Reaper Handbook WITH Accessibility IN Perspective by Victor Ferreira: June 26, 2022 Update Contents of this manual: 01: First steps, installation and initial configuration: 01.1:: Initial settings: 01.2: Osara Settings: 02: Notion of project, track, item, take and respective hierarchy: 02.1: New track: 02.2: Create track folders: 02.3: Save and manage projects: 02.4: Clues and elements from other projects: 03: Browse audio, select and edit tracks: 03.1: Select: 03.2: Ripple Mode: 03.3: Easy timeline navigation: 04: Effects: 04.1: Effects chain or effect chains: 04.2: Create shortcut for a plugin or effect: 04.3: Input effects or input effects: 04.4: Add an effect to favorites: 04.5: Copy and paste plugins or effects between tracks: 04.6: Delta function: 05: AutoPunch function or the chopped ones: 05.1: Takes over takes: 05.2: Create a talkback:06: Basic cue manipulation: 06.1: Context menus: 06.2: Track templates or track templates: 06.3: Show and hide clues: 07: Routing: 08: Project properties: 09: Sidechain: 10: Render/Consolidate: 10.1: Tips: 10.2: Wildcards: 10.3: Render in multiple formats at once: 11: Re-console: 12: Volume management: 12.1: Peak Watcher: 12.2: Automatically notify: 12.3: Using peak watcher: 12.4: Monitor level before recording: 12.5: During mixing and playback: 12.5.1: Gain Reduction or gain reduction: 12.6: Monitor in real time: 12.7: Read the rendered project level: 12.8: Using peak watcher after rendering: 12.9: Normalize: 13: Costum Actions or custom actions: 13.1: Manage shortcut keys: 13.2: Create action macros::14: Basic automation: 14.1: Example: 15: Snapshots: 16: Useful commands: 17: Some interesting operations: 17.1: View the size of the selected section in the desired format: 17.2: Delete time data from selection: 17.3: Add tags during recording/playback: 17.4: Saving a preset to an effect: 17.5: Add effect to an item: Item properties, take fx button: 17.6: Pre-reverb an item 17.7: Stretch markers: 17.8: Loop to sing or play over: 17.9: Silence a bit on a track: 17.10: Notion of 0 crossing: 17.11: Create samples associated with items to be played on the keyboard: 17.12: Using a vocoder: 17.13: Using TapeStop effect on an item: 17.14: Assign items to the keyboard by only changing the pitch and not the duration, all based on just 1 item: 17.15: Using frequency oscillators for volume and pan effects: 17.16: Using the metronome sound as an audio track: 18: Brands, regions and transients: 18.1: Transients: 19: Items: additional information: 20: Contiguous vs non-contiguous selection: 21: Midi sync and insertion of virtual instruments 21.1: Connect a keyboard to reaper: 21.2: Insert a virtual instrument: 21.3: Insert more than one instrument on the same track: 21.4:Grades 22: Compose and sequence in midi: 22.1: Quantization: 22.2: Quantize a part: 22.3: Sequence: 22.3.1: Set and change time: 22.3.2: Finding the tempo using the Tap Tempo function: 22.3.3: Finding the tempo by marking a loop in the song: 22.4: Midi editor: 22.5: Piano role: 22.6: General functions of the keys on the piano roll: 22.6.1: Functions of qwerty keyboard keys on piano roll: 22.6.2: Functions of the numeric keypad keys on the piano roll: 22.7: Select and move bars in the midi editor: 22.7.1: Based on time selection limits: 22.7.2: Based on time selection limits, but non-contiguous selection: 22.8: Interesting things you can do in the event view: 22.9: Humanization: 22.10: Step recording; stage recording: 22.11: Note: 23: Sampler function: 23.1: Separating batteries with ReaSamplOmatic:23.2: ReaEq: 23.3: Media explorer: 24: Create and work with sfz files: 25: Brief notes regarding keyboard commands: 25.1: Modifier keys: 25.2: Final Note: Reaper version for windows: 01: First steps, installation and initial configuration: Benefits: 1: It's a program called non destructive editor. This means that all treatment that we give to the audio, only takes effect when we render the project or part of it. about the project and about rendering, we'll talk later. 2: It's cross-platform, offers stability and speed, it's not expensive; only 50€. The purchase of a license can last for more than 2 years, and normally covers two versions with the respective updates. Download at www.reaper.fm. For greater usability and accessibility, there are 2 plugins that must be installed, in order, after Install Reaper: SWS, in http://sws-extension.org/ and Osara, at: https://osara.reaperaccessibility.com/snapshots/. After installation, we open the program for the first time, and it immediately asks to configure the input and output devices. If the card already has an ASIO driver, or is ASIO-compatible, it is the best option, because it will bypass the windows sound settings, and work as standalone device. If not, it will be necessary to install the generic ASIO driver, which may or may not be compatible with the board, or a program like Synchronous Audio Router, which will create virtual devices with accessible ASIO settings. Note: The Synchronous Audio Router program will not solve the latency problem, it will create virtual inputs and outputs for the audio, being more appropriate for situations like podcasts, for example. For music production, the ASIO option is the one that offers reliability and productivity. If your sound card doesn't have the ASIO option, you can still install the generic driver ASIO4All and configure from there. However, there are 2 problems here: Problem 1: If we choose the ASIO driver, Reaper gets that sound card dedicated to he. Solution:If we use that card for many programs, the best thing is to go to the sound settings, and uncheck the box that says allow control in exclusive mode. Problem 2: As for other screen readers, I don't know, but NVDA is unstable and the system crashes. Solution: place the screen reader from an alternative board, even if it's just a cockroach for this effect. At least with NVDA, my soundcard's generic ASIO driver settings don't are accessible, but it also doesn't seem to be necessary to change anything, because the configuration by defect solves the latency problem that exists with other drivers. If the card is not ASIO compatible at all, you can always choose the virtual device wasapi from Windows. Either in one situation or in the other, in multitrack sessions, it is advisable to listen only to the master track and disable monitoring of all tracks. 01.1:: Initial settings: As with other programs, Reaper has a preferences menu that is accessed with control p. There are some settings that can be useful and even necessary right from the start. In Patsh, you must choose a path where the program will store the plugins and instruments VST, as well as pressing alt+enter, in the project properties, it is convenient to specify where the projects will be stored, as well as the reapick files it creates, namely when audio is inserted. We will see this later, but for now, it is important that these settings get done. As for reapick files, they are small registry files that it creates, similar to sfk files created by Sound Forge, which contains information about peaks in the audio, but which basically we can ignore. The trouble is, if we don't have a right folder for the program to store them, are scattered throughout our workbook, or wherever we look for sounds. In the Keyboard/Multitouch option, we will be able to choose whether we want the spacebar to work to mark the checkboxes. It works, because otherwise we have to use the click left of the screen reader. 01.2: Osara Settings: To go to Osara preferences: control+f12. The only thing worth changing are two boxes: One that gives the scrub position in seconds, and the other that makes the screen reader stop speak the play, pause, record keys. By scrub, we mean moving the cursor in the audio, based on zoom settings. These settings also allow the screen reader to announce the effects inserted in a track or item, and also the musical notes in the midi editor. If we don't want these ads, just uncheck the boxes. To turn keyboard help on and off: f12. List of actions and hotkeys: f4. 02: Notion of project, track, item, take and respective Hierarchy: The fundamental element of work in Reaper is the project. The project is based on a file of playlist, so to speak,which tells Reaper what to do with the audio and all other sources and elements. All changes such as audio selection and cuts, effects insertion, volume, panorama, etc., are recorded first, only in that project file and not in the audio in that we are working on. So, when we open a session in Reaper, an new project. When we save a project, the program creates a main file for it. Along with this main file, all the audios and other elements of the project. The main file extension of this project is .rpp. Opening that file in Reaper, loaded the audio tracks and all other constituent elements of the project. Project contains tracks, tracks contain items, items contain takes. This is basically the hierarchy of elements that we work with in Reaper. For better organization, tracks can be grouped into folders. For example, tracks referring to percussion instruments can be in a folder, keyboards are in another, those referring to voices in another, and so on. 02.1: New track: When we open the program, the desktop appears without any clues. To create new track: control t. Tracks are usually created for inserting or recording audio, but it doesn't always have to be that way. Tracks can contain midi items, or simply be used as listening channels. to which we route or route the signal we are processing. With the properties key, we can define various parameters of the track, such as whether it is stereo or mono, the input channels, etc. To record on the track, we have to set it up. To arm the track: f7. To monitor the sound on the track: f8. There is a small latency, but it is only in the playback, in the recording, there is no such problem. Before starting recording, we can know which channel is being used. To do so, with the track selected, we control the up arrow until we hear a number. Alternatively, we can access the track's context menu with the properties key, but it is slower. However, if we want to make changes to what the program assumes by default as an input channel, we have to go that way. To start recording: a. To stop recording: again r or the spacebar. If we use the spacebar, by default, the program asks if we want to save or delete that file. The same applies for as many tracks as you need to create. You can also insert previously recorded audio into a track. Just select it and go to the menu insert. We can also insert several audios at the same time, either in separate tracks or in a single track. 02.2: Create track folders: For better organization of the tracks in the project, we can create folders, that is, divide the tracks by categories within the project. The various tracks can be organized into folders,like a document folder. Let's say we have 2 tracks with percussion, 2 tracks with keyboards, and 4 tracks with voices. To sort everything into folders, we do the following: Step 1: With the tracks named accordingly, we create two empty tracks, one for the beginning, the other to the end of the folder. Step 2: We copy the desired tracks to the space between these two empty tracks. Step 3: We name the blank track above with the desired name and shift enter until we hear folder. Step 4: Go to the blank track below these two tracks, and shift enter until we hear end of folder. The folder is created. If we want to close the folder, we press enter until close. If we have all the clues in the project, when we reopen the project, only the sorted folders with the tracks inside. To open the folders, just press enter until open, and the folder is opened. When we are not going to do anything with that folder, enter until close and the folder is closed. This way, we don't always need to be with the up and down arrows track by track along the entire project. It is also possible to create subfolders within the folders. For example, if we have a folder with the voices, inside that folder we can have a folder with the main voices, another folder with the backs. This allows you to individually process each folder of voices, and, for example, adding a chorus or panning effect to the backs, a compressor to the voice main, and a reverb to the entire voice folder, including subfolders. It looks labyrinthine, but it works. If we no longer need the folder, just delete the tracks created as the beginning and end of the folder, and ready. The way folders appear visible is toggled with the enter key. Normal: the folder is highlighted. Small: You can see the folder in thumbnail. Closed: You can see the closed folder. The same is true for individual tracks, although for a blind user, it doesn't influence anything. 02.3: Save and manage projects: In addition to being able to save our projects in a predefined folder, it is also possible, and in many situations even convenient, keep each project in its own folder. Especially when they are more complex projects, with more tracks, specific configurations, etc, everything is more accessible and organized. With alt+enter we access the project properties, where we can define the format of the files rendered, beats per minute, etc. When creating a project and saving it, this menu appears a button to save or save the properties of that project as default for all following projects. The standard save as or save as dialog is similar to any other application editing, but if we want Reaper to save a project and all its material in its folder respective one, we choose this in the Save as dialog, and we have to access that menu, or with the navigation of NVDA objects, or with JAWS scripts, or,when we are in this Save as dialog, we do control+tab, and that tab appears with the checkboxes to be checked or unchecked as the preference.02.4: Clues and elements from other projects: Sometimes, we may want to use tracks from one project in another project. For example, when we have samples associated, or a chain of effects and complex settings that we don't we want to be repeating. In this case, we select that lane or lanes in the original project, and do alt+shift+n to open a new project, where we can do control+v to paste these tracks with very specific. Another possibility is to select that track, or project, and save it as a template in the respective menu. From there, we can, in the file menu, open this previously created project template, or, in the insert menu, insert the previously created track template. 03: Browse audio, select and edit tracks: To navigate the audio, Reaper has 2 cursors: the cursor that follows the playback, and the cursor of editing. Play and stop: spacebar. When we press the spacebar, we hear a little, and we press space again, the cursor returns to the beginning of the play zone. Play and pause: control spacebar. By doing control spacebar after listening for a while, we put the cursor on that dot , and does not go back to the beginning. To move by slashes or spaces: page up and page down. To move by time: Control+Page up or Page down. Left and right arrows scrub, paused. Knowing where we are in the project: in terms of bars: control shift j. In terms of audio timing: control shift j j. More details in the section where we talk about easy navigation in the timeline. By default, when we insert an audio, the cursor is at the end of it. This is configurable in preferences but not mandatory. 03.1: Select: When we arrow up or down on tracks, we are basically selecting those tracks. When we do control+alt+home, we move to the first lane. When we do control+alt+end, we move to the last track. This means that we can from there, do everything with the selected track(s). For example, if we delete a track, it is deleted. The same happens if we use other commands from the windows like control c to copy, or control x to cut. With control shift p, we can open a menu with basic track parameters, and also with the properties key to access its contextual menu. We have many ways to do the stuff. Do not forget that it is important to follow the hierarchy mentioned above to select. When you insert or record audio on a track, it has an item. To make any selection, we have to start from that first item. To select it, we do control and side arrows with this track in focus. In terms of audio, the selection is by markers like in GoldWave or Audacity.Start tag: apostrophe. End tag: double quotes. These keys are followed just to the left of the backspace. To undo a time selection, press escape. It is also possible to select by items, defining as many as necessary. To do this, just press the letter a or s at the point where we want to define the beginning and end of the item. We can navigate between items with control+left arrow and control+right arrow. With the focus on an item, we can cut it, copy it, delete it, etc. So the selection can be done either way; just choose the method that best suits you at the time. If from a certain point we shift home, the selection goes to the beginning of the project, covering all tracks. If we shift end, it goes from that point to the end of the project on all tracks. To preview how it will look after editing: Step 1: Put start and end mark, Step 2: go with page up to just before the start mark, Step 3: alt spacebar to hear how it will look. If you need to move the tags: control apostrophe or control double quote moves start tag Alt apostrophe or alt double quotes move the end mark. All this depends on the zoom adjustments made with the plus sign to increase the zoom and the selection accuracy, and less to decrease. Plus and minus of the number block also works. To move item tag: item start markup: control dot or control comma, from right to left. End-of-item markup: alt dot or alt comma, either to the right or to the left. 03.2: Ripple Mode: To edit, we have to pay attention to two things: the timeline and the audio. To manage these two factors, there is the Ripple concept or mode. Ripple mode switches between: Off, , where the audio content is changed but not the timeline; Ripple per track, where the action takes place on an individual track, eliminating the timeline and audio on the selected track. Ripple all tracks, where the audio content and timeline are changed on all tracks as Same time. To toggle riple mode: alt+shift+p. To find out which ripple mode is active: control +shift+p. 03.3: Easy timeline navigation: Let's look at this from a musical perspective, breaking it down into beats and bars. Navigate between bars: page up and page down. Navigate between times: control+page up, control+page down. Go to the beginning of the current bar: alt+home. Go to the beginning of the next measure: alt+end. Now let's imagine that the chorus starts at bar 9. We can locate this bar, and add a tag with shift+m, and call it chorus. It's a good idea to name each tag for the sake of saving time. Whenever you need to go back to the beginning of the chorus, just press control+j and write chorus; O cursor will stop there immediately. By doing control+shift+j twice quickly, we will hear the point where we are.If the mark has no name, it will have a number associated with the measure number. So, when we do control+j, knowing the bar number, we type that number, and the cursor immediately moves to the desired place, in this case, the beginning of the chorus. In this same edit field we can write any value we know relative to time, measure number, fraction in the project, etc. If we know that our second chorus starts at bar 25, just type in this field the sign plus and 25. The cursor immediately moves to measure 25. Now, let's imagine that we have a mark at the beginning of each chorus. The first chorus starts at bar 9, and the second at bar 25. To each of the measures we add a mark with shift+m, and we want to jump between marks; easy! By default, each brand is assigned a number in the top row of the keyboard. So, just press the number corresponding to the mark we want, the cursor is positioned there, and the screen reader announces the measure number and brand name. Instead of navigating by measures, we can navigate by time in minutes and seconds. if we know, for example, that our first chorus starts 1 minute and 20 seconds into the song, and we're at the beginning, just do control+j, and write plus sign, 1, colon, 30, and hit enter. Again, control+shift+j, pressed twice quickly, gives us the position in terms of time. If we want to move to a point behind, for example, we are one minute and 20 seconds and we want to go back 30 seconds, at the point where we are, we do control+j, type the minus sign and 20, immediately moving backwards 20 seconds in the song. If we want to move forward 25 seconds from where we are, we do control+j, we write the plus sign and 25. The same applies. If we want to navigate by time instead of bars, we go to the View menu, option Time Unit for ruller, and we choose minutes and seconds. If we don't want to change this navigation mode, when we do control+j to write the value, we write the number followed by the colon character. In this way, the cursor will be moved to that specific duration. 04: Effects: With the f key we have access to the effects that the program already brings, as well as the VST and others we can add. With the tab and the arrow below, we explore the window and choose the desired one. Depending on the effects, the way we search for and apply parameters varies. Normally, with the tab and the arrows we explore the parameters and their values. Another way to access the parameters of an effect is provided by Osara. On the track where the effect is inserted, press the p key. There, the parameters appear in a list that we can scroll with the up and down arrows. The parameters are adjusted with the arrows, page up and page down, home and end as we want make smaller or larger adjustments.There are effects with dozens of parameters, and this makes searching and configure the desired parameter. Thus, Osara offers us the possibility to filter the parameters that we want. After entering the parameters with the P key, we explore the window with shift+tab and we arrive to the filter where we can write the name of the parameter or parameters that we want to change, and just those will appear in the list. For example, if we want to choose a compressor, we press enter on that compressor, and then, we go back to the project with exhaust, and over the track where the compressor was added, we do p, and it enter the parameters. If we just want to change the compressor ratio, we go to the filter, and only the ratio will appear in the list of parameters. Sometimes there may be plugins that show us strange values, or do not give us access to some controls immediately. For this, we can open the plugin menu again, if not with p, could be with F. In the case of those who use JAWS, there are scripts that help to solve the problem of reading the graphics and the location of some controls. Unlike other programs, Reaper applies the effect to the track and not immediately to the audio. This means that whenever we monitor the track, the selected effects will be heard. Some plugins don't really care about usability or accessibility. If the configuration does not conforms to the preferences, instead of using the spacebar, The boxes must be marked with the left click of NVDA or corresponding in another player, as well as the parameter confirmation on ok button. We can only apply the effect to the audio when we render, that is, when we save that track or the entire project to an audio file. If instead of p we shift p, the effect will be applied to the master track. 04.1: Effects chain or effect chains: It is often necessary to use multiple effects with very specific settings on multiple occasions. For this, we can not only store effects presets, in the corresponding menu of each one of them, as well as saving effect chains. For example, let's suppose that we record our voice, and we need a situation where we use an equalizer, reverb and compressor, each with their own settings. So, let's proceed like this: Step 1: On the track where we have the various effects, press f to open the effects browser. Those that are placed on the track will already appear listed. Step 2: With the properties key, we go to an option that says Save as chain. we give enter, and we save that list of effects in Reaper's own file called effects chain or chain effects, which is available when needed. That way, we won't need to load and configure the same effects next time. there they go be in the respective order, and with the desired parameters. 04.2: Create shortcut for a plugin or effect:For those situations where we often use a plugin or effect that is on a huge list and it's hard to find: Step 1: On the desired track, f for the effects window. Step 2: Type the effect name in the search field, or search for it in the tree. Step 3: When locating the effect with the arrow below, do not press enter immediately; before, key applications, and up or down arrow to create shortcut. Step 4: Type the desired command for the shortcut, and tab until ok. If the shortcut typed is already assigned, Reaper will alert you, and ask if we want to replace it. If not assigned, it will be assigned to that plugin or effect. You can modify or delete this shortcut by doing the following: Step 1: On the desired track, f for the effects window. Step 2: Type the effect name in the search field, or search for it in the tree. Step 3: When locating the effect with the arrow below, do not press enter immediately; before, key applications, and arrow up or down to edit shortcut or delete shortcut, depending on whether you want to edit or delete the shortcut. 04.3: Input effects or input effects: When we insert an effect such as a delay or reverb into a track, it is audible at the output of that track. track, but is only applied to the audio after rendering. However, we can apply the same effect, but so to speak, at the entrance of the track, and it is immediately affecting the audio, even before rendering. Applying effects in this way is useful in situations where we already know exactly what are the parameters of this effect that we are going to apply to the audio, and at the same time, we want to decrease the weight of plugins and effects on processing speed. Therefore, it is only possible to insert an effect as an input effect to an audio that we are recording in the moment, and never to previously recorded audio and placed on the track. To add an effect as an input effect, here is the procedure: Step 1: With the track selected, applications key and up or down arrow until track input fx chain. Then we enter. Step 2: Locate the desired effect as in the normal window. The effect will be audible depending on the track input settings, and automatically applied to any audio that is recorded. Therefore, even if it is later removed from the track, the effect is always heard in the recorded audio. 04.4: Add an effect to favorites: Finding a plugin or effect among hundreds or thousands can be a stunner! To facilitate the things, the tree in the effects window has a favorites section where we can add those that we like best, or that we use most often. Here it is explained how to add an effect to favorites section or folder: Step 1: With the letter f, open the effects window and locate the desired one without adding it to the track. Step 2: Applications key and down arrow to Add to folder submenu. Entering there, the option appears favorites,and we hit enter. So, when we go through the tree and find the favorites section, the plugin or effect will be located more easily because it will be there. Grades: 1: The favorites section is the last element in the tree; so it can be located immediately with the end key, and then with the tab, we enter the list of favorites. 2: If we have several favorites but still only the name of a single one appears, just delete the edit field that we use to locate plugins or effects, that all favorites are visible. This applies to all sections of the tree.04.5: Copying and pasting plugins or effects between tracks: Now, let's imagine that we have an effect added to a track and we want that same effect with the same parameters on another track. No need to manually add or configure new parameters. So: Step 1: On the track with the previously added effects or plugins, we open the effects chain with the letter f. Step 2: In the list or chain of effects that will appear, we choose the desired effect, and control+c; the effect is copied to the clipboard. We exit with the esc key. Step 3: With the cursor on the destination track, we do one of two things: If the track doesn't have any effects or plugins, just click on the b key, and paste with control+v, that the effect or plugin is added to the track. If the track already has other effects, we open the effects window with the letter f, e, in the list or chain of added effects, we move to the point where we want to paste, and do control+v at the place where we want to paste the new effect or plugin. 04.6: Delta function: This is a function for more advanced use. In newer versions of Reaper, all effects include a parameter called Delta. It's not any particular parameter of the effect we're looking at. use, but rather, a way to hear only the processed signal of that effect or plugin, and so we know exactly how it is affecting the audio at any given time, and the result end in the mix. It is very useful, for example, in music production, when we are working with processing parallel, and that is why it is important to understand the difference between the processed signal and the unprocessed signal. processed of an effect on a given track. If we check this box, we will isolate the processed signal, fine-tune the parameters, and apply the effect to the desired extent. 05: AutoPunch function or the chopped ones: Let's imagine that we are making a recording, and we miss a note, but the rest is all well, and we want to preserve. So just select what is wrong and press alt+backslash to select the mode of select autopunch recording. This command is a toggle between the 3 recording modes available: normal, time select autopunch and selected item autopunch. If we are editing midi, the command is alt+shift+backslash to select the mode of desired recording. This way,Reaper will only record to that selected space. When recording, it's a good idea to page up a little back to prepare. All takes are recorded; therefore, with t and shift t, you navigate between the recorded takes and the best is chosen. t for the next take, shift+t for the previous take. With alt shift t, the takes that do not matter are deleted. After making the correction, it is advisable to do alt+backslash too, until the recording mode normal.To hear everything already with the correction, we make escape to eliminate the selection and spacebar to touch. 05.1: Takes over takes: Whenever we press r to record, we create a take. When we press the spacebar, we always hear the last recorded take. If we have recorded more than one take, on the same track, we can press t or shift+t to move respectively to the next take or to the previous. But we can record multiple takes on the same track, and as we record the next one, we hear the previous. If the idea is to save clues in the project, we can use this feature. For that: Step 1: Create a track with control+t, giving the name or not; is indifferent. Step 2: Control+applications to one of the context menus, and arrow down to free item positioning. Then we hit enter. Alternatively, right after creating the track, we can do alt+shift+f2 to enable free item mode positioning. Step 3: With this mode enabled, on the track, key applications and arrow down to monitor track media when recording. This way we can record the next take while listening to the previous one on the same track. 05.2: Create a talkback: A talkback is a track used not for recording, but for talking to a person who is going to record. remotely. For that: Step 1: Create a cue and identify it, for example, as a talkback cue, not to be confused with anything else. Step 2: On the track, applications key and up or down arrow, until record: disable: imput monitoring only. Step 3: f7 to arm the track and f8 until not when playing. Step 4: Control+windows+f6 to solo defeat. Thus, soloing or muting other cues will not affect the talkback's. This track can be saved as a template, and then, as needed, the output is sent where to justify. 06: Basic track manipulation: The volume of a track changes with alt up and down arrows. To change in increments of one decibel, use control+alt+up or down arrow, as shown. want to increase or decrease the volume. The pan changes with alt left and right arrow keys; very practical! Mute/unmute: f5 Solo/unsolo: f6 Solo in front: control alt f6. It's a toggle. When using this function, the selected track is soloed, but the rest of the tracks are still listen. By default, the rest of the tracks are lowered by 18 db. This is configurable in the program preferences, in the mute and solo settings. To reverse the phase: f9. Listen in mono/stereo: shift f9. 06.1: Context menus:When we are on a track, we can access 3 different context menus: First context menu: application key, usually with monitoring options, inputs or outputs. Second context menu: Control+application key, usually with options to insert elements on the tracks. Third context menu: Alt+application key, usually with routing options. When we are on an item, normally the 3 context menus do not apply, but only the first, ie the applications key. 06.2: Track templates or track templates: As with the effects, we can save templates or track models for future use. use. For example, let's suppose we have a sequence of tracks with several plugins and several options. of routing, we can save this track or set of tracks as a template or template. So this template will be available for use, saving you the time of defining everything again. The same can be done with projects, all in the respective context menu. 06.3: Show and hide clues: In those situations where we have a project with many tracks and we are going to work only on certain track or in a specific group, we can use this which is a function of SWS. Step 1: f4 to enter the action list. Step 2: Write: SWS: Hide selected track(s) The action will appear and we press enter. The selected track or tracks are hidden. To show or show again: Step 1: f4 to the action list. Step 2: Write: SWS: Show all tracks The action will appear and we press enter. Note that we can also assign a keyboard shortcut. This will be described later. 07: Routing: On the intended track, we do i, and enter the routing options. It is a kind of contextual menu of the track, but with more options, among them, the possibility of send the channels between the tracks. It is a technique similar to the inserts in the channels of the mixing console, in which we are going to get the output from the channel of one lane to enter another. This will be very useful when we want to hear and manage effects such as vocoders, equalizers or compressors. Routing availability depends on the card we have. The normal thing about a reasonable board is to have at least least up to 16 channels per track, which is more than enough. 08: Project properties: To enter the project properties, as already indicated, alt enter. There appear some tabs where we will define, among other things, the format and bit rate, the beats per minute, and other situations that we can apply to the current project, or save as default setting when opening a blank project. We can choose to navigate by bars, for a musical project, or by tempo, for something that does not involve music, and for which the division into measures makes no sense. One of the most interesting tabs is the notes or notes tab.This may include notes on text with instructions or relevant information in case the project is shared with others. 09: Sidechain: It is understood by Side Chain, to route a track to hear its signal in another. This can be useful in many situations, especially when we want to apply an effect or change, and check how it will act on the audio set, being routed and heard on another track. This is achieved by actually sending the signal from one channel on the starting track to another channel on the destination track. Here we will exemplify with a compressor. We will have two tracks, one with voice and one with song. The idea is for the compressor to lower the music when the voice starts, and make it go back to normal volume in the end of voice. The destination track, in this case the song, must have 4 channels, 2 of which are available for the compressor. Let's choose one of the several compressors that Reaper provides, in this case, the vst plugin recomp. Then:: Step 1: With the focus on the track of the song, we click on the i, to enter the routing options. We tab to channels. With the arrow below, we choose 4. Step 2: Focus on the voice track. I to enter routing. Then, tab to send combo box add new send, and open with alt down arrow. Then, arrow down or up, until we locate the track where we are going to send, in this case, the music track. Then we'll enter. The send is created. Step 3: We continue on the voice track, and we tab until send to, listen to the track number and delete button, but we don't do delete. Step 4: Properties key and down arrow to destination audio channel. Then we hit enter, and down arrow again to channels 3 and 4 in this case. We press enter and exit the routing of this track with exhaust. Step 5: Focus on the music track. F to enter effect, in this case the compressor. p to better enter its parameters. If p doesn't give us the right parameters, we close it and re-enter it with f.Step 6: We adjust the various values ​​and start previewing with the spacebar. Let's give tab, and when we get to reacomp detecter input, we have to select auxiliary input. 10: Render/Consolidate: After finalizing the project, it's time to save the final result in an audio file. THE this is called rendering. It's in the file menu. The hotkey is control alt r. It is a process that consumes a lot of machine resources, and can be done offline, that is, the as possible, or online, that is, letting the project play in real time until the end, while the process takes place. Despite being an intuitive process, there are some less obvious but very interesting things: The final product is saved in a separate audio file, and the audios can be preserved of each lane, without any treatment. The render cue, where we place projects un-rendered, or render projects that are too long.We can also choose whether to render from the master track, which is the default behavior, or from selected tracks. We also have the option to render only a selected part, for example, to show a snippet of work to someone. Another way to render is to consolidate the project, it gives you a few more options, but basically do the same. The difference is that, while we render, the master will contain all the effects, for example, the reverbs and echoes. When consolidating, we are simply saving all or sections of the audios originals. Within this process, we also have the possibility to render the audio in stems. By stem, it is understood an individual track of the project, but already processed. 10.1: Tips: In the act of rendering: Let's imagine we have an extensive reverb at the end of it. For him not to be suddenly cut, when we render the project, it is best to increase the number of milliseconds of the tail or tail of the reverb. To render a part and not the whole project, just create a selection, and then, when rendering, in the bounce options, choose time selection, and only that part will be rendered. In the render cue, we add multiple projects and render them all at the same time, or one of each turn. In rendering, we can save this individually, choosing in the bounce options, the type of rendering we want. 10.2: Wildcards: It is possible to render using so-called wildcards, or custom code labels that we can include it in the name of the rendered audio files. If we have a project with many tracks and we need to name them all in a very specific, wildcards allow you to automate the process, and all tracks are named in a organized way. For example, let's suppose that we need to include in the name of the rendered file the number of the track, its name, the name of the project, the name of the author of the project and the creation date. Just press the Wildcards button in the render dialog, and a context menu opens where we can choose the desired attributes in order. Finding the attribute we want in the list, just press enter, and the wildcard is added to the name of the file or files to be rendered. These attributes are listed in the menu, and there are also a help option to know what each of these attributes refers to, whose name is always preceded by the dollar sign, (shift+4) After choosing the attributes and adding them in the respective order, pressing the button Render, just wait, and all files are named in a personalized and organized way. This way of naming works with tracks, items and takes and is extremely customizable. 10.3: Render in multiple formats at once: There are situations where we are asked to submit our work in more than one format, or it is convenient to save in more than one format. In this case, when we render,there is a menu called Output Formats where we have a separator for a first format, and a separator to a second rendering format. This allows, for example, to render simultaneously in the wav and mp3 formats, with the desired quality, which eliminates routine operations and saves time! 11: Re-console: Reaconsole is a built-in command line for Reaper functions, which exists thanks to the extension previously installed SWS. With this powerful feature we can select tracks, assign them names, change the channel of input each track, insert effects, etc. It is not possible to use this feature to work with items; just clues. It is also not possible to read volume or status of a track or item. But what interests us is what we can do with this incredible resource that will help to save production time. Enable reconsole: alt c. If the sws extension is correctly installed, let's hear: reaconsole enter a command. At the end of each command, we hit enter. If we want to discard the reaconsole, we give control enter, or, after giving a command and doing enter, we give escape. For example, we have a project with 3 lanes. Track 1 for drums, track 2 for bass, and track 3 for keys, and we want to name these clues. We open the reaconsole and type n, 1, space, down, enter n, 2, space, battery, enter. n, 3, space, keys, control enter. You can also add prefixes and suffixes to track names. For example, from track 10 to track 20, it's the vocalists, but we only have the names. so we open reconsole it and write: b, 10, ifen, 20, space, vocalist, control enter. This will add the vocalist prefix to the selected tracks. To add a suffix, the command is the same, the difference is that you write z instead of b. We can also change the input channel, selecting the desired track, opening the console and just typing i, and the desired channel number. For example, we have track 4 selected, and we want it to record from channel 3: just put the cursor over track 4, alt c to open the console, and type i, 3, control enter. It is also possible to do this on several tracks at the same time, by selecting them with the cursor, opening the console, typing i, and the desired channel number. Or even faster, you don't even need to select the tracks with the cursor, just place it at the beginning of the selection, open the console, and type i, dash, and the desired channel number. About contiguous and non-contiguous lane selection will be discussed later in this manual. Now, let's suppose we want track 6 to be stereo. We select with the cursor, open the console, and type i, 6, s, control enter. In the same way, if we have, for example, from track 6 to track 10 keyboard sounds and we want all are sterio, we select clue 6 and do: i, 6, dash, 10, s, control enter. Magically, all these tracks are in stereo!If we want to set these tracks to midi, we use the suffix m. Example: i, 6, dash, 10, m, control enter. Here, the i represents input or input. If we type, for example: i, 4, space, 4, control enter, in this case the i followed immediately by the number and space, says respect to the track and not to the channel. If we type, for example: i, 4, space, 5, we make track 4 receive the signal on channel 5. To solo, the command is ó, to mute, the command is m, to arm, the command is a. As they are all toggle commands, to invert in the reaconsole we put the minus sign before the command. For example, we want to solo track 5, we type: oh, 5, control enter. To desolate, we type: minus sign, o, 5, control enter. Now let's imagine that we have a project with 30 tracks and the name of the tracks we want to solo are all guitars, no need to solo one at a time, just type: oh g asterisk control enter. All tracks starting with the letter g are soloed. The same happens with the mute command for example. Here, the asterisk represents all characters after the initial. If we still want to be more specific, we can type: oh gui, asterisk, control enter Here, the secret is to know what the clues are called, and this is a huge time saver for production. If we want to select, we use the s command. To change the volume of a track, the command is v, followed by the number of positive decibels or negatives to change. The same happens with the pan, with the center being represented by 0, left and right are represented respectively by 100 positive or negative. Capital V is the absolute volume; small v is the relative value. The same goes for the pan. To add effects, the command is x. For example: x, 10, space, gate, control enter, add a gate to track 10. This doesn't always work if we don't know the name of the effect we want to add. We can also use the s or ifen selection commands. And with that, we finish Reaconsole's approach.12: Volume management: One of the most important things is being able to read the volume of what we are listening to or to record. This is because, in most cases, we are not working with just one sound, but we are mixing various sounds from various tracks, as we also EQ, we compress and insert other effects that will influence the intensity of the sound, and, for consequently, the volume level. 12.1: Peak Watcher: Peak Watcher is a tool made available within the scope of Osara. From some versions to this part, there are 2 peak watchers. When configured, allow monitor audio volume peaks on individual tracks or the master track. The idea of ​​this division in 2 is to choose each of the peak watchers to monitor individually tracks or channels of the respective tracks. An interesting idea will be to configure one of the peak watchers to monitor only the track master,while the other can monitor successive tracks. To open the peak watchers window, press alt+w. A context menu appears to choose if we want to use the first or second peak watcher. The first box allows us to keep the track we are monitoring selected, even if the cursor don't be on that track. If checked, peak watcher will monitor the volume of the track under the cursor. if is unchecked, continues to monitor the lane it is on, regardless of whether the cursor is or is not on that track. By giving tabb, a box appears to select the type of level we want, if it is the peak, the lufs, the rms, etc. Continuing to explore the window, we can choose to monitor by channels, we can ask that the peak watcher notify when volume reaches certain level, keep or not this information, and reset to peak watcher. 12.2: Automatically notify: This option alerts you when the volume exceeds a certain level. Here we can choose the level at which we want to be alerted by ticking the respective boxes. The idea is to be able to prevent the final audio from going beyond 0 db, or any other value. The next option, hold peaks until, causes the peak watcher to record the maximum peak assigned by individual track. 12.3: Using peak watcher: This tool allows you to monitor the audio input level before and during recording, and during mixture. In the latest versions, the possibility to read the gain reduction or gain has been added reduction. We will describe this functionality below.12.4: Monitor level before recording: After setting up the track and activating the monitor, we play or sing as if we were in the middle of recording. When finished, we do: To read channel 1 level from the first peak watcher: alt+f11. To read the channel 2 level of the first peak watcher: Alt+f12. To read channel 1 level from the second peak watcher: alt+shift+f11. To read channel 2 level from the second peak watcher: alt+shift+f12. To reset the level of the first peak watcher: alt+f10. To reset the level of the second peak watcher: alt+shift+f10. 12.5: During mixing and playback: To read channel 1 level from the first peak watcher: alt+f11. To read the channel 2 level of the first peak watcher: Alt+f12. To read channel 1 level from the second peak watcher: alt+shift+f11. To read channel 2 level from the second peak watcher: alt+shift+f12. To reset the level of the first peak watcher: alt+f10. To reset the level of the second peak watcher: alt+shift+f10. The master track is the track that reflects the ensemble level of all the audio to be played in the project. Logically, if the peak watcher detects that the volume of the master track is too high, we will check by clue where the problem is and make the necessary corrections, or else, if necessary, download the master track. 12.5.1: Gain Reduction or gain reduction: This peak watcher function is useful when using a compressor,for example. The peak watcher will read the absolute value of the audio after compression, according to the compressor setting. To be able to read this value with the peak watcher, we have to do the following: Step 1: After adding the compressor, locate it in the effects list. Step 2: With the cursor in this exact location, we open the peak watcher with alt+w and enter. If when we gave tabb, before we appeared a box combined with the type of reading we wanted do now, this combo box only displays the item referring to gain reduction. then, at use the peak watcher to read the volume level, we will get the volume that reflects the performance of the compressor. It should be noted that some plugins do not support this integration with peak watcher. It's something that is always in development. 12.6: Monitor in real time: As the sound enters, we press j or k to read the audio level individually on each of the channels. With shift j and shift k, we read the same data, but relative to the master track.12.7: Read the rendered project level: For this, we have 2 methods: Using the Render dialog: Uncheck the box that says something like "automatically close when finished", and use the review according to the screen reader, to read the volume level. The values ​​presented represent the peak volume throughout the entire audio, being of one value for just one channel, or multiple values, depending on the number of channels, one value for each individual channel. 12.8: Using peak watcher after rendering: With the peak watcher configured to record the maximum peak, before rendering, let's reset the peak watcher for the master track, which is the one that serves as the basis for the rendering process. After rendering, let's check the volume; it is not possible to do otherwise. 12.9: Normalize: We can normalize the audio in 3 ways: The first method is in relation to the maximum peak, that is, everything below the peak is brought to 0 db in case 0 db is the intended final value. Obviously, there should not be sound above 0 db, even if apparently it is not distorted, because if not, it jams the audio and degrades its quality. The second method is in relation to the RMS value, or the average audio level over the entire sound. As the sound varies over a period of time, RMS gives us the average of the loudest value during this time and adjust the value. The third is one that has been in use a lot lately, called LUFS. It is equivalent to RMS, but in relation to the volume perceived by the human ear, not so much what the graph itself shows. To normalize the item or the audio track, we shift u. Audio analysis is done with control shift u to find the level in lufs, and control+shift+k to know the level in rms. Go to the highest peak and report the value: control k. 13: Costum Actions or custom actions: Each Reaper action can be assigned a hotkey.This is excellent news for the blind users. Even better, is the fact that, already standardized in the program, come more than 6000 of these actions. The Osara and SWS extensions further expand the range of possible individual actions. But what if it were possible to create lists of actions that could be assigned a single shortcut key? In short, does Reaper allow you to create macros with automated operations in just one key combination? Of course yes! With f4, we enter the huge list of actions that are already standardized. First, an edit field appears, where we can do our search. Giving a few tabs, the list of actions itself appears, preceded by the shortcut key corresponding, if the action has a key assigned. Pressing enter on the action executes it and we return to the project. About the stock list, giving escape, we exit the menu. 13.1: Manage shortcut keys: To assign a shortcut key to an action that has none, simply locate that action in the list, and give 2 tabs to add. Then we press the key combination we want and again tab until ok. In this menu we also find a delete button to delete any key assignment of shortcut. If there is already an action with a certain key assigned, the program alerts if we want to change. If not, everything is discarded; if yes, the previous hotkey is replaced by the most recent one. In this menu there are also 2 new buttons. One is to create a new macro or set of actions; the other is to create a file where we can store our created shortcut keys, and import them into Reaper installed on another machine, which is really handy! 13.2: Create action macros: We can associate multiple actions with a single hotkey, especially if they are very repetitive and routine, or involve many operations. For example, we can create an action to configure a volume envelope. This involves: make the volume envelope visible; arm the volume envelope; open the volume envelope editor to set the values. These actions are defined individually in the list. We can group them into a single macro, and press, instead of 3 or 4, just one hotkey. In the first new button we write the name of the action. By tabbing, we find a box that allows us not to add this action to the undo history or redo. One more tab, and we arrive at the search filter where we type the exact or approximate name of the action that already exists in the list. When it appears, we left click according to the screen reader, and the action is added to the macro. One more tab, and another list appears, precisely the list of actions that we have already added to the macro. We also add as many actions as needed. Then, just assign a shortcut key, save, and it's ready to use. Caution: Sometimes shortcut keys associated with an action that are already programmed, Do not work.To solve the problem, the easiest is, if we don't have it installed in the US English languages, install it. For other tasks and programs we use keyboard language Portuguese. For Reaper, we switched to US English keyboard. This exchange is very simple; just press alt shift. 14: Basic automation: Automation in Reaper is done, among other features, on the basis of envelopes. The envelope is a sort of automatic command concerning an effect, volume, compression, etc. Here let's deal with the most obvious, the volume envelope. After creating the track and inserting the audio, or recording, we proceed like this: Alt control v to make the volume envelope visible. Control l: arm the volume control; select the envelope in the clue or item. Control shift l: Move to the previous envelope in the track or item. Insert point at current position: shift is. Edit envelope values ​​under cursor: alt shift is. If there is no defined point, alt shift is also automatically inserted. Move between the envelope points: alt k and alt j, left and right. Move to a point leaving the others selected: shift control j and shift control k. The pan and volume envelopes are already standardized, and are visible, respectively with alt control v and alt control p. To make envelopes from other effects visible, we do the following: Step 1: We create a track. Step 2: We insert an effect on this track. Step 3: In that effect window, we tab to the param button and hit enter. Step 4: Use the arrow below until the effect parameters submenu; then we hit enter. Step 5: In the list of options, choose show track envelopes and press enter. Step 6: All the parameters of the effect inserted in the track will appear, which we can add to the respective envelope. This is how it works for all effects except volume and pan. 14.1: Example: We have voice and music in a project, and we want that when the voice starts, the music downloads 15 db so that the voice is perceptible, and it goes back up to the initial value at the end of the voice, as it used to on the side chain. Then: Step 1: With the focus on the desired track, in this case the music, we do control alt v to make it visible the volume envelope on that track. Step 2: Control l to arm the envelope. Step 3: If necessary, move the cursor to the point where you want to start decreasing the volume. If not, alt shift is to enter the first point from which the volume will drop. Step4: We move the cursor to the beginning of the voice, and do Alt shift is again, to insert the point at which we set the level to lower; in this case, 15 db. Step 5: We move the cursor to the end of the voice, and do alt shift it once more, to set the point where the volume will start to return to normal. Step 6: We shift the cursor a little further, and do alt shift is one last time, and finally we set the volume value, making it go up 15 db. 15: Snapshots:Here's another very interesting feature. Snapshots are records that the program keeps in order to be able to compare different mixes different for the same project. As we work on the project, we can save several versions or mixes, without being I need to render these mixes. Then, among them, we can choose the one we like the most. IT IS a SWS functionality that greatly increases productivity with Reaper. It's in the extensions, snapshots menu. If we enter there, we can manage, create new ones, delete, in short; it's the which is even more interesting, with the up and down arrows, choose the snapshot we want while we are listening to the work. Pressing enter on this snapshot, we immediately hear the mix as it is stored in that register. 16: Useful commands: Insert audio file: control+i Enable or disable crossfades: alt+shift+x SwsPadre envelope processor: key is Change project time: alt+ifen to decrease, alt plus equals sign to increase. Report lane automation mode: control+shift+l. Change track automation mode: Control+shift+vertical bar. Select the closest folder above: alt+page up. Select the closest folder below: alt+page down. Decrease master track volume: Shift+f11. Increase master track volume: Shift+f12. Mute master track: Shift+f5. Solo the master track: Shift+f6. Disarm all lanes: Alt+f7. Disable monitoring on all tracks: alt+f8. Start and end checkmarks is as described above, but can also be alt shift and the start and end mark keys. Collapse or expand selection by tags: control apostrophe or control double quotes for tag from the beginning; alt apostrophe or alt double quotes for the end tag. Shift the time selection itself: control alt double quotes or control alt apostrophe, either towards the end or towards the beginning. All this is directly influenced by the zoom settings. It is also possible to move between marks using the numbers on the upper keyboard. Fade out from one point to the end: control alt ó. Fade in from one point to the cursor: control alt i. Show and hide the master track: control alt m. Toggle metronome on and off: control shift m. Metronome settings: alt shift m. unmute all clues: alt+ f5. Desolate all clues: alt+f6. Announce muted tracks: control shift f5. Announce solo tracks: control shift f6. Disarm all clues: alt+f7. Announce armed tracks: control shift f7. Disable tracking on all lanes: alt+f8. Reset the phase of all tracks: Alt+f9. Lock and unlock the track for no further changes: l. Open menu with basic track parameters: control shift p. Exploring this menu: tab and arrows: it's easy to understand. The values ​​to be adjusted in this dialog are defined in preferences, appearance, track control panels, volume/pan fader range.So we have more control in this menu. In addition to working on the selected track, with an item selected, we can use the same dialog to set the item parameters. This can be useful if we want to pan an instrument during the song. Just select that part in a separate item, and control shift p to access the parameters. Set loop start: alt shift apostrophe. Set end of loop: alt shift double quotes. Name an item: select it and shift f2. Increase or decrease the volume of an item: control+shift up arrow, and control+shift down arrow. Increase or decrease the volume of a take: control+up arrow, control+down arrow. Add item according to selection: shift s. Link all items into one: alt control a to select all, and control u to link all. Add effect to an item: control f. Insert automation item: control shift i. Deselect all: shift escape. Normalize audio of an item or track: control shift n. Go to beginning of musical tempo: alt home. Enter undo history: control alt z. Choose the desired one: enter. Make sure we are at the beginning of the project: control shift j. Move quickly to a certain measure: control j, and write the number of the compass or bar. Insert envelope or timestamp: Shift+c Delete all envelopes or timestamps: Alt+Windows+del. 17: Some interesting operations: In this section of the manual, we describe a list of operations that the program does not perform natively, but that result from obvious features of it, or the plugin we are using, and they are the result of a certain creativity that we can employ in our work. 17.1: View the size of the selected snippet in the format intended: If, when pressing control shift space to see the size of the selected snippet, the result is presented in terms of rhythms and measures, and we intend in terms of time, we have to go to the teamruler settings: This is done by going to the view menu, up arrow to time unit for ruller submenu. There we define how the Reaper will present us with the values. 17.2: Delete time data from selection: When, for example, we select a snippet and delete it, it is deleted, but the data from selection time stay there. THE WAY TO REMOVE THEM IS TO PRESS THE KEY ESCAPE, AND IT GIVES THE CORRESPONDING INDICATION. 17.3: Add tags during recording/playback: During playback, or even during recording, it is possible to add tags while play or record, with the letter m.17.4: Save a preset to an effect: After adjusting the parameters as desired, in the effect window: Step 1: Look for a button labeled with the plus sign. Step 2: Enter there with the left click jaws cursor or NVDA enter of the numeric block. The edit box will appear to write the name we want to give the preset. Step 3: With tab, look for the save preset button. To locate the preset,before adding the effect, properties key, and arrows until you find the preset, and enter. 17.5: Add effect to an item: Item properties, take fx button: You can also use the shortcut key alt é, selecting the item in question. 17.6: Pre-reverb an item: Step 1: Detach the item in question to a new track. move to