Miditerraenyan C

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How to black on REAPER ​

For beginners, probably ​

INFO

REAPER is a digital audio workstation, which can also be used for editing MIDIs.

WARNING

This article instructs more accurately for the Microsoft Windows operating system by Bill Gates.

Installation ​

Download ​

You can download this program through the official website:

Install ​

Hehe.

First run ​

Sound setup ​

reaper startup

When you open REAPER the first time, this prompt should appear. Click [Yes].

For the 'Audio system', you may choose WASAPI if you are not sure of what to pick.

reaper audio system configuration

Afterwards, click on [OK].

If an error about mismatched sample rate appears, you might want to change the 'Mode' to 'Exclusive mode', so you don't have to go through this troubleshooting.

reaper WASAPI mode configuration

The next window you will see is the evaluation license prompt. Until you purchase a license, this window will show up every time you start REAPER.

reaper trial startup window

Click on [Still Evaluating]

Your REAPER window should look something like this in the beginning.

reaper default main window

Synth setup ​

To setup your software synth in REAPER, you can press Ctrl + P

On the left side, find 'MIDI Devices'.

On the MIDI outputs list box, enable the synth where you want your MIDI notes to play. On this case, I am using Keppy's Synthesizer

reaper MIDI output device configuration

Setting up MIDI tracks ​

The following video will show you how to insert tracks and use them to play through the software synthesizer.

Video Demo

Video Summary ​

  • Double click on the mixer window to add new mix tracks (or press Ctrl + T).
  • Set all the mix tracks' MIDI Output to your synth (Send all), by right-clicking on it and finding the option.
  • Create patterns (sources) on the playlist by holding Ctrl and L-Click while dragging across within each track.
  • Change the patterns' properties by right-clicking the pattern and clicking Source properties, or pressing Ctrl + F2 on the selected pattern.
  • Toggle the Set as channel box on, and set its unique channel number (up to 16).
  • Do the same configuration for each pattern.

Alternatively, you can use this pre-made template so you don't have to do all of these clickings:

ATTACHMENT

REAPER Template - 16 MIDI out (.rpp)

Click the link above to save it to your computer.

You may place this file in the REAPER\ProjectTemplates folder. Then, you can now quickly create projects with this base, by navigating the menu File -> Project Templates -> <template-name>.

Piano roll interaction ​

The following video demonstrates some familiar functions for MIDI editing.

Video Demo

Video Summary ​

  • You can open the piano roll window by double-clicking on a selected pattern.
  • You can dock the piano roll window by right-clicking on the small space at the top left, then clicking Dock window.
  • You can create notes by click-holding and dragging across.
  • You can select notes by holding right-click and dragging around the notes.
  • You can make Bad Apple!! arrangements.
  • Shift + Alt + L-Click allows you to draw notes freehand.
  • You can show the notes through many layers of MIDI tracks using the track list ([context menu] -> Contents -> Track List)
  • On the track list, the arrow button targets that track as the base for editing. This can be used as your usual track navigator.
  • If the track is unlocked, it means it can be edited (together with the base target) at the current state of the piano roll.
  • If the track is visible (eye button), then the track will be visible on the piano roll.
  • You can play Bad Apple!! arrangements.

MIDI file operations ​

Exporting project to MIDI ​

Video Demo

Video Summary ​

  • Open the project
  • On the menu, go to File -> Export project MIDI...
  • Set the desired output destination

Importing to project ​

Video Demo

Video Summary ​

  • Open a project
  • Drag and drop the MIDI file from the file explorer.
  • Alternatively, on the menu, go to Insert -> Media file..., then select the desired MIDI file.

User experience ​

Hotkeys ​

Customization ​

You can set your own key binds to specific actions by navigating Preferences -> General: Keyboard -> Assign keyboard shortcuts ....

reaper keybind option

For example, we could set a custom key bind to the scroll behaviour:

reaper key action modification

reaper key action assignment

At the same time, we could also change the mouse behaviours. (Refer to the following section.)

Strum notes by dragging ​

Selected notes can be easily strummed by modifying Mouse Modifiers found under the preferences Editing Behaviour category.

reaper note strumming hotkey configuration

Set the Context to MIDI note, then choose any modifier you like, and finally right-click on it to set Stretch notes -> Just stretch / Ignoring Snap.

reaper note strumming demo

Straight note lines ​

Create notes in straight lines by holding the hotkey Ctrl + Alt as you click and drag on the piano roll.

reaper straight line note demo

To create vertical straight notes, use Shift + Alt.

Playback ​

You can prevent piano roll window from scrolling to playhead position by heading to the main menu bar -> Options -> Automatically scroll view during playback.

Themes ​

Unfortunately, I will not be diving deep into the process of creating REAPER themes. Instead, you could look for a user-generated theme you like from the REAPER Stash.

Procedures on installing the theme are described in their respective theme descriptions. Usually the *.ReaperThemeZip file is to be placed in the REAPER\ColorThemes folder.

To enable the theme, open the menu Options -> Themes -> <theme-name>

Miscellaneous ​

WASAPI shared mode ​

When using 'Shared mode' in the WASAPI audio interface, you will need to make sure that sample rates are synchronized between your speaker driver and microphone driver (aka output and input device, respectively).

A way to do this is to:

  • Open the Run box by pressing on your keyboard Win + R
  • Input mmsys.cpl and press enter.
  • On the 'Playback' tab, double-click on the item which is marked as 'Default Device' (usually, it's the Speakers)
  • Click on the 'Advanced' tab.
  • Take note of the current sample rate: windows audio device sample rate configuration
  • Close the current window to go back.
  • On the 'Recording' tab, double-click on the item which is marked as 'Default Device' (usually, it's the Microphone)
  • Click on the 'Advanced' tab.
  • Now, you can choose whether to sync the sample rate of the Speakers to the Microphone, or vice-versa. All that matters is both of them should have the same sample rate.