Custom map MIDI controller in Reason 12. Edit your Remote file and connect Combinator tutorial

This tutorial for Reason Studios and Reason 12 shows you how to add connect your MIDI controller to as many of the 32 knobs and sliders on the new combinator by editing the remote file which is a text file on your system that connects your physical hardware to Reason's virtual devices.
This tutorial also can be used with older installs of Reason to make changes to the way that your device connects to any virtual device that you have.
This is a step by step tutorial which shows everything you need to edit the file including how to find the correct naming convention for your MIDI controller as well as the correct names for the virtual instruments in Reason.

[@KenKthulhu]

Hello again. Thanks for another NJ video!

[@nektarjunqee]

Thanks For watching - probably a new one coming this week :)

[@KenKthulhu]

@@nektarjunqee Can't wait - good to see you back.

[@allen394]

Thanks for the tutorial, good to see you back on YT

[@nektarjunqee]

Thanks - yeah - been a while :) :) - actually I have some other channels in other non-music Niches that I spend a lot of time doing but I think I will do a few here in the near future with R12 out!

[@DjSegwon]

this is the peferct example of reason just needs to buld their own hardware, soley for reason users, like komplete control! but get the look mum no hands guy to prototype it! p.s ,nektar fooled us all,lol

[@jeno.javori_music]

Great Video! Super Explanation, no blablabla. Every word had a sense. Youre Cool!

[@nektarjunqee]

Thanks man! BTW - If you want to see what I have cooking for an insane new touch controller that I am building check out the most recent upload - I think it's going to change how a lot of people interact with Reason. Stay tuned as it progresses! Thanks for stopping by and Happy Reasoning.

[@Dogboy73]

Excellent video. Thanks for this 👍

[@nektarjunqee]

Welcome :)

[@Desid3lia]

Thats some great stuff. Thumbs up! i happen to have the exact same controller but i never got the remotemap or the lua files. is there a chance you could share at least the lua ones. i can work out the remotemap part. Thnaks in advance

[@PoohBearsReasonChannel]

FYI: the file location you are changing is incorrect, for user changes you write back (or more to the point you should be editing from) the program data folder.. Windows: C:\ProgramData\Propellerhead Software\Remote\Maps\ OSX: //Library/Application Support/Propellerhead Software/Remote/Maps Apart from that, keep up the good work..

[@nicmac3o3]

FYI in Windows 10 it has changed to this... C:\Users\\AppData\Roaming\Propellerhead Software\Remote\Maps\

[@PoohBearsReasonChannel]

@@nicmac3o3 Windows has not changed the location, the correct location is still C:\ProgramData\Propellerhead Software\Remote\Maps\

[@nicmac3o3]

@@PoohBearsReasonChannel Thanks for the reply, but that didn't work for me. My location did. Use whatever works for you, so long as a Reason upgrade doesn't overwrite it by mistake. With that in mind, either of these have potential, give them a try. Enjoy.

[@PoohBearsReasonChannel]

@@nicmac3o3 It's funny what can pop into ones head while out walking the dogs, today it was, I wonder if that location was in the "user" location, as when you install a lot of software for the first time you are prompted if you want it to install for "Just You" (user) or "Everyone" (programdata). I did uninstall Reason from one of my systems (Windows 10) however I still had an old version installed on and it did not give me the option for Just Me or Everyone, but the thought is still there...

[@DjSegwon]

thats maybe due to Os/patch updates in windows as well as how you set your rig up why you see things differently!@@PoohBearsReasonChannel

[@lmcmulle]

have they moved the location of the user maps? I've tried modifying the remotemap file in both C:\ProgramData\Propellerhead Software\Remote\Maps\ as well as the default maps in reason's home directory. The changes dont come through, still just 4 knobs and buttons on combinators. I even tried to make it error out like in the demo. couldn't do that either. it never detected the error so I'm thinking I'm not editing the right mapfile.

[@alchaviano1150]

This is amazing!!!. Thanks. And it seems for me the file being used by reason for the mapping is found in: Windows: C:\ProgramData\Propellerhead Software\Remote\Maps\

[@Meteotrance]

big thanks i have some issue with my arturia keylab 61MKII im probably changing the mapping soon to make anything works, with that.

[@nektarjunqee]

Hope I helped you out! If you have any questions feel free to shoot them here!

[@brentmitchel3167]

Great video! Their is a lot of things I like about reason, but one of the things I don’t like is, it’s ridiculous. They don’t have midi learn by now even software like gig performer, ez drummer etc.. has it it makes it simple. I’m thinking about buying the repeat looper, but it doesn’t even have a manual, and I’m not sure that every button can be matched to my foot controller. That’s ridiculous in 2023 ha

[@jerefreeman2488]

Thanks for the tutorial and explanation. Do you think the script editing could utilize the feature in controllers with visual light feedback like the launchpad.

[@TheEchoTheory]

This is really useful thanks. Do you have any maps for the combinator 2 and Panorama P4?

[@masteringkinemaster8173]

Hey, this is me just from my other channel - I don't have this profile connected to my phone. But, I'm traveling right now so don't have my panorama with me so I'm using it. When I get back in a week or two I can post it, if you get it before then no worries either but I wanted to reply.

[@lmcmulle]

Also where did you find all those combinator templates? I can't see them anywhere in Reason+

[@aresoltero]

Factory Sounds / Combinator Patches / Combi Layout Templates

[@independent_angler]

How would I do this for a device that is not in the supported list? Say the Akai Midimix?

[@nektarjunqee]

Hey there, unfortunately this is a lot more work and requires actual computer programming - there is a "lua codec" file that does most of the hard work in communicating with reason and these are provided by the manufacturer or maybe by programmers who are enthusiasts about a control surface that isn't supported. I would search for "Akai Midimix Reason codec" at the reasontalk forum and if it's not there maybe post and ask if anyone has a codec for your device. (reasontalk.com). That's probably the best way. The codec will usually come with the map file as I described here and you can add to it if needed. If no one has a codec I'm not sure what to say :( I hope someone does!

[@Dogboy73]

I have an Arturia Minilab MKII. There's a Remote file for the original Minilab. I tried to edit this one but I got a red cross in preferences then had to end task to get out of Reason. I'll have a search to see if anyone has made a Remote map specifically for this controller. Maybe that will be a better starting point. But Reason is not liking the changes I made to Remote file at all :D

[@nektarjunqee]

Doh! I just opened youtube and saw your comment I think you left just a minute ago - sorry that you needed to end task! Usually for me the red X just makes it so that I need to undo the changes I made but FYI, I have gotten red Xs and I'm a programmer 🙄 so don't feel bad. There are a decent amount of questions I could ask to troubleshoot though however, if you want to put the file on Google drive or some filesshare with a public link and put it in the reply I am happy to look (probably tomorrow) - if you can put both the one that restored and if you have the broken one that would be really helpful. I will check.

[@mcdove]

New Subscriber here... is it possible to do the same mapping to a computer keyboard?