Procedure for Reaper
Starting A New Project:
[1] Here is what a new project looks like in Reaper:
Save the blank project in a folder that is dedicated to this project (song).
[2] Add a blank track (or several) to the project.
Track --> Insert new track. Or you can use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+T.
Here a single track has been added.
Sound Card Setup:
In Reaper the sound card setup is done in the program Preferences.
Options menu --> Preferences.
Then under "Audio" select, "Device".
[1] Select sound card driver. This is done under the "Audio Systems" drop down menu.
[2] Select sound card. In this case I'm using ASIO drivers so the sound card selection is done under the ASIO Driver drop down menu. This may seem a little awkward because it's called "ASIO Driver", but this is where you choose which sound card's ASIO driver you are going to use.
Now select the range of inputs and outputs for your sound card. The drop down menus labeled "first" and "last" are used to select the range of inputs you want to use.
NOTE: If you select a driver other than ASIO, the other options under Audio System will be different. But they should all follow a fairly similar process.
Recording One Track:
[1] Rename the track by double clicking in the track title section in the track view to the left of the arrangement window or in the mixer at the bottom of the screen.
[2] Choose your recording device. There are a few different ways to do this that will all get you to the same menu:
- Right-click the "R" button next to the volume fader.
- Press the "R" button to expand the track, then right click the "in" button.
- Zoom in vertically to expand the track, and as above right click the "in" button. (This is the one I used in the image below.)
From the menu that pops up, select your input from either the "Mono Input" or the "Stereo Input".
Mono Inputs:
Stereo Inputs:
[3] As far as I know, Reaper does not let you create a custom name for the recorded wave file. It automatically creates the wave file with the same name of the track and the date and time of the recording.
[4] Arm the track for recording by pushing the "R" button. This is located next to the volume fader in the left side mixer and located above the speaker icon in the bottom mixer.
[5] Press record in the transport and play, play, play!
Upon stopping the recording, you will get a dialog box which asks if you want to keep the newly recorded track.
NOTE: The audio clip is blank in this image (there is no waveform) because I didn't actually record anything, I just hit the record button and let it record silence. Had I recorded something, you would be able to see the audio waveform in the audio clip.
[6] The last thing after recording is to un-arm the track so you won't forget about it and accidentally record when you don't want to be recording.
Here is the newly recorded wave file (and associated Reaper file with the extension "reapeaks") in my project directory.
Recording Additional Parts ("Overdubbing"):
Simply repeat the process over again for recording one track (minus the sound card setup in the project Properties), but on a new track.
Remember that only tracks that are "Armed" will be recorded onto.
Also remember that you can mute previously recorded tracks that you don't want to hear playing while you are recording.
Recording Multiple Tracks At The Same Time ("Multi-Track Recording"):
Again, this process is very similar as for a single track, but you will arm multiple tracks at one time and make sure that each track in Reaper corresponds to different inputs on your sound card.... In other words, you don't want to have different tracks in Reaper assigned to the same sound card input, because then the same thing will be recorded on different tracks.
Conclusion
This concludes the basic recording procedure with Reaper. I hope this helps demystify the complexity of Reaper a little bit. There is a lot to this program, but the basic recording procedure procedure is very similar no matter what program you use.
The great thing about Reaper is that it does a WHOLE lot more, with powerful editing/routing/mixing/etc. features so as you get more advanced in recording you'll find that Reaper will grow with you as opposed to being outgrown. In fact, Reaper is updated on a dialy basis and it is the fastest growing application on the market that I've seen (and I've used a LOT of them). This program could easily sell for hundreds of dollars (maybe even thousands!).... I have used a program that sells for $2,500 and I would easily take Reaper over it, even if they were the
same price. So take advantage of Reaper's $50 price tag!!!
Additional Reaper Tutorials and Documentation:
For more Reaper Tutorials check out the
Quickstart Guide on the Reaper Wiki. The
tutorial videos at the bottom of the page are extremely helpful.
Here is the full
Reaper Documentation Wiki.
The next section will demonstrate the procedure for Kristal Audio (COMING SOON!).