REAPER intro

What is REAPER?

REAPER is a digital audio workstation (DAW) built around flexibility. You can customize its shortcuts, menus, toolbars, and mouse behavior, but its defaults are enough to get started.

Main view

Show or hide the mixer with Cmd + M on macOS or Ctrl + M on Windows.

Track management

New track: Press Cmd/Ctrl + T, or double-click below the last track.
Delete a track: Select it and press Delete.

Tracks in REAPER

A track can hold audio, MIDI, video, or a mix of media types.
Any track can become a folder that contains other tracks.

Try this

Put two media types on one track. Then create a folder that contains several tracks.

Timeline customization

Right-click on your timeline to change its units.

You try

Find a few sounds on Freesound and drag them into REAPER. Watch the track names and the way items snap to the grid. Use the magnet button if snapping is off. Press Space to play or stop.

Working with items

REAPER calls clips media items, or simply items.
Drag an item to move it. Hold Shift while dragging to ignore snapping.
Hold Cmd on macOS or Ctrl on Windows while dragging to copy an item.
Drag an item’s left or right edge to trim it. Select several items to trim them together.

Looping and fades

Loop an item: Drag its right edge past the end of the source.
Add a fade: Drag the handle at an item’s top corner.
Crossfade: Overlap two items with auto-crossfade enabled, or select the items and a time range, then press X.
Press R to toggle repeat playback.

Fast item editing

Press S to split selected items at the edit cursor.
Press F2 to open item properties.
Hold Shift while moving an item to ignore snapping.
Right-click an item when you need the full set of editing commands.

Zoom and move around

Horizontal zoom: Mouse wheel, or - and +.
Vertical zoom: Cmd + wheel on macOS or Ctrl + wheel on Windows.
Horizontal scroll: Option + wheel on macOS or Alt + wheel on Windows.
Press W to jump to the project start. Press End to jump to the project end.

Track control panel (TCP)

The TCP gives you access to each track’s volume, mute, solo, pan, and other parameters.

Right-Click: Right-click the track to access a contextual menu with more options.

The mixer

Toggle the mixer with Cmd + M on macOS or Ctrl + M on Windows. Dock it in the main window or float it on another display.

Set the project tempo

Edit the BPM field on the right side of the transport. Click it repeatedly to tap a tempo.