Help with reducing volume in parts of track in Reaper

  • Thread starter Thread starter fritsthegirl
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fritsthegirl

fritsthegirl

Taste of home
Hi there. How do I reduce the volume in part of a track? My aim is to bring some instruments forward in bridges and then bring them down again when it's over. Maybe I am missing the point but that is what mixing is all about right? I suspect it is the envelope function in Reaper but I can't really figure out how to select only part of a track. When I use it it applies the effect to the whole thing. Post a link, if you know of one, I'd be happy to read it. I'm sure it can't be that complicated (she said optimistically). Thanks in advance!
 
What you need to do is automate parts of the track at those parts.
I'm not familiar with Reaper, but perhaps another person here can help? Or you can try to Google "Automation in Reaper" and see what you can find.
 
You can either use the mouse to create points (right click on the line, Create new point, or Shift-click on the line) and manipulate them manually or you can use the automation record function that records movements of the fader.
 
Another way is to create "volume envelopes" ... it's in the manual.
 
The others have mentioned envelopes, which is a pretty good way of doing it. Bouldersoundguy described how to do this.

Another way is to simply split (S) the wave at points where you want the volume to change, and reduce the level of the snipped bit, by clicking at the top of the wave and dragging down.
 
gecko zzed said:
The others have mentioned envelopes, which is a pretty good way of doing it. Bouldersoundguy described how to do this.

Another way is to simply split (S) the wave at points where you want the volume to change, and reduce the level of the snipped bit, by clicking at the top of the wave and dragging down.
Click to expand...

Sometimes I edit like this and then do volume envelopes. Usually I do corrective stuff with edits and creative stuff with envelopes.
 
Thanks for the help. I use the split function for corrective stuff too, but find because it does a blanket volume change it's not so so good for fading in/out. I'm going to read the section 'automation with envelopes' from the manual, I seriously need to get my head around this function.
 
Of course it's ALL in the PDF manual which is FREE to download! :D
 
Once you learn how to automate in Reaper, you'llnever go back to other methods! Note that you can do it by live 'writing' using the faders - this is the easy way when first learning how to do it. Then once you get the hang of it, its easier and quicker to draw your envelope points manually - I can do it on the fly for a track (for example, zeroing out the volume between phrases on a vocal track), usually able to keep ahead of the track while its playing.
 
fritsthegirl said:
Thanks for the help. I use the split function for corrective stuff too, but find because it does a blanket volume change it's not so so good for fading in/out. I'm going to read the section 'automation with envelopes' from the manual, I seriously need to get my head around this function.
Click to expand...

When I edit continuous audio I overlap and crossfade the sections. You can get a fade effect that way.
 
This envelope tool is freaking great, I've just been using the write function, this is exactly what I wanted and needed. I will never go back, you're right. The guide for Reaper is really comprehensive but occasionally you need someone to mention a few key words & phrases before you get what you can do with it all. Thanks for all the help (I would have given up on it otherwise) I'm gonna play around with this newly found skill for ages now. Dinner can wait.
 
See what you mean bouldersoundguy (nice username) I have been using this function mostly like this too. It did about 70% of what I needed for the track but then I found the transitions not as smooth. Admittedly, this is probably down to user error.
 
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