Rob227 said:
I downloaded Reaper and checked it out. I don't see any easy way of creating drum tracks on it. Maybe I just need more time to figure it out. This is where I start getting confused, do I need some external software for that? I only want to use the interface is for guitar tracks. I was hoping to create the rest with software.
Nice audio clip. I tried out Sonar a few years ago but it was just too complicated for me to get into it. I need something more basic and intuitive to use.
You will always have to have some input and do some legwork. Best to learn something a bit more complicated because once you learn, you'll be able to do a lot more. There's a few basics you need to know so here's a start for you to learn:
Go to youtube and search
drums in Reaper Heaps of videos.
VST's....
Drums, bass, pianos, keys and heaps of other software instruments are also known VST instruments (virtual instruments). You install the VST's on your PC and then tell Reaper where to find them on your PC (ie. point to the applicable VST folder). Once Reaper knows where to look, start a track and place one VST instrument per Track, ie. Track 1 is for Drums, Track 2 for Bass, Track 3 for Keys, Track 4 for Piano.
However, the VST's don't magically compose a song for you! They are there in your tracks (if you use any VST) waiting for direction from you. You are the composer and you need to tell the VST what notes should be played. That's your role in all of this. Place notes in a MIDI track that's linked to the instrument track (in this case Drums). The notes you place in the MIDI track tells the Drums what part of the Drum
Kit to hit (snare, kick, cymbal, cow bell, etc). Once you get a basic 4/4 going for a measure or two, copy and paste this measure multiple times along your track. Instant drumming. You can also modify any measure with different drumming patterns (more notes or less notes or hit different parts of the kit) and copy this measure where you want along your track.
MIDI songs:
Also, you can download midi songs and midi drums (free). Google
free midi songs or
free midi drums. Heaps available and in different genres. Once you understand how midi tracks work, you can dissect a midi song and delete all the other instruments in that song and keep the drum patterns. Instant drumming for a whole song.
Some more:
Google
free VST drums for reaper. Here's one link that could be interesting: http://forum.vanderbilly.com/showthread.php?t=19343
Google
how to install vst in reaper also
vst folder for Reaper
Reaper is a great program and well worth learning a few things about it. I have used Reaper, it's still installed, but I don't use it now because I use Cakewalk X2, however, all good recording software works in a similar way.
Hope this helps you and gives you an insight into how powerful a good program like Reaper is. Don't give up because it's difficult, or takes time to learn, or doesn't give instant satisfaction. Once you learn the basics and you get better at 'drumming' and also learning to compose with other VST's, you wouldn't go any other way. Simple is good, but that's all it is and it only goes so far. Then what?
-B
