Using Behringer X-Touch Universal Control Surface with REAPER - stock/built-in setup

Learn how to use the Behringer X-Touch Universal controller with REAPER. What works, and what doesn't, plus how to personalize it with additional REAPER actions on the unused buttons.

If you want to see what this can do out-of-the-box, look no further.

00:00 - Intro
00:53 - set MC - USB mode on hardware
01:22 - Control surface setup in preferences
01:49 - hardware is connected and working
02:39 - track selection
03:36 - faders
04:01 - panning
04:53 - center console section
05:19 - Change time display units
05:31 - global view - follow track visibility
06:27 - Many unassigned buttons
06:43 - navigate by markers
07:21 - Automation modes for selected track
08:06 - clear solos
08:18 - transport buttons
09:07 - fader and channel bank
09:17 - Navigation buttons
09:26 - Zooming
10:08 - How to assign actions to the unused buttons
12:24 - Mixing is faster with a controller
14:44 - writing automation
15:33 - That's basically it, but there's much more with extensions

Basically, the faders and pans, and transport controls work great, but there are dozens of buttons unassigned. There is no way to control sends, or plugins, or make the buttons have different functions in different contexts.

In future videos I will explore what can be done with the X-Touch using extensions made by REAPER users, such as DrivenByMoss, and Control Surface Integrator.

Thanks for watching!

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[Voytoy]

Great video! appreciate this as I am in the market for a reaper console/control surface **UPDATE** I ended up picking up the X Touch and it works great with Reaper, thank you for the video, setup was a few seconds and I'm surprised how much functionality there is with it!

[amberr]

Great video. I recently bought an X-touch, and am using it with reaper. I'm hoping you do another walkthrough video for CSI customisation with the X-Touch, as it looks pretty daunting, and I like how you break down your tutorial videos. Cheers!

[Neumah]

Awesome. I've been waiting for a video like this about the newer Behringer controllers.

[liberty]

Thank you for such an informative video. I am looking to order the Xtouch and this really helped my decision. I plan on using it for my X32 rack as well as reaper.

[cjogocarmel]

Thanks Kindly -- Saved me days of searches/testing ~!! Flying now 🥳

[Charlie_Echo]

The global view function (where only visible tracks get assigned faders) is SUPER useful - in other systems I've used, having faders assigned to invisible tracks has been a real pain. I look forward to finding out in future videos whether that function is still available with the other integration methods like CSI and Klinke etc.!

[quantumcadillac]

nice this will be a welcomed series as I have had mixed results with both default and CSI

[arsen_abdullaev]

Thank you so much from Russia, dude! Very helpful and useful! I am definitely gonna see your next videos.🤝🤝🤝

[TheBgduk]

Looking forward to the more in depth / customisation videos. I got the X Touch a few days ago. It works great out of the box but I would like to be able to press the plugin button as an example and have the FX chain dialog appear for a selected track etc or EQ and to map to a EQ plug .. I have harrison channel strip that I would like to control with the knobs, perhaps map the F1..F8 to install specific plugins ... just thinking out loud but sure some existing customisations also make a lot of sense. Anyway. Enjoyed this video, by far the most clear, well explained and detailed video i have found to date ! Would maybe also enjoy watching you actually using the XTOUCH to produce some music from scratch also :)

[mcpribs]

Thank you so much! So incredibly powerful!

[johnsanders]

Thanks. Looking forward to further deep dives setting up your Xtouch. I've used Klinke for years, but was disappointed not having the colors on the scribble strips. I found "DrivenByMoss4Reaper" about a month ago and have colors now. Still evaluating because there are a few differences from Klinke, but the colors are nice. 🙂

[derrickshultz]

I have had an X-Touch since they came out. I use it with my XR18 as well as reaper. If you run it in XCTL/MCU mode, you can then use the SMPTE/BEATS button in the upper right to switch modes on the fly. Allows you to control your XR18 and quickly switch over to control Reaper. Another way I use it is straight MCU mode to control Mixing Station app on either a tablet or my PC. This allows me to control the actual App I am mixing with live directly via the X-touch. If you run it in XCTL mode, it will still control the XR18 (or X32), but you don't necessarily see the changes happening in real-time in the Mixing Station app. Such a great control surface. Have even considered using it as a midi control surface for some simple DMX controls.

[ViktorNova]

Would love to see you deep dive on Smart Knobs 2.. It's seriously amazing. Documentation is not quite there but it gets you most of the way there. It's easy to use the included GUI to quickly map controls for plugins, etc too and switch modes on the fly (like switch between whether the controller is acting as a track mixer or plugin controller, etc)

LBX also has a profile that replicates the functionally of the MCU only with way more working buttons and color scribble strips that works great (though you have to ask him directly for a copy of this as it's not included)

[getstew]

Thanks for this, as always! I'm thinking of picking up the X Touch One and that it would be plenty for my use.
Currently sticking with Reaper 6.83.

I've been doing more commercial work and would use the fader to automate the volume level of music beds in spots.
I would also use this for editing dialogue in spots and podcasts. I would assume you can also assign control surface shortcuts to Custom Actions??

My guess would be the answer is "Of course this can do all that." but I wanted to check. My thanks, again!

[Wergiftfresch]

as reaper user and x-touch owner (mainly for my XR18, but also for its basic functions) - thank you! Also really curious about the drivenbymoss4reaper coming up -- I was already contemplating writing something myself back when I got it (and before life took over)... so that sounds interesting!

[ninaandsakura]

Any links to the videos about the extensions that map more features?

[DopamineOverload]

Great vid as always, Jon. Curious-- why not use the MCU Klinke, instead of the standard MCU? You get so many more options/functions with it.

[Kamertonas]

Thanks for the review. I recently purchased the X-Touch to work in conjunction with the XR 18 mixer for live performance. I couldn't figure out how to take the signal from the X-Touch via USB or any other method to send it to Live Strimming. Those videoclips are supposed to answer this question - did not give an answer. I would be grateful for help.

[jacobvermillion]

Please share your csi experiences with the x-touch if you can!

[cjogocarmel]

Just setting up ::: tonight ---can one use the REC button for "on the fly" punches ???