Tempo Mapping and Charting.

[ethicalpaul]

Did you start out with the RBN template? You should have. If you did, you should see several tracks named "PART VOCAL", "PART DRUMS", "PART GUITAR", etc.

These tracks are where you put your midi notes. Double click one of these tracks and Reaper will open the track's MIDI Editor.

[GeneralGilliam]

Oh boy, here comes a question that I know is gonna make you facepalm... What is the RBN Template?

[ethicalpaul]

Yeah, it did a little. If you don't know what the RBN Template is, you need to read the docs more times!

For a little perspective on this, I have been using digital audio workstation software on a hobby basis since approximately 1993 (Deck II you rock) and I still had to read the docs probably 5 times to feel comfortable with *most* of the information. I'm still finding new stuff I missed.

To chart my first song took to get it playable took maybe 25 hours (and the song is rather simple). Much of this was learning curve in Reaper which I had never used before.

If you are serious about this, you are going to have to invest the time (especially since you said you are new to DAW software)

[Mystakin]

I honestly didn't think the RBN template stuff was very self explanatory in the doc. I'll presume you've installed the RBN specific plugins as per the doc, when you make a new project you'll want to select under File --> "Start From Template" --> "Blank RBN Template" ( I think that's the right stuff... something like that ) which gives a great base for charting everything and makes stuff much more self explanatory. Additionally giving the other advice a bit more meaning.

[GeneralGilliam]

Thanks, I think I've got this figured out now. All thats left now is the fine tuning and stuff.

[ethicalpaul]

Don't use the Blank template

[GeneralGilliam]

why not?

[ethicalpaul]

Because it's blank! You want the regular RBN Template because it comes pre-populated with the midi tracks already named, etc.

[Mystakin]

Because it's blank! You want the regular RBN Template because it comes pre-populated with the midi tracks already named, etc.

That's prolly a good point... it'll cause a bit less hassle in the long run. For some reason I've always used blank lol

[ethicalpaul]

Well, like you said, it isn't always super clear in the docs