Welcome to the world of Reaper Comping, a powerful technique that allows you to create the perfect take by combining the best parts of multiple takes. Reaper’s Comping feature provides an intuitive workflow that makes it easy to audition and select the sections you want to combine, giving you unprecedented control over the final result. In this article, we’ll delve into the intricacies of Reaper Comping, guiding you through the process of selecting the best takes and creating a seamless, professional-quality track.
Before embarking on the Comping journey, it’s crucial to have a clear understanding of the available modes. Reaper offers three modes: “Create New Take,” “Replace Existing Take,” and “New Comp Take.” Each mode serves a specific purpose and allows you to customize the comping process based on your needs. “Create New Take” generates a new take consisting of the combined sections, leaving the original takes untouched. “Replace Existing Take” overwrites the selected take with the newly created comp, providing a simplified workflow. Finally, “New Comp Take” creates a new take that references the original takes, allowing for non-destructive editing and experimentation.
Once you’ve familiarized yourself with the modes, it’s time to select the takes you want to combine. Reaper provides a highly efficient take management system that enables you to quickly audition and select the desired takes. By clicking on the “Comp Lanes” button, you can access a visual representation of all recorded takes, allowing you to easily identify and select the best sections. Reaper’s intuitive drag-and-drop functionality makes it effortless to arrange and combine the selected sections, providing you with the flexibility to create a take that meets your exacting standards.
Playing the Selected Take
To play only the selected take, do the following:
- Right-click on the take you want to play.
- Select “Play Selected Take(s)” from the menu.
Understanding the Take View
The Take View in Reaper provides a visual representation of all recorded takes for a given track. It displays each take as a horizontal line, with the selected take highlighted in green. The Take View also includes controls for comping takes, adjusting fades, and more.
4. Customizing the Take View
The Take View can be customized to suit your workflow. You can change the color of the take lines, the height of the view, and the zoom level. You can also choose to display only the selected take or all takes. Here are some tips for customizing the Take View:
| Option |
|---|
| Change the color of the take lines: Right-click on the Take View header and select “Take Lanes Color.” Select your desired color from the palette. |
| Change the height of the view: Drag the bottom edge of the Take View up or down to change its height. |
| Change the zoom level: Use the zoom controls in the toolbar to zoom in or out on the Take View. |
| Display only the selected take: Click the “Solo Selected Take” button in the toolbar to display only the selected take. |
| Display all takes: Click the “Show All Takes” button in the toolbar to display all takes. |
Looping Takes
Looping takes refers to the process of continuously playing back a specific section or range of the timeline. This allows you to focus on a particular part of your project while editing or making adjustments. To loop takes:
- Select the takes you want to loop.
- Click the “Loop” button in the toolbar (or press “Ctrl+L”).
- Playback will now loop between the selected takes.
- To adjust the loop range, drag the start and end markers on the timeline.
- To stop looping, click the “Loop” button again or press “Ctrl+L” again.
Looping Settings
You can customize the loop settings by clicking the “Gear” icon in the Loop panel. This opens a menu with the following options:
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| Loop Mode | Sets the looping mode (e.g., continuous, play once, play by range). |
| Loop Start | Sets the start point of the loop. |
| Loop End | Sets the end point of the loop. |
| Loop Crossfade Length | Sets the length of the crossfade between looped takes. |
Reaper Comping Takes Play Selected Take How To
To play the selected take in Reaper, simply click on the “Play Selected Take” button in the toolbar. This button is located on the far left of the toolbar, next to the “Record” button. When you click on this button, Reaper will play the selected take from the beginning. You can also use the keyboard shortcut “P” to play the selected take.
If you want to play the selected take from a specific point, you can use the “Play from Cursor” button. This button is located next to the “Play Selected Take” button. When you click on this button, Reaper will play the selected take from the current cursor position.
You can also use the “Loop” button to loop the selected take. This button is located next to the “Play from Cursor” button. When you click on this button, Reaper will loop the selected take until you click on the button again.
People Also Ask
How do I comp takes in Reaper?
To comp takes in Reaper, simply select the takes you want to comp, then right-click and select “Comp Selected Takes.” Reaper will then create a new track called “Comp Track” and automatically crossfade the selected takes.
Can I play multiple takes at once in Reaper?
Yes, you can play multiple takes at once in Reaper by using the “Multi-Take Editor.” To open the Multi-Take Editor, right-click on a track and select “Open in Multi-Take Editor.” You can then select the takes you want to play and click on the “Play” button.
How do I save a comp in Reaper?
To save a comp in Reaper, simply right-click on the Comp Track and select “Save Comp as New Track.” Reaper will then create a new track with the saved comp.
