Hi, I just bought the nanokontrol2 to fiddle around a bit with Reaper, but there doesn't seem to be any drivers for linux readily available. I've searched around a bit to see if someone made drivers to get it to work - but I apperantly I just too dim to make it work. Does anybody have any pointers how to get this device to work properly with Reaper?

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

Ohh.. that looks cool. I don't have a lot of experience with MIDI controllers yet but I do have a Numark DJ MIDI turntable thing. Sometimes I use the faders on it to record automation on a track or two in Reaper.

If you're using Jack and Carla (or similar) here's what I'd do.

Open Carla or QjackCtl or something so you can see what changes on the graph when you plug it in.

For me when I plug in a new device it add a new midi_capture in the "system" list. Connect that to one of Reaper's MIDI inputs. In my example I'm connecting "midi_capture_2" to "MIDI input 2"

Then in Reaper I open the preferences (ctrl+p) then go to Audio > MIDI Devices. In the top list I set the mode for midi_capture_2 to "Enabled+Control".

Now as a test I create a new track with the plugin "ReaControlMIDI". Towards the top-right of the plugin is a button, "Show Log". Click that and then move stuff on your controller. If you see data then all you have to do is map your controls.

This is where things get tricky and I won't be able to help too much since I'm still learning the ropes myself.

ReaLearn seems to be the best way to configure random MIDI devices to do whatever you want.

https://www.helgoboss.org/projects/realearn/#getting-started

If you have ReaPack

add the repo - https://github.com/helgoboss/reaper-packages/raw/master/index.xml
search for "realearn" and install

Update: I decided to spend some time learning more about ReaLearn and found that there are already some mappings for the NanoKontrol2. I've also seen a few different sources say you need to use the Korg Kontrol Editor software to make a few config changes on the device. I don't have the device but I did test the software in WINE and it at least installs and opens. I've had to do this with Behringer software before and it works fine.

https://github.com/helgoboss/realearn/blob/master/doc/controllers.adoc#319-korg-nanokontrol2

https://github.com/helgoboss/realearn/tree/master/resources/controller-presets/unofficial/korg-nanokontrol2

https://forum.cockos.com/showthread.php?t=259932

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

thanks for the info. I'll look in to it. I hope running voidlinux (no systemd) doesn't complicate things (it usually does)

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

If I remember correctly, Wine has no way to interface with usb devices, so the Korg Kontrol Editor won't detect the hardware even if it installs and runs. I keep a windows 10 vm for this purpose. Realearn is so capable that you could probably avoid the config software altogether.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

My bad. You're completely right. I forgot that's how I was doing it.

The only reason I saw to use the config software is that the sensitivity on the knobs needs to be modified or they just act like a toggle.