[RWP] introduction and a question?

Sat Mar 17 14:05:19 EDT 2012

Hi Colin,
does it work on a win 7 64 bit system? And how do I go for render the 
midi to audio using your synth?
Thanks a lot,
best regards,
Gianluca
SkypeID: gianluca8815

Il 17/03/2012 18:51, colin McDonald ha scritto:
> as far as midi stuff goes, I've been using a yamaha midi synth that 
> sounds pretty good compared to the MS wavetable garbage.
> I don't use any external midi stuff here yet, IE synths or keyboards 
> etc...but when I want to listen to or edit existing Midi's I find the 
> yamaha synth is good.
> I can send it somewhere if anyone wants to try it as an alternative to 
> wavetable.
>
> Regards
> Colin
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "indigo" <33indigo at charter.net>
> To: "Reapers Without Peepers" <rwp at reaaccess.com>
> Sent: Saturday, March 17, 2012 7:22 AM
> Subject: Re: [RWP] introduction and a question?
>
>
>> Hi Gianluca,
>> I can help with download links to freeware VST synths and effects.
>> There are many good ones that you can at least access presets on, 
>> providing very good sounds for any kind of music.
>> A while back I tried to find a multitembral 16 channel GM synth, and 
>> couldn't find any that sound much better than setting sends from your 
>> midi tracks to the Microsoft WaveTable Synth, or your onboard 
>> RealTech synth.
>> Sonar's TTS synth runs in Reaper, but you need to have Sonar to get 
>> it, and it doesn't sound much better than the onboard computer synths.
>> If you want better sound from midi tracks, you need to insert a track 
>> with a VST synth; then; in Reaper's IO dialog; create a send from 
>> each midi track pointed to its own VST synth's track.
>> With a reasonably powerful computer you can insert the same VST synth 
>> many times, or different VST synths; 1 instance per midi file and 
>> midi channel.
>> I'm also inserting an empty track, so I can get an audio file 
>> recorded from all synths that are being driven from midi files.
>> You get your audio file immediately, no need to convert midi to audio 
>> in an extra step.
>> You just select the empty track, press I for the IO dialog; then set 
>> returns from all VST synth tracks pointed to that empty audio track.
>> You also set a send from that audio track to your soundcard.
>> Then exit IO Dialog with escape.
>> In track view select the audio track, then  tab to midi channel and 
>> set it to all, record mode and set it to input, and turn record armed 
>> on; and set midi output none.
>> Press enter to save those settings.
>> Then, here's a step I found works for me, maybe you don't need it.
>> Press ctrl+up arrow; then press the Applications key to get a more 
>> complete track properties menu.
>> Arrow down and record mode input will be checked, but continue 
>> arrowing down and press enter on Input Stereo.
>> Otherwise, I ended up with  a mono recording on my audio track.
>> The midi tracks are feeding the VST synths, the VST synths are 
>> feeding that single audio track; and that audio track is feeding your 
>> sound card.
>> When you press R everythings ends up recorded on 1 audio track, and 
>> you just save that track, no rendering required if you set your 
>> project settings to record mp3, wav, flack, whatever you want your 
>> audio file to be when saved.
>> Indigo L
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On 3/17/2012 4:32 AM, Gianluca Apollaro wrote:
>>> Hi Indigo and list,
>>> I always render files as flac via the regular render dialog accessed
>>> using alt+ctrl+r and never had problems with them, and all the mp3 I
>>> created played just fine. I work mostly with audio though, because with
>>> midi I can't manage to convert them to audio cause I don't have any 
>>> good
>>> sounding vst and as far as I know you can't convert midi to audio using
>>> the midi output thing. Btw if anybody wants to add me, my skype id is
>>> gianluca8815.
>>> Best regards,
>>> Gianluca from Italy
>>>
>>>
>>> Il 17/03/2012 03:28, indigo ha scritto:
>>>> Scott, please don't switch to any of my work flows, which don't flow
>>>> very well yet!
>>>> I'm just a beginner, discovering as I go, no users guide yet for
>>>> Reaper with ReaAccess.
>>>> I keep notes on whatever I find, and on whatever anyone else says, and
>>>> I'm hoping for a Wikki style users guide, so others can do edits and
>>>> simplify my over complicated methods. smile.
>>>> I did try rendering into several formats; like I thought I'd reduce
>>>> the 80 meg .wav file by half by rendering to flack, but Reaper has
>>>> some peculiar ways of doing things, as you know.
>>>> To get a .flack file and not just a .flk.rpp file, which won't play in
>>>> anyone's Winamp, I had to choose render custom, instead of render
>>>> entire project.
>>>> But, the end time for the custom setting seems to stop at a loop point
>>>> in the midi file I was using, so my flack render suddenly cut off
>>>> before the actual end of project.
>>>> I had measures, beats selected in my project settings, but in the
>>>> render dialog I only got the project length displayed in minutes 
>>>> seconds.
>>>> So, I'd need to look at the minutes/seconds end time of the rendering
>>>> of the entire project, jot down that figure;then render custom and
>>>> type in the project lentth in minutes/seconds; then I assume I would
>>>> have got the whole track into flack
>>>> I'm hoping there easier ways to do these things I haven't 
>>>> discovered yet.
>>>> I don't really understand why ; if I set my Project settings to
>>>> measures, beats,why isn't that setting reflected in all Reaper 
>>>> dialogs?
>>>> Also, other peculiar things, when I tried to render to MP3, Reaper
>>>> went through the process, and produced a .mp3 file, which wouldn't
>>>> play in Winamp.
>>>> I tried again, and Reaper announced that it needed to download lame 
>>>> mp3.
>>>>
>>>> Since My daw is off line, so I can't download anything from the web.
>>>> I copied Winamp's mp3plug into Reaper's program files/plugs folder,
>>>> hoping those would suffice; but Reaper still said it needed to
>>>> download that lame mp3.
>>>> While I was in the program file/plugs folder in Reaper, I noticed
>>>> there's already a plug in there named Reaper Mp3.
>>>> Well, Reaper refused to recognize Winamp's mp3 plug, so today I
>>>> downloaded the latest lame MP3, with this computer; hoping I can stick
>>>> into a Reaper folder somewhere and it'll be happy; and will do renders
>>>> to mp3 that actually play.
>>>> The .ogg files play fine in Winamp, but when I did a recording in the
>>>> compressed lossless .wv foremat, Winamp couldn't play it.
>>>>
>>>> Thanks for any clues,
>>>> Indigo L
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On 3/16/2012 8:33 PM, Scott Chesworth wrote:
>>>>> Wow, how weird that those two versions would sound different. I
>>>>> would've thought that they'd both be shoved through the same OGG
>>>>> encoder with both methods, and that that'd be the stage where the 
>>>>> most
>>>>> butchering gets done. Don't worry, I'm not expecting you to know the
>>>>> answer as to why it sounds different and I certainly won't be the guy
>>>>> to question your ability to hear the difference, just musing on the
>>>>> strange and interesting times we live in.
>>>>>
>>>>> If you get a chance and you're half as curious as I am about this,
>>>>> maybe try recording that audio version of the MIDI file down in 24bit
>>>>> wav, then try rendering a version with the exact same settings and 
>>>>> see
>>>>> if you can hear the difference. If you can, even when it's not set to
>>>>> spit out a file in a lossy format and no dithering is taking place,
>>>>> I'll definitely be switching to your workflow.
>>>>>
>>>>> Scott
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On 3/17/12, indigo<33indigo at charter.net> wrote:
>>>>>> Well, Scott, I'm sure it's not easier or quicker, but I was told 
>>>>>> that
>>>>>> there are losses during rendering down, while there are no losses if
>>>>>> you
>>>>>> simply record in the format that you want to begin with.
>>>>>> I'm just experimenting to learn what works best.
>>>>>> I'm fairly sure that there are unavoidable math compromises made 
>>>>>> during
>>>>>> rendering down to a lower bit rate format.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I recorded an audio track from midi files at 24 bits 44.1K that 
>>>>>> turned
>>>>>> out 86 megs, I think it was, kind of large to post anywhere.
>>>>>> I tried rendering it to 16 bit ogg, and other foremats, and I 
>>>>>> certainly
>>>>>> could hear the losses.
>>>>>> So, instead, I just changed the Project recording format to 16 
>>>>>> bit ogg,
>>>>>> recorded a new audio track, and saved it, no rendering, no dithering
>>>>>> required, and it's 5 megs or so in .ogg, not as clear as the .wav
>>>>>> version, but much clearer than when I rendered down from .wav to 
>>>>>> .ogg.
>>>>>> Indigo L
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On 3/16/2012 5:38 PM, Scott Chesworth wrote:
>>>>>>> Hi chaps,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Forgive me, but I don't see how this is any simpler/quicker than
>>>>>>> rendering down to a file, particularly as rendering is done quicker
>>>>>>> than in realtime. What am I missing?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Scott
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On 3/16/12, indigo<33indigo at charter.net> wrote:
>>>>>>>> Well, here's the way I'm working in Reaper right now.
>>>>>>>> Instead of rendering, you can insert an empty track.
>>>>>>>> Arrow to the empty track to select it, hit the I key to go to IO
>>>>>>>> routing, tab to add returns.
>>>>>>>> Arrow down to the bottom selection, add returns from all tracks.
>>>>>>>> This will cause all the tracks you've already recorded to send 
>>>>>>>> their
>>>>>>>> output to your blank track.
>>>>>>>> I believe you will need to add a send from your empty audio 
>>>>>>>> track to
>>>>>>>> your sound card, so you can hear it during recording and playback.
>>>>>>>> There is no okay button in IO routing, just hit escape to 
>>>>>>>> return to
>>>>>>>> track view.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> With the empty track selected, tab through its track properties.
>>>>>>>> Select all channels if your already recorded tracks are on several
>>>>>>>> midi
>>>>>>>> channels.
>>>>>>>> Select record mode as input, record arm on.
>>>>>>>> Hit enter to save your settings.
>>>>>>>> Now here's something I found works to make sure you get a stereo
>>>>>>>> recording, if your already recorded tracks are in stereo.
>>>>>>>> Select the empty track.
>>>>>>>> ctrl+up arrow, then press applications key.
>>>>>>>> You will get another menu with more detailed properties for your
>>>>>>>> empty
>>>>>>>> track.
>>>>>>>> Arrow down and you will find record mode input already checked.
>>>>>>>> Arrow farther down and you'll find a selection called Input 
>>>>>>>> Stereo.
>>>>>>>> Hit enter on it, then hit enter on okay, and you'll be sure to
>>>>>>>> record a
>>>>>>>> stereo audio track in the empty track.
>>>>>>>> You may not need this extra step, so, if you don't, ignore it, 
>>>>>>>> but I
>>>>>>>> ended up with a mono track without this step.
>>>>>>>> Here's how to record your empty audio track in several different
>>>>>>>> media
>>>>>>>> formats, so you don't need to render in Reaper's file menu.
>>>>>>>> Press alt+enter for Project settings.
>>>>>>>> Get on the Audio settings tab.
>>>>>>>> Arrow down to the format you intend to use for recording.
>>>>>>>> Select whatever format you want your empty track to record in, 
>>>>>>>> .wav,
>>>>>>>> flack, whatever, though I found mp3 doesn't work until you go
>>>>>>>> online to
>>>>>>>> import lame MP3 into Reaper.
>>>>>>>> Select your bit rate, etcetera, then hit okay; and you are
>>>>>>>> returned to
>>>>>>>> track view.
>>>>>>>> Select your empty audio track, press W to go to beginning of 
>>>>>>>> project,
>>>>>>>> press R to begin recording.
>>>>>>>> Hit spacebar, or press R again to stop recording.
>>>>>>>> Press ctrl+up arrow.
>>>>>>>> Press alt key and arrow down in the file menu to the selection: 
>>>>>>>> Save
>>>>>>>> Output to Disk Bounce.
>>>>>>>> Press enter and you get a very complete menu for saving your audio
>>>>>>>> track
>>>>>>>> in its selected format.
>>>>>>>> When you are sure your settings are correct; tab down to Start; 
>>>>>>>> Press
>>>>>>>> enter and saving begins.
>>>>>>>> Now, I'm not saying you may not find easier ways, I hope you 
>>>>>>>> do; but
>>>>>>>> these steps are intuitive enough, and are working for me.
>>>>>>>> As I understand Reaper better, I'm sure I'll find quicker methods,
>>>>>>>> I'll
>>>>>>>> probably eliminate steps that aren't actually required in all
>>>>>>>> instances.
>>>>>>>> Don't let Reaper's complexity spook you.
>>>>>>>> You don't need all its thousands of selections to do simple
>>>>>>>> recording,
>>>>>>>> but they're waiting until you need them.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Indigo L
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> On 3/16/2012 12:01 PM, Joe Paton wrote:
>>>>>>>>> Hi,,
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Mine is beautiful right now, at least I can't hear any delay
>>>>>>>>> working 2
>>>>>>>>> guitar parts and 2 vocals four tracks. simple music, but still
>>>>>>>>> timing
>>>>>>>>> critical.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Great you guys, thanks indigo. I know i'll be back with more.
>>>>>>>>> so here's more.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Here's a quickie, can I save the four recorded tracks to say 1
>>>>>>>>> stereo
>>>>>>>>> tracks, I know I can render the four down to a saved file, and I
>>>>>>>>> guess I
>>>>>>>>> could do a media file import to bring the song back to a stereo
>>>>>>>>> track
>>>>>>>>> but that seems round the houses a little bit. How do you use 
>>>>>>>>> master
>>>>>>>>> tracks?
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> seems like a life times work this stuff, and I've had more than
>>>>>>>>> I've got
>>>>>>>>> left.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Thanks,
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Joe
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
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>>>>>>
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