In this video we’ll be looking at some of the things you can do with an expression pedal in REAPER. Controlling REAPER functions, controlling virtual instrument parameters, and as a wah pedal in a virtual guitar system (Helix).

I’m using a Moog EP-2 but there are many other expression pedals available that will work just as well with REAPER.

MIDI expression pedals have a TRS plug and it connects to the Expression Pedal jack on your MIDI keyboard.

Setup

  • Preferences: Audio: MIDI Devices
  • Find your MIDI Keyboard and set Enabled + control
  • Check MIDI CC # with ReaControlMIDI Log

Linking to reaper action

  • Open action list, find an action with (MIDI CC) in the name, MIDI learn (absolute mode)

MIDI recording

  • Single track, records to CC #11 lane

Recording audio sources
Reaper parameter MIDI link

  • 1 track
  • Need to record automation at same time

Using Plugin’s MIDI learn

  • 2 tracks
  • Records audio and MIDI separately

Problems

  • MIDI and automation fight for same parameter
  • Forget to record automation
  • MIDI track needs to be record and monitor enabled
  • MIDI Overdub with existing MIDI CC data

Posted

in

,

by

Tags:

Comments

2 responses to “Using a MIDI expression pedal with REAPER”

  1. Seth Avatar
    Seth

    Hey Jon, thanks for all you do and covering some of the more obscure technicalities here. I have one such obscurity: An expression pedal converter, namely the MPC-10 from DOREMiDi. Just received it, and it isn’t being read by Reaper. I don’t have a controller that accepts exp. pedals, and found this shortcut only to discover it’s not as straightforward as it implies. One thing to note is that I’m pretty much still in the beginner phase when it comes to MIDI in general. I grasp the concepts and know the terminology, but experience is so badly lacking. I may be missing something quite basic. Please let me know if there is any content on these seemingly new devices from you, Kenny, or somewhere else I haven’t checked yet. I’ll keep searching in the meantime. Thanks in advance!

    1. Admin Avatar
      Admin

      Hi Seth
      I don’t have any experience with that device specifically. I would check if the MPC-10 is recognized anywhere outside of reaper. In device manager on Windows, or Audio MIDI Setup on mac.
      For setup within reaper its probably similar to my Beatbars expression pedal

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *