Results using Reaper - Feedback?

jebuz

Hey Guys,

Don't post much here, but have seen some good advice and you all seem to know what you're talking about so I'm hoping you can offer some advice on my recent recordings with a new software package I'm using.

I am very much an amateur composer with no formal music training. I taught myself the keyboard at a young age, and when I got a free CD of Evolution Audio Lite with a PC magazine, I started dabbling with MIDI sequencing. It's a very basic piece of sequencing software and look's like it's from the 80's but I was hooked and haven't stop sequencing since. I've only ever done instrumental pieces, music that sounds good to me, I don't think I have a lyric inside me at all, who knows that could change.

It took me about 7 years to part with Evolution Audio, the MIDI sounds were dated, so following recent advice from a friend I switched over to Reaper to try out using VSTI's. The difference in quality with the new sounds pretty much amazed me and the possibilities are now endless. I got some really nice instruments by scouring the web including a lovely classic guitar and some quality drums, I'm really enjoying making music again.

I am still getting used to the software, it's a lot more complex than what I'm used to, I haven't got around to quantizing or touching up my pieces but that will come in time. The pieces are pretty raw but I'm hoping you guys can offer some feedback on what can be done to improve them.

Here's some pieces...
http://music.conormccauley.com/Wandering%20Souls.mp3
http://music.conormccauley.com/Earl%27s%20Tune.mp3
http://music.conormccauley.com/Victory%20of%20the%20Sea%27s.mp3 (this is the only one that uses pre-programmed drums)
http://music.conormccauley.com/Life%20goes%20on.mp3
http://music.conormccauley.com/Curry%20Mouse.mp3

Appreciate any comments, some of my other music made using the caveman MIDI software is up on http://music.conormccauley.com (thats anything before Oct 08)

Thanks,

Conor.

i57dwun4yb1pt8

I did use reaper for Audio only and its really good for that - last few weeks though I put it on a laptop and started using the midi and vst free instruments cos my piano sounds on the board are crap - and its been great - but I hear its midi isnt as powerful as something like cubase

but for simple composing of basic tracks its really great

I banged down 2 tunes in a weekend using reaper , laptop and the midi keyboard , so it really helps the compsing process.

some good vsts to get are

4piano1 and
superwave p8
DigiDrum Pro

can you tell me what drum program you use ?

you have done a good job, but you need to fix the timing issues , and your drum room ambience makes some of the tracks sound amateur ( too boxy roomy sounding )
you also need to add some bass - of some type
nice work thopugh

jebuz

Hey, thanks a lot for the feedback, I fully agree on the timing issues, and the bass is a problem at the moment, I've only found one decent VSTI and it's still not that great, any ideas for that one?

I haven't used any MIDI sounds with Reaper yet, how do you do that? I've just been using VSTI's.

The drum program I'm using is Cakewalk's Session Drummer, has a great library of quality sounds and some pre-programmed MIDI patterns you can drag or drop. I usually just play it myself though. I'll definitely look into those VSTI's you mentioned, thanks again.

theboat

this might be the wrong place to ask, but i've got reaper, mainly to record audio. I'd like to use some VSTs, for making drum tracks, or synth-y stuff, but i haven't the first clue where to start. How do you actually programme stuff. Is there a key editor, because I haven't been able to find one.
Cheers for any help...

i57dwun4yb1pt8

just create a midi track and click on it to edit it

or get a usb keyboard cheap and use that .

if you pm me you mail address I will mail you a reaper project template to get you started .

theboat

pm sent...thanks

i57dwun4yb1pt8

hope to get you this week ;_)