How to Make Electronic Dance Music in Reaper

In this post, we’ll show you how to make electronic dance music in Reaper. You’ll learn how to set up your project, add instruments and effects, and mix your track.

Introduction

Reaper is a powerful but affordable digital audio workstation that is popular with electronic musicians. In this guide, we will show you how to set up Reaper and use it to create an electronic dance music track.

First, you will need to download and install Reaper. You can find the latest version of Reaper on the Reaper website. Once you have installed Reaper, launch it and create a new project.

Next, you will need to add some audio tracks to your project. To do this, click on the “Insert” menu and then select “Add Track”. A new track will be added to your project.

Now that you have added a track, you will need to add some audio files to it. To do this, click on the “Media” menu and then select “Add Files”. Choose the audio files that you want to use in your track and then click “Open”.

Once you have added your audio files, you can begin editing them. To do this, double-click on an audio file in the track so that it opens in the editor window. Use the tools in the editor window to make changes to the sound of your track.

When you are happy with your track, you can export it as an MP3 file by clicking on the “File” menu and then selecting “Export”. Choose MP3 as your export format and then click “Export”. Your track will now be saved as an MP3 file that you can share with others or listen to on your computer.

What You Will Need

To make electronic dance music in Reaper, you will need a computer with the software installed, an audio interface, headphones, and some basic knowledge of music production.

Reaper is a powerful but affordable digital audio workstation that is popular among EDM producers. It offers a wide range of features and is compatible with most plugins and virtual instruments.

An audio interface is essential for any producer who wants to record and mix audio in Reaper. A good interface will allow you to connect microphones, instruments, and other sound sources to your computer so that you can record them into Reaper.

Headphones are also important for monitoring your audio while you are producing. You will want to find a pair of comfortable headphones that have good sound quality so that you can listen closely to the details of your mix.

Finally, it is helpful to have some basic knowledge of music production before you start working in Reaper. If you are not familiar with terms like “EQ” or “compression,” you may want to spend some time learning about these concepts before you start working on your track.

Setting Up

In order to make electronic dance music in Reaper, you will need to set up your project by adding a new track and importing an audio file.
First, create a new project in Reaper by clicking on the “File” menu and selecting “New Project.”
Next, add a new track to your project by clicking on the “Track” menu and selecting “Insert New Track.”
Once you have added a new track, import an audio file into Reaper by clicking on the “File” menu and selecting “Import.”
Finally, adjust the tempo of your project by clicking on the “Options” menu and selecting “Project Settings.”
Now that you have set up your project, you are ready to start making electronic dance music in Reaper!

The Kick

In electronic dance music, the kick is the most important instrument in the rhythm section. It’s the sound that makes you move your feet and feel the beat.

There are many different ways to make a kick, but in this tutorial we’re going to use a simple sine wave. Start by creating a new track in Reaper and adding a VSTi plugin to it. We’re using Synapse Dune 2, but you can use any VSTi that you like.

Next, create a new MIDI track and add a MIDI note at the beginning of the timeline. This will be our kick drum sound. If you want your kick to be more powerful, you can add multiple notes at different intervals.

Now it’s time to choose our kick drum sound. Go to the synth’s presets and find a suitable sound. We’re using the preset “Bass – Distortion Kick”.

Now we need to add some effects to our kick drum. First, we’ll add a bitcrusher to give it some grit. Second, we’ll add a low pass filter to remove some of the high frequencies. Third, we’ll add an envelope follower to make the kick pump.

Finally, we need to adjust the volume of our kick drum so it sits well in the mix. We’re using -12dB as our starting point.

And that’s it! Your kick should now be sitting nicely in the mix and providing plenty of dancefloor-worthy thump!

The Clap

In music production, the clap is an essential element in creating percussive sounds. It’s often used in electronic dance music (EDM) to give tracks a bit more snap and energy. In this tutorial, we’ll show you how to create a clap sound in Reaper, using a variety of different methods.

One of the simplest ways to create a clap sound is to use Reaper’s stock plugins. Start by creating a new track and adding the “DrumSynth” plugin to it. Next, click on the “play” button in DrumSynth and select “square” from the waveform menu. Trust us, this will make a huge difference in the sound of your clap. Finally, adjust the attack and release parameters to taste.

If you want your clap to sound more like an actual drum hit, you can also add some reverb using Reaper’s “Stock Reverb” plugin. Just add it to your track and experiment with the different settings until you find something that sounds good.

Of course, there are many other ways to create clap sounds in Reaper (and other DAWs). You can use samplers, drum machines, or even physical objects like coins or keys. The possibilities are endless!

The Hi-Hat

The hi-hat is an essential part of most electronic dance music genres. It’s a percussion instrument that usually consists of two cymbals mounted on a stand, with one cymbal being slightly higher than the other. The hi-hat is played with a drum stick, and the player strikes the two cymbals together to create a sharp, short sound.

In most electronic dance music genres, the hi-hat is used to create a rhythm that goes along with the bassline and other percussion instruments. The hi-hat can be played on its own, or it can be used to accent other parts of the beat. For example, the hi-hat can be used to add emphasis to the downbeat, or it can be used to add interest to a sustained note.

Reaper is a digital audio workstation (DAW) that allows you to create your own electronic dance music. It’s a powerful tool that gives you complete control over every aspect of your music. In this tutorial, we’ll show you how to use Reaper to create a basic four-on-the-floor drum beat with a hi-hat rhythm.

The Bassline

In electronic dance music, the bassline is typically one of the driving forces behind the rhythm and can often be the most important element in a track. It’s important to get your bassline right, and in this article we’ll show you how to create one using Reaper.

Reaper is a powerful digital audio workstation (DAW) that’s perfect for creating all kinds of electronic music. It’s packed with features, but it’s also very user-friendly and easy to get started with.

In this article, we’ll show you how to create a simple four-on-the-floor bassline in Reaper. We’ll be using a kick drum, a snare drum, and a bass synth to create our groove. Let’s get started!

The Lead

The lead is one of the most important parts of an electronic dance track – it’s what will make people want to dance! So how do you create a great lead in Reaper?

First, you’ll need to choose a sound. You can use any sound you like, but some sounds work better for leads than others. Synthesizers are often used for leads, as they can create very catchy melodies. However, you can also use acoustic instruments or even recorded sounds from everyday life.

Next, you’ll need to create a melody. This can be anything from a simple repeating pattern to a more complex melody with multiple parts. If you’re not sure where to start, try looking for lead melodies in other tracks that you like. Once you have a melody in mind, it’s time to start programming it into Reaper.

To do this, you’ll need to create a MIDI track and add a virtual instrument to it. There are many different virtual instruments available, so make sure to choose one that will work well with the sound you’re using for your lead. Once you have your instrument set up, you can start programming in your melody.

Once your lead is complete, it’s time to add some effects to it. Effects can really help bring out the character of your lead and make it stand out from the rest of the track.echo and delay are two effects that are often used on leads, as they help give the impression of space and movement. Sometimes reverb is also used on leads, but be careful not to overdo it – too much reverb can make a lead sound confusing and muddy.

Finally, don’t forget about automation! Automation is a great way to add interest and variation to your lead. For example, you could automate the volume of your lead so that it gets louder and softer throughout the track, or automate the effects so that they change over time. Automation can really help bring your lead to life and make it more dynamic and exciting.

The Pad

The pad is a great tool to use when making electronic dance music in Reaper. It is a MIDI controller that can be used to create and control sounds. You can use it to play chords, melodies, and even create your own sound effects. In this tutorial, we will show you how to set up and use the pad in Reaper.

First, you will need to connect your Pad to your computer. If you are using a USB Pad, you will need to plug it into a USB port on your computer. If you are using a wireless Pad, you will need to connect it to your computer using Bluetooth. Once your Pad is connected, you will need to launch Reaper.

Once Reaper is open, you will need to create a new track. To do this, click the “Track” menu at the top of the window and select “New Track.” In the “New Track” window, select “MIDI” from the “Track Type” drop-down menu and click “OK.”

Next, you will need to select your Pad from the “Input Device” drop-down menu. Once you have done this, click the “Record Enable” button at the bottom of the window. This will allow you to record MIDI data from your Pad into Reaper.

Now that you have set up your track, it’s time to start playing around with the pad. To do this, simply press down on the pads and play some notes. You can use any of the pads on the controller to create sound effects or play melodies. Be creative and experiment with different sounds! When you’re finished recording, click the “Stop Recording” button at the bottom of the window and take a listen to what you’ve created.

The Arpeggio

Arpeggio is a musical term referring to the playing of a group of notes in succession, usually played on instruments capable of producing more than one note at a time such as keyboards or guitars. An arpeggio can be formed by picking out the notes of a chord one at a time (arpeggiated chords are sometimes simply called “arpeggios”), or by playing all the notes of the chord at once (block chords).

The word arpeggio comes from the Italian word “arpeggiare”, which means “to play on a harp”. It was originally used to refer to a broken chord, where the notes are played in succession rather than all at once, but it has since come to be used for any type of broken chord or arpeggiated melody.

There are many different types of arpeggios, and they can be played in a variety of ways. The most common way to play an arpeggio is to pick out the notes of the chord one at a time (“arpeggiated”), but you can also play all the notes of the chord at once (“block”).

Some common types of arpeggios include:
-Major: 1 3 5
-Minor: 1 b3 5
-Diminished: 1 b3 b5
-Augmented: 1 3 #5

The Pluck

In electronic dance music, the pluck is often used as a lead sound. It’s a very common sound in EDM, and it’s not hard to make. In this article, we’ll show you how to make a pluck in Reaper.

First, you’ll need to create a new track. To do this, click on the “Create New Track” button in the tracks window. A new track will be created with a default instrument loaded.

Next, you’ll need to select the Pluck instrument from the instruments list. To do this, click on the “Instruments” button in the tracks window and then select “Pluck” from the list of instruments.

Now that you have the Pluck instrument loaded, you can begin playing your pluck. To do this, simply click on the notes in the piano roll editor and Reaper will play them back. You can use your mouse or keyboard to play the notes.

If you want to add some effects to your pluck, you can do so by clicking on the “FX” button in the tracks window. This will open up the effects window and you can add whichever effects you want to your pluck.

When you’re finished making your pluck, you can export it as an audio file by clicking on the “File” menu and selecting “Export > Audio/WAV file…” from the menu. Give your file a name and then choose a location to save it and click “Save”. Your pluck is now ready to be used in your next track!

The Chord

The chord is one of the most important aspects of electronic dance music, and it can be tough to get it right. In this tutorial, we’ll show you how to create chords in Reaper that will add excitement and interest to your tracks.

Chords are created by playing two or more notes simultaneously. When these notes are played in harmony, they create a pleasing sound that can add depth and dimension to your music. To create a chord in Reaper, you’ll need to use a MIDI keyboard or controller.

First, open up a new track in Reaper. Then, add a virtual instrument of your choice. We’ll be using the VSTi synth plugin, Sylenth1.

Once you have your virtual instrument set up, it’s time to start creating chords. To do this, simply hold down multiple keys on your MIDI keyboard or controller at the same time. For our example, we’ll be creating a simple three-note chord by holding down the keys C, E, and G at the same time.

Now that you have your chord created, you can add movement and interest by playing with the individual notes within the chord. To do this, simply press and hold down one of the keys in the chord while you play with the others. For our example, we’ll hold down the key C while we play with E and G.

As you experiment with different chords and progressions, you’ll start to develop your own unique sound. Remember to have fun and experiment until you find something that you like!

The Drop

The drop is arguably the most important part of any EDM song. It’s the part that makes people go wild and lose all sense of self-control. If you can nail the drop, you’re well on your way to making a great EDM track.

There are a few things you need to keep in mind when you’re crafting the perfect drop. First, it’s important to have a clear idea of what kind of mood you want to create. Do you want something that’s high energy and will get people moving? Or do you want something a bit more mellow that people can chill out to? Once you know what kind of mood you’re going for, you can start picking out the right sounds.

Next, it’s time to start layering your sounds. This is where things can start to get a bit complicated, but thankfully there are plenty of tutorials out there that can help walk you through the process. Start with a kick drum and then add in some percussion. From there, you can start adding in synth elements and other sounds. Just make sure that each sound compliments the others and doesn’t end up sounding too chaotic.

Finally, once everything is in place, it’s time to add in the finishing touches. This is where EQing and compression come into play. These two effects will help tighten up your sound and make sure everything sits nicely in the mix. Again, there are plenty of tutorials out there that can help walk you through this process step by step.

And that’s it! With these tips in mind, you should be well on your way to creating an absolute banger of a drop.

The Outro

After the climax of your track, it’s time for the outro. This is where you will slowly bring the energy down and prepare for the end. The outro should be much shorter than the intro and build up. It can be similar to the intro in terms of length, but it should have a different feel.

As with the intro, you will want to use a Soundcloud downloader to look for samples or use Sylenth1 presets that are suitable for an outro.

Conclusion

Now that you know the basics of how to make electronic dance music in Reaper, you can start experimenting with different sounds and techniques to create your own unique style. With a little practice, you’ll be able to create professional-sounding EDM tracks that will get people moving on the dance floor.