Control Surface Integrator for REAPER with Behringer BCF2000

[@filtertheory]

Great intro video Jon. CSI is super powerful but can be a bit daunting for people to get going, so this was excellent. Over time you end up tweaking it a lot. I have two BCF2000's, an Alphatrack and a FCB1010 pedalboard all set up working together as a single "virtual" controller. Having the FCB1010 is great when I'm recording guitar, I can control takes, transport, FX params, etc without taking my hands off the guitar. Definitely worth the initial learning curve.

[@rnzi716]

It's amazing! Old MIDIController radiates new vitality

[@mageprometheus]

Thanks, Jon. I just treated myself to an x-touch and most of this transfers. What a great kickstart. Off to your next part.

[@TheREAPERBlog]

Great to hear! I need to upgrade this year and x-touch is a contender

[@mioszkarpowicz3012]

I bought second hand Behringer BCF 2000 after watching this video... It works perfectly and makes mixing so much fun !! Thank you sooo much!!!

[@TheREAPERBlog]

whoa awesome!

[@AndresCastroGuitar]

Thank you so much for this! Thanks for taking the time and effort to do this, I've been waiting for years!

[@MakesBadNoise]

This couldn’t be more perfect timing as I was just trying to figure out how to make custom fader layers on my control surface without changing the layout of the project. Excellent video, thank you so much!

[@Skijumptoes]

Really pleased to see you covering this, it's going to become a really major part of REAPER in future for me. Thanks for all you do! :)

[@nicolasmunch-kz7ke]

Wow, sometimes you search despertly something on the web that fit you purposes and you don't find any. And Sometimes you do. That's definetly the second option right now. Thanks a lot

[@noice7381]

Perfect timing. I just downloaded CSI to see how to get more informative on my Icon Platform's display

[@hardleftproductions5323]

Fantastic! Thanks for making this video. I bought my bcf2000 over 10 years ago from eBay and its been great. Looking forward to trying this out. This might be useful for controlling Arturia synths.

[@leopoldbluesky]

Great tutorial Jon - I was trying to find a way to have my Alphatrack control my master bus while my BCF controls the tracks - with this I should be able to do that, hopefully. Cheers!

[@GASH_one]

Thanks Jon. Now it's time to finally get my X-Touch.

[@Kitarraman]

Thank you Jon, this was very interesting. I'm still unsure about buying a used BCF2000 and a Platform M+, but the more I ask about the latter, the more I found out it's a mess when it comes to driver and firmware... So I think I'm going with Behringer

[@davidconsumerofmath]

What's wrong with the Platform M+?

[@cmd_f5]

Have wanted a control surface for a long time, very powerful stuff indeed. Peace

[@MrAlFuture]

Awesome, Jon! Thank you. I'm going to have to dust mine off and start mapping.

[@rumginray]

Thanks for all the great info -- PS, the CSI Wiki link is broken : (

[@IDDQDSound]

Holy crap! I'm in the middle of learning ReaLearn but I do like text editing stuff!

[@TheREAPERBlog]

both are really powerful. ReaLearn is more for if you want a different setup for each project. Easy to template and change at any time. CSI for if you want a permanent setup. Realearn v1 didn't like my motorized faders and I'm not sure if that's resolved in v2.

[@IDDQDSound]

@@TheREAPERBlog I still don't have motorized faders but if I can set my faders to soft takeover with CSI I think for most cases it's for me.

[@dashwoodaudio2976]

😀wow thank you for posting this video that helps me out a lot. cheers

[@TheREAPERBlog]

Glad it helped

[@andrewtolson2566]

Thank you. I was looking for a way to make plug in moves very convoluted and time consuming. Just grabbing the mouse and adjusting something was boring. Awesome.

[@benjamineisenhofer8174]

Thank you, now I want one. xD

[@MatbiangShadap]

Hey bro.. Is it possible to make reaper function as session view (as on ableton session) because for us live performers we really need this Workflow..

[@TheREAPERBlog]

The Playtime plugin is the closest thing. but not really the same

[@kristian_shatov]

Hi! Thanks for video! Can I do the same thing with Icon platform M+?

[@DopamineOverload]

Hey Jon! You're usually quick to reply to YT comments (thank you). Re: CSI.... look. I'm a smart guy, I really am. But I cannot understand how to set this up, get it working. It seems like most users own a motorized or 8-channel "MCU"-style controller for this. Behringer's stuff from like 10-12 years ago, Mackie C4, Mackie MCU, MCU the newer version... X-Touch, X-Touch One. I'm trying to help a blind user who reached out to me, configure his X-Touch Mini for plugin control, hands-on... makes sense, obviously. But, I feel that my custom Reaper MIDI map stuff (for various newer midi controllers) is so much easier to set up. For instance, Maschine MK3--- with MIDI Mode, you can set up Templates for any plugin you want, and have pages and pages of parameters. If you have like 10-20 "go-to" plugins, it's so much easier to configure these Templates and have Reaper only tweak what's floating... ya know? I think there's an option that lets you do that, but I'm unsure where to look. Any help is appreciated man. I just... as popular as CSI is, it is like reading Henry Miller's Tropic of Cancer. The first 5 pages, I'm like "what.... the.... f....." I just cannot get my head around this, man. Thanks!

[@TheREAPERBlog]

it IS complicated and wouldn't have any idea how to do this from scratch. I haven't seen any mappings for the mini online that I can remember. ReaLearn might be better for this, but still complicated.

[@DopamineOverload]

@@TheREAPERBlog you’re the man. Thx bro.

[@daniellumertz7508]

would be really cool to see another how I do my videos in windows now ! :)

[@TheREAPERBlog]

Good idea. It’s close to a full year now

[@FunnyLeech]

hi mate! the link for csi is dead now, is there any new link?

[@TheREAPERBlog]

CSI V2 for latest release, EXP for latest beta features stash.reaper.fm/u/GeoffWaddington

[@feldbox]

Great tutorial, thanks!!!!

[@Tipleman21]

Really good tutorial

[@TheREAPERBlog]

Thanks!

[@marksadventures3889]

Awesome Jon - I have had integration issues with my Oxygen 25; I get it to play notes plus up and down pitch and pitch-bender but getting the control knobs at the top and transport is a pain. I should check the settings i guess

[@TheREAPERBlog]

under MIDI Devices, check that it is enabled + control. That will let you do manual MIDI mapping to plugins or things in the action list.

[@MartinKrijgsmanMusic]

John super super super thanks.

[@Not-Only-Reaper-Tutorials]

Great video!

[@penjackson]

WOWwwwwwww!! Thanks for sharing!

[@cristianibarraOfficial]

I have some sort of issues since the beginning of the installation, and how to the video shows, the surface let me allows control..... pretty much everything! I need your help, please

[@pdppdp3854]

LBX faderbox is better suited to controlling FX-plugins/params (click&save), im in the process of re-configuring my BCF2000, setting up a editing BankPreset, and a performance BankPreset i figure a great setup for the BCF2000 is having PresetBanks 1-8 control 64 Volume Faders, PresetBank 9(editing/Recording/FX), PresetBank 10(performance/FX) PresetBanks 11-18 recycles 64Volume Faders, Bank19(editing/Recording/FX) Bank 10(performance/FX) Mock-tracks would have to be moved out in between 9&10/19&20/29&30 to keep the faders consistent 01-08, 11-18, 21-28 but entirely workable!! there is quite a bit of versatility with the BCF2000 if setup correctly in Reaper!!

[@TheREAPERBlog]

lots of ways to do plugin mapping between CSI, Faderbox, and ReaLearn. Pros and cons of each. Right now I'm liking this. I'll have to see if I actually use it in a real mix.

[@juneaftn]

You use LBX faderbox along with CSI?

[@pdppdp3854]

@@juneaftn no.. i havent tried CSI. i find the file moving, text.editing side of CSI to be very confusing... as a result i learnt to map directly to Reaper, and found the Faderbox plugin in conjunction with the LBX smart script &Realearn to be more than sufficient, to carry out the necessary tasks for plugins/faders etc etc.... Learning to map the BCR&BCF forced me to learn more about midi-mapping not all things are plug and play... especially with old midi gear

[@RKBibleStudy]

I’m working on trying to understand how to deeply map my Tascam US 2400. There is a Mackie control set up that works pretty well, but I’d like to be able to control the auxes the way the Tascam is actually set up to do. Having said that, is there a Mac equivalent to midi ox?

[@jamesdonnelly8888]

Good job brother. I got mine for £100 and had to repair it. I also got a BCR for £60, has no USB, and missing tons of knobs but works over midi just fine. Can't wait to use what I've learned here to integrate the two. I am thinking of sticking a cheap tablet behind the bcf as a low rent meter bridge, and perhaps using CSI to bring up the info on assignments that the BCF cannot display. Any thoughts on feasibility here?

[@TheREAPERBlog]

I think combining a touchOSC device with the bcr and bcf could display the assignments. Maybe someone has built this already. its worth asking in the forum

[@highvoltage9185]

Not sure if it’s lates csi version or latest version of reaper but many of the options noted when setting up the preferences look and behave differently and I can’t get it to work (note: I do connect via usb)

[@TheREAPERBlog]

yeah CSI v2 is totally different

[@VRachinsky]

Hello! Thanks for the great info! Is it possible to make the controller control the plugin that is in focus, and not the one called by the button?

[@TheREAPERBlog]

with current version of CSI it is possible. The function is called "ToggleEnableFocusedFXMapping" inside buttons.zon

[@VRachinsky]

@@TheREAPERBlog Thank you! Maybe I'm not that experienced. I couldn't get it to work. Maybe I'm not using the latest version of CSI, but I didn't find it. Or perhaps the command is incorrect. Do you have an example ZON file using this command?

[@TheREAPERBlog]

github.com/GeoffAWaddington/CSI30Wiki/wiki/CSI-Changelog

[@VRachinsky]

@@TheREAPERBlog thank you friend!

[@sandrocavali9810]

Thank you! Is there a CSI script for the platform nano? I bought one and I can't get it to function properly

[@TheREAPERBlog]

There isn't one pre-made that I see, but you can probably start with a copy of the MCU surface files and modify from there. I have newer videos than this on CSI

[@sandrocavali9810]

@@TheREAPERBlog thanks brother I'll make sure to watch them.

[@istominmusic]

Hi! I have BIG problem with XTouch Mini and CSI. Buttons work, actions work. But when i try setup rotary for FX Plugins - dont work... I check singal from my controller - all work and i see all parametr in window from "CSI Toggle Show Input from Surfaces" and i see signal from rotary, but plugins dont work... Simple example zon text: Zone "VST: ReaComp (Cockos)" SelectedTrackNavigator LayerA_Rotary1 FXParam 0 "Thresh" LayerA_Rotary2 FXParam 1 "Ratio" LayerA_Rotary3 FXParam 2 "Attack" LayerA_Fader FXParam 3 "Release" FXParam 4 "Pre-comp" FXParam 5 "resvd" FXParam 6 "Lowpass" FXParam 7 "Hipass" FXParam 8 "SignIn" FXParam 9 "AudIn" FXParam 10 "Dry" FXParam 11 "Wet" FXParam 12 "PreviewF" FXParam 13 "RMS size" FXParam 14 "Knee" FXParam 15 "AutoMkUp" FXParam 16 "AutoRel" FXParam 17 "CompatOp" FXParam 18 "DeprAnti" FXParam 19 "Bypass" FXParam 20 "Wet" ZoneEnd End cant work... I try install CSI version 1 and version 1.1, but still dont work! 1 week i cant work with CSI.....

[@TheREAPERBlog]

I'm using 1.0 in my videos. What you have there looks correct. zone file could be in the wrong folder you might need to run the reset action before the file is read (if you created or edited it after starting reaper). *Control surface: Refresh all surfaces* or you have not put the controller into fx mode.

[@istominmusic]

@@TheREAPERBlog Yes. Version 1.1 dont work, but version 1.0 work only with buttons. But i cant use rotary encoders for VST plugins... I try use Refresh, but dont halp. Can you give me your files for XTouch mini? Probably in my case i have wrong files?

[@TheREAPERBlog]

I don't have a xtouch mini CSi file. Try these with v1 of CSI siniarch.wixsite.com/csiconfigfiles/post/behringer-x-touch-mini-by-craigge

[@istominmusic]

@@TheREAPERBlog I used this files. I make video with my problem. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rKHchpKOecmUeNE&ab_channel=%D0%AF%D1%80%D0%BE%D1%81%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%98%D1%81%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B8%D0%BD

[@troutman68]

I have a CM Automation Motormix....can anyone help me get this to show up and function in Reaper?

[@tillhoutermans3795]

Has anyone tried using BCFVIEW in conjunction with CSI?

[@StevieBoyesmusic]

What is the correct syntax for setting range and stepped controls etc? The documentation is very poor for this.

[@TheREAPERBlog]

check this post. I'm sure it is in the wiki somewhere but I couldn't find it at the moment. forums.cockos.com/showpost.php?s=5e67f732a1b891ff0893d5cdf7a7009d&p=2407578&postcount=10

[@StevieBoyesmusic]

found this on forum if it helps anybody... Delta based examples: Code: FXParam 0 // default range, no acceleration, use encoder value FXParam 0 [ (0.1,0.2,0.3,0.4,0.5) ] // default range, acceleration FXParam 0 [ (0.003) ] // default range, no acceleration, override encoder value FXParam 0 [ 0.0>0.7 (0.1,0.2,0.3,0.4,0.5) ] // override range, acceleration Stepped based examples Code: FXParam 0 [ 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 ] // default range, no acceleration, default tick count, step values (always required) FXParam 0 [ (12) 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 ] // default range, no acceleration, override tick count, step values (always required) FXParam 0 [ (10,5,3,2,1) 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 ] // default range, acceleration, step values (always required)

[@BarrySax6]

Did you have trouble with it not recognizing folders as being collapsed? I haven’t had time to try CSI with my new X-Touch but the out of the box implementation shows every track even when collapsed.

[@TheREAPERBlog]

You mean collapsing folders in the mixer and hiding the child tracks, making the tracks disappear from the control surface? with the BCF in MCU mode there was a button combo to make that work. lower shift plus learn or something like that. With CSI it should work when 'Track Visibility on surface follows' mixer is set in the HomePage options.

[@BarrySax6]

@@TheREAPERBlog Yeah exactly. What I want to have happen is that collapsed folders only show up as a single fader on the X-Touch but I get the folder and then all of the contents on subsequent faders. I also had a problem, last night where hidden tracks were showing up in the X-Touch but I think that was because I had the video window in the docker instead of the mixer at that point. I plan to get into CSI with it tonight. Thanks for the reply. I signed up for your video series a couple months ago and it was very helpful. If you look at my page, those videos were done in Reaper using your plugins and taking a ton of your advice from the course.

[@Radical_Middle]

there is no csi v2 on stash, and exp version has only two files - reaper_csurf_integrator64 dll and dylib (where dylib file goes?) but no CSI folder.

[@TheREAPERBlog]

CSI is on V3 now. github.com/GeoffAWaddington/CSI_Install

[@Radical_Middle]

@@TheREAPERBlog thank you. I have much to learn with all this.

[@TheREAPERBlog]

Me too, I'm just starting with CSI 3 this month. video soon I hope

[@Radical_Middle]

@@TheREAPERBlog please do:)

[@Neumah]

Yo hold up! The BCF2000 works in Win10? I have the BCF and the BCR and tried hooking them up to Win10 a year ago and it just wouldn't work? I don't remember if the drivers wouldn't install correctly or if it was something with the BC software that couldn't communicate with the units. Either way they were both unusable due to some data related stuff. What am I missing here?

[@TheREAPERBlog]

only problem I had was it wouldn't connect through hubs on usb3 ports. I'm not even sure if I installed a driver.

[@Neumah]

@@TheREAPERBlog Oh crap don't tell me I did the USB version blunder... what a noob mistake. Thanks a bunch man, I have some devices to hook up! :D Btw, do you have any tips or resources for fixing cruddy faders om the BCF? They get suck when the motors are pushing them. And thanks for all the awesome Reaper content!

[@TheREAPERBlog]

If it's just the usb issue that's a very good thing, easy to fix. Took me 45 minutes in a live stream to figure it out systematically. On the inside there are rubber bands that pull the fader and there's a screw to adjust the tension. Don't want it too tight or too loose. I set up a project with some automation so I could test the smoothness, if all faders move simultaneously etc. Surprisingly still working find since that first adjustment several years ago.

[@Neumah]

@@TheREAPERBlog Sweet! You're making me all excited. I haven't used these puppies for over 10 years and I used to kinda love them. Here's hoping I'll get them to work! 🍻I can recommend the BCR btw, I used to have it sort of as a fat channel for the selected track. Given the number of rotaries you don't have to change pages nearly as often. Sped up the work considerably!

[@Neumah]

For future reference if anyone has the same problem I had. Check the USB settings on the device. My BCF was for some reason set to Standalone mode and hence would basically disable the USB port. Check chapter 4.1 in the manual. Also, don't forget that USB ports in the back of the motherboard often times are connected to an internal hub. Like Jon said, hubs over USB 3.x don't work with the BCF/BCR. My front panel ports (2.0 and 3.0) worked fine, but none of the rear ones (3.0 via internal hub).

[@stevedoesnt]

Im using a Mackie Control Universal Pro, and no matter what I do, I can't get it to say anything other than "NoMap" after creating the .zon file and setting rotary parameters per the video. Ive refreshed it and everything. I can't get a single FX parameter mapped. Question: After creating the zon file and programing, the .zon file stays in the ZonRawFXFiles folder, right?

[@stevedoesnt]

Update: The answer is "No." I dropped the program zon file into the MCU folder. It seems to work!

[@TheREAPERBlog]

nice! I've barely scratched the surface on the CSI stuff.

[@stevedoesnt]

@@TheREAPERBlog Thanks for posting that Wiki file. I didn’t know it existed until you posted it. It’s been super helpful!

[@stevedoesnt]

@@TheREAPERBlog Some interesting things that I'm finding: In defining the range of something like a stepped selector knob (like a pultec hi freq selector) I had to set each value exactly in order to get them all. For instance: [ 0.0 0.2 0.4 ] Also, skipping a value, or getting the last value wrong, might still move the selector switch into a different position, but would then stop graduating, if that makes sense. tl;dr: all the values had to be correct, and all steps had to have a value assigned for it to work properly for me.

[@TheREAPERBlog]

doesn't it feel good to figure out stuff like that :)

[@rhythmjones]

I get to the point where you have added the control surface integrator and it just straight up doesn't work. I've tried enabling and disabling the BCF in the MIDI devices, the ports are showing up, but just nothing. No idea what I'm doing wrong here.

[@rhythmjones]

I can't get it to work in Mackie Control mode either. The ports show up and it should be working.

[@TheREAPERBlog]

@@rhythmjones did you start it in mode 2? Is the bcf connected to a USB2 port? Mine doesn't work on USB3 ports, even through a hub.

[@rhythmjones]

@@TheREAPERBlog Yes, Mode 2. Directly connected to a USB 2.0 port. I keep getting "control surface error opening midi inputs"

[@fullcolourfantasy8655]

@@rhythmjones Did this ever get resolved? I'm running into the same issue...

[@rhythmjones]

@@fullcolourfantasy8655 I wound up selling the unit. Too much hassle.

[@zimouspero]

i have an old surface controller ( Sac-2K fro 2012). its possible to config like you do on you controller? thank you

[@TheREAPERBlog]

I haven't seen that one before. pretty cool looking. It has Mackie mode so you should be able to set up CSI to work with it. Might even be able to modify someone else's .mst and .zon files to get a head start.

[@bobcabrera3080]

Jon, is there a "Reapinger" type of CSI config for X-Touch?

[@TheREAPERBlog]

yes there is at least one x-touch layout already built by users.

[@bobcabrera3080]

@@TheREAPERBlog thanks, Jon. Is it as simple as just pasting that x-touch .zon file into the right folder in Reaper...and you're good?

[@StevieBoyesmusic]

just use MCU (makie control unit)

[@bobcabrera3080]

@@StevieBoyesmusic thanks for the suggestion. I've been using the X-Touch with the Klinke extension for a few months now...not as powerful as CSI, but it's working for me.

[@rhythmjones]

I get to the point where you're choosing the MIDI ports and I don' t have any MIDI ports available, just Focurite USB Midi and when I choose that, it does not work...

[@rhythmjones]

The BCF is not showing up in MIDI devices.

[@TheREAPERBlog]

I had a problem with the bcf if it was connected to USB3 ports, it only works on USB2 ports. Other than that I'm not sure.

[@rhythmjones]

@@TheREAPERBlog I didn't have the driver installed. Facepalm.

[@MixYourWay]

Hey there guys! I have a quick one: Is there a way we could set a Digi 003 (with faders) like this using it's midi map? Thanks for any input, much appreciated!

[@TheREAPERBlog]

Not with the BCF configuration but looks like you can write your own. Can you get it working with reaper currently? akmedia.digidesign.com/support/docs/003MIDIModeGuide_34454.pdf

[@MixYourWay]

Hiya Jon! Good news! Using the BCF with the 003 does work!! It required me to remap the whole thing but it is alive! - Before BCF, it could only ride faders via CC messages (action menu assigned), where as now, it does work as a Control/OSC. Pans, Solos, Mutes, Transport and Faders all working and motorized/feedback from Ch1 to Ch16 using the Bank button on my 003 (1 thru 8 then 9 thru 16). It was a complete PITA to find out the right CCs but hey! I'll keep it a bit longer, while I manage to finally sell it and grab a newer CS device. I think I'll upload a video about the process and the overall remap for an old HUI CS, it might be of interest for some guys out there. Did not use ANY thrid party program like Midi Tools, Bomes MT, LoopBE nothing, just Midi in Midi out. Thank you so much man, your video helped me heaps!

[@TheREAPERBlog]

@@MixYourWay that is great news!

[@DatPham-QDStudio]

@@MixYourWay could you please share how you get BCF works with DIGI003? Did you use MIDIMap A/B on 003? In REAPER CSI , which FW 003 MIDI port to be used? Thanks in advance

[@CAMMYSINCLAIR]

oh wow! Thankyou. Maybe I can get my Yamaha 01x working with this??!!??

[@CAMMYSINCLAIR]

I wonder how I do the shift and home button part on an 01x... hmm did I get excited too soon?

[@TheREAPERBlog]

I see F# buttons on the 01X, you could probably make them switch modes. If the console sends MIDI on every button push you can make it work with CSI.

[@AntonovichHicksenbrau]

Will this work for Mackie Control Universal Pro?

[@TheREAPERBlog]

yes but not sure if anyone has built a surface layout for that one already

[@idie123]

what is b control 1?

[@TheREAPERBlog]

The names for the midi ports in this device

[@idie123]

@@TheREAPERBlog so if i am using console 1, i would use that?

[@TheREAPERBlog]

@@idie123 right. And CSI comes with a console1.mst and .zon file to load