Please Help - Sound Quality is Off

[MojoJojo]

Hello everyone,

I've searched the forums high and low for this issue but could not find anything to address my issue. I've tried various versions of Reaper, starting with the most current but for some reason the sound quality of both my monitored playing and recordings sound like I have some kind of filter making it sound "dull". I'm using Pod Farm 2 for guitar and EZDrummer 2. The stand alone apps work great, and also works as expected in GarageBand and Riff Works, but anytime I try to use the plugins in Reaper, the sound quality degrades. It doesn't appear to be a latency issue, just a sound quality issue. I can find my plugins no problem. I can play and record them no problem. It's just the sound quality issue. Almost like I have a blanket thrown over the speakers.

I'm using OS X 10.10.5, 8GB RAM, Intel i7 processor and have tried both 32 and 64 bit versions of Reaper.

Any help would be appreciated.

[MojoJojo]

This is still an issue.

[zyisrad]

1. Install a portable version of the latest Reaper
2. Don't touch any of the settings.
3. Record a single track.
4. Make sure your gain staging is in the right place.
5. Don't add any other VSTs than absolutely needed.
6. Render. Don't touch any of the settings.

Same Results?