Midi Controlled - Control Surface in REAPER

Best video ever! :) thanks man.

A video like this shows the infinite possibility of Reaper combined with MIDI controllers... you really do get the "analog-recording", tactile feel when you take the time to configure Reaper to respond to your MIDI controller.... it's a huge time-saver too... and anything where you use the mouse a little less is a beautiful thing.

Some of the best MIDI controllers for use with Reaper as a control surface:

Arturia Keylab Essential (actually has a Reaper map in DAW mode, using "Mackie Control" emulation)
Arturia Keylab MK2
Arturia Beatstep (16 endless encoders, 16 pads that can be used as midi CC buttons)... and 16 maps/presets!
Arturia Minilab MK2 (16 endless encoders, 8 pads x 2 banks, and 25 mini keys)
Korg Nanokontrol2 (cheap and effective)
Behringer X-Touch Mini (cheap and effective-- 8 endless encoders, CLICKABLE too)
NI Maschine MK2 (cheap used, and brilliant as a MIDI controller-- bonus, you get super-responsive 4x4 drum pads, and 8 pages of them)
NI Maschine MK3 (not cheap, but great!)
NI Maschine Studio (you get the color screens of the MK3 but for super cheap-- used these go for about $250-300 these days, often including a Maschine software license!)
NI Maschine Mikro MK2 (missing the encoders, but the click-wheel is super useful with Reaper)
not to mention the Nektars, the M-Audio Axiom / Oxygen / Axiom Pro, etc...

Lots of options. Take the time to set up your stuff and you will love Reaper even more. Nothing is more configurable or powerful.

Finally, another of the FEW excellent vids presented by someone who knows what he is doing and knows how to explain it so that everyone understands. WELL DONE! (& thx)

Muy bueno me fue muy util para programar mi nanocontrolstudio en Reaper!great!congratulations!!!

The reaper the reaper hes cutting all the same

Like always, really appreciate your tutorials! Thanks, Kenny.

Any way how to control the sends ? somebody....

sos un crá'

Great video....answered a lot of my questions in one go! Thank you!

This guy has...the most...weird...vocal delivery...

Very big thanks! Maybe it's too late, but I do not understand: I am plug "Novation Lounchkey 49 mk2" to Reaper and trying to assign "9/Master" fader on keyboard to Master volume in Reaper and Master in Reaper jump non linear to MAX or to MIN position. Where is my mistake? How I can get linear control of keyboard faders?

i made my own midi footswitch using arduino.. i cant make it works on amplitube but it works on other VSTs.. can you help me?

this the most simple and straight-forward explanation tutorial i ever watch..

Is it possible to assign a midi controller knob (rather than fader) to a track volume fader? It doesn't work right when I try it - but maybe there is an option I am missing somewhere?

So I have a Novation Launchkey 25 and I assigned the track left and right buttons to next and previous track like in the video. For some reason though it jumps two tracks instead of one and I can't figure out why. Anyone have any ideas?

Thank you!

Thanks, Kenny! Sorted out my Novation X-Station proper without having to work with the controller's templates.

Kenny you rock!!! just got a Nanokorg2 and this was an amazing tutorial to set it up!!! thank you again :D ~ Saludos desde Tijuana Mexico!! ~

Thanks, I learned a lot from your videos. Keep up the great work!

Awesome content. It's really useful. Thank you.

Just noticed your reaper layout is different than mine. All my channels are at the bottom with my master but you got all your on the left. Any one know how to do this?

Daaaang! I can’t believe I can do this. You just saved me 300-500 bucks.

Does this work for nanoKontrol 2 on a mac?

Hi I can find it anywhere, how do go from midi channel 1 to middi channel 2 and midi channel 3 etc? Is there an ACTION that i could assign to a midi controller for this? I only want to toggle the 8 channel mixer i have to control volume pan channels for mixing,

Hey Kenny...do you this will work for using a Digidesign Command8 with Reaper?!

I have a friend who would be willing to sell one of those dirt cheap. If I can use it with Reaper I see no reason NOT to buy it!

On MIDI Devices (1m03s) I do not see my MIDI device.
Any advice on how to solve this?

What is the difference between last touched track and a selection based on one or multiple tracks?

Does anyone know how I can assign an action in Reaper so that I can switch midi channel if I don't have a button for that on my controller?

Can you assign two tracks at two differents keyboards? Thanks

Thanks Kenny, I learned a lot!

Wow! Thanks this is the way to go! Finally something i understand! I'm a musician not a comp wiz! Thank you kenny!

You the best man

Thanks Kenny! I hadn't assigned my controller to enable input for control messages so was very confused until coming here!

man, there's nobody better than kenny at blowing my mind

Hi! thank you for this. I have a launchkey 49 novation, and somehow i was able to map physical faders to Reaper faders through midi channel 1... now i am trying to map others and all i get is channel 2... help!

thanks a lot, man. Just bought a new controler, and you made it so easy to configure with reaper.

Amazing video! Thank you so much as usual, kenny!!

Kenny, Thank you. You did this in 2016 and still relevant for controllers today.

Kenny. Your tutorial are priceless!
Explanations are simple and clear.
I've learned so much. Thank you.

I got the akai apc mini, how can i get the lights of the pad turns on??

Moving my fader on keystation 49es does absolutely nothing. clicking buttons work like play stop and record but volume slider doesnt work.

Thank you so much Kenny. Your tutorials are priceless sir. Can't thank you enough.👍😎👍

Soft takover is FANTASTIC! I thought it would be impossible to control the DAW non-motorized faders, but that changes everything!!! Thank you for the video!

Hi Kenny, I am a slow learner :) Just got a Nektar impact LX49+ midi keyboard. (Very similar to this Axiom 49) Enabled +control in midi devices. 1 . Put an amp sim plugin on a track. 2 touch volume. 3. > parameters > learn . Move knob on keyboard....... and ... nothing . what have I not done ? any help would be appreciated. I will also post this on the Reaper forum.

This doesnt work at all for my m audio code 49 midi keyboard. i suspect that when connected using USB that midi control messages dont work. I suspec tyou MUST use midi cables for this (and i dont have a power block for my midi controller)

I used this today for an AKAI 249 that wasn't really being used to do much more than play in MIDI notes. Thanks for your concise tutorials.

Kenny, I hope that some day a school gets named in your honour, for all the great work you've done on these Videos... it's 2023, and everything is still relevant... Worked a charm with an Oxy Pro kybrd... Thx for all your efforts👍