MusicRadar

Not tried Reaper yet? You should.

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MusicRadar users dig Reaper - in fact, you recently voted it your favourite DAW. This cross-platform application has a tiny installer (just 8MB, in fact), yet boasts powerful features that put it on a par with many of its more expensive rivals. What's more, those who've been frustrated by other DAWs frequently report that it's easier to use.

If you're just getting acquainted with the software - or you're considering trying it for the first time - here are 12 things to bear in mind…

1. Pitch up

If you're stuck with a dodgy vocal take, don't panic - you might be able to get away without re-recording it. Reaper includes a handy little plug-in called ReaTune, which works in a similar way to Antares Auto-Tune. Simply set the correction mode to a scale and key, and the plug-in will do the rest. Alternatively, the manual correction mode can be used for more in-depth pitch manipulation.

2. System overload

When using lots of plug-in instruments and effects, you may find yourself running out of CPU power. Thankfully, Reaper's Performance Meter window offers the most advanced performance analysis we've seen, showing you exactly which tracks are consuming the most power. It can be accessed from the View window.

3. Chained up

One cool way to streamline your workflow is to save commonly-used combinations of instruments or effects as FX chains. To do this, right-click the FX window and select Save FX Chain. These can then be added to any track by right-clicking it and selecting Add FX Chain.

4. In a jam

Stuck for inspiration? Reaper includes a great tool for online collaboration in the shape of ReaNINJAM. This plug-in enables users to jam together over the internet. For more details, head to the NINJAM website, where you can access the NINJAM community forum.

5. Window of opportunity

These days, many DAWs eschew multiple floating windows and instead opt for a single-window approach. Reaper gives you the best of both worlds: by default, the MIDI grid editor, performance meter and so forth all open in new windows. However, they can also be docked at the bottom of the screen by right-clicking them and selecting the Dock option.

6. Double take

Need to beef up a track in a hurry? Give Reaper's Tracks»Duplicate Selected Tracks function a whirl. This creates identical copies of any and all selected tracks, making it perfect for doubling MIDI lines, or for performing parallel processing on audio parts.

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