Fresh Start: REAPER 6 Settings - Part 1

In this video we're going through what I would change from REAPER's default settings if I was starting fresh with REAPER. These are most of what I would change from the default settings and would be suitable for any new user to ease the operation and learning process.

00:00 - Intro
00:24 - Sponsor
01:26 - Fresh start
01:39 - Temp folder
02:03 - A note about darkmode on Mac
02:28 - resize mixer
02:40 - Show multiple rows in the mixer
03:38 - Dock transport at top of main window
03:54 - center transport controls
04:22 - General: Undo and startup settings
05:15 - General: Paths
06:28 - General: Keyboard/Multitouch
07:09 - Preferences: Project
07:41 - Project: Backups
08:31 - Project: Track/Send Defaults
09:49 - Media Item Defaults
11:03 - Preferences: Audio
12:03 - Audio: Device
12:19 - Audio: Playback
12:41 - Audio: Recording
15:17 - Audio: Loop recording
16:06 - Audio: Rendering
16:35 - Preferences: Appearance
16:57 - Appearance: Media
18:04 - Editing Behavior
18:41 - Envelope Display
18:54 - Editing Behavior: Mouse
19:24 - Mouse Modifiers
22:04 - Preferences: Media
22:33 - Media: MIDI
23:17 - Media: Video
23:35 - Plugins: VST
24:15 - Project Settings
25:05 - Info bar
25:31 - Main toolbar
26:08 - Default 6 theme adjuster: global colors
27:11 - Theme Adjuster: TCP
28:52 - Action List: Zoom with mouse
30:17 - Action List: Scroll with mouse
31:22 - Theme Tweaks
33:24 - solid grid lines

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[tommyzai]

I think I've reinstalled Reaper 20+ times and used this video each and every time. Thank you.

[coronaphone]

This really helps, i'm an audio designer and this takes me to the next step for the last finishing touch.

Thanks

[lbird]

20:24 is the best tip I've come across among all the Reaper vids I've watched thus far.

[iyhgtyea]

if this guy and kenny got in the same room together the weight of combined reaper knowledge would rip a hole in the spacetime continuum

[veronicaaragon]

GOD BLESS you. THis is everything I've ever wanted/needed from the reaper community

[nick]

I watched, I paused, I rewound and I altered. Thanks for the tips, awesome!

[IAmChrisR]

The two settings I'd add that I think every user should really look to incorporate are:

1. Editing Behavior -> MIDI Editor -> A) "One MIDI Editor: Per Project", B) "open all MIDI on Same Track." I was surprised not to see that on the list. The per item default is insane IMO.
2. Mouse Modifiers -> Arrange View -> Middle Drag - set this to Hand Scroll. Use Shift to Jog Audio. Way faster to navigate projects with middle drag and not having to worry about a modifier.

I'd also suggest people think long and hard about:

3. Project -> Track/Send Defaults -> Record Config -> "Preserve PDC on Recorded Items." Super important! If you want what you heard out of your speakers while you were recording to be what's played back, then enable this. If you want what you physically played (without the PDC), to be what's played back, keep this off. The former is what your ears heard, the latter/default is what your fingers did. Some people will prefer one over the other, but I feel like that's an important one for every user to know.

[leopoldbluesky]

I've been using Reaper solidly since 2007 and I learned a lot from this video. Thanks Jon!

[Chris-zcbp]

Thank you for this! This is so helpful and I return to it time and time again. A must watch for new and not so new Reaper users,

[mz]

I think tuning reaper is a never ending journey ! From time to time I found a feature I want and find a path for it, what I like more is the fact that it grow with your needs, habits and new jobs! No other daw can match that feeling of accomodations of your needs

[Grinderhouse]

Great video! To add a new track you can also just double click in the empty track panel space. Super handy and quick. Cheers!

[ItsDrewsif]

Been using reaper for something like 14 years and still got a lot of value out of this video, thank you!

[weaktearecords]

I'm glad for my pause button! So much useful information, I have to watch it again and take notes. Thank you very much for your videos!

[pedrofplays]

This video have been so helpful for me. I've taken all of the steps you said. It looks much better now.

Thanks for sharing this with YouTube audio community!

[kelvinfunkner]

just switching our entire facility over to Reaper from Pro Tools and this was a lifesaver for me! Especially the mouse wheel settings section...thanks so much!

[unclespooky]

always good every so often to clean house and start fresh. You never know what a new workflow might achieve. thanks for sharing the knowledge

[ProgressiveSoundAudio]

That envelope segment mouse modifier is amazing. Great tip thats saved me loads of time. Thanks Jon.

[lunanimomusic]

Wow that mouse modifier that lets you adjust the envelopes just within a time selection is amazing. I almost cried thinking about how many years I must’ve wasted by adding those points manually.

[simonw.]

Hi - I'm migrating to Reaper from Cubase and was feeling overwhelmed by the number of config options. Thank you so much for making this video, which has really helped me to understand not just how to set up Reaper but also its extensive capabilities. Brilliant!!!

[philipppaulk]

Thank you! These tweaks made Reaper much more responsive.