything else (changing tremolo speed, amp distortion level etc.) would be a helpful plus but that seems pretty much possible already by default MIDI learn functions.
 
My approach by conventional ways was kind of working BUT it was very confusing to operate (see my recent few clips on YT).
 
That approach was: to have five different instruments fully loaded in Sonar but MUTED.
Then unmute each track when needed.
But the P4 has only eight buttons (with light indicators) to toggle stuff. These are the buttons below the eight faders. Since I used five of them already for activating the five used instruments during performance at different times, there were only three buttons left for functions like rotary speed, tremolo|wah|distortion on/off.

As I was reading earlier in the thread where you mentioned only needing this functionality in a live performance setting, I was going to suggest that you take a look at VIP.  But you beat me to it. as you stated that you just got it!
 
VIP works as a standalone, or VST plugin, so no DAW required.
 
I think that since VIP now works with any controller as far as basic MIDI functions, it should be better suited for live performance than using a DAW if all you really need is a synth rack.  You should be able to MIDI map controls in VIP to your Nektar P4.
 
Then you can create one or more multis with up to eight instruments each for splits and/or layers, with presets already selected, for each song.  Add these multis to the a VIP setlist and call them up as needed during a performance.  The up/down arrows on a computer keyboard can navigate the multis in setlist slots, as well as the controls on a VIP integrated keyboard.  Don't know if that up/down function is accessible via MIDI CC from a generic MIDI controller, but that would be cool.
 
From the VIP 3 user guide http://www.akaipro.com/products/new-products/vip (under downloads):

Just as an artist’s setlist for a performance is a specific sequence of songs, a setlist in VIP is a
collection of patches and/or multis—“songs,” essentially—organized into “slots.” You can save and
export setlists for quick access in the future. This can be useful if you’ve found several patches that
sound good together or if you want to keep a record of what patches you used in a performance.
Setlists can contain patches from instrument plugins or entire multis. Setlists cannot contain effect
plugins, but multis will retain their insert effects, if any. They also include a tempo (in BPM) that will
be associated with each slot.

 
AKAI VIP 3.0 - Tutorial; Multi-instruments, browser, setlists (at the 6:15 mark)
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=LBTBdRwsVdc