So I know this feature is there, but I can't figure it out.

  • Thread starter Thread starter VomitHatSteve
  • Start date Start date
VomitHatSteve

VomitHatSteve

Hat STYLE. Not contents.
Reaper continues to impress me. Every time I think of a feature I want to use and try to find some 3rd party kluge to staple it to Reaper, I inevitably end up finding that Reaper already has it implemented.

I then proceed to spend days banging my head against a wall trying to figure out all the JS code (or whatever) I need to mess with to get it working.

In this case, it's a gamepad. I recently picked up a Xbox 360 DDR dance pad. I'd like to map it to some keys so that I can do some cool live stuff. (Map the buttons to FX triggers, the start/stop button, etc.)

After a day of googling and installing/uninstalling drivers, I discovered that Reaper automatically supports game controllers as midi controllers. Sweet!

So I've got my dance pad installed and mapped to the default midi controls for Reaper. Now what? What does the code in the rockband_drums.txt file do? How do I reprogram it so that the buttons behave in the crazy ways I demand? Where is the manual that I may RTFM it?

I've been plotting this for months now, and I'm incredibly agitated to be this close but unable to finalize my dream. (If I'm incoherent and overly-loquacious, I blame said twitchy excitement.)

Thank you.
 
Go to the Reaper forums for this one. I'd help if i could, but what you're talking about goes way beyond my simple drums/bass/guitar ethic.
 
I searched through the forums and found a lot of people talking about how cool this feature is and what they're doing with it. But I couldn't find coding instructions or anything.

(I'm hoping to not have to sign up for the Reaper forums and ask there. I'm already on enough forums.)
 
Hmm... I haven't used a gamepad (yet) but I would think that you could assign the buttons to actions and macros just like any other controller.

Try pressing '?' to bring up the actions list, find the action you want to use and click "add," then hit the button on your gamepad.

For triggering specific actions within effects:
Open your effect, click on a button or slider that you want to trigger, then click the 'param' -> Learn. Now hit the button/joystick on your gamepad.


If I remember right, gamepads use regular MIDI signals so this SHOULD work.. but again, I haven't tried any gamepads (yet.)
 
VomitHatSteve said:
I searched through the forums and found a lot of people talking about how cool this feature is and what they're doing with it. But I couldn't find coding instructions or anything.

(I'm hoping to not have to sign up for the Reaper forums and ask there. I'm already on enough forums.)
Click to expand...

I'll copy and paste your question there and give you the link....if you want.
 
That might help. Thanks Greg.

The problem with basic button presses-to key mappings is that doesn't allow some of the more advanced functionality I'm hoping for (the goal is to have some buttons function normally and others trigger once when I press the button and another time when I release it.)

I'd think this is possible because Reaper comes with user-controllable midi control files (they look like this):
// buttons (bitmask), numbuttons (valid bits in buttons)
// systime (time in seconds)
// axis(x), numaxis (number actually supported)
// pov(x), numpov, pov(x) > 360 if not pointing
...SNIP...
oldbuttons = buttons;

i=0;
loop(numaxis,
oldaxis = axis(i);
i+=1;
);
Click to expand...


Which looks a lot like Jesusonic code but I'm sure has enough differences that I'd really like to read the coding manual.

Edit: I thought this forum allowed code tags... I guess not.
Edit2: "You must spread some reputation around before giving it to GregL again."
"You must spread some reputation around before giving it to d.bop again."
:rolleyes"
 
I would enjoy seeing the inner workings of your brain?

I would also like to see a live usage of this game pad stuff.

Stellar hahah!
 
Okay, so if you haven't figured this out yet, I just tried and this seems to work.

Go to preferences, MIDI Devices, then hit the Add joystick MIDI... button under your inputs. Select your device, set it to the generic script, test a couple buttons, check "Send as MIDI control/learn," hit OK. Do note that "analog" controls are very, very touchy and should be accurately calibrated within Windows beforehand for this to work. But, there's not much more to it than that. Good luck!
 
d.bop said:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lDbTsJlf6E


Not sure if they're using REAPER, but they do use the controllers live. I saw them playing with MC Chris in Minneapolis last month. VERY COOL!
Click to expand...

That is very cool, but looks like way more work an equipment than I'd want to deal with for a live show. (Edit: Also, they spend 9 minutes showing you the controllers but only 30 seconds showing you the chip that makes it work and no time showing you the software? Weak!)

I ended up getting it working, but I skipped the original MIDI controller idea.

I downloaded a program called Pinnacle Game Profiler which allowed me to map the buttons the exactly the way I wanted them in about 10 minutes without writing any code.

It's a little less 1337 and DIY, but it works.
 
VomitHatSteve said:
That is very cool, but looks like way more work an equipment than I'd want to deal with for a live show. (Edit: Also, they spend 9 minutes showing you the controllers but only 30 seconds showing you the chip that makes it work and no time showing you the software? Weak!)

I ended up getting it working, but I skipped the original MIDI controller idea.

I downloaded a program called Pinnacle Game Profiler which allowed me to map the buttons the exactly the way I wanted them in about 10 minutes without writing any code.

It's a little less 1337 and DIY, but it works.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I wish they would have gone a little further "behind-the-scenes.." You can buy controller-to-usb adapters though, so you don't have to solder them yourself.

I'm glad you found a way to get things working! :D
 
VomitHatSteve said:
That is very cool, but looks like way more work an equipment than I'd want to deal with for a live show. (Edit: Also, they spend 9 minutes showing you the controllers but only 30 seconds showing you the chip that makes it work and no time showing you the software? Weak!)

I ended up getting it working, but I skipped the original MIDI controller idea.

I downloaded a program called Pinnacle Game Profiler which allowed me to map the buttons the exactly the way I wanted them in about 10 minutes without writing any code.

It's a little less 1337 and DIY, but it works.
Click to expand...

I don't understand what you'd need to write code for, as long as you have your device sending MIDI control to Reaper, you can go to the action list, add, and it should work.
 
timthetortoise said:
I don't understand what you'd need to write code for, as long as you have your device sending MIDI control to Reaper, you can go to the action list, add, and it should work.
Click to expand...

Maybe, but in the end Pinnacle ended up being really easy.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top