TIP: Excellent cheap controller for Reaper Custom Actions

[Jurjen]

Hi, just a little fun tip for anyone looking to control Reaper Custom Actions.
I received my SimPad Nano yesterday, a two-button (actually three-button) keypad over USB-A.

I mapped three custom actions I use when recording voice overs in Reaper. You don’t even need to install the driver on MacOS, although I did in order to adjust the RGB lights for a nice red ‘Record’ button. For example I can play back my recording and punch in where I want while holding the SimPad Nano in my hand while I’m in the booth. Really speeds everything up as it cuts down time editing. The keypad comes with an optional slip mat you could stick on it to fix it to your desk as well.

Very well build, inexpensive, very happy with it. There is a larger version of the SimPad as well with a couple more buttons but I like this extremely small footprint (fits in your hand) and didn’t need more than three buttons for my particular workflow.

I ordered the black one which comes with black keys and also a set of transparant ones to really show off the lights. I left the left button black and put a transparant key on the right, customising the led light to be red as it’s coupled to the record action..

https://a.aliexpress.com/_u6CEmP

[Coachz]

A 10x10 with programmable labels for $50 would be nice!

[babag]

i just use a second keyboard reprogrammed for macros.

[Coachz]

Originally Posted by babag

i just use a second keyboard reprogrammed for macros.

How do you do that?

[foxAsteria]

Ahem, 2 buttons wired for $20? To each his own I guess. I'd rather pay nothing and use my phone for wireless control of as many damn things as I want with realtime feedback. OSC + ReaLearn all the way, baby.

Even this is a much better deal imo: https://www.amazon.com/Contour-Shutt.../dp/B0032Y0OH0
It can change it's config based on what program has focus.

Not to mention,any 10-key add on can be configured with keys F13-F24 with SharpKeys (free) and many of which cost less than $10.

Sorry to poo on your parade, but I feel strongly that enthusiasm for this product is unwarranted. Many better, cheaper options.

[Coachz]

Originally Posted by foxAsteria

Ahem, 2 buttons wired for $20? To each his own I guess. I'd rather pay nothing and use my phone for wireless control of as many damn things as I want with realtime feedback. OSC + ReaLearn all the way, baby.

Even this is a much better deal imo: https://www.amazon.com/Contour-Shutt.../dp/B0032Y0OH0
It can change it's config based on what program has focus.

Not to mention,any 10-key add on can be configured with keys F13-F24 with SharpKeys (free) and many of which cost less than $10.

Sorry to poo on your parade, but I feel strongly that enthusiasm for this product is unwarranted. Many better, cheaper options.

I have a USB numeric keypad. Could I plug that in and assign the keys to all new actions? If so, how please

It's like this.
https://www.amazon.com/Numeric-Jelly...01424206&psc=1

[rncwalker]

You can even save more money by using you old phone(s) or Tablet(s)


This photo shows me using 3 tablets



Robert

[babag]

Originally Posted by Coachz

How do you do that?

i do it on linux which is different but here's a video i saw early on when looking into the process. this is for windows which, i'm guessing, will be useful to more people:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Arn8ExQ2Gjg

thanks,
babag

[foxAsteria]

@Coachz
https://www.randyrants.com/category/sharpkeys/
Something that occurred to me tho is it might not differentiate between same keys on different keyboards, not sure. But it's just changing them in the registry and easy to change it back.

[babag]

in linux each device has an identifier so as long as they are different, which they should be for a standard keyboard and numeric keypad, it doesn't matter if the keys are the same as they fall under a different root identifier. don't know how windows does it.

babag

[Coachz]

Originally Posted by foxAsteria

@Coachz
https://www.randyrants.com/category/sharpkeys/
Something that occurred to me tho is it might not differentiate between same keys on different keyboards, not sure. But it's just changing them in the registry and easy to change it back.

Can my USB keypad be used as a new set of keys in addition to the keypad on my keyboard which are already assigned to actions

[babag]

if you mean that you want to use the second keypad for numbers because those on the keyboard are occupied with macros, i don't see why not. are you on windows?

edit:
here's another video from the guy i posted before. it's a followup and very detailed in the howto department. he also is using different software in this one which he says works better than the luamacros scripting he used in the first video. he kind of blows through everything pretty fast so, if you decide to try this, you'll probably want to step through it on youtube as you build things. also, once you're on youtube you'll probably see a lot of similar videos that might be worth watching.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3e_ri-vOIo

babag

[foxAsteria]

Originally Posted by Coachz

Can my USB keypad be used as a new set of keys in addition to the keypad on my keyboard which are already assigned to actions

You'll have to try and see. Like I said tho, easy to change right back if not.

[Coachz]

Originally Posted by babag

if you mean that you want to use the second keypad for numbers because those on the keyboard are occupied with macros, i don't see why not. are you on windows?

edit:
here's another video from the guy i posted before. it's a followup and very detailed in the howto department. he also is using different software in this one which he says works better than the luamacros scripting he used in the first video. he kind of blows through everything pretty fast so, if you decide to try this, you'll probably want to step through it on youtube as you build things. also, once you're on youtube you'll probably see a lot of similar videos that might be worth watching.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3e_ri-vOIo

babag

I was thinking to have more actions assigned to it also. I don't need the numbers

[Geoff-h3o]

https://mediachance.com/multikeyboard/

Us as many keyboards as you want ,as long as they are not identical, all assigned different shortcuts; different keyboards for different tasks, just plug in as needed. You can then for instance, assign what would be Ctl + shft + N (normalize) to a single key on the other keyboard. You can also create macros with it. £20-ish well worth it.

there's also a program for midi control.

[mozart999uk]

Xkeys. Love em. Got 4 of em - all different sizes

https://xkeys.com/