Hi all,
i did some tests in reaper a found a way ( i think) to find a configuration which will suit your usage, if i well understood it.
first in midi control center you have to create a template where all your knobs will be set like this :
mode control
option absolute
Channel Keyboard
cc number : no need to change this.
min 0 max 127
To make things easier, if you right click on any parameter (i.e option absolute) , it will allow you to copy one parameter's value to all other knobs.
Once these parameters are set, store this template into minilab mkII memory 2.
Once done, close midi control center.
Then i open reaper :
The goal of the following experiment is to separate synth editing and track controlling
first let's go in reaper preferences , in midi devices area :
in midi inputs panel double click on Arturia minilab mkii and tick "enable input form this device" and "enable input for control messages"
Like this we made a first connection between reaper and minilab mkii
Now let's control tracks with the minilab mkii
First, press shift on your minilab to see in which memory you are. Normally as we want to use memory 2, pad 2 will light up on pressing shift. If not switch to memory 2 by pressing shift + pad 2
. Then we need to set keyboard midi channel on 2. To do this, just press shift and F# on your minilab (located under the blue serigraphy showing 2)
Then,Open Reaper's action panel "show actions list"
in filter area type "set volume"
in my case i select "track : set volume for track 01" (MIDI CC/ OSC ONLY)
In shortcuts area down-left side of this panel click on "add"
in the displayed popup window , just move the desired knob on your minilab . in my case i move knob 2 . On moving "shorcut" field will display MIDI Chan 2 CC74"
i close these windows, and a create a track.
once created , when i move knob 2 on my minilab, track 1 volume slider will move.
Now i'll add a VSTI to this track.
In my case i open any arturia synth, and on it's GUI, in midi CH part ( down right side of the GUI) , i select "1"
Like this, when i want to play, edit my synth, and map parameters to my knobs, I press shift + F on my minilab to switch to midi CH 1
and once i recorded my track and want to control track parameters only, without interfering with synth parameters i switch to midi ch 2 ( by pressing shift + F# on my minilab)
Hope this helps !
best,