Foot Controller Nektar Pacer

Nektar Pacer

Pacer boosts your creativity by providing hands-free control of your DAW, MIDI guitar soft- or hardware as well as channel- and FX-switching on your trusted analog amp. All integrated into one rugged and stage-ready foot pedal with 10 programmable LED foot switches, 4 switching relays and connections for up to 4 external foot switches and 2 expression pedals. That’s a lot of switching power right at your feet: With just one press of a button, you can send up to 16 MIDI and relay messages to reconfigure a setup instantly. Step up your pace with this powerful MIDI DAW Footswitch Controller!

The Power Of Switches

Pacer’s programming options are extensive. In the most basic state, a switch can send a MIDI message or change a relay state. But being able to send MIDI messages in a sequence of steps, takes the usefulness of a preset to another level. Use one switch to step through program change messages during your song and the other switches are free for FX on/off control. Or switch your amp channel, start playback in your DAW and change program on your effects rack, all by just pressing ONE button within the same preset. Another 16 MIDI messages/relay settings can be programmed for triggering when each of the 24 presets are selected. Whether you are looking for a simple pre-configured solution to control products such as Line 6, Kemper Profiler, AxeFX and Avid Eleven, want to control your DAW without letting go of your instrument or plan to create your own advanced setups for controlling a live show, Pacer does it all.

DAW Control Options

Don’t stop the music: Pacer is the only true hands-free solution for controlling a DAW and features a complete set of dedicated track and transport controls. It is MCU (Mackie Control Universal) compatible for control of almost any MIDI music software, a Transport preset provides control over Cycle/Loop, Rewind, Forward, Stop, Play and Record. Each switch has its own large icon illuminated by an RGB LED to show the current status. The Track preset controls Solo, Mute, Record Arm and Click. Nektar DAW integration provides the highest level of integration with additional options for track and patch selection, customized RGB LED color feedback and in some cases additional functionality. Nektar DAW integration supports Bitwig, Cubase, GarageBand, Logic, Nuendo, Reason, Reaper and Studio One.

Control Center

Pacer has 10 programmable foot switch controls, each equipped with an RGB LED. Add to that a crisp and large two row LED display, a dedicated switch for Preset recall and an encoder with push switch for programming, navigation and control. So PACER definitely won’t leave you in the dark, figuratively speaking: Depending on the active mode, the top or middle row icons are illuminated. The RGB LEDs in the bottom row display switch status.

Display And LEDs

A red LED display with two rows shows the active preset name/number, mode and selected parameter and value. The data encoder with push switching right next to it makes parameter selection and programming swift and easy. Each switch has its own 3-row RGB activity LED: With functions like “Click” screened in the top row, transport icons in the center and an activity LED at the bottom. LED setting and color are part of a preset and customizable.

Switches A-D

These switches are fully programmable, but factory assigned with these presets:

A: Track preset (for DAW control)
B: Transport preset (for DAW control)
C: Load previous preset
D: Load next preset
You can reconfigure the switches to send any other function or MIDI message.

Switches 1-6

You can program the switches to send MIDI messages, control one of Pacer’s 4 relays or to load presets. When DAW Transport or Track functions are assigned, the top and middle row icons are illuminated by default. Worth mentioning is, that each switch can change up to 6 actions simultaneously or in a sequence of presses. That’s a lot of switching power right there!

Preset Switch

Pacer has 24 presets. Any switch can be programmed to select a preset, but pressing and holding “Preset” and then selecting a bank & number is available at any time. As mentioned above, each control within a preset is programmable with up to 6 steps or actions. What’s more, these steps can be sent simultaneously or in a sequence of presses. When you load a preset, up to 16 MIDI-messages or switch states can be sent at the same time: Just one stomp can have a dramatic effect!

The Rear Connections

Pacer’s connectivity features allow you to integrate analog amps with conventional footswitch sockets into your setup just as well as software guitar apps or other MIDI-capable hardware. And with one switch of a button, you can reconfigure your whole setup, with up to 16 MIDI-messages or relay switch states at the same time.

Features

• MIDI foot controller for DAWs and guitar processors
• 10 programmable buttons, with LED indicators for control assignments
• 24 available presets (Banks A–D, 6 presets each)
• Support for 4 programmable external footswitches
• Support for 2 programmable external expression pedals
• 4 programmable relays for switching channels or effects on amplifiers
• 1 programmable encoder
• Footswitches can send up to 6 messages when activated
• MIDI Out port for external hardware control
• USB class compliant, powered via USB or USB power supply (not included)
• Compatibility: Nektar DAW, Standard DAW's, Line 6, Kemper, Fractal, Avid Eleven Rack
• Requirements: Mac OS X 10.8 or later, PC Windows 7 SP1 or later
• Power Source: 9V DC power supply

User's Guide