How to Use a MIDI Controller to Control DAW Actions in Reaper

In this video you will learn how to set up a MIDI controller with reaper so that you can program actions to knobs and buttons that perform actions in Reaper.
Feel free to leave video suggestions in the comments, don't forget to like and subscribe if you enjoyed the video!
Video Table Of Contents:
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00:00 - Intro
00:15 - Setting Up the Controller
01:10 - Assigning an Action to a Knob
02:08 - Absolute vs Relative MIDI CC
03:26 - Volume Knob Demonstration
03:46 - Assigning an Action to a Button
04:32 - Troubleshooting Control Issues
05:13 - Deleting and Reassigning Actions
05:48 - Solo Button Demonstration
06:00 - Adjusting Output Options from the Controller
07:07 - Assigning Multiple Controls to One Knob or Button
08:47 - Multipurpose Knob Demonstration
09:14 - Assigning Multiple Controls to One Button
09:38 - Multipurpose Button Demonstration
10:09 - Summary and Outro
Music Gear I Use:
----------------------------
Audio Interface: Steinberg UR22mkii
Microphone: Shure SM7B + CL-1 Cloudlifter 1-channel Mic Activator
Studio Monitors: PreSonus Eris E5 x2
Balanced Cables: Mogami Gold TRSXLRM
Amp: Peavey 6505+ 112 Combo
6 String Guitar: Dean V Dave Mustaine Bolt-On - Classic Black
7 String Guitar: Dean MAB7X Michael Angelo Batio - Classic Black
Electric Drumset: Yamaha DTX400K
Headphones: Audio Technica ATH-M30x
Suppressor Pedal: ISP Technologies Decimator II G String
EQ Pedal: MXR M108S Ten Band
Bass Amp: Peavey 1x8" 20W Bass Combo
Guitar Stands: Hercules GS414B PLUS Single Guitar Stand with Auto Grip System
Video and Recording Gear I Use:
---------------------------------------------------
Camera: Nikon 1 J5 (I do not recommend for video due to overheating problems, it's meant as a beginner photography camera)
Main Lens: Nikon 1 NIKKOR 10-30mm f/3.5-5.6 VR (Black)
B-Roll Lens: MEKE 35mm F1.4 Manual Focus Lens (Only works in fully manual mode)
Audio Recorder: Tascam DR-05X
Lights: Neewer Dimmable Bi-Color 480 LED Video Light and Stand Lighting Kit
Tripod: Velbon CX 300

Пікірлер: 87

  • @dnadal09
    @dnadal092 жыл бұрын

    Thank you! I knew I should've skipped the Reaper forums and gone straight to KZread.

  • @supra1981
    @supra1981 Жыл бұрын

    you sir are a legend, i was beating my head against the wall and no other video gave a simple answer like you, next time you're in Scotland i'll buy you a pint lol.

  • @mschultz6263
    @mschultz62633 жыл бұрын

    Your explanation of how to set up the midi controller in Reaper really helped me out. Now I have my Line 6 FBV Mkll foot switch set up to start and stop when I'm recording. Thank you !!!

  • @MichaelRiggsMusic

    @MichaelRiggsMusic

    3 жыл бұрын

    Awesome! Glad I could help you get it working!

  • @LuigiGiannandrea
    @LuigiGiannandrea18 күн бұрын

    Great video! I am just new on midi controllers. Yesterday I adquired a M-Wave 25 and I am understanding a lot of things with your video! Thanks again. 🙏

  • @MrNeillawrence
    @MrNeillawrence4 ай бұрын

    Thank you! I've been struggling with this today and your straightforward approach really cut through the complexity.

  • @landonfinnerty2391
    @landonfinnerty2391 Жыл бұрын

    Michael, thank you, I have used Reaper for years, but, i am totally new to Midi and Midi controllers, 3 days, and notice that there is no clear use of Reaper in the Midi world. Even Kenny Jioi has been able to help me. If you go to Ableton, or Logic Pro, they all kind of omit Reaper. So you have given me hope.

  • @boldbearStudios
    @boldbearStudios2 жыл бұрын

    Michael, excellent style of presenting stuff. Thanks a lot for helping me out. Keep up the good work!

  • @StefanBallReal
    @StefanBallReal2 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for this - clear explanation and great pace on the delivery too. Subscribed. :)

  • @danhedonia
    @danhedonia2 жыл бұрын

    Just going to say - you do an excellent job of talking just enough but not too much. Often the bugaboo of YT tutorials; well done!

  • @BrianPremo
    @BrianPremo Жыл бұрын

    Thank you so much for this tutorial. Very clear and helpful instructions.

  • @kerwinalexander6836
    @kerwinalexander68366 ай бұрын

    Hello Michael. This video was brilliant!!! My Minilab 3 will be arriving today and I was looking for instructions on how to set it up to control stuff in reaper. This w/b a tremendous help. Cheers mate!

  • @BJ-fj6jw

    @BJ-fj6jw

    5 ай бұрын

    WILL BE GETTING THIS TOO. Hope the Arturia 3 will work like his earlier model. Let me know. Thx.

  • @DopamineOverload
    @DopamineOverload2 жыл бұрын

    Superb demonstration and analysis, sir! Subbed!

  • @danielhadida3915
    @danielhadida3915 Жыл бұрын

    fantastic video : clear and to the point !

  • @thenuge4227
    @thenuge42272 жыл бұрын

    Great! exactly what I was looking for. Thanks man!

  • @ericpankenin2584
    @ericpankenin2584 Жыл бұрын

    great! just what I was looking for. thx and besides, well executed tutorial in all the various important aspects.

  • @papaidodekiekin3089
    @papaidodekiekin30892 жыл бұрын

    Best explanation on YT. Thanks a lot!!!!!!

  • @Ahrgos
    @Ahrgos Жыл бұрын

    My goodness thank you! You'll never know how much this helped me right now! Thank you my friend!

  • @apolloagua
    @apolloagua2 жыл бұрын

    Great comprehensive video tutorial!

  • @Wanderlinse
    @Wanderlinse2 жыл бұрын

    👍 thanks, really useful and focused video.

  • @stenlyspa1325
    @stenlyspa13254 ай бұрын

    thanks man, this was really helpful!!! have a great day!

  • @giulyanv
    @giulyanv3 ай бұрын

    Golden tip! Thanks!

  • @uriel-heavensguardian8949
    @uriel-heavensguardian89492 ай бұрын

    I LOVE THE WAY YOU EXPLAIN THIS!!! THANK YOU!!!!

  • @BarrettSimms
    @BarrettSimms2 жыл бұрын

    This helped alot. Thanks dude!

  • @btsrapTV
    @btsrapTV3 жыл бұрын

    Really appreciate this tutorial. Cheers.

  • @2000jago
    @2000jago6 ай бұрын

    I like the way you explain things, clear concise and to the point, no umm, err, ahh etc. Keep doing tutorials, you have a knack for it.

  • @ccolon_1
    @ccolon_1 Жыл бұрын

    thanks you so much for this video. i've set up a lot of actions like this and it turned out very convenient

  • @MsTessG
    @MsTessG2 ай бұрын

    Thank you! Please keep doing tutorials. You're very good at it and this was so helpful.

  • @ekimthims1
    @ekimthims1 Жыл бұрын

    At last..sense out of chaos..Been trying to set up a code 61 in Reaper for ages, your video is good news information for me..many thanks.

  • @DirectAccessYT
    @DirectAccessYT2 жыл бұрын

    Good lesson and info, thankyou

  • @HenriqueOliveiraBR
    @HenriqueOliveiraBR2 жыл бұрын

    Thank you so much! That was super helpful!

  • @rollandjoeseph
    @rollandjoeseph Жыл бұрын

    Helpful, thx!

  • @Sebastiuon
    @Sebastiuon Жыл бұрын

    perfect! thx for the help

  • @teashea1
    @teashea1 Жыл бұрын

    nice video ------ good production values - well organized

  • @wieslawirzyniec4527
    @wieslawirzyniec4527 Жыл бұрын

    thank you SO MUCH for this tutorial :)

  • @MsIij
    @MsIij11 ай бұрын

    thank you for this tuto

  • @andreaflores8334
    @andreaflores83342 жыл бұрын

    Great video! Thank you :)

  • @cosmicsea7
    @cosmicsea72 жыл бұрын

    Omg thank you for this!

  • @BoltRM
    @BoltRM Жыл бұрын

    Perfect!

  • @pimjacobs4086
    @pimjacobs40863 жыл бұрын

    Thanks, it was really helpful!

  • @MichaelRiggsMusic

    @MichaelRiggsMusic

    3 жыл бұрын

    I’m glad it helped you! Thanks for watching!

  • @stephenchow5161
    @stephenchow5161 Жыл бұрын

    thanks for this

  • @stebal68
    @stebal682 жыл бұрын

    thanks for your video. I'm sure now to order this keyboard

  • @tonyfarina1310
    @tonyfarina1310 Жыл бұрын

    Thanks.I am going to try this with my TEC Bite and Breath Controller 2 that I am trying to use in Soundpaint.This seems like a good workaround.

  • @pinoydiy8384
    @pinoydiy83842 жыл бұрын

    Youre the best thank you

  • @justin.johnson
    @justin.johnson2 күн бұрын

    Thank you sir

  • @JeremyPrado
    @JeremyPrado2 жыл бұрын

    wow great! triggering controls on mouse ends today!!! ha ha ha THANKS FOR SHARING!!! I just smashed the red button and its really worth it

  • @leevitalone
    @leevitalone3 жыл бұрын

    Huge help for a beginner thank you so much.

  • @MichaelRiggsMusic

    @MichaelRiggsMusic

    3 жыл бұрын

    You’re welcome! Glad I could help!

  • @leevitalone

    @leevitalone

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@MichaelRiggsMusic you can get totally lost in Reaper or any DAW when you are first starting so when some gives you a starting point and you are able to navigate, it make all the difference in the world, thank you.

  • @vigneshbalajimusiq4933
    @vigneshbalajimusiq49333 жыл бұрын

    999th subscriber!!!

  • @apolloagua
    @apolloagua2 жыл бұрын

    I

  • @TheCandoheavy
    @TheCandoheavy2 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for the video. Question, what about if you want to do 16 channels instead of 8 with the sliders? What I did on my controller was 1-8 midi channel 1, 9-16 midi channel 2, etc, but have to be changing midi channels on my controller constantly, can't figure out how to easily change scenes, it works, but maybe you have an easier way. Thanks for your tips.

  • @citadelo5ricks
    @citadelo5ricks4 ай бұрын

    This is great, but also illustrates the inconsistency of reaper. I use it for recording, it's new lane system is great. But, reaper is such a distraction because learning it becomes the focus, rather than making music. At least for me.

  • @joshmontederamos4813
    @joshmontederamos48133 жыл бұрын

    Will you be making more Reaper related videos? This was very helpful, cheers

  • @MichaelRiggsMusic

    @MichaelRiggsMusic

    3 жыл бұрын

    I will at some point, nothing planned at the moment but as I make things in reaper I’m sure I’ll have some ideas for videos come up. I’m always open to suggestions as well!

  • @anislyemni5647
    @anislyemni56472 жыл бұрын

    thanks a lot for the video, I'm almost there but I have a problem with the program editor 3 for akai mini, I have an error message that appears when I want to program the pads for the drums, the message is as follows: check that the akai mini is properly connected to the computer. the akai is connected and I can even hear it on reaper but cannot change the notes.thanks

  • @patriciomendezvera
    @patriciomendezvera2 жыл бұрын

    This is gold! Thanks for the awesome video! Little question here: lets say that i want to change the notes given by the pads in my midi controller, for example, the pad number 1 gives an E1, pad number 2 gives an F1, etc. So i want to change the pad number 1 to give an D1 instead of E1, can it be done?

  • @orabaki
    @orabaki2 жыл бұрын

    It helped me a lot, thanks! But my midi controller doesn't have those options to change a button to toggle, is it possible to do within REAPER? I'd like to toggle recording with a button for example.

  • @tristanjonardantipolo5708
    @tristanjonardantipolo570810 ай бұрын

    Hi, can i use a midi controller assign as a pedal foot switch?

  • @kerwinalexander6836
    @kerwinalexander68365 ай бұрын

    Hello again. If you set your arturia controller to control DAW actions (I use reaper also) will it still continue to control the DAW while using Analog Lab s/w? The Analog Lab s/w auto configures itself to the minilab controller/ (all the knobs, and sliders (minilab 3)) when in use. Thanks

  • @lifemusic4r
    @lifemusic4r Жыл бұрын

    Hi! Don’t you know if I can control faders this way when reaper is folded?

  • @gendarmyy7586
    @gendarmyy75867 ай бұрын

    I am wondering if this is also possible with a midi keyboard app on my phone that I'd connect to my pc? I tried doing so but it seems like reaper doesn't detect it as a midi controller

  • @Ancaja123
    @Ancaja1238 ай бұрын

    how does Mackie Control Universal work, should it automatically map these controls including transport? I'm trying to get a control surface hooked up, and I have it set up in the control surface menu within Reaper presets, but nothing is happening as it should.

  • @kerwinalexander6836
    @kerwinalexander68365 ай бұрын

    Hello once again. Can you set controls for more than 1 DAW? I use reaper. I will be participating in a beatmaking workshop and the s/w is Ableton Live 11 Lite. I want to set controls for reaper, which I can from this video (Thanks) Will I be able to set a "Memory" or template using Midi Control Center? Thanks.

  • @michaelanthony9068
    @michaelanthony90682 жыл бұрын

    Thank you Michael. I’m really frustrated lately cuz I just got a 2nd midi controller, so instead of just setting midi assignments to things like “all channels” now I’m having to assign specific channels and ports and I.D. numbers and I often don’t know why it doesn’t work when it doesn’t or why it does when it does. Last nite after hours of cussing I think my new keyboard started working again cuz I turned it off and back on. Ugh…

  • @DirectAccessYT

    @DirectAccessYT

    2 жыл бұрын

    YEAH, IF YOU PLUG IN a keyboard to connect it to a A MIDI CHANEL on your DAW that is alredy open/on, it can seem like its not working. If you change the daw to a different midi chanel, then switch back (eg were on ch1, its not wotrking so you switch DAW to receive on Midi ch 2 (for just a few seconds)), then back to midi ch 1) then it works.

  • @alexdegiovanni1598
    @alexdegiovanni15982 жыл бұрын

    Can you get it to record it while it's playing?

  • @lennyzenith6232
    @lennyzenith62322 жыл бұрын

    Super cool, thanks. Been struggling with this for a while. One thing you don't cover, is how to 'record' these volume changes whilst mixing? I'll search around more.

  • @MichaelRiggsMusic

    @MichaelRiggsMusic

    2 жыл бұрын

    Good point, yeah this video was more for setting it up but recording those changes is a good idea for a future video. For now if you haven’t found it already I think what you’re after is the “trim” control on the track. That will open a window where you can click a checkbox for any effects you want to control and record. I think you’ll need to change some of the settings to arm the tracks for any live changes during playback to get recorded. I think that’s also a checkbox and there are some options at the top of the window as well.

  • @daangraanbanaan

    @daangraanbanaan

    Жыл бұрын

    Can't you just overdub your midi knob movements? 🤔

  • @dyingstenchmusic

    @dyingstenchmusic

    Жыл бұрын

    Did you by chance make a follow up a out the trim and volume change issue the dude was having

  • @faselblaDer3te
    @faselblaDer3te2 жыл бұрын

    I'm gonna use this to set all tracks to a pretty random color when I play an F#7add9 on my MIDI keyboard.

  • @faselblaDer3te

    @faselblaDer3te

    2 жыл бұрын

    I was kidding, obviously, but now I got my own Minilab mkII (just today), and this tutorial was insanely helpful, so let me express my gratitude in a proper fashion ;-) THANK YOUUUU!

  • @user-wr6vq8ec9v
    @user-wr6vq8ec9v Жыл бұрын

    how about envelopes?

  • @quenita1717
    @quenita17172 жыл бұрын

    Ok.. and how to do if.. i would like to use controllers of my arturia kelab "stop" or "record". I can define them in actions of reaper, but there is a problem. They correspond to notes of piano roll, so , if I set a record botton, it gives me an information that it's a note number 95. When I start playing in hit this note, reaper starts recording, if I play note 94, it stops in transport.. any suggestions how to solve this problem? How it could difference the DAW controll bottoms from keys?

  • @MichaelRiggsMusic

    @MichaelRiggsMusic

    2 жыл бұрын

    I’ve also had this issue, I haven’t tried to fix it yet but there are some options where you enable the controller in settings to use it for control only or control and note input I think. That might affect both the pads and keys though. If you figure out a fix I’d love to know what you did

  • @hr2186
    @hr21862 жыл бұрын

    Hi are your first two knobs stiff compared to the others? Those first two seem to be wonky

  • @MichaelRiggsMusic

    @MichaelRiggsMusic

    2 жыл бұрын

    The two furthest left knobs on this controller do feel slightly stiffer than the rest. I think it is because those knobs can be clicked in like a button while the rest are just simple knobs

  • @hr2186

    @hr2186

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@MichaelRiggsMusic Thank you sir!

  • @bejsmenful
    @bejsmenful2 жыл бұрын

    Hi there! I've got a problem and I guess you are the person who knows the solution. I have assigned knobs on my AKAI MPK mini mk2. I use the Analog Lab plugin. The knobs work but there's no affect to the sound. Thee virtual knobs move but there's no effect in the tone. I have to use mouse to get any change. Could you help me, please? :)

  • @MichaelRiggsMusic

    @MichaelRiggsMusic

    2 жыл бұрын

    Hmm, this isn’t an issue I’ve personally run into so I wouldn’t know the answer to that, but if you do figure it out I’d love to know how you fix it!

  • @MasQueVencedorEnCristo
    @MasQueVencedorEnCristo2 жыл бұрын

    Gonna truth this out I can’t get my trigger to play sound 😖 u made it sound like that rubber ducky can be used to make sounds too

  • @darinpaterson4403
    @darinpaterson44039 ай бұрын

    search for volume and list goes down to about 2354 options lol

  • @talonsnyder4217
    @talonsnyder42172 ай бұрын

    Not helpful what is reaper 😢

  • @MsTessG

    @MsTessG

    2 ай бұрын

    You can literally Google any question in the world.