edit: user rich_h is developing a plugin to enable Reaper to work with Direct Link.
You can reach his thread over here:
http://forum.cockos.com/showthread.php?t=112375
Alternatively, it was suggested that you emulate the keyboard with OSC or MCU plugins, which should work but I couldn't test it myself yet.
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Hello forum.
Let me start by saying that there's very little info on the interwebs about setting this up completely. Sometimes, when people discuss this, they take a crucial step for granted. I've done my homework about this, but I don't think I can pass the test. So I am creating this thread to gather all we know.
Some parts of the issue I could solve, but not some.
I'm gonna state this here for users that might be oblivious to some details:
-DirectLink does not work with Reaper. In fact it seems to be a failed implementation, since M-Audio ships the Axiom Pro with Hypercontrol, which is quite possibly the DirectLink software built in the Axiom Pro hardware. Even then, you need some tweaking for it to work perfectly with Reaper or other DAWs with no native support.
The issues:
1) Mapping
transport controls [solved]
2) Mapping
Axiom faders to software faders
[half-solved]
3) Mapping
rotary encoders to software pan
[half-solved]
4) Having an easy way to
toggle which software
tracks are controlled by the 9 Axiom faders and 8 rotary encoders (perhaps buttons that move to next/previous track groups of 8)
[unsolved]
5) Having a way to
toggle between mixer functions (volume and pan) and
plugin parameters (so that when tweaking a plugin, you don't mess with the mix - similar to instrument mode in DirectLink)
[unsolved]
6) When tweaking plugin parameters, you
only alter the plugin that has it's window open,
or change parameters in the Axiom to change which plugin you're affecting (like Banks?)
[unsolved]
Here are the solutions:
(I henceforth assume you got your Reaper receiving notes and messages from Axiom, in MIDI devices)
1)
-Go to Actions> Show Action List (shortcut: ?);
-Type the function you wish to control in "Filter" (eg.: "play"), find the correct function and select it;
-In the box "shortcuts for selected action" click "add";
-Press the equivalent button in the transport section of Axiom (like "play button"). It should read something like "MIDI chan 16 CC 117", in the case of "play button";
-In the "MIDI CC" dropbox choose one of the "relative" options (1,2 or 3). The reason for this is that in absolute mode, Reaper will read "on" and "off" messages (0 and 127) as the same - this way you would be activating "play" both when pressing AND releasing the button. I don't think you'd want that;
-Do that for all trasnport buttons. (by the way, the "loop button" should activate Reaper's "Transport: Toggle Repeat" function).
2)
-Similar to the transport controls (check "1)"), except:
-The functions are called "Track: Set volume for track #x";
-you should use Absolute mode.
3)
-Similar to the faders (check "2)"), except:
-The functions are called "Track: Set pan for track #y";
-you should use Absolute mode.
4)
-???
5)
-???
6)
-???
I will update this when we find the answers.
Thanks forum.