DAW/REAPER HELL or: How I Learned to Never Stop Worrying and Hate the Daw

[@SeanCortrightMusic]

Honestly as I run a home studio I do love seeing different people's studio/gear tours. My two go-to DAWs are Logic and Ardour.

[@QuestForGear]

I've never tried either - but I really should. Cheers!

[@tonal.states]

You can fix the things you mentioned, the audio saving dialog box literally has a checkbox to never show that again. If you want any setting to stick on new projects you can change _everything_ you want (almost literally) and save the project as default (also in project settings there's a button literally for that). Don't want the takes system that splits takes? use the new fixed lane one! Which also supports comping which imo it's incredible to work with, set and done, not really the daws fault if you chose it and can't come to terms on learning it. I've been using Reaper since v4 off and on, until 5 till today using the weekly developer versions I went all in and only once I had a weird automation thing like this one you mention in one single project jumping from OS to OS and yet I feel it's gotten better, you only said it's gotten worse and only mentioning one instance but not going into things that you can't fix just digging around in the forum or even asking; take one day to save a template or set your workflow as simple as you want it and just use it again and again. 99% of the times Reaper hasn't worked is because a plugin or third party script I willingly use which should be patched if I talk to the scripter. But I do use a bunch of scripts, and templates and macros, heck I even use Chat gpt to write me actions too, to me it has been an awesome experience using this tool, specially considering they are only TWO developers who are insane for pulling it off as they have against other titans in the industry. Not a complete fanboy, I do have some issues with it but I know that for ME there probably won't be something better in terms of how I can just do things in a second. Heck, write all your issues, I'll help you if I can :)

[@disklamer]

Don't worry, tape is also shite, on a good day you get residual noise and hopefully a bit of dynamic range, on a reasonable day you only get a bit of wow&flutter that you can hopefully hide or edit away and only one dropout that you will STILL have to fix in a DAW, and on a bad day it won't even come off the damn spool and when it does, it wraps itself around a capstan and destroys the vocal solo. And the next day you have to calibrate the thing again because the humidity is confusing the bias circuit. You need a better chair and seating position, that plastic thingy is just not inviting. North Americans for some reasons insist on facing the wall with their desk, instead face the space, you get better sound and it is more pleasant to be able to see around you, instead of facing a wall. And with the monitors like that, you will probably never feel like your audio is going anywhere, you need a bit of space around your monitors and you probable do not want them square to everything.

[@QuestForGear]

Yeah my monitors are old and... were never great. I try to monitor with AKG and Sony headphones... and I have the Waves Abbey Road 3 plugin that is compatible with both my headphones. But you're right for sure. I could turn the desk, and have... it seems awkward in the room. I'll consider trying it again though.

[@disklamer]

@@QuestForGear Not trying to tell you how to live :) but you know, sometimes little things help. I like how you shared your whole thought process. My monitors are from 1996 so now officially vintage, or junk, depending who you ask

[@Polentaccio]

I like nerd walk throughs.. I also considered going DAWLESS for my home project studio as i have an old Ramsa console and outboard/converters etc.. but the thing is, if you use Reaper like a tape machine and set limits on your f*ckery and endless options, it can be a time saver. Particularly for me with an acoustic kit, the new lanes feature in Reaper is a game changer. I can do multiple takes and then set splice points and combine the best parts. I am not talking soul sucking time align or nudging either. I am talking about doing what they would have done with tape. i am essentially cutting the best group ( 8 mics in the group) takes and splicing them into one group drum track. No messing with the grid, just splicing the best performance together. If you combine a DAW with a time display like Behringer X touch one, you can turn the monitor off as you track or punch in/out. New school meets old school. DAWS are just too useful to go backwards. It's all about how old school you want to be when you record and when you mix. I'm on reaper because i want my console to impart the tone, not something like Mixbus with " emulation built in". But yes, Reaper has way too many options. I treat it as a glorified tape machine. BTW, buying gear as Canadian buyers blows!

[@QuestForGear]

Love it! Some good advice here for sure. How'ss the flying fader on the touch one? I've been thinking about getting there multi flying fader controller - whatever it's called. "buying gear as Canadian buyers blows!" - DONT I KNOW IT! I panic buy stuff simply because I found it in stock somewhere... no joke! " glorified tape machine" - that's what I want to. I guess I just need to dial it all in. Back when... maybe... 2008 ish.... I used to do that.... painfully make Reaper templates. I guess I'm due to just ... do that again. Love the comment cheerS!

[@Polentaccio]

@@QuestForGear Don't have the X touch yet, have been using an older Faderport and for me I just decided I also don't want the screen on. So I'm ordering the X touch next week to finish off my studio rebuild because that's the missing link for me ( in theory). I liked the idea of the Alesis HD24 and almost bought one but my converters are better so why try to bypass the converters just to have things out of the box? A DAW and DAW controller with a time display can essentially be the same thing. Just did a sound proof space.. talk about a $ suck so I am hoping to be set back up with all my patchbay and gear by Jan. But even the Faderport and just seeing your Reaper as a recorder has been a better way to look at things. Don't try cutting takes and moving a kick or snare etc.. nightmare. Don't end up scrolling through plugins. Nightmare. But ultimately, Alesis needs to reissue the HD24 but with newer features. Tascam just released the studio bridge but 1500 CAD? For what? To record to SD? You can't even punch in more than 11 channels at once. Seems a bit pointless. So the hunt continues but when you go " dawless", you are either one of the electronic music synth nerds or you really have to commit and end up sounding more like a garage band. I think like it or not, hybrid is probably the best of both.

[@m1jman106]

I feel you!that warm analog sound has been very elusiv(for me anyway),and reaper has been a love hate thing,i use an older version because of not renewing license,have you heard of brothers Nylon,on youTube,thet record with reel to reel,cool sounds

[@MikeFoerster]

I'd go back to tape, if I could find someone to fix all my 4 tracks and 9 track stuff.

[@QuestForGear]

No kidding! I had a shot at an R8 last summer.... but .... who would fix and maintain it? There needs to be a full Reel to Reel Revival.

[@TheVALLEYBOY559]

Those WA73s look nice ! I just got a HA73 . I use a APOGEE symphony desktop and a APOGEE element 24. Best interfaces I ever used . Sound quality is top tier !

[@QuestForGear]

I have a busted HA73 500 series unit. It's a bit of a long story. I'm going to have to tear it apart on of these days to see if it can be fixed.

[@TheVALLEYBOY559]

@ what happened to em ? I like the HA better than the WA, but wa73 sounds good too . But with the HPF and Low Impedance switches clicked on the HA ! Awww man smh sounds like a diff preamp ! Sounds like butter !

[@QuestForGear]

LONG story short... I sold it to someone on Reverb. They immediately asked for are a return saying they don't have a 500 series rack. So why did they buy it then? I get it back home - and it now farts really bad when using a Mic. DI side seems fine. I think the person swapped one of the sub boards out on me. Reverb made me give them their money back and now I'm just screwed.

[@iam607]

Lol dude is pissed

[@QuestForGear]

With myself mostly. Any/all of these options are perfectly fine, I need to stop obsessing.

[@iam607]

@QuestForGear funny ASF bro. Love it!!

[@AndyMangele]

As a guy who runs a home studio I find it highly inspirational to see how fellow musicians are doing their stuff - many roads lead to Rome as an old saying goes. 👍

[@QuestForGear]

Yeah, I love the home studio videos. The semi-pro and pro's will pump any product.... because they are getting paid. I prefer a real look at gear.

[@AndyMangele]

@QuestForGear So do I, mate - so do I! 👍

[@Chaos-Dynamics]

You can get some decent recordings with reasonable affordable mics but you will record the room. So if you want great sounding recordings you’ll need a great sounding room to record in. The rest is good mic placement and a decent pre-amp. If you end up fixing stuff in the mix you’ll need to solve the issues at the source. Most of the problems occur due to mediocre pre-production and inexperience with tracking, this could be the performance itself or the recording engineer or even the vibe in the room. Only way to get better at it is actually doing it everyday and keep a positive mindset about what you’re doing. And if you don’t like a new version of Reaper you can install any older version that you do like, they are all available on the site. We don’t need the newest version of anything, a decent board with a functional eq, a delay and a reverb should do fine to get a decent sounding result. If there is anything that is important it’s the place where you record and the room you mix in. Acoustic treatment will get you further than any new piece of equipment will bring you. And remember a good song with mediocre quality is always better than a bad song with high-end quality.

[@QuestForGear]

All good advice.

[@derekmorgan3015]

I'm pretty much in the same boat. I'm currently running a Tascam model 12 which I like, but need more channels. I'm currently thinking about going with a full 16 or 24 channel analog mixer and run directly into a Tascam Studio Bridge. I do have some outboard that will patch in on the inserts. You have some really nice outboard so when it's time to mix, you add in any outboard you need and focus on faders/pans/eq knobs etc and not be looking at an effing DAW. I don't have a lot of room so I'm currently looking at a Soundcraft FX16ii that has 16 direct outs, inserts, everything I need to be DAWless.

[@gortium85]

Rest here weary recordist.

[@Cy_Jex]

I treat Logic Pro like a 24 track... Synths, guitars, drum machines into an Arturia 16 Rig and a Behringer ADAT thing. I arm everything, hit record and go to town. Mixing and all takes a bit of time, but recording couldn't be simpler. You could maybe try something like that with your Focusrite, if you haven't already. I spend all day working on a computer and the last thing I want to do is muck about in the box, but I've made my peace with my process. I don't mess with soft synths too much, but when I do, I bang out some slop on a midi keyboard and might delete a few bits or move a few bits, I might quantize. One thing I'm not doing is trying to bring old stuff forward. All my old recordings are stuck as stereo (or mono room mic) wav or mp3, and I'm glad to not be able to revisit anything. I'd hate trying to re-map old midi or something... I'd hate it enough to never bother with it. I applaud your patience.

[@kevinhasselquist]

Sounds like your problem is primarily a human interface one. Have you considered getting a control surface of some kind? I'm an Ardour user and one really cool (though honestly underdeveloped) feature it has is a websocket interface so that you can control it via a browser; really fantastic when you need to record drum parts and the computer is across the room. So even without a control surface, if you have an ipad or something you can control faders and thus ride the fader to record automation instead of having to program it in. And because it hasn't as yet seen a lot of dev time, you would love the barebones simplicity of the websockets interface. Ardour is also open source so if you were so inclined you could strip out everything you don't want and use your own build. Not trying to sell you too hard on Ardour because changing DAWs can be its own frustration but I'm an ex-cubase and ex-reaper user and I love it. But obviously the control surface idea applies to any DAW.

[@QuestForGear]

I've never checked out Ardour but I really should! That's Linux only right? (I checked real quick - looks like Windows, Mac and Linux). Hmm.... you have me thinking now.... I really should take a peek. And yeah - I have had control surfaces.... I do like them more than Keyboard / Mouse. Appreciate your comments. I want to take a better look at your channel when I can - give you a shout out and try to do some cross promotion. Cheers!

[@MikeFoerster]

I have a lot of consoles, 464, 238, 414, DP32sd, Model 24 and 2488.

[@QuestForGear]

Cool! 464, 238, 414 - are these... tascams?

[@MikeFoerster]

@@QuestForGear Yeah, I do have a Zoom H4n for doing ambient recording.

[@TheVALLEYBOY559]

I love gear and music same way you do ! #SUBBED

[@QuestForGear]

Awesome! Glad to have you here!

[@TheNorseAlchemist]

An open source console is an awesome idea tbh. I'm down to help design design it. We could make it modular. Starts at 2 channels and can add up to 16 (maybe 32). 1 PSU for up to 16 and a second {modular of course) add on for more. Sell em ready made and planes for free? Maybe a customizable skin for Reaper. Turning off anything you don't want. Doable I think...

[@QuestForGear]

Oh man. It *could* be done. Flying faders? DAW Transport control. I'm not smart enough to do the whole thing - but I could do a ton of it. Recording on to SD Cards is where I'd start to fall down. And like most things - I think the first one would cost 1 million and the next one half a million - and eventually it settles down into production retail. I think folks would pay $2000 if it was everyone's dream machine.

[@blankforest7168]

Super relatable with the recurrent desire to record dawless. I do think in order to make music that has an impactful ‘sound’, it would have to be recorded to tape w hardware gear, or otherwise be meticulously produced and mixed in a daw with a skilful selection of plugins. When multitracking to a digital recorder, sonically you are at the mercy of the a/d converters, the mixer etc. I think you should try GarageBand. I can see it on your menu bar. I really do think it is equal in its level of functionality as would be a r2r, console and rack gear from the 80s. If not garageband then logic pro. Compared to other daws, logic is a breeze.

[@QuestForGear]

I'm interested ! I have never used logic. Couldn't hurt to look !

[@blankforest7168]

@@QuestForGear in Logic you can customise the interface defaults so that it hides the unwanted features. You can even remove the project grid lines

[@robgreenlandMusic]

I wonder what you would make of a controller, more faders and buttons and less mousey bashing...

[@VigilanteWilliamson]

I'm glad someone else has issues reaper. I am a long term user getting less and less happy. I will give abelton lite a try soon.

[@QuestForGear]

I could take the time to strip out all the sillyness. I guess that's what I will have to do.

[@mingothemongo4466]

This was beautiful

[@Hue_Nery]

You’ve got an Apollo interface. Why aren’t you using Luna with unison plugins?

[@QuestForGear]

I've rejected Luna for the sake of not wanting a 10th Daw software in my brain. Maybe it's time to take a look at it !

[@bksweet6331]

TAPE! I still have 2, 1 & 1/2 inch tapes that can be played if I can find a studio that has the tape machines. Music I recorded in stand-alone digital recordeders & different DAWs in the late 90s & early 2000s are NO LONGER accessible 😢😮😢

[@QuestForGear]

I had a shot at an R8 last summer.... but .... who would fix and maintain it? There needs to be a full Reel to Reel Revival.

[@descargamusicalny]

I agree, all these formats and software updates and version not being backward compatible is trash. The best practice for now is to back up rendered wave files from measure 1 to the end on a folder with a note with metadata like tempo, sample rate, key of the song etc.

[@QuestForGear]

Right you are! That's the best anyone can do at this point. Lukcily - Reaper does have a process to do this ... zero the waves out and glue them for export.

[@descargamusicalny]

@QuestForGear that's one of the things I like about my zoom r24. Every time you finish a recording it automatically renders the file as a whole.

[@QuestForGear]

That's handy! I didn't know that. I did own a few of those.

[@rockporttigger7138]

Reaper is getting better, not worse! It's 20 years ahead of all the other crappy DAWs. You just haven't learned how to use it from your indecision/ADHD. If you want it simple, make it simple. . . It's what 'you' want it to be! Try using Reason for your minimal simple recording needs. I suggest gutting everything. Pull everything out of the room or to aside and stack it up in an organized fashion. Commit to in the box, with whatever DAW. The add a little at a time as you need it, methodically in a semi permanent way. Setting up an organized console, racks and other as you go. And stick to them. Create an actual workflow. You're blessed with the space and more than you need. Once you have a solid foundation, build template with sends, routing and whatever you need when you open a project. make as many as you need. When you open a project, all is turned on, all record(s) that is armed. It's too easy. Try running a SSL 9000 and (4) 16 track tape machine in the day! Your mindset is dooming you. . . You disorganization and lack of planning is cementing your doomed fate. Thanks for sharing, because there is no way anyone can be productive with this chaotic mangled setup, it's a good example of what to avoid! I'm not subscribing to see a disaster unfold. Start over, KZbin the progression from scratch without rants and complaining and maybe you'll win me back to watch, and hopeful learn something. Hopefully you'll learn something! Watch Andrew Master's studio tour channel. You said it yourself, 'I like to watch to what others are doing and why..." Straighten that jungle out and do that! I'm not trying to be mean or discredit you. Your 'blender method' won't work! It's fact because you just ranted about it. . . This is tough love! It's not us... It's you bro~ good luck!

[@QuestForGear]

I didn't read this but basically you are right- I am amazing. I'm doing the best at this. No I can't teach you I'm sorry. Thanks for your comment, I wish I would read it, but I just never will.

[@MS-1]

Hybrid is the way. (Analog gear + Reaper + TouchDaw app).

[@bioglassmusic]

100% everything you are saying. I won't even open reaper. there was a time when DAWs were nice and simple. I remember when GarageBand came out and it was limited but simple. I did a lot of creating in that program. I come from the era you do. 80/s and 90s. I use Ableton and logic now almost exclusively. I can keep shit the most simple to keep the creative flow but even they are over developing. There is a couple interviews of butch big/Steve albini where they are basically rooted in analog... (cuz they are amazing). the one thing they always say over the years regardless of hot dog boiling pot is find your own way. Sometimes something that sounds terrible can end up having that one thing that just catches people's attention. ie 95% of the 80's/ 90's sub pop shit. Here is what I should do. get a fostex 8 track reel to reel and force myself to limit the inputs. Recently I have been trying to use AVB with multiple recording computers (one for a live back up) but the routing grid has a couple issues I am fighting with. I have spent too much time on it. After working on analog hardware in the 90s I just can't see myself ever affording crap like Neve/rupert Neve or SSL consoles. So I relate soooooooooo much.

[@QuestForGear]

Glad someone gets it. I get a few comments where people think I don't know what I'm doing. It's not that. It's the preference of work flow .

[@jimfolkers8463]

Why did you go through 8 model 24s? Were they bad units?

[@QuestForGear]

Only the current one is bad. The other ones are because I keep changing my mind. I switch between Model 24, Zoom L-20 and the computer.

[@jimfolkers8463]

@QuestForGear okay, I was wondering if that was a unit I should stay away from. I've been in this situation before, Dawless or DAW. I just keep it stupid simple and go dawless.

[@QuestForGear]

They are good quality for the most part, but the compressor lights can be an issue - seemingly in earlier units. If done enough reading in the Tascam forums to know that.... bad things can/do happen to the Tascam Model series - but for the most part - they are well built and dependable.

[@jimfolkers8463]

@@QuestForGear okay thanks for the info!

[@QuestForGear]

Despite my belly aching ... the Tascam Model series and the Zoom Live-Trak series are are very capable machines.

[@justforfunvideohobby]

it's simple bro just win the lottery and buy an old school tape recording setup for half a million dollars

[@QuestForGear]

That's Plan A for sure.

[@mikerichardsonuk]

David Gilmour uses Zoom - You do you.

[@QuestForGear]

Now that you mention it... I do recall reading something about him using... what was it... a multi effects pedal from way back? I think everyone in my band back then owned that pedal.

[@mikerichardsonuk]

@@QuestForGear Exactly, and he even has a couple as back up, I can really relate to your creative/engineering balancing naightmare, I took to using Mixbus Daw more as it seems to help me have a console focus. am very tempted by the Tascam 2400 though

[@QuestForGear]

So am I .... but it's $3500 with tax here in Canada. I don't know. If I was standing in front of one.... I'd probably bring it home with me.

[@mikerichardsonuk]

@@QuestForGear I went with the Zoom R4 MultiTrak just to get back to simple recording for creative sessions

[@QuestForGear]

I looked it up.... looks interesting! I have a few of the H1's ... 3 of them I think... we use them for Ghost hunting... they perform that task perfectly.

[@380stroker]

Dude. Studio one.

[@QuestForGear]

Never tried that one! I'll have a peak, thanks!

[@jarnine-d9n]

Just plug your output into a digital recorder and hit record. I grew up using daw's so I gotten used to them only been in the last few years I got some music hardware. Im the other way around why do i need a mixer and all this stuff when its in the daw.

[@QuestForGear]

I wish my brain would agree with you - it would save me a pile of money. I have a perfectly good Focusrite and copy of Reaper all ready to go.

[@jarnine-d9n]

@@QuestForGear I forgot to say owning good gear do's sound heaps better then just using a daw.

[@williamcloninger2589]

hey

[@TheVALLEYBOY559]

It sounds like you need Apogee and apogee control ! The easiest way to record and direct monitor ! With LOGIC ! You should switch to LOGIC ! Too easy !

[@QuestForGear]

I've got lots of folks telling me to take a peak at logic - and I will at some point! Cheers.

[@PaulEdsall-y8s]

I think the daw is the least of your problems, I’m not being mean , I love that your in there doing it, but I think you need some organisation there and reaper will run itself

[@QuestForGear]

lol... oh yeah? Please explain that In detail. I cant wait.

[@Goldenearz-Goldenearz]

It's not the gear it's who's using it

[@QuestForGear]

That's true. My cat is really good at it.

[@proviteq]

😂😢Dude record on metric halo's or wit an RME INTERFACE AND AN USB STICK. No computer needed😊 wn recording software

[@QuestForGear]

hmm... I'll look into this.

[@joeMW284]

My advice would be to stop throwing money at it and learn how to use what you've got. You have enough gear to make a good recording right now. With all due respect, I think what you're probably missing is good sounding source material and engineering skills.

[@QuestForGear]

I've been doing this since 1995 though.... there is not 1 single thing I can think of that I can't do. I think you really missed the point. I'm having preference issues ... not quality of outcome issues. "engineering skills" - I've demonstrated none, so what are you talking about specifically?

[@joeMW284]

@QuestForGear I'm sorry.. I really didn't mean to offend.. honest. You pretty much did say you were having outcome issues. The whole "digital sounds cold" thing is a cop out. We aren't working on adat machines from 1992. I see a pile of gear and am hearing a bunch of complaints. I see an unwillingness to set even the most basic preferences in your DAW. I'm just getting the vibe that you're hyper-focused on gear and not on the actual recording part. If you were you'd be spending time sorting out your workflow, not posting videos complaining about the stock preferences in reaper... A DAW you'd supposedly been using for almost two decades.

[@QuestForGear]

Is the whole "digital sounds cold" thing a cop out? Are you SURE we are not working on adat machines from 1992? This is really good stuff, I'm glad you stopped by, I feel this has been productive - but don't let this distract you from the the fact that in 1966, Al Bundy scored four touchdowns in a single game while playing for the Polk High School Panthers in the 1966 city championship game versus Andrew Johnson High School, including the game-winning touchdown in the final seconds against his old nemesis, Bubba "Spare Tire" Dixon.