Reaper — Full Operations Manual

1. Audio & MIDI Setup

Audio Device

• Options → Preferences → Audio → Device (or Ctrl+P)
• Audio system: Select ASIO for Windows (lowest latency). If no dedicated interface, select "ASIO4ALL" (free universal ASIO driver — download from asio4all.org if not installed) or WASAPI.
• Mac: CoreAudio. Linux: ALSA or JACK.
• Input/Output: Select your interface inputs (mic/line) and outputs (speakers/headphones). Reaper shows all available channels — enable the ones connected to your hardware.
• Buffer size: Request block size: 256 samples for production/mixing. 128 for recording/playing live (lower latency). 512+ if CPU struggles.
• Sample rate: Request sample rate: 44100 Hz for streaming/CD. 48000 Hz for video/film. Match your project to your target output.

MIDI Devices

• Options → Preferences → MIDI Devices
• Your MPK Mini IV appears in the list. Right-click it → Enable input. Also enable "Enable input for control messages" if you want knobs/pads to control Reaper's interface.
• Reaper does NOT auto-detect controllers like Cubase or Ableton. You must manually enable MIDI devices in preferences.
• MIDI input for tracks: When you create a track and add a virtual instrument, set the track's input to "All MIDI Inputs" or specifically your MPK. Then arm the track for recording — now your keyboard plays the instrument.

First-Time Configuration

• Reaper opens mostly blank. Don't panic — this is by design. The power is in customization.
• Install SWS Extension: Download from sws-extension.org. This is a free community extension that adds hundreds of features Reaper doesn't include by default — smart markers, track templates, advanced actions, cycle action editor. Consider it mandatory.
• Theme: Default theme is functional but plain. Options → Themes → browse and install community themes. Popular ones: Default V6 (clean modern), Reapertips, Imperial. Themes change the look without affecting functionality.

2. Interface Overview

The Main Window

• Track Control Panel (TCP — left side): Every track listed vertically. Each track shows: name, record arm button, mute (M), solo (S), input/output routing, volume, pan, FX button, and envelope/automation buttons. Right-click a track header for the full context menu.
• Arrange Area (center): The horizontal timeline where media items (clips) live. Time flows left to right. Zoom with Ctrl+Scroll (horizontal) and Ctrl+Shift+Scroll (vertical).
• Transport Bar (bottom): Play, Stop, Pause, Record, Loop, tempo, time signature, playback position. All customizable — right-click to add/remove elements.
• Mixer (Ctrl+M): Toggle the mixer panel. Shows channel strips for all tracks — faders, pans, FX, sends, routing. Can be docked at the bottom or floated as a separate window.
• Docker: Panels (mixer, MIDI editor, FX browser, routing matrix) can be "docked" into tabs at the bottom, side, or in floating windows. Drag any window's title bar to dock it. This is how you build custom layouts.

Toolbar

• The default toolbar has basic transport and editing tools. Right-click → Customize toolbar to add/remove buttons.
• Mouse modifiers: Options → Preferences → Mouse Modifiers — this is where Reaper gets unique. You can set what happens when you click, drag, double-click, right-click, or scroll on ANY element (media items, track headers, envelope points, rulers, etc.) with any modifier key combination. Total control over mouse behavior.

Actions List — The Power Feature

• Shift+/ (or ?) opens the Actions List — Reaper's master command center.
• Every single operation in Reaper is an "action" — play, stop, record, split, glue, quantize, zoom, solo, mute, export, EVERYTHING. There are 2,000+ actions.
• Search by name: type "quantize" and every quantize-related action appears. Type "render" for export options. Type "split" for all split operations.
• Assign any action to any keyboard shortcut, toolbar button, or MIDI controller trigger. This is how you build custom shortcuts.
• Custom Actions: Chain multiple actions into a single macro. Example: "Split at cursor + Select right side + Delete" becomes one keypress. Automate repetitive editing workflows.

3. Adding Tracks

• Insert Track: Ctrl+T or double-click in empty track area. A new blank track appears.
• Reaper tracks are flexible — any track can hold audio, MIDI, video, or all three simultaneously. There's no separate "Audio Track" vs "Instrument Track" distinction like Cubase. A track is a track.

Adding Instruments

• Click the FX button on any track → the FX browser opens → search for your VST instrument (Vital, Surge XT, Kontakt 8, Analog Lab V, etc.) → double-click to load it.
• The instrument opens in its own window. The track automatically becomes a MIDI-capable instrument track.
• Set the track's input to your MIDI device (click the input dropdown on the track header → select "MIDI" → your MPK Mini IV).
• Arm the track (R on the track header or the red button). Play your keyboard — sound confirms the instrument is working.
• ReaSynth / ReaSamplOmatic5000: Reaper includes two built-in instruments:
  • ReaSynth: Simple sine/saw/square/triangle oscillator synth. Basic but useful for sub-bass, test tones, and quick sketches.
  • ReaSamplOmatic5000: A sampler that loads WAV files and maps them across the keyboard. Drag a WAV onto it → it becomes a playable instrument. Multiple zones for multi-sampling. Velocity layers. Round-robin. Surprisingly deep for a built-in plugin.

Track Organization

• Folders: Drag a track onto another track's bottom edge to nest it as a child. The parent becomes a folder track — collapsible, with its own volume/pan that controls all children. All drums → Drum Folder. All synths → Synth Folder. This IS grouping/busing in Reaper.
• Color: Right-click track → Track Color → pick a color. Or: SWS Extension adds auto-coloring rules (color all tracks named "Drum" red, etc.).
• Track Templates: Configure a track with instrument, FX chain, routing → right-click → Save track as template. Next project: right-click → Insert track from template. Instant pre-configured track.

4. Recording Audio

• Set track input to your audio interface channel (click input dropdown → select Mono or Stereo input from your interface).
• Arm the track (red button or R).
• Enable monitoring: click the speaker icon on the track to hear input while recording.
• Press Ctrl+R or the Record button on transport. Perform. Press Space or Stop.
• The recorded audio appears as a media item on the timeline.

Recording Modes

• Right-click the Record button on the transport → Recording Mode options:
• Normal: Records over existing content. Standard behavior.
• Time Selection Auto-Punch: Only records within a selected time range (punch in/out). Set a time selection first → recording only happens within those boundaries. Everything outside stays untouched. Essential for fixing one phrase without re-recording the whole take.
• Auto-Punch Selected Items: Records only during the duration of selected items on the track.

Multi-Take Recording

• If you record over an existing item, Reaper creates a take — the new recording layers on top of the previous one. Both are preserved.
• Click the take dropdown on the media item to switch between takes. Listen to each → select the best.
• Right-click → Take → Crop to active take to discard unused takes.
• Comping: Split items into sections → switch takes per section → assemble the best parts from different takes into one perfect performance. Right-click → Take → Comp takes for visual comping mode.

Recording Samples / Resampling

• From mic: Route mic input → arm → record. Voice, instruments, field recordings, foley.
• ReaSamplOmatic5000: Load a recorded WAV into ReaSamplOmatic5000 → it becomes a playable chromatic instrument. One recording = full melodic instrument.
• Internal resampling: Add a new track → set input to the output of another track (or master). Arm → record. Captures the full processed audio output including all effects. Print a synth with reverb baked in.

5. MIDI Editing

Opening the MIDI Editor

• Double-click any MIDI item to open the MIDI Editor (piano roll). It opens in a new window or docked in the lower zone.
• Options → Preferences → MIDI Editor to configure default behavior: open in docker, open as window, one editor per item or per track.

Drawing & Editing Notes

• Draw: Click in the grid to place notes. Length follows the current grid setting. Drag right while placing to set custom length.
• Select: Right-click and drag to select notes. Or: click a note to select it. Ctrl+A selects all.
• Move: Drag selected notes. Hold Shift to constrain to horizontal (timing) or vertical (pitch) movement only.
• Resize: Drag the right edge of a note to change its length.
• Delete: Select → Delete. Or: double-click a note to delete it (configurable in mouse modifiers).
• Velocity: Bottom lane shows velocity bars per note. Drag bars up/down. Or: select notes → Edit → Note velocity → set exact value or scale by percentage.

Controller Lanes (CC Data)

• Below the velocity lane, add CC lanes: click the lane dropdown → select CC1 (Mod Wheel), CC11 (Expression), CC64 (Sustain), Pitch Bend, Aftertouch, or any CC number.
• Draw curves with the pencil. Line tool for ramps. Free-hand for organic movement.
• Record CC data live from MPK Mini IV: mod wheel = CC1, pitch wheel = pitch bend, sustain pedal = CC64, knobs = whatever CC they're assigned to.

MIDI Note Names / Drum Maps

• In the MIDI editor, click the piano keys area → Load note names from file. Load General MIDI drum maps so note names show "Kick," "Snare," "Hi-Hat" instead of C1, D1, F#1. Makes drum programming much faster.
• Custom note name maps: create your own for specific drum kits or sample-mapped instruments.

6. Quantize — Every Method

MIDI Quantize

• Select MIDI notes in the editor → Q (default quantize shortcut, or set your own in Actions List).
• Grid resolution: set in the MIDI editor toolbar dropdown — 1/4, 1/8, 1/16, 1/32, 1/64, triplets, dotted, swing grid.
• Quantize dialog: Edit → Quantize notes for detailed control:
  • Strength: 100% = full grid snap. 50% = halfway to grid. Lower = preserves more human timing. Start at 75% and adjust by feel.
  • Start position: Quantize where notes begin. Most common setting.
  • End position: Also snap note endings to the grid. Use for tight staccato parts. Omit for sustained notes.
  • Range: Only quantize notes within X ticks of a grid line. Notes already near the grid get snapped; notes far from the grid stay untouched. Smart selective correction.
• Swing: In the grid dropdown, select "Swing" grid mode. Set swing amount. Even-numbered positions offset late for groove feel. Or: use the Groove Pool (below).
• Humanize: Edit → Humanize → add random variation to position (±X ticks), velocity (±X), and length (±X). Makes perfect MIDI sound performed.

Groove Templates

• Reaper supports groove templates — extract the timing feel from any MIDI or audio item and apply it to another.
• Edit → Groove → Get groove from item → saves the timing pattern.
• Edit → Groove → Apply groove to item → your MIDI notes inherit the extracted groove.
• Same concept as Ableton's Groove Pool: extract swing from a classic break → apply to programmed drums → instant vintage feel.

Audio Quantize

• Reaper uses dynamic split + quantize for audio:
• Select an audio item → Item → Dynamic Split → Reaper detects transients and splits the audio at each hit.
• Select all resulting items → Q (quantize item positions) → each hit snaps to the grid.
• Use crossfades between items to avoid clicks at the splice points. Options → Preferences → Project → Item Fade Defaults → set default crossfade length (5-10ms).
• Or: use Reaper's stretch markers — Item Properties → Stretch Markers. Place markers at transients. Drag markers to grid positions. The audio time-stretches around the moved points. Non-destructive.

7. Transpose

MIDI Transpose

• Quick: Select notes in the MIDI editor → Shift+↑/↓ = ±1 semitone. Ctrl+Shift+↑/↓ = ±1 octave.
• Dialog: Edit → Transpose notes → enter exact semitone value. Options for keeping notes within a key or range.
• Track-level (non-destructive): Add the JS plugin "MIDI Transpose" to the track's FX chain. Set semitone offset. All MIDI on the track plays transposed without changing the actual note data. Remove the plugin to restore original pitch.

Audio Transpose

• Select an audio item → Item Properties (F2) → change "Pitch adjust" in semitones. The audio pitch-shifts without changing speed (uses the item's pitch-shift algorithm).
• Pitch-shift algorithm: In Item Properties → "Pitch shift mode" dropdown. Options: Rrreeeaaa (Reaper's built-in — good quality), SoundTouch, Elastique (highest quality but needs Elastique installed). Elastique gives the most transparent pitch shifting for vocals and full mixes.
• ReaPitch: Reaper's built-in pitch-shift plugin. Add to FX chain → set semitones and cents. Real-time pitch shifting on any track. Can shift multiple intervals simultaneously (add a harmony voice by shifting +7 semitones for a fifth).

8. Looping — Every Scenario

Transport Loop

• Set a time selection by clicking and dragging in the timeline ruler (the top bar).
• Press R to toggle Repeat mode (or click the Repeat button on the transport). Playback loops within the time selection.
• Adjust the selection by dragging its edges in the ruler.

Looping a Single Item

• Right-click an audio or MIDI item → Item properties (F2) → check "Loop source".
• Now drag the right edge of the item to extend it — the content repeats seamlessly. A 4-bar drum loop dragged to 32 bars = 8 repetitions. The loop points match the item's source length.
• This is the most powerful single-item looping in any DAW. The loop follows the source exactly, time-stretches with tempo changes, and is fully non-destructive.

Duplicating Items

• Ctrl+D duplicates the selected item immediately after itself.
• Hold Ctrl + drag an item to copy it to a new position.
• Ctrl+Shift+D duplicates and adds a time selection gap (useful for spacing repeated sections).

Independent Track Looping

• Reaper's transport loop affects all tracks. For independent track behavior:
• Item loop source: Enable "Loop source" on individual items and drag to different lengths per track. Drums loop a 4-bar pattern for 32 bars. Bass loops a 2-bar pattern for 32 bars. Different content lengths, same timeline span.
• Item placement: Place items only where sound is wanted. No items on a track = silence. Drums span bars 1-32. Hi-hat only bars 1-16. Bass enters at bar 8.

Making Tracks Loop Then Stop

• Don't extend items past the stop point. Drums run 32 bars but hi-hat should stop at bar 16? Only place 16 bars of hi-hat items.
• Mute items: Select an item → Ctrl+F2 to mute it (or click the mute button). The item stays on the timeline but doesn't play. Un-mute later.
• Volume automation: Add a volume envelope to the track (V) → draw it down to -inf at the stop point. Draw it back up when the track should re-enter. Allows smooth fades instead of hard cuts.
• Fade-outs: Right-click the right edge of any item → drag the fade handle left to create a fade-out. Configurable curve shape (linear, exponential, S-curve).

Making Tracks Play/Stop During Export

• Solo tracks to include → Render. Only soloed tracks render.
• Mute tracks to exclude → Render. Everything unmuted renders.
• Stem export: File → Render → Source dropdown → "Selected tracks (stems)" or "Stems (selected tracks)" → each track renders as a separate file. One click = complete stem package.
• Region-based rendering: Create regions for different sections → File → Render → Source: "Region render matrix." Renders each region as a separate file. Export individual song sections as separate files from one project.

9. Mixing

Mixer Panel

• Ctrl+M toggles the mixer. Dock it at the bottom or float as a window.
• Each track: volume fader, pan, mute (M), solo (S), FX button, routing button, meters.
• Fader range: Reaper's faders go from -inf to +12 dB by default. Hold Ctrl + click a fader to reset to 0 dB (unity).

FX Chain (Inserts)

• Click the FX button on any track → FX browser opens → search or browse → double-click to add.
• FX chain processes top to bottom. Drag effects to reorder. Each effect can be individually bypassed.
• Built-in Reaper effects (ReaPlugs): These are seriously good — professional quality, zero cost:
  • ReaEQ: Unlimited-band parametric EQ with visual display. Add as many bands as needed. High-pass, low-pass, peak, notch, shelf — every filter type. The frequency display shows the EQ curve in real time.
  • ReaComp: Compressor with threshold, ratio, attack, release, knee, makeup gain, sidechain input. Clean and transparent or colorful depending on settings.
  • ReaGate: Noise gate. Removes background noise below a threshold. Essential for vocal tracks and live drum recordings.
  • ReaDelay: Multi-tap delay with up to 256 taps. Each tap has independent time, volume, pan, filter, pitch shift. Simple echo to complex rhythmic delay patterns.
  • ReaVerb: Convolution reverb. Load impulse response (IR) files of real acoustic spaces — concert halls, studios, rooms, plates, springs. Thousands of free IRs available online. Professional-grade reverb for zero dollars.
  • ReaXcomp: Multiband compressor. Split audio into frequency bands, compress each independently. Essential for mastering and controlling complex mixes.
  • ReaLimit: Brickwall limiter for mastering. Prevents output from exceeding a set ceiling. Use on the master bus before export.
  • ReaPitch: Pitch shifter — shift in semitones/cents, add parallel harmony voices.
  • ReaTune: Pitch correction (auto-tune style). Set key and scale → ReaTune corrects vocal pitch in real time. Manual mode for per-note correction. Free auto-tune built into Reaper.
  • JS effects: Reaper includes hundreds of JS (Jesusonic) scripts — small, efficient effects and utilities. Limiters, gates, de-essers, stereo wideners, analyzers, tone generators, MIDI processors. Browse in the FX browser under "JS."

Sends & Routing

• Click the Routing button (IO) on any track → Add Send → select destination track.
• Create a reverb bus: insert a new track → add ReaVerb → on other tracks, add sends routed to the reverb track. Control send level per track — shared reverb, individual amounts.
• Reaper's routing is the most flexible of any DAW: Any track can send to any track. Pre-fader or post-fader. MIDI and audio simultaneously. Sidechain routing is just another send. Parallel processing is a send with dry signal + wet return. Everything is routing.

Folder Tracks (Groups/Buses)

• Drag a track's bottom edge to nest it under another track → the parent becomes a folder.
• The folder track automatically receives all child tracks' audio. Add FX to the folder track = group processing.
• All drums → Drum Folder → add ReaComp on the folder for drum bus compression. All synths → Synth Folder → add ReaEQ to carve space. Simple, powerful, visual.

Automation (Envelopes)

• Press V on a track to show the volume envelope. Click to add points, drag to shape the curve.
• Other envelopes: right-click a track → Show envelope → Pan, Mute, Width, Send levels, any FX parameter.
• Write automation: Right-click the track's envelope button → set Automation Mode to "Write" or "Latch." Play the project → move faders/knobs → Reaper records the movement as envelope points.
• Envelope shapes: Right-click between two points → set curve shape: linear, fast start, fast end, bezier, square. Precise control over how parameters transition.
• Automate ANY plugin parameter: In the FX window, click "Param" → show/hide envelopes for any parameter. Automate filter cutoff, reverb decay, delay time — anything with a knob can have an envelope.

10. Rendering (Exporting)

• File → Render (Ctrl+Alt+R) opens the Render dialog — the most detailed export system of any DAW.

Source Options

• Master mix: The full stereo output. Standard export.
• Master mix + stems: Master mix AND each track as a separate file in one render pass.
• Selected tracks (stems): Only render selected tracks, each as its own file.
• Regions: Render specific timeline regions as separate files. Create regions for "Verse 1," "Chorus," "Full Song" → render each as independent files.
• Region render matrix: Specify which tracks render in which regions. Full control over what goes where.

Format Options

• WAV: Lossless. 16-bit (streaming), 24-bit (masters/stems), 32-bit float (stems for other DAWs).
• MP3: LAME encoder. Up to 320 kbps CBR or VBR quality levels.
• FLAC: Lossless compressed. Same quality as WAV at ~60% file size.
• OGG Vorbis: Open-source compressed. Quality levels 0-10.
• AIFF: Apple lossless format.
• Video: Reaper can render video with audio — useful for scoring to picture.

Tail & Dither

• Tail: Add extra time after the last item for reverb/delay tails to ring out. Set in milliseconds or beats. Without this, reverb cuts off abruptly at the end.
• Dither: When rendering 16-bit from a 24/32-bit project, enable dither to reduce quantization noise. Reaper includes dithering options in the render dialog.

Making Tracks Play/Stop in Export

• Solo tracks → render. Only soloed render.
• Mute tracks → render. Everything unmuted renders.
• Stems mode renders each track independently regardless of solo/mute.
• Bounds: Set render bounds to "Time selection," "Entire project," "Custom time range," or "Selected regions." Controls exactly what time range exports.

11. Keyboard Shortcuts — Full Reference

12. What Makes Reaper Different

• $60 personal license. Full features. No tiers. No "Lite" vs "Pro." One version with everything. Unlimited free updates during the license period. 60-day fully functional trial with no feature restrictions.
• 15 MB installer. Other DAWs are 2-50 GB. Reaper installs in seconds and runs on machines that can't handle Cubase or Ableton. Runs on a 10-year-old laptop.
• Runs on Windows, Mac, AND Linux. Natively. Same on all three. Linux users have almost no other professional DAW options — Reaper fills the gap.
• Plugin format support: VST2, VST3, JS, CLAP, AU (Mac), LV2 (Linux). Every format. No exclusions.
• ReaPlugs are professional grade. ReaEQ, ReaComp, ReaVerb, ReaTune, ReaGate, ReaLimit, ReaXcomp, ReaDelay — all free, all built-in, all competing with paid plugins costing $50-200 each.
• Total customization. Every shortcut. Every toolbar. Every mouse click behavior. Every menu. Every color. Build the DAW YOUR way.
• Actions List + Custom Actions = infinite workflow optimization. Chain operations into one-button macros. Automate repetitive tasks. No other DAW offers this level of workflow scripting without actual programming.
• Render dialog is the most powerful in any DAW. Region render matrix, stem export, batch rendering, multiple format output in one pass. No other DAW matches Reaper's render flexibility.
• Routing is limitless. Any track → any track. Pre/post fader. Audio + MIDI. Sidechain = just a send. No routing limitations, no "you can't do that" moments.

13. Pro Tips — The Kokumo Method

• Install SWS Extension immediately. It's free and adds hundreds of features that make Reaper complete. Smart markers, cycle actions, track templates, nudge tools, and more. Consider it mandatory.
• Build your own Actions. Open the Actions List (Shift+/) → create Custom Actions for repetitive workflows. "Split + select right + delete" = one key. "Render selected tracks as stems in WAV 24-bit" = one key. The more actions you build, the faster you get.
• ReaSamplOmatic5000 for sampling. Record a sound → drag it into ReaSamplOmatic5000 → instant playable instrument. Map multiple samples across velocity layers and key zones for realistic instruments. It's a mini-Kontakt built into Reaper for free.
• Item loop source for non-destructive looping. Enable loop on any item → drag the edge → it repeats. No duplicating, no copy-pasting. Change the source and all repetitions update. This is the cleanest looping workflow of any DAW.
• Folder tracks = instant grouping. Drag tracks into a folder → the folder IS the bus. Add compression to the folder = bus compression. Volume on the folder = group volume. No separate bus track creation needed.
• ReaTune for free pitch correction. Other DAWs charge $100+ for auto-tune. Reaper includes it. Set key and scale → sing → ReaTune corrects in real time. Manual mode for surgical per-note correction.
• ReaVerb with free impulse responses. Download IR files from openairlib.net or other free sources — recordings of real concert halls, studios, churches, plates, springs. Load into ReaVerb → professional convolution reverb for zero dollars.
• $60 for everything. No upsells. No "premium" tier. No feature gates. The full DAW for the price of one plugin. Combined with free ReaPlugs, free SWS, free IRs, and free JS scripts — Reaper is the most cost-effective professional production environment in existence.