Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
The Nektar Panorama CS12 is a compact DAW control surface aiming to beat the rest at hands-on channel and plugin control. Three engineers tested it across four DAWs. Here is the verdict.
Paul Maunder, Ashea and Luke Goddard put the Panorama CS12 through real sessions in Logic Pro, Cubase, Reaper and Fender Studio Pro to see whether a single-fader controller can earn its place on a busy desk. The review covers build quality and feel, the 14-bit fader and Fine encoder control, the pre-mapped plugin library, native DAW API integration via Nektar ControlCore, and power features such as Fader Only Automation and customisable M-key shortcuts. We also get into the obvious question for anyone who works in Pro Tools, and why Nektar chose to sit that one out for now.
If you are weighing the CS12 against the usual compact control surfaces, or deciding whether tactile control is worth the desk space when the mouse already does the job, the take from three working engineers is here.
Gear mentioned:
▶ Nektar Panorama CS12 – nektar.com
Related reading:
▶ Full Nektar Panorama CS12 review on Production Expert – production-expert.com/production-expert-1/nektar-panorama-cs12-is-this-the-compact-control-surface-to-beat
Find us here:
▶ Website – production-expert.com
Subscribe to Production Expert for plugin tests, gear reviews and mixing breakdowns aimed at working audio professionals.
#NektarCS12 #ControlSurface #DAWController
The Nektar Panorama CS12 is a compact DAW control surface aiming to beat the rest at hands-on channel and plugin control. Three engineers tested it across four DAWs. Here is the verdict.
Paul Maunder, Ashea and Luke Goddard put the Panorama CS12 through real sessions in Logic Pro, Cubase, Reaper and Fender Studio Pro to see whether a single-fader controller can earn its place on a busy desk. The review covers build quality and feel, the 14-bit fader and Fine encoder control, the pre-mapped plugin library, native DAW API integration via Nektar ControlCore, and power features such as Fader Only Automation and customisable M-key shortcuts. We also get into the obvious question for anyone who works in Pro Tools, and why Nektar chose to sit that one out for now.
If you are weighing the CS12 against the usual compact control surfaces, or deciding whether tactile control is worth the desk space when the mouse already does the job, the take from three working engineers is here.
Gear mentioned:
▶ Nektar Panorama CS12 – nektar.com
Related reading:
▶ Full Nektar Panorama CS12 review on Production Expert – production-expert.com/production-expert-1/nektar-panorama-cs12-is-this-the-compact-control-surface-to-beat
Find us here:
▶ Website – production-expert.com
Subscribe to Production Expert for plugin tests, gear reviews and mixing breakdowns aimed at working audio professionals.
#NektarCS12 #ControlSurface #DAWController
