__________________ Windows 10x64 | AMD Ryzen 3700X | ATI FirePro 2100 | Marian Seraph AD2, 4.3.8 | Yamaha Steinberg MR816x "If I can hear well, then everything I do is right" (Allen Sides)
Allow me to respectfully disagree. I do see the value of trying something, falling on your face and learning from the experience, so we are in agreement there.
Learning a DAW is an incredible time sink. Learning everything by trial and error is not productive and is an ineffective way to learn. In fact, I continue to learn things from Kenny’s videos long after first viewing. Certain topics such as time stretching markers to correct timing errors in performances are too complex just to “wing it” and hope you get a musical result.
I found the videos a priceless asset to the entire Reaper package. Ymmv.
Allow me to respectfully disagree. I do see the value of trying something, falling on your face and learning from the experience, so we are in agreement there.
Learning a DAW is an incredible time sink. Learning everything by trial and error is not productive and is an ineffective way to learn. In fact, I continue to learn things from Kenny’s videos long after first viewing. Certain topics such as time stretching markers to correct timing errors in performances are too complex just to “wing it” and hope you get a musical result.
I found the videos a priceless asset to the entire Reaper package. Ymmv.
Yes! Even with vids and tutorials, there will be plenty of falling on your face for anyone.
Allow me to respectfully disagree. I do see the value of trying something, falling on your face and learning from the experience, so we are in agreement there.
Learning a DAW is an incredible time sink. Learning everything by trial and error is not productive and is an ineffective way to learn. In fact, I continue to learn things from Kenny’s videos long after first viewing. Certain topics such as time stretching markers to correct timing errors in performances are too complex just to “wing it” and hope you get a musical result.
I found the videos a priceless asset to the entire Reaper package. Ymmv.
By all means disagree!
However bulk of experienced users, history's greats etc. learnt their skills with zero videos.. so there's that.
The type of persistence and focus required to learn the software in an organic manner is a fundamental part of the skillset required to successfully produce output imo and worth developing itself.
Now I've certainly used videos to check new features or to see what a plumber says about fixing a cistern but there is a negative with video tutorials now in that there are an infinite amount, and by design they make you feel educated and supply dopamine that fools you into believing you gained a skill when in fact you have some core snippets of information which require executing repeatedly in the real world before any real learning or skill development takes place. And by watching the videos you may have wasted time not executing key learning cycles!
I recall an in person tutorial as a student where tutor opened up protools, showed me automation in 2 mins then Left me to it. That was my conservatoire pro training!
Years later at a Tutoring job interview I was asked to prepare a 'lesson' on automation in cubase.. my reaction was like 'thats a two minute job not a lesson'.
Nows it a 5 part video series in 4k with twelve camera angles infographic pdfs and a weekly podcast!
Or could just open the software and make stuff. Then have a listen.
Obviously am not going to change minds just offering a perspective that they aren't all what cracked up to be.
Time at the coal face is where rewards are made imo.
However bulk of experienced users, history's greats etc. learnt their skills with zero videos.. so there's that.
But that doesn't mean they all learned it the same way. People learn differently, and sometimes really differently. I deal with insanely complex large scale computing systems (train control) every day. As part of that, I teach a class in parts of it to the industry. All the students are professionals with a good understanding of the domain, or at least parts of the domain. What I learned from doing this over the years is that even in a group of intelligent and motivated learners, their "learning styles" are all over the map.
Some people like a little guidance and go figure it out themselves. Some people need detailed step by steps. Some people are readers. Some people are not. Some people like the theoretical. Some people need "hands on."
Helping people figure stuff out is predicated on figuring out how they figure stuff out.
Kenny G is a farkin' hero as far as I'm concerned. Outside of the software itself, his videos are the single most important thing there is when it comes to spreading Reaper Love. Someone new coming into Reaper always has an "Can it do X?" question, and I've yet to see one of those questions that couldn't be answered through one of his tutorials. But that is only as far as I'm concerned. They satisfy my learning style, and evidently, a lot of other's, too. It's OK if they don't satisfy yours.
Some other folks love the manual. And it is a very good manual, and worthy of love. Some folks like the forums. Some folks like to poke at it until it works. You've been around long enough to see it, I'm sure.
Point is, given the variety of learning styles, it is only a benefit to have a variety of learning options. And Reaper, as always, provides that in spades.
Kenny G is a farkin' hero as far as I'm concerned. Outside of the software itself, his videos are the single most important thing there is when it comes to spreading Reaper Love. Someone new coming into Reaper always has an "Can it do X?" question, and I've yet to see one of those questions that couldn't be answered through one of his tutorials. But that is only as far as I'm concerned. They satisfy my learning style, and evidently, a lot of other's, too. It's OK if they don't satisfy yours.
Thanks
Quote:
Originally Posted by BenK-msx
Sure, I just have something against music production tutorials.. hard to put finger on, I'll articulate it correctly one day.
Would love to hear your input.
Last edited by Kenny Gioia; 05-13-2022 at 10:54 AM.
Years later at a Tutoring job interview I was asked to prepare a 'lesson' on automation in cubase.. my reaction was like 'thats a two minute job not a lesson'.
Nows it a 5 part video series in 4k with twelve camera angles infographic pdfs and a weekly podcast!
Or could just open the software and make stuff. Then have a listen
LOL.. indeed it is so.
Am not against people learning this way,but it does prove that some like to be told what to do and this means not using their own logic/sense/intuition.
It also leads to the next question.. "what videos does kenny watch to make a video on new REAPER features and functions?"
#IF kenny is not getting full working instructions from the coders themselves,how on this earth is HE figuring all this out?
Simple. HE does the brainwork and physical actions and shares that to communities (ok he might be getting paid for it,but yeah)
You do great videos man, this is a massive helicopter view type thing.
I have a small issue with the genre of tutorial videos for everything - the social media style dopamine reward effect that makes viewers feel that they've learnt without actually learning.
Appreciate am a little old school started using an amiga sample tracker in 1991 'cos I heard you could make music on an Amiga and wanted to, so sat there and figured it out. Did some crappy tune, taped it. Listened to it back the next day, tried again..
I figured along with a few others here back in the day all the various setup of the behringer bcf2000, by spending Hrs trying to figure it out. Damn nightmare
. Then sharing a post.
I think as hard as that sh*t was that making music well is way harder & requires similar persistence and tenacity so if you aren't cut out for figuring out the tech to get you to the tune making, "the persistence gene" as I call it, hope for the actual music making is low. Obviously a massive generalisation. The learning curve for the software selects for those that can stick out the dark times of getting it wrong over and over.
I tutor now specialising in voice but touching on everything as everything contributes to being a better singer imo, and videos like interviews with the highly successful, philosophy of music stuff are great.
Or even getting a quick heads up on new features I didn't keep track of.
But how to sidechain your kick or top 5 ways to fatten your mom's hihats just seems unimportant and a time suck when you could be actually getting better.
Am not against people learning this way,but it does prove that some like to be told what to do and this means not using their own logic/sense/intuition.
I used to get mad at a guy at work who was always asking me “Tell me how this works,” or “Show me how to do it.” I would always say “Just read the manual. Everything you’re asking me to tell you is in there.”
Then I found out he is severely dyslexic, and it takes him several hours to read and really understand a technical paper that might take me 10 minutes to read.
He is incredibly smart. I used to think he wasn’t motivated to learn things on his own. Then I realized that asking me to explain something was his way of taking the initiative to learn new things.
If we had had instructional videos about semiconductor physics and all the tools we worked with back then, he would have loved it.
__________________
Best Regards, Ernie "lunker" Lundqvist
BDSM (Bad Dog Studio Musicians)
Windows 10 running on Z390 + i7-8700
After you've gone through the basics, it wouldn't hurt to start at the beginning and slowly work your way through the ones you haven't watched yet https://www.youtube.com/c/REAPERMani...t=da&flow=grid
(start at video #8 'Multi Track Drum Recording in REAPER')
But that doesn't mean they all learned it the same way. People learn differently, and sometimes really differently. ………Kenny G is a farkin' hero as far as I'm concerned. Outside of the software itself, his videos are the single most important thing there is when it comes to spreading Reaper Love.
Well said, Jerome. Even with video help and the manual, there is plenty of room to fail and learn from your personal failures. I don’t get the allure of personally re-inventing the wheel all the time. I’m not learning Reaper for it’s own sake, it’s a tool for making music.
Kenny helps me come to grips with the former so I can work on the latter.
A picture (or video) is worth a thousand words.
Seeing is believing.
The purpose of Kenny's video series is to point you in the right direction. He doesn't tell you how to make music. That's up to you.
The other day I was doing some punching in and a quick 10 min recap from Kenny probably saved me an hour of #%^*ing about.
Bless you Kenny
__________________
It's never too late and you only have to get lucky once.
A picture (or video) is worth a thousand words.
Seeing is believing.
The purpose of Kenny's video series is to point you in the right direction. He doesn't tell you how to make music. That's up to you.
The other day I was doing some punching in and a quick 10 min recap from Kenny probably saved me an hour of #%^*ing about.
But I don't that fx instrument in my reaper... I don't have much fx's in my reaper.
And there is 83 videos about fx. Which one shows me how to install the plugins mentioned in the video? Hopefully they are free.
I do see a video about paid fx plugins. I will get to that later.
The virtual midi keyboard is built into Reaper. It is not an Fx or vsti. And you have a LOT of fx that came with Reaper. The 83 videos you mention are all about the fx that come with Reaper, I believe. You don’t have to install them.
You make a track. In Input, select MIDI and then select Virtual MIDI Keyboard. Done. Now whatever you play on that keyboard is a midi input to that track.
Reaper does not come with a lot of vst instruments. You have to download these yourself. Many are paid programs but many excellent vsti are free. Kenny has a series about free vsti: where to find them, how to download them and how to use them in Reaper.
Look for Free Virtual Instrument Plugins. There are 10-11 excellent vsti that most Reaper users will find useful.
Reaper does not come with a lot of vst instruments. You have to download these yourself. Many are paid programs but many excellent vsti are free. Kenny has a series about free vsti: where to find them, how to download them and how to use them in Reaper.
Look for Free Virtual Instrument Plugins. There are 10-11 excellent vsti that most Reaper users will find useful.
I will check out those videos!
Quote:
Originally Posted by rckrebs
You make a track. In Input, select MIDI and then select Virtual MIDI Keyboard. Done. Now whatever you play on that keyboard is a midi input to that track.
I did this but I couldn't hear my Virtual MIDI Keyboard when I pressed the keys OR on playback but I did see the volume levels go up and down. Please clarify.
Quote:
Originally Posted by chip mcdonald
How much time are you expecting to put into this, and out of curiosity, how long do you expect it to take before you can be fast at production?
I am putting in a decent amount of time in and it should take me a month or so to get it down, I guess.
I did this but I couldn't hear my Virtual MIDI Keyboard when I pressed the keys OR on playback but I did see the volume levels go up and down. Please clarify.
I’ll try, but I can’t figure out all your issues from the little info you have given.
First off a Midi controller (whether virtual or hardware) makes no sound. What it does to is send Midi information as an input into your track. Unless I’m mistaken, you are not seeing volume levels, you are seeing that Midi data is being input. So MIDI is being sent to the track but there is nothing that will respond to the Midi information. Since you haven’t told Reaper what to do with the data……no sound.
So make sure you are Record enabled and turn on monitoring for that track. Now go to the FX button and click it. A list of vsts will appear. Look for ReaSynth (a simple synth) and click on it. You have now told Reaper that you want ReaSynth to play the incoming data and you should now hear something. You should also see red coloured volume levels now.
If nothing happens then you need even more basic info on how to set up your computer, your audio interface and Reaper.
It would also help if you explain your equipment and what your problems are more succinctly, to allow us to have a better understanding of your issues. Hope this helps.
I’ll try, but I can’t figure out all your issues from the little info you have given.
First off a Midi controller (whether virtual or hardware) makes no sound. What it does to is send Midi information as an input into your track. Unless I’m mistaken, you are not seeing volume levels, you are seeing that Midi data is being input. So MIDI is being sent to the track but there is nothing that will respond to the Midi information. Since you haven’t told Reaper what to do with the data……no sound.
So make sure you are Record enabled and turn on monitoring for that track. Now go to the FX button and click it. A list of vsts will appear. Look for ReaSynth (a simple synth) and click on it. You have now told Reaper that you want ReaSynth to play the incoming data and you should now hear something. You should also see red coloured volume levels now.
If nothing happens then you need even more basic info on how to set up your computer, your audio interface and Reaper.
It would also help if you explain your equipment and what your problems are more succinctly, to allow us to have a better understanding of your issues. Hope this helps.
Thanks all, I am overwhelmed by videos... all it was, I think, I have to install piano one for it to work.
The thing is,even the best manual,video,or instructor just cannot teach somethings that hands on experiences can.
Some techniques are just not widely shared or used,but some are each worthy of complete manuals or videos to explain in depth.
Sometimes we need to let go,to go forward.watch/listen >
The reason why luke hit his target is because he actually switched off auto tracking and used the force.
The force is strong,if you allow it to flow.
Become 1 with the reaperverse,and the rate of learning will increase.
Was trying to imagine kenny in the same costume..now that was silly.
A lot of music,or any other related productions,seems to be linked with feelings of some kind,so going through all the if's,why's,but's,how's and o f fudge not again's has its uses.
You get a feeling for things..some make you happy/sad and helps you know more what you want,and what you do not want?
Make music. Make bad music. Make slightly better music. Eventually make some good music. No shortcuts
I agree with a lot of what has been said in this thread but would just like to add that as a language teacher I have learnt about the different ways people learn things, it's usually a mixture of "visual"-type people who learn mostly by seeing things done, or "oral"-type people who mainly learn by hearing an explanation and finally "kinetic"-type people who learn mainly by doing it. The same techniques can be applied to learning anything, music included and the optimal way is usually a combination of all three.
^ Yes all learn their own ways..i really love videos,kenny does a brilliant well made set of REAPER know_how_to_tools.
Nicer thing is,every video can be downloaded,shared,played picture in picture mode (nice for learning) and disected later using REAPER for learning purposes.
Looking at video details,bit rates,sample rates,dimensions etcetc.
Maybe learning how to put actual sound to picture..synced pan automations etc.
Everything is clear and on topic..focused content.
Great *free* reference tools.
Thanks Kenny Gioia.
I agree with a lot of what has been said in this thread but would just like to add that as a language teacher I have learnt about the different ways people learn things, it's usually a mixture of "visual"-type people who learn mostly by seeing things done, or "oral"-type people who mainly learn by hearing an explanation and finally "kinetic"-type people who learn mainly by doing it. The same techniques can be applied to learning anything, music included and the optimal way is usually a combination of all three.
Well, As a lifelong musician I've learnt about learning too. Ascended many a learning curve.
Acquiring a skill is done in a quite limited way. Learning cycles are well documented physiological processes.
Since dawn of time we learnt by shadowing an expert, listening to them, watching them, then executing under their supervision, such that they could feedback and guide.
Thats how im going about tutoring. Me and student doing music.
My issue with video tutorials for music has been wonderfully exemplified by our buddy Steve who is overwhelmed by videos and is recommended ever growing list of videos, has watched loads of videos yet hasn't got the virtual keyboard working, which is day one stuff.
Whilst all that is going on he has likely not done much hip-hop beat making.. which is the entire fudging point.
This isnt learning reaper for the sake of learning reaper, so you can pass a using reaper exam.
I think the lazy part of people's brains (it's in all of us) tricks them into believing videos are real learning because it's easier.
I used to think reading through my revision notes for exams was somehow magically me learning the notes because I'd read them a few times. Bullshitted myself out of laziness.
Learning and skill acquisition is hard. It makes your brain literally hurt. Humans would rather watch a video.
I think the lazy part of people's brains (it's in all of us) tricks them into believing videos are real learning because it's easier.
I used to think reading through my revision notes for exams was somehow magically me learning the notes because I'd read them a few times. Bullshitted myself out of laziness.
Learning and skill acquisition is hard. It makes your brain literally hurt. Humans would rather watch a video.
You've spent a lot of time here shooting down the value of Reaper videos. Not just for yourself, but saying that people who find learning value in them are deluded. Wow.
Which Videos To Watch
Linear Mode
