
Sophisticated MIDI/MCU/OSC learn for REAPER
What is ReaLearn?
And how does it compare to other projects?
ReaLearn is a VST instrument plug-in for the Digital Audio Workstation REAPER which works in REAPER only. Its mission is to equip REAPER with the most comprehensive and well thought out MIDI/MCU/OSC learn features that one can imagine, while at the same time providing many related features such as MIDI/OSC feedback (e.g. via LEDs, motorized faders and displays). It's especially suited for performers who frequently need to map control elements like knobs or buttons to REAPER functions such as track volume, FX parameters or actions. Since version 2 it's also quite usable as a tool for customizing control surfaces without having to write templates or code.
REAPER itself has a built-in MIDI/OSC learn functionality but it only provides the bare essentials. Many useful MIDI control scenarios are impossible or quite difficult and time-consuming to achieve with REAPER alone, for example if you want to restrict the controlled target value range. You would need to tinker with things like MIDIToReaControlPath and general purpose MIDI plug-ins, which totally takes the drive out of making music. ReaLearn tries to make that much easier and gives you instant access to lots of advanced features on top of that: Controller presets, conditional activation, projection ... and much more.
Videos
to get an impression
This is the ReaLearn 2 introduction video. Watch 2 minutes of it to get a first impression and stay tuned if you want to see a few things that ReaLearn allows you to do.
This is the official series of tutorial videos. A perpetual work in progress but all the basics are there already. Very much recommended if you prefer a hands-on approach over a technical user guide!