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ReaLearn Controllers

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Benjamin Klum edited this page Dec 18, 2024 · 13 revisions

1. Basics

ReaLearn is designed to be generic and support any controller. That’s why you won’t find a definitive list of supported controllers! This page contains a list of tested controllers.

Tip
 Keep in mind: Even if your controller is not on the list, you probably can make it work with ReaLearn!

ReaLearn strives to support any general-purpose MIDI/OSC controller out there. However, there are some things you should know:

  1. Not every controller works out of the box.

    • There are controllers which might need some initial preparation in order to work optimally with ReaLearn.

    • Don’t fear this initial effort, it can pay off very quickly. ReaLearn is designed to get the most out of your controller and make it work the way you want it, not some company that wants to impose a certain type of workflow on you.

    • The versatility of a controller is a weakness but at the same time a strength. Taking some time to get to know and prepare your controller can make you end up with a tool that is much better suited for what you are trying to do than some bling-bling off-the-shelf solution.

  2. Some controllers don’t work perfectly, especially when it comes to the feedback direction.

    • Among those controllers that support MIDI feedback, not all of them handle the feedback messages flawlessly.

    • Depending on the nature of the particular problem, it might be possible to fix it in future ReaLearn versions. Therefore, if you encounter a problem in this area, feel free to raise an issue.

  3. Some controllers might have unique features that you can only use if you bring a bit of MIDI know-how and are ready to use advanced ReaLearn features.

    • Example: A controller might offer a way to change the appearance of an LED ring, but only via system-exclusive MIDI messages.

    • First, have a look if there’s a controller preset already. Maybe it supports those advanced features already.

    • If not, ReaLearn offers the following features for such scenarios:

Even though ReaLearn is made for any controller, it’s still useful to have a list of specific controllers and how they work in combination with ReaLearn.

2. General tips regarding controller setup and usage

The following basic setup hints are usually valid, no matter the specific controller:

  • Put your controller’s buttons into momentary mode, not toggle mode.

  • If you are in the lucky situation of owning a controller with endless rotary encoders, by all means, configure them to transmit relative values, not absolute ones!

    • Otherwise, you can’t take advantage of ReaLearn’s advanced features for sources emitting relative values, such as the "Step size" or "Speed" setting.

    • Also, preventing parameter jumps can never be as effective in absolute mode as in relative mode.

  • If there are issues, consult the Troubleshooting section in the first part of this guide.

Consider the following general usage hints:

  • If the device supports visual feedback and different LED colors, the LED color often depends on the target value and can be manually adjusted using "Source Min/Max" in the "Glue" section of the mapping.

3. How to use the mentioned presets

Factory presets are easy to use: Just pick them in the preset menu.

Unofficial and contributed presets are available as copyable text. Here’s how you can try such a preset:

  1. Copy the text to the clipboard by using the copy button on the top-right

  2. In ReaLearn, open the correct compartment and press Import from clipboard

If you like the preset, you can save it as your own.

4. List of control standards

5. List of controllers

Important
 ReaLearn is designed to support any controller, so even if your controller is not on the list, you probably can make it work with ReaLearn!

The purpose of this section is to write about experiences with specific controllers that have been tested in combination with ReaLearn.

There’s a broad variety of general-purpose MIDI controllers out there and there will be even more in the future. Of course, I don’t have the resources to test them all, there are way too many. That’s why this section very much depends on your contribution!

Disclaimer: The information in this document is given to the best of my knowledge. It could be wrong or outdated.

Tip
 The philosophy of most official controller presets is to model the controller as faithfully as possible by providing a 1:1 mapping of real control elements to virtual control elements. Depending on the type of controller, the virtual control elements are sometimes numeric, sometimes named and sometimes both. Some controller presets offer a controller layout (and thus can be instantly used with the Projection feature), others not (yet).

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