Help configuring REAPER for an Audacity-style workflow
I’m moving from Audacity to REAPER and I’m trying to get the basic editing behavior set up in a way that feels intuitive.
I’m not looking for advanced mixing advice yet, mostly just help configuring the mouse, selections, looping, and editing so I can stop fighting the interface.
The biggest issue right now:
In Audacity, I could click directly on the waveform, hold, and drag across a portion of the audio to highlight that time range. Then I could play or loop just that section.
In REAPER, I’ve tried setting:
Media item > left drag > Select timeMedia item bottom half > left drag > Select time
and both are definitely set that way, but dragging across the waveform still just moves the edit cursor/playback head instead of creating a visible time selection.
I’ve also checked the arrange-view mouse modifier overrides and they all appear to be off.
So first question: what am I missing there?
More generally, I’d really appreciate advice on configuring REAPER for a workflow like this:
- Left-drag directly across a waveform to create a time selection
- Easily loop/repeat only that selected section
- Click a media item without accidentally moving it
- Have some simple modifier like Shift+drag for actually moving items
- Quickly split audio at the cursor or selection
- Delete or mute only a selected portion
- Make quick fades/crossfades
- Zoom horizontally in/out without losing where I’m working
- Solo/mute tracks quickly
- Adjust item/track volume easily
- Eventually automate faders and volume changes
- Generally make basic editing feel closer to Audacity while still taking advantage of REAPER’s better mixing tools
I’m using REAPER v7.78 on Windows.
If anyone has an Audacity-to-REAPER mouse modifier setup, custom keymap, tutorial, or just a list of “change these 5 settings first,” I’d love to see it.
I learn mostly by doing, so I’m not trying to turn REAPER into Audacity exactly; I just want to remove the basic friction so I can actually start learning the DAW instead of constantly wondering why a click did something unexpected.