Setting up a Midi Device in Reaper

This article deals with midi input – for midi output please read – Setting up a Midi Device in Reaper part 2

Getting your midi device to work in Reaper is quite a simple procedure.

First you will need to install any software or drivers for your operating system.

Some will work right out of the box but in some cases you will need to follow your brands instructions.

Once the device is setup you can now open up Reaper and get started.

First, on the menu goto ‘Options’ – ‘Preferences’ located at the bottom of the dropdown menu.

Options - Preferences - Reaper

On the left side of the popup is a list of items that can be changed to make things work.Screen Shot 2014-10-15 at 09.13.27

Scroll down until you find MIDI Devices, as shown in the image below.Screen Shot 2014-10-15 at 09.13.20

On the right side of the popup you will see a list of devices, they will usually be named after you devices brans and model. In some cases they may just be named ‘USB device’ or some variant of that. If you have more than one device installed you will have to figure out which one you want to set up.Screen Shot 2014-10-15 at 09.13.32

My devices pictured above have already been set up for the most part.

Let’s start with ‘midi in’

In the top half of the popup we have our midi inputs,

Screen Shot 2014-10-15 at 09.20.56

Even thought it is already setup I’m going to use my Focusrite Pro1010 as an example.

Screen Shot 2014-10-15 at 09.21.06

To open up the options for this device double click on it with your mouse button. As you would with a file for example.

Screen Shot 2014-10-15 at 09.21.15

As you can see, this device is already enabled – we have two options.

1. ‘Enable input from this device’

2. ‘Enable input control messages’

1. Enabling input from this device allows us to use for example a USB midi keyboard or any external midi keyboard via cables.

A USB keyboard will be listed as a midi device – so that is pretty straightforward – tick the box and you will be ready to get playing.

If you have an older type of midi keyboard or guitar midi device that needs to be connected via midi cables then you would be looking at whichever device that you are connected to.

2. Enabling input for control messages, this would relate to any rotary or slider functions you have on your keyboard. Most USB midi keyboards these days come with this function. If you want to use these then you will need to tick this.

To start using your keyboard in Reaper please read – Reaper setting up Midi Input

To learn how to use your controller in Reaper please read – Reaper Midi Learn & Controller setup.

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