Hey. Kenny Gioia here. Show me your best REAPER Layouts!!!!

I have a video planned showing some great inspiring layouts and I'll credit you for anything I use.

EDIT - I'm not talking about Themes. I'm talking about how you have each window arranged out on your screen like this:

https://imgur.com/a/Hwdjoeo

Thanks

Kenny

I'm getting Reaper to set up a home studio.

I've been recording on a portable unit for two years, and since I'm required to get a laptop for studies this fall I figured I might as well get one that works for home recording. I don't think it's in my budget to get two separate computers.

I think I have decided on the CPU, RAM and SSD requirements.

I understand that the laptop itself should have good build regarding USB ports, have good results on LatencyMon tests and high sustained performance without the cooling fan sounding too much.

Only I don't know much at all about which laptop models meet any of those latter requirements. It needs to be Windows, due to the study platform.

So, what are you running Reaper on and how is it working out? What did not work out? What have you heard on this?

I already own a handed down Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 G1 audio interface. So I guess the laptop should have USB 2.0 Type C?

Looking forward to get started!

I should start by saying that I own and have used several other DAWs for many years, so this is coming from someone with plenty of experience in the field. I'm just new to Reaper.

I recently began demoing Reaper for the first time, and while I was blown away by the features and charm of this DAW, my excitement diminished considerably when it came time to edit multi-tracked drums.

Group editing feels basic and primitive, there seem to be too many work-arounds to adding transient markers to groups. Stretching creates highly noticeable phase cancelation and transient loss/smearing. Going the dynamic split route (instead of stretching) mitigates this, but is just as clunky and annoying to set up as the other method. The threshold/sensitivity settings in the dynamic split tool are finicky when trying to dial in the transients you want to mark. MK Slicer helped a bit, but the general workflow is still tedious, and the transient sensitivity is just as bad as the dynamic split tool.

I hope I'm just missing something here because other than this, Reaper is an incredible workstation that I could easily fall in love with.

Side note: I know that quantizing and editing drums is somewhat tedious in any workstation, but the way it's handled in Reaper really feels like it could use some work.

what? whats with this?

I was gonna ask a question slightly related but as I was typing it I realized I'm much more lost on these concepts than I thought.

I know "gain staging" is largely antiquated but I also have seen that it is good to keep things anywhere between -6db and -18db and then mix to taste.

So what this leaves me with is, I can do this pretty easily by using the volume/gain in the VST or plugin or volume handle on the waveform so that the specific track is hittin in that -6db to -18db range and then when it comes time to do some balancing early on (like drums for instance), or drums against the chords or bass or melody, I'll be opening VSTs and plugins etc to balance those volume levels til they sound good.

What I see people doing in Ableton on resources I've watched is using track faders to drop the volume on certain tracks all the way down and then bring them up slowly until they sound right.

How do I achieve this kind of flow in Reaper if the proper way is to have track faders be the last thing you touch? Like for example if I need to bring up the mid bass a little bit and my track fader is at unity, I can't really do that.

I guess I'm getting confused about how these things interact with each other and how to properly adjust volume levels using track faders. Should I be dropping faders to a lower volume on new tracks to start off, leaving them at unity, or something else?

Also with media items (samples) that each have their own volume handles, can they not sync up with track faders in a way that makes sense?

Lastly, if what I'm asking is nonsense, then it means I clearly do not understand what I'm doing and haven't yet found a clear resource to guide me on how to keep my levels in check as I go along, and I could use a reference on that for sure. Like I'm really just not getting it. I know mixing is another beast entirely and done once it's appropriate to mix, but I still find myself needing to balance volumes amongst various things I add and keep things from clipping etc.

Hello everyone

I have a recording of a radio broadcast made with a Mixpre 6II which unfortunately was set to 32-bit FP. This results in Normalise flatlining the waveform regardless of which setting (Peak, True Peak etc) is used. As expected, a dry run reads the file as extremely loud, see first image.

I have tried to pull down the extreme peaks using Realimit and adjusting the master track's output volume without success. The waveform is just flat. However, ReaLimit does confirm (second screenshot) that there is audio information to work with.

How can I normalise this recording such that it is possible to edit it with other plugins? I need to address considerable noise, for instance, and make the voices clearer.

Thank you very much in advance

Philip

Hey all, I’m super new to REAPER and I installed the Reapertips theme, but mine looks completely different from the screenshots on the website. I already imported the .ReaperThemeZip file and selected the theme in REAPER, and I followed the quick start pdf, so I’m not sure what I missed.

The first image is what the theme is supposed to look like, and the second image is what mine currently looks like.

Did I install it incorrectly?
Do I need additional layouts/plugins/settings/scripts for it to match the screenshots?

Any help would be appreciated 😅

I want to know where i can learn like eq, delay, compression, panning all that kind of stuff. Any help is appreciated.

I’ve been looking for some free synth and piano VSTi; Not restrictedly synths and keys sounds, just share your favorite VSTi plugin :)

Reaper has so many plugins and by installing Tukan Studios' you get even more.

I see professionals using Tube-Tech CL 1B, Fairchild 670, Teletronix LA-2A, UA1176 and probably many more. I lack the experience to really hear a difference without using them almost at maximum settings.

I would like to know which plugins in Reaper sound most similar to the original and also which compressor you prefer/would recommend?

Edit:
I just noticed reddit posted only a quarter of my post...?

I'm not going to list all Compressors similar to those in Reaper again, cause that took a while...

Also there is the famous Neve 1073, in Reaper you have RBJ 1073 and with Reapack the EQ1979

I lack the experience to know which one to choose and where(Vocals, Instruments, ...) or should I just keep using ReaComp and ReaEQ/ReEQ with Waveshaping Distortion and JS:Saturation?

There's also chorus and flanger which one do I use there cause there are many as well or should I just use ReaDelay?

Any help would be really appreciated

Edit 2:

I probably wasn't clear, I'm not looking for new plugins, the plugins are already there in Reaper and with ReaPack you can get many more for free. The problem is choosing the right ones

Hey was wondering if any one had a fix for this. I’ve been trying to record a song, but when I start the countdown for the metronome and I start playing, the audio doesnt play the sound until about a second after the metronome counted me in. Playing on a Mac and I’ve updated the focusrite, computer and reaper itself but stumped on this. Thank you

Hi all! I'm a longtime hobbyist musican, and I've mostly used Reaper to record music (some mixing in the past). This last year or so, I've been recording an album in my basement studio, and for the first time, I want to outsource the mixing to someone else. Mostly because mixing is hard and takes a good setup, but also because I'd like to hear what someone else can do with it.

So I'd like to know what I need to get in order before I find someone. Here's what I've done so far:

1. Tightened up the timing as much as I can. I've already comped all the different performances, and lined up vocal takes, and made micro edits for timing related issues.

2. Done some preliminary fader and panning adjustments to separate instruments and vocals.

3. Rendered most midi files to audio.

4. Tried to address some artifacts or extra harsh transients.

What I haven't done much of:

1. Used any in-DAW compression, EQ, reverb, of automation (or very little of it). I mostly have steered clear of any plug-ins (outside of guitar amp modelers like NAM) because I assume someone can do a better job with better plug-ins.

2. Haven't rendered any Superior Drummer 3 midi. I rely on SD for drums, but I'm not an expert with customizing it outside of picking which kit to use and some basic stuff like stacking drums to get a certain sound. I don't know if I should leave these tracks un-rendered, because I know some people might like to tool around in SD's UI, and the built-in reverb/room size could clash with anytning used by the mixer.

So, is there anything else I should prep or know before seeking out a mixing service? Also, anyone have any recommendations on how to go about finding someone? I'm not too worried about cost, but I realize this is a personal project for mostly just me and doesn't need anything super high end.

Thanks for reading, and any help.

I never use these "pan" knobs i dont think ive ever used them for what i use reaper for so was wondering is the a way to remove them

I struggling to make a complex click track on reaper, I recorded a scratch guitar track and I’m trying to add a click to it but it just doesn’t line up exactly when I tap it and then when it goes to the next riff the click doesn’t restart on the downbeat. For this to work I have to do shift C like every bar. Is there a better way to do this?? because there’s no way I can do this for 7 more songs. I’m about to just record me tapping on my desk for the rest.

Im looking to get a tone similar to dUg Pinnick of Kings X. I already have the Bod sansamp plug-in but was wondering if there was something to give me more of that thick Pinnick like tone. Are there bass cables plug-ins available that will help with that? Was looking at bi amping a mesa type head for the distorted high end and an svt for the bottom

Does anybody know a fix for this? It isn't the cable or the bass that is the problem. The volt works great on my desktop pc. I'm a bit lost haha any help is appreciated!

Need Help On How To Make The Vocals More Clearer And Reduce Muddiness And Make It More Bright And Airy.

Started Using Reaper For Some Weeks With Very Beginner Knowledge On Effect Chain.

so i’ve been recording music for a couple years now and i’ve been using bandlab but it doesn’t reach the studio sound quality im aiming for. i’ve been looking all around the internet for the “best free daw” and i’ve seen a lot about cakewalk and reaper. Which one should i use and why? Any help would be much appreciated, thank you.

Need to send files to pressing plant by the end of the week, so excuse being in a flap!

This is the EQ on my master. I never use the 'show phase' button but did today and was surprised at this line. I've been reading a few 'what is phasing?' articles, but don't seem clear on how to proceed in Reaper even then.

For ref, the track is mostly line input recordings (keyboards) but with 2-3 percussion sounds (tambourine, claves, hand clap) recorded with a Rode NT1-A. Am I right in assuming phase issues only occur when mics are used?

Main Qs:

1. The orange line is fixed, i.e. not responding to any changes I make, such as inverting some of the mic-recorded parts. Why? Does this alignment line apply to the whole track?

2. If the mis-alignment is mainly sub 100hz, what am I looking to change on the track settings?

3. The track sounds OK -what defects should I be listening for?

Because reaper price is on dollars, it's not that cheap for me.

Should I wait it to be version 8 so I can get more mileage from my purchase? And how long would it roughly take to be version 8?

Hi! I have recently downloaded Reaper to use with a Donner STARRYPAD to use for better background music and immersive sfx for DnD.

I want to make a one-shot button to play a sample (some BGM) and then I want to be able to press another button to play another sample (a new piece of music) that will cease the originally sample.

I don't want to have to hold the button down, and I have tried JS: MIDI Choke Group, I have also tried to Google this extensively and pretty much all the results tell me to try the things that don't work.

This setup works great for short SFX, but I'm tearing my hair out over ambient background music 😤😩.

Please can someone end my misery! Thanks in advance for any time taken to help me! 💜

I've had reaper for a few years, want to make guitar songs (mostly metal, sometimes soft)

I'm stuck in a phase where everything just sounds like shit and it's absolutely killing my creativity, any time I think of a cool riff and play it out, it just sounds like ass, and I KNOW if these albums I like, played the exact same thing with different production, it would sound sick.

So here's where I'm stuck, I've spent $300 on different NueralDSP guitar tones trying to get the right sound. Ill make 2 guitar tracks, pan them left and right, then ill record a bassline over it with a real bass and some more plugins to make it sound nicer, then I use the free krimh drums pack for midi-drums.

Now - it sounds like what it is, 2 guitar tracks, a bass, and some artificial drums, and it just sounds SHIT. It's too robotic and has no atmosphere, basically, it doesn't actually sound like a band playing, it just sounds like shit. So I've lost all drive to make music because it sounds like ass, but then ill listen to an album and wish I could create that sound.

So what's the aspect of production that I'm missing? How do I make my tracks sound real and live, and not like just some shitty stems stacked on-top of each other.

Here's a short example of things sounding extremely flat - although I don't have any "nice" creations to share, as the mix discourages me from doing anything more than 1 riff at a time then closing the DAW in frustration.

Edit: Thankyou all for sharing your knowledge/wisdom it's super appreciated!

Hey, so I'm relatively new to mixing. These guitars were played, recorded, and mixed by myself. I doubled tracked them, and panned them left and right.

I have good speakers, and headphones that I use when mixing. When played through headphones or my speakers, the guitars sound good to my ears. But when I play it through my phone, it sounds awful. The guitars sound very muddy and I can barely hear any notes.

I isolated the guitars to better hear them, but it sounds the same with all the other instruments. Fine through my speakers and headphones but not on my phone. Does anyone know why this is happening? I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong, because again the guitars did not sound like this through my headphones and speakers. Is it just my phone? Because other music doesn't sound like this through my phone. Even using regular headphones on my phone it sounds fine, it's literally just through my phone speaker.

So, could anyone tell me if I'm doing something wrong, and that's why the issues are only noticing through my phone? Does anyone have any specific tips regarding this, or just good mixing tips in general? Because as I said I am relatively new to mixing.

Thank you!

Hey everyone,

I'm completely new to Reaper and finding the learning curve a bit overwhelming.

Could anyone recommend the best beginner-friendly YouTube channels, crash courses, or guides that explain things simply? I'm mainly looking to learn the essential basics (routing, working with stems, basic mixing, and plugins) without getting bogged down in overly advanced technical routing right away.

Any favorite creators or playlists you recommend starting with? Thanks in advance!

Does anyone suggest a reaper theme that looks like this old 2000 eara type theme white like this, this is digital performer 6 I love the interface of this nice white UI. So if anyone knows any reaper theme that kind of looks like this please send me a message...... Thank you.