Project Settings

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Overview

Recordings made in REAPER are saved as Projects. A REAPER project file has the extension .rpp - e.g. MyRecording.rpp. REAPER Project files are saved in plain text format and can be opened, viewed and edited in any text editor.

Project Settings are saved with each .rpp file and are specific to that particular Project. Certain Project Settings override standard REAPER Preferences while the Project is open.

REAPER Project Settings are accessible by selecting File > Project Settings (Alt+Enter).

Selecting the Save as default project settings button will make your changes apply to any new Project.

To learn more about the Project Settings options, see the topics below:

Project settings

Project settings - Settings.png

Project sample rate

Select this check box to enable the sample rate to be set by the Project. Select the sample rate from the drop-down box by scrolling and clicking on the sample rate you wish to use:

Reaper 158 project settings sample rate.png

The list of available sample rates is determined by the capabilities of your audio device.
Note.pngNote that this sample rate will override the global sample rate set in Options > Preferences > Audio > Device.

Project BPM

Set the Beats Per Minute setting for the Project by entering a value in this field. The Project BPM setting is used to send Tempo information to plug-ins, to MIDI devices and to set Grid spacing.
Note.pngTempo markers added to the tempo map override the Project BPM.

Time Signature

Set the Time Signature for the Project by entering values in these fields. You may enter any number value.
Note.pngTime Signature markers added to the tempo map override the Project Time Signature.

Timebase for items/envelopes/markers

Beats (position, length, rate)

This is the default setting for all new projects. When selected, changes to tempo automatically adjust start and endpoints of all items, envelopes and markers in sync with the grid.

Beats (position only)

This mode is similar to previous, but it does not change media item length, only their time position so start of the item is locked to a beat.

Time

Items, Envelopes and Markers are attached to an absolute time value. When this setting is selected, changes to Tempo or Time Signature settings only affect MIDI items and the grid.
Note.pngIndividual tracks and items can have their own timebase which overrides default project timebase

Timebase for tempo/time signature envelope

Beats

This is the default setting for all new project. Tempo markers adjust to changes which in turn keeps other tempo markers' musical position constant. This mode should always be turned on unless the other mode is you explicitly needed.

Time

In older versions of Reaper (prior to version 4.25) tempo markers' time position was absolute and it never changed when changing tempo. Instead their musical position changed. This mode will let you get that old and basically "wrong" behavior.

Project start

With many projects you will find that you have a few seconds of recorded silence before the program material (instruments and vocals) actually start. This can create two annoying problems:

  • Times shown on the timeline and on the big clock do not accurately represent the time within the song.
  • When you go to the start of the project, there are always a few seconds of silence to be played before you reach the start of the song.

Whit these settings you can set project start time as you need it.

Frame rate to use for Time + Frames time display

Select the frame rate that will be used in the Timeline and Transport display (when "Hours : Minutes : Seconds : Frames" is selected) from the list. This affects video.
Reaper 160 project settings frame rate selection.png

Resample modes

These settings determine the quality of resampling when some items have different sample rate from the default project sample rate. Better resampling mode means better sound quality but more CPU usage.

Pitch modes

Default pitch shift mode

Here you can select the default algorithm used for pitch sifting. Choices are:

  • SoundTouch
  • Simple windowed
  • Élastique 2.1 Pro
  • Élastique 2.1 Efficient
  • Élastique 2.1 SOLOIST

When it comes to Élastique, Pro is indented for general purpose, Efficient is less resource intensive version of Pro, and SOLOIST is intended for monophonic signals. For more information see Zplane.de

Pitch shift parameter

Depending on the type of mode selected different choices are presented here. For example, Élastique Pro lets you preserve formants which can help keep pitch sifting sound more natural. You could also select Synchronized modes for Élastique which will help keep things in sync but can introduce additional latency. More information can be found in SDK documentation for Élastique
Note.pngYou should probably experiment with all the different settings to find the right one for your material
Note.pngItems can have their own pitch mode set in Item properties and override these default setting


Media

Project settings - Media.png

Path To Save Files

Enter a directory path, or select Reaper 158 browse button.png to navigate to a directory that will be used as the default Save path for all Project-related files. If this field is not set, REAPER will record audio and MIDI files to the default directory listed in Options > General > Paths.

Note.pngPath can be relative. In example presented in the above screenshot everything will be saved to a folder named Audio files in current project directory

Recording Format

By default, REAPER records to WAV format at a sample rate of 44.1kHz and a bit depth of 24 bits. The Recording Format drop-down box allows you to select the following alternative recording formats:

Reaper 158 record format.png

Currently supported Recording Formats:


WAV 16, 24, or 32 bit floating point


AIFF 16, 24 or 32 bit


FLAC 16 bps 0-8 Quality


MP3 (once the lame encoder is installed) CBR, VBR default, VBR old, VBR new, VBR mtrh or ABR Modes Stereo, Joint Stereo, Multi-Channel or Mono 8 - 320 Constant Bitrate 13 Quality options


OGG Vorbis VBR, CBR or ABR Variable Quality and Bitrate options


WavPack 16, 24, 32 and 32 bps float bit depths Variable Modes

WAV bit depth

This section is used to set the parameters of the Recording Format. The information is this section will change depending on the Recording Format you select.

Write "BWF" (text) chunk

This enables a text chunk in the wave file which is compatible with the "Broadcast Wave Format" or "BWF", that allows it to remember its offset and place in a project. BWF format @ wikipedia

Allow large files to use Wave64

This enables usage for the "wave 64" format (wave 64 info here) which, among other things, allows for higher file size (+4GB) than conventional wave formats.


Advanced

Project settings - Advanced.png

Item mix behavior

Determines how Reaper should behave when one media item is placed directly on top of another. The options are:

  • Enclosed items teplace enclosing items
  • Items always mic
  • Newer item replaced the older item

Track mixing bit depth

Determines what bit depth is internally used by audio engine. It can be considered an esoteric function and should probably be left at 64 bit float if you`re unsure or explicitly need it.

Allow feedback in routing

Select this check box to allow feedback routing. This setting allows you to create a feedback loop by routing signals back to themselves. USE CAUTION when enabling this setting. Feedback is generally not a good thing in an audio system, but can have some uses as an effect. If you must use this setting, make sure you have the Automatically mute master output if volume exceeds -- dB option enabled in Preferences > Audio.

External timecode synchronization

Options to synchronize the project with the timecode of an external device.

Limit project length, stop playback/recording at _ _

Select this check box to limit the length of a Project to the value entered in the field.

Pan settings

Pan law

Select a default Pan Law for each Track from the list.

Reaper 160 project settings pan law.png

The Pan Law: determines the amount of level reduction that is applied to a signal when centered -e.g. at a Pan Law setting of -3.0 dB, a signal will be 3 dB lower at Center than when panned fully Right or fully Left.
Note.png -3db will give constant power.

Gain compensation (boost pans): Check this option if you want center to stay at 0bd, while panning increases volume with the above setting.
Note.pngHave this checked if you want to take tracks in and out of folders without changing the volume of the track. Note.pngThe default Pan Law is a Project wide setting, but can be overridden by the Pan Law setting available on each Track.

Video tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBeRtAfQlNM

Pan mode

Set the default Pan mode here. See Pan mode for explanation.

ReWire client settings

Settings that determine how Reaper will behave when acting as a client in ReWire session:

  • Ignore or process tempo notifications from the master
  • Send loop points or repeat change to master
  • Set the offset for playback

For more information see article on ReWire


Notes

Project settings - Notes.png
Use this section to write notes about your project -- the checkbox below allows you to display these notes on project load.


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