Based on this video

Step 1: Check Audio Device Settings⌗

Before starting a new project, make sure your audio device settings are correct. To do this, go to REAPER’s Preferences (cmd + ,) and navigate to Audio -> Device -> Audio Device Settings. Ensure the correct audio device is selected, especially if you’re using external audio interfaces or microphones, as this can change when new devices are connected.

Step 2: Start a New Project⌗

To start a new project, select File -> New Project, or click the first button on the toolbar. Initially, nothing may seem to happen because you haven’t saved the project yet. To avoid this, you can set REAPER to prompt you to save every time you start a new project.

To enable this, go to Preferences -> Project -> Prompt to save on new project. When prompted, save your project in a dedicated folder. Be sure to check the boxes that say “Create subdirectory for project” and “Copy all media into project directory.”

After saving, you’ll see a folder containing your project’s .RPP file, which is the main project file for REAPER.

Step 3: Configure Project Settings⌗

To stay organized, create a folder within your project directory called “Audio” for your media files. Then, in REAPER’s Project Settings, make sure the option to “Copy media to project path” upon importing files is enabled. This ensures that any audio or media you bring into your project is copied into your project directory automatically.

Once your project settings are configured, you can save these as your default settings by selecting “Save as default project settings,” so you won’t need to repeat this process for every new project.

Step 4: Organize with a Peaks Subfolder⌗

To further organize your project files, especially when working with larger projects, you can direct REAPER to place peak files (waveform cache files) into a separate subfolder.

Go to Preferences -> Media and check the box for “Put new peak files in peaks/ subfolder relative to media.”

This step helps keep your project folder tidy, especially if you’re working with many audio files, ensuring that peaks are neatly stored in their own folder.