Reaper...

[hcstnfrd]

Yeah, it's probably the only DAW that could fit on a USB drive, haha. I forget exactly how you format it, but the option will be in the start menu subheader for Reaper. Open it, and the command prompt window guides you through. Very, very cool feature.

[kejk]

Argh I hope my broadband quickstart package will be delivered when I come home, can't wait to try out reaper!

What's a good free VST synth to get started? I heard something about Synth1 or something?

[futures_untold]

No need to use Reapers batch export to USB drive utility, just drag and drop the whole Reaper folder onto your USB drive and it will work!

Why not download the free portable music studio package that I've compiled? ---> http://www.dubstepforum.com/free-portab ... 73393.html (I always love promoing this little bundle)

It uses Reaper and has all the main types off effects you'll ever need preinstalled. It includes the lame MP3 codec so you can bounce straight to MP3 or whatever. It also has two great starter synths and a sampler included. One synth is aimed at beginners, with a simple interface and limited features. The second synth is aimed at geeks, with the ability to draw custom waveforms for the oscillators and LFO's and to apply phase width modulation to those waveforms!

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Regarding buses. A bus is any channel that carries audio. All the channels on a mixer are technically buses. Normally we refer to channels that are used to sum (mix) together several signals as a bus.

The visual analogy using two mixers in Reason is a perfect example. The small Line Mixer 6:2 acts as a summing bus for all of its input signals. The summed output is then routed to a single channel on the Mixer 14:2 for easy handling of all the audio on that bus.

Obvious examples of busing include effects processing all your drums together, vocals or backing vocals, different instrument sections etc etc. Another use is for 'send' effects. Someone pointed out correctly that send effects are actually 'insert' effects on the effects bus, only you control how much signal goes to and from the effects bus using the auxillary send and return controls. Finally, it is often useful to have just one volume control for a whole section of your song (ie, all the vocals, all the percussion, all the guitars etc)

Remember that auxillary return inputs can be used as a normal audio channel, only it lacks panning control and sends. This can be useful when you want to mix 7 signals on the Line Mixer 6:2 and 18 signals on the Mixer 14:2.

The spider audio device is a summing bus, but pretty limited because it doesn't have gain control for the incoming signals. Using a Line Mixer 6:2 really is so much better!

[alphacat]

Argh I hope my broadband quickstart package will be delivered when I come home, can't wait to try out reaper!

What's a good free VST synth to get started? I heard something about Synth1 or something?

The Itchy Synths (here: http://rapidshare.com/files/238614608/I ... _SUITE.rar) have been a lot of fun for me lately, esp. when layered with other plugs like some of the DSK synths. (http://rekkerd.org/dsk-vsti/).

Subhuman, TAL-Elek7ro, Crystal, PolyIblit, Atlantis, Oatmeal, Chimera... I could go on and on, but all of these have made me grin at some point.

There's a shitload of free synths out there. Synth1 can handle a lot of jobs so it's a pretty good starting point.

[futures_untold]

Please vote for rearrangeable/dockable windows inside Reaper ---> http://forum.cockos.com/project.php?issueid=1527

This would mean that we could arrange the interface as we wished. Combined with the already customisable themes, toolbars and menus, Reaper could be truly moulded into the killer audio app of your dreams!

(For more examples of dockable windows, use Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Audition. All the toolbars and work areas can be rearranged as you wish)

Thanks!

[kejk]

..long quote..

First of all, thanks for taking your time to answer everything I wanted to know

-Broadband didn't arrive for the 4th day after delivery day, called for the 20th time and they said it will come today :S-

So I still did not have a chance to DL Reaper, and I'm really fond of that compilation futures, I think I've downloaded it before to use some of the VST's at a friend's house in Adobe Audtion. That MP3 codec sounds hot. If I understand correctly there is no need to ever open audacity anymore, since we can edit it all inside Reaper? Simple synth sounds a bit mehh, I'm more interested in the geeky synth. You are saying it is a freeware synthesizer, with custom waveforms AND PW mod? That sounds intense!!!

Aye I get the whole bus story now, I actually use it all the time to gate reverb/matrix patterns and sidechain in reason. Just didn't get the term I guess..

Also, why would you use a 6:2, if you can have a 14:2? It's free!

Argh I really feel like trying out that synth you spoke about (what is the name btw? So I can look it up at work )! Everything I've heard about Reaper has been SO positive! Why isn't it more popular?

I'll hit you up when I have my first creation in Reaper done!

[futures_untold]

..long quote..

Lol

Everything can be done inside Reaper these days. I've spent all night messing around with SWS extensions that allow one-click auto-zoom to the size of any selected sequencer item. This is extremely useful for precise audio editing.

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The synths I mentioned were Fuzzpils Oatmeal and Jeremy Evers Atlantis.

Oatmeal lets users draw their own oscillator and LFO waveforms. Atlantis allows users to import samples for use as an oscillator / LFO waveform..

I prefer Oatmeal personally. It has few FX, but better modulation. It also has a good step sequencer arp thingy.

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One reason to use the Line Mixer 6:2 is its smaller size. when building Combi patches with only two or three synths, the large mixer is a bit excessive!

[kejk]

Lol

Everything can be done inside Reaper these days. I've spent all night messing around with SWS extensions that allow one-click auto-zoom to the size of any selected sequencer item. This is extremely useful for precise audio editing.

-----------------------------

The synths I mentioned were Fuzzpils Oatmeal and Jeremy Evers Atlantis.

Oatmeal lets users draw their own oscillator and LFO waveforms. Atlantis allows users to import samples for use as an oscillator / LFO waveform..

I prefer Oatmeal personally. It has few FX, but better modulation. It also has a good step sequencer arp thingy.

-----------------------------

One reason to use the Line Mixer 6:2 is its smaller size. when building Combi patches with only two or three synths, the large mixer is a bit excessive!

Man, oh man, those synths sound insanely cool, cant wait! custom drawn LFO wave forms!! SICK! Hell, you could even draw an LFO to affect the rate of the second LFO! No more automation required hah!

Tbh I've never really used those step sequencer things, cba really... just lay it down on the piano roll

[kejk]

*Sorry for the double post*

I finally got reaper! Oatmeal is insane!!! My first patch was better than anything I've ever created in a thor/mal/subtractor!

I'm really loving it, figured the tracklane/bus thing out pretty fast, the FX chains are also really easy!

Up until I now I've only got 2 problems, I can't find the metronome, and I also can't find the piano roll. If you could tell me where I can find those, I'll love you even more than I do now

Anyways, I gotta roll, I'll come back on the forum tomorrow when I'm at "work".

[alphacat]

Piano roll:

Open your new virtul instr. track;

draw on the track to get a blank MIDI sequence (if it draws a waveform, delete it, click inside the instr. track lane, and draw again) - it should have "MIDI" in the title if done right;

double-click on the new MIDI item.

Bam!

[therapist]

I really wish I could find a ready-made track in Reaper so I can see how it's put together. I like the look of it I just never know where to start clicking when I go exploring it. Anyone got a (crap) song or even the basis of one that can be posted?

[prime|evil]

Reaper out of the box looks ugly to some, and its many (overly) long context sensitive menus are offputting to others. Luckily, Reaper accepts custom visual themes, allowing people to create their own skins from scratch. There are even skins based on other mainstream software like Cubase, Logic, Live, FL Studio, Traction, Soundforge and Audition. Combined with the custom actions editor, it is possible to completely refine Reapers interface down to the style and controls that you actually need and use. It is possible to change the menu items on each menu, and the actions performed on the main toolbar.

!!! Seriously??? *runs off to search*

[prime|evil]

ps, Reason skin for Reaper? Anyone? Skins? Anyone?

[decree]

I'm thinking of changing from reason to reaper.

The last few months I started to realise I really have to change software. Been using reason since I first got a midi keyboard and I bought reason with it since the guy in the store said it was one of the more easy DAW's (It's not even a real DAW). I loved it ever since, but it has been a good 4 years, and the limits are starting to bug me.

Reaper looks pretty attractive and reminds me of soundforge/acid. Used both of those some times in school...

You guys think it's worth it to change and lose everything I learned about reason, and to start off fresh?

What limits have you found? I started on Reason and then went to Cubase, FL and now back on Reason4 and getting the best results ever.

same, i used reason for 6 years, then i started rewiring reason into logic, then i switched to logic for a year n some and now i went back to reason and have never been happier, there really are no limits on reason, i use vsts in post work through peak pro and logic and now i feel like i have an unbeatable arsenal.

sorry that that had nothing to do with reaper, never tried it

[kejk]

Piano roll:

Open your new virtul instr. track;

draw on the track to get a blank MIDI sequence (if it draws a waveform, delete it, click inside the instr. track lane, and draw again) - it should have "MIDI" in the title if done right;

double-click on the new MIDI item.

Bam!

Great man thanks!

... Do you also happen to know where the Metronome is at?

I really wish I could find a ready-made track in Reaper so I can see how it's put together. I like the look of it I just never know where to start clicking when I go exploring it. Anyone got a (crap) song or even the basis of one that can be posted?

Hey I think you should read the post by Futures about the busses, if you know how to route the audio through fx to the mixer I guess you should be set for a while. If you want a "song" to check it out, I didn't really make anything yet, but I can give you a project with some VST's through FX and you can see how it's routed.

[futures_untold]

Useful links

Reaper download ---> http://www.reaper.fm/download.php

Reaper based complete music studio ---> http://www.dubstepforum.com/free-portab ... 73393.html

DSF Reaper Q&A thread ---> http://www.dubstepforum.com/topic91084.html

Reaper forum ---> http://forum.cockos.com/forumdisplay.php?f=20

Reaper colour themes ---> http://stash.reaper.fm/tag/Themes

Reapers Manual. (Contains a useful clickable contents list on the first or second page) ---> http://www.reaper.fm/userguide/ReaperUserGuide3141.pdf

Books on Reaper ---> http://www.reaper.fm/userguide.php

SWS extensions ---> http://www.standingwaterstudios.com/new.php

Colours toolbar ---> http://forum.cockos.com/showthread.php?t=48049

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How to get the piano roll.

Hold down Ctrl-left-click to draw a new 'item' anywhere on the main sequencer. Once you've drawn a box, double click on it and the midi piano roll will be displayed.

This can be simplified in the Preferences menu (Ctrl-P or 'Options' menu > Preferences) Got to the 'Mouse' tab and tick the "Click+drag in empty area of track draws item in 'pencil mode'" box. this means you don't even have to hold down the ctrl button to draw a new item in the sequencer. Just Left click and drag a new box, then double click the box to bring up the midi piano roll.

A quick tip about the piano roll. You can change it to 'drum mode' from the 'View' menu within the midi editor. This makes using drum samplers slightly easier, especially when combined with the 'Named notes' mode available from the same View menu.

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Metronome

Go to the 'Options' menu. Listed halfway down is the metronome settings option. Click the 'enable' box to switch it on.

I'd assign it to a toolbar or keystroke, as it seems you reach for the metronome a lot.

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Assigning actions and tools to keystrokes or toolbars.

Click 'Show Action List' in the 'Actions' menu (or press the ? key). Go down the list of actions and click 'Add'. Press the keystroke you wish to use and press OK. (A keystroke could be one key or a combination of keys pressed together like Shift-S or something)

To create custom toolbars, right click on the main toolbar or the floating toolbar. This brings up the Actions editor, only in 'toolbar' mode. You can also access this editor via the 'Menu Editor' button in the main actions editor.

There is a drop down menu at the top of the actions editor which selects which 'view' you edit. Thus, if you want to customise the menus and toolbars in the midi editor, this drop down menu is where you can select to customise the midi editor.

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Custom Themes and Icons

Remember that you can assign any icon to your custom toolbars, and that icons can be edited directly in any graphics program. In fact, any of the images Reaper uses for its GUI can be edited directly in a graphics program.

The images and icons can be found in the following folder > C:\ > Program Files > Colour Themes > Default

For more info on customising Reaper

Themes ---> http://stashbox.org/v/238949/WT_Power-of-Pink.pdf

Advanced themes ---> http://www.reaper.fm/sdk/advtheme/

Midi colour maps ---> http://forum.cockos.com/showpost.php?p= ... ostcount=6

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SWS and other extensions

Finally, I'd strongly recommend downloading the SWS extensions for Reaper. These give extra functionality to Reaper such as 1-click beat slicing and 1-click zoom on a waveform etc. These are useful for using Reaper as an audio editor amongst other things.

Another great adition to Reaper is the colours toolbar. This allows you to colour any sequencer channel or any item on that sequencer to any colour you like. If you prefer multi colour visual guides, this isn't to be missed!

Download it here ---> http://forum.cockos.com/showthread.php?t=48049

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Customising Reaper for audio editing

The most common things you'll want to achieve are simple edits, reversing audio, normalisation and effects processing etc.

Although Reaper by default doesn't make the best audio editor, it can be customised to be a perfect audio editor. This is done by using Reapers 'Action' customisation features and SWS extensions. I'll explain further below.

First of all, audio editors allow users to zoom right into a waveform. This allows for really precise edits. To accomplish this in Reaper, download the SWS extensions and assign the horizontal/vertical zoom actions to a toolbar or keyboard shortcut. This will allow you to select a waveform, press one button and be zoomed in solely on the waveform you wish to work on.

Reaper allows you to chose different methods of displaying ultra-zoomed waveforms in the Preferences window. Go to Options > Preferences > Media > Sample-level Waveform view.

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You may also find it useful to assign the 'reverse item as new take' and 'normalise' commands to either a toolbar button or keyboard shortcut.

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To slice audio in Reaper, you can simply place the play head at the point on the item you wish to slice and press 'S'... This splits the audio non-destructively, meaning that the file itself isn't split, only playback within Reaper.

If you wish to bounce only part of the item split in half, you can assign the double 'double-mouse click' action to automatically place the loop marker at each end of your selected item. This enables you to render the audio selected in the normal fashion using the 'Render selection' command within the Render window.

On the topic of slicing, one can assign the 'Dynamic split selected items' command to a button on the toolbar. This gives you automatic slicing and gating features that are better than Propellerhead's Recycle for auto-slicing drum loops etc.

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There is an SWS action for applying the current effects to the audio and resetting the channel volume to 0dB. This allows effects to be rendered 'offline' directly onto the audio as a new take at the click of a button. This process is destructive, although the process renders a new take of the file instead of ruining the original file.

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Another idea is to include the item 'fade type' selection action to a toolbar button. This will allow you to do precise and controlled fade ins & outs and quickly choose the fade curve most appropriate to your material.

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That info should help you enjoy using Reaper as much as I do!

Pat

[kejk]

Holy shit man, sick reply,I love you so much right now!

That huge post of information should set me up for a while!

Man, if you ever need a favor... Doesn't matter what, _anything_ just hit me up, I owe you bigtime!

Thanks a bunch!!

[futures_untold]

Added info about setting up Reaper as an audio editor to my post above. Same info can also be found in the Reaper Q&A thread linked in my post above...

Paypal donations welcome

[kejk]

Added info about setting up Reaper as an audio editor to my post above. Same info can also be found in the Reaper Q&A thread linked in my post above...

Paypal donations welcome

Ah the bit about audio editting is perfect, since that's one of the things I swapped away from reason for!

What's your paypal email?

EDIT: This is so annoying... stuck at work until 5 while I just want to go home and fuck about with Reaper, only had like 3 or 4 hours yesterday

[alphacat]

EDIT: This is so annoying... stuck at work until 5 while I just want to go home and fuck about with Reaper, only had like 3 or 4 hours yesterday :

You know, in my experience most people can't tell a DAW from any other app - as long as they don't see bouncing audio meters or waveform close-ups, it looks like a spreadsheet or whatever to them. I've made some of my best beats and stuff at work.

Just sayin'.