As of Reaper 5.1 Cockos decided to drop in the rather fantastic
JS: Super8 MIDI-controller synchronized Looper...
However in true Reaper fashion we are only given a fishing rod, pointed in the general direction of the river, and expected to be a fly fisherman/woman in no time..
--- If you are a confident fisher already just grab the example project at the ** end of this post *** , load it up. look around.
it's self explanatory hopefully, and it is setup to show super8s main capabilities easily.
Also scroll down for a video where I describe and use the included template for real, so try that too.
further explanation of super 8 and this supplied template:
v brief overview of Super8's function if you don't know:
has 8 slots
each slot can record audio - not midi <<<
first slot you record audio into sets the slot length for all.
the audio loops.
you can trigger recording into slots via the GUI or (better) via midi.
you can switch from recording to playback, stop playback etc.
each slot by default has defined midi notes that trigger recording/playback etc.
each slot has its own input and output (audio channel) configured using reapers plugin routing pins.
if you like what you have got, you can add these audio loops at the tempo arrived as seperate files into the project timeline on tracks 1-8.
plus other stuff...
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After exploring i found to really have fun with super8 you need to set things up with some routing so you can - for example:
-route audio from your input (mic/synth etc) to *any slot, quickly.
-ensure stray midi from a synth hitting super8 didn't cause slots to trigger.
-have the output from each slot go to its own track for mix convenience and that any 'add to project' audio goes in the right place and ends up sounding the same as when it was 'inside' super8.
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what is this example project you attach ?
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it has 4 example reasynths on 4 stereo input tracks, set to sound different so you can try things out and immediately get an idea of where to put vsti's or route mics/guitars etc..
'Input tracks IN A-D when they are ARMED route all their audio to the
IN ROUTER track (#15)
This track has a 'channel router Js' as an insert and the track outputs to SUPER8 (#9).
on the 'channel router JS' gui- changing the 'Output Channels' from 1+2 to 3+4 (this can be quick with mousewheel)
directs the Input audio to super8's own slots 1/2 to 3/4 etc. *
*edit 2019: the input is now set to 9/10 - leave that as is - its a fix.
to then RECORD Audio into a slot or slots of choice, we can send midi notes from a keyboard/foot button/virtual keyboard etc. into the Trigger Super8 (midi) track. (Track #10)
what midi note to send for each slot and its purpose is seen & adjusted on the SUPER8 GUI for each slot.
*** These values are adjusted with a * Right click-DRAG up/down * this is not obvious <<<Read it again!
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Audio out from Super8 is routed to tracks 18-21 (stereo) which folder up into 'Super8 submix' so you can adjust levels a bit, add fx etc.
if you want seperate mono outs for more control.
its not tricky to chang once you are familiar with things.
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when you hit 'add to project' the recorded loops are inserted into the first 8 tracks of the project - trks 1-8.
in this included project/template these tracks have master/send disabled and route their audio to the super8 sub-mix tracks 18-21.
This was done so that hitting 'add to project' leads to no changes in the sound that you've developed thus far within super8, and you can then choose what to do with the audio easily.
in use - its pretty easy (example is with virtual keyboard):
if virtual keyboard is inputing to the
'Trigger Super 8 track' #10 and any INput track is ARMED,
and the channel router Js is on screen:
hitting C3 (midi note 36) on virtual keyboard starts recording into Super8's slot 1 and and the armed IN track will route into that slot. hit C# to stop/loop.
to then route the same sound to e.g slot 7, mousewheel over the channel router output channel display so it reads '7+8' then hit D3 (midi note 50) on the VK.
It is easier than it reads i hope the project is self explanatory and a starting off point for even better/cleverer setups but this kind of gets things going.
*(there is also the video below which may help too)
Remember it can be saved as a project template or track template for your utter convenience.
ENJOY
Note: The midi input of the IN tracks should naturally be set to your midi keyboard if expecting instant results/tryouts with the reasynths. I forgot to set it to 'all midi inputs' sorry.
******EDIT 2019*********:
updated the project with a tweak to fix issue where the first two slots were always receiving audio from channels 1/2.
https://stash.reaper.fm/36655/TheSup...oject-2019.RPP
use THIS !^^^^^
enjoy and remember its a start point.