Reaper is a powerful digital audio workstation (DAW) that offers a wide range of features and tools for recording and editing audio. One of the lesser-known but incredibly useful features of Reaper is its virtual keyboard. As a music producer and avid Reaper user myself, I have found the virtual keyboard to be an invaluable tool in my workflow.
Getting Started with the Virtual Keyboard
The virtual keyboard in Reaper allows you to play musical notes using your computer keyboard or mouse. It can be especially handy if you don’t have a physical MIDI keyboard or if you’re on the go and don’t have access to one. To enable the virtual keyboard, simply go to the “Options” menu, select “Virtual MIDI Keyboard,” and check the “Enable” box.
Once the virtual keyboard is enabled, you can access it by clicking on the “View” menu and selecting “Virtual MIDI Keyboard.” A resizable window with a piano keyboard layout will appear, ready for you to start playing.
Playing Notes
To play notes on the virtual keyboard, you can either use your computer keyboard or mouse. If you prefer using the keyboard, each row of your computer keyboard corresponds to a different octave on the virtual keyboard. The keys on your keyboard are mapped to the white keys of the piano, starting from the leftmost key. To play a note, simply press the corresponding key on your computer keyboard.
If you prefer using the mouse, you can click on the individual keys of the virtual keyboard to play notes. You can also click and drag your mouse across the keys to play a melody or chord.
Modifying Parameters
The virtual keyboard in Reaper offers several parameters that you can modify to customize your playing experience. To access these parameters, right-click anywhere on the virtual keyboard window and select “Options.”
From the options menu, you can adjust the velocity sensitivity, which determines how the volume of the notes is affected by your playing dynamics. You can also enable or disable MIDI note input, which allows you to use the virtual keyboard to input MIDI notes directly into your project.
Using the Virtual Keyboard in your Projects
The virtual keyboard is not only great for playing around and coming up with musical ideas, but it can also be a valuable tool for recording MIDI data into your projects. When you have the virtual keyboard open, simply click the “Record” button in Reaper, and any notes you play on the virtual keyboard will be recorded as MIDI data in your project.
Additionally, you can use the virtual keyboard to control virtual instruments and plugins within Reaper. By routing the output of the virtual keyboard to a virtual instrument or plugin, you can easily play and control the sounds using the virtual keyboard.
Conclusion
The virtual keyboard in Reaper is an incredibly handy tool that can enhance your music production workflow. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned professional, the virtual keyboard offers a convenient way to play notes, record MIDI data, and control virtual instruments within Reaper. Give it a try and see how it can streamline your music-making process.