[Rwp] Overdub record on MIDI tracks

[Bryan Smart]

Hi, everyone. I'm new to the list. Been using Reaper for a while, but just now trying to get serious about using it for sequencing.

A common way I build up some parts, including drum patterns, in other sequencers is by overdubbing. As a simple example, I might play kick and snare on the first pass, hats on the next, and toms/crashes on the last. If the part I'm playing is particularly challenging, I might play it in multiple passes. All of these performances are intended to end up on the same track, triggering the same virtual instrument. It isn't useful to create separate tracks. In fact, I might use separate tracks, in some situations, but I'm using the above example to describe what I'm trying to accomplish, not how I'll always work.

This is what I've done so far:

I setup a virtual instrument on a track, set a loop, and turned on repeat mode.

I could successfully record to the track, but, each time I recorded a new take, the old take was replaced. I couldn't overdub.

Next, I changed Options, new recording that overlaps existing media items, and set it to creates new media items in separate layers.

Now, each time I record, I add to what was previously recorded to the track. However, while recording, I don't hear any of the previous takes. This is a problem. I need to hear previous material in order to perform a good overdub.

I think that the setting I changed creates a new take each time I record, and I've looked for a setting that affects the playback of previous takes during recording, but can't find it.

Is this how I should work? Won't I need to bounce all of my overdubbed takes to a single take when I'm finished building up the part? Can I, perhaps, have Reaper just merge my new performance with the existing take?

Thank you.

Bryan