Getting Started with REAPER: Pt 4

Bringing Your Sounds In: A Guide to Importing Audio and MIDI

Now that you have your project and backup paths set up, it’s time to bring in some sounds. Whether you’re importing a drum loop you downloaded, a vocal take from another project, or a MIDI sequence you created elsewhere, getting files into Reaper is a quick and intuitive process.

Unlike some other DAWs that require complicated import menus, Reaper gives you a number of fast and simple options to get started.

Method 1: The Drag-and-Drop Method

This is the fastest and most common way to import files. It works for both audio and MIDI and is my go-to method for adding media to any project.

Locate the audio or MIDI file you want to import on your computer using File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac).
Click and drag the file directly from its folder into the track list area of your Reaper project.
If you want to place the file on a specific track, simply drag it to that track’s timeline. If you want to create a new track for it, drag it to an empty area below your existing tracks.
Reaper’s drag-and-drop functionality also works with multiple files. Simply select all the files you want to import from your file browser and drag them into the track list. Reaper will automatically create a new track for each file and name the tracks accordingly, streamlining your workflow.
A dialog will pop up asking if you want to copy the media to the project directory. Always click “Yes” to this! This ensures your project is self-contained and prevents files from going offline if you move your project folder. This is the behaviour you set up in our previous article, getting it right at the source.

Method 2: The “Insert” Menu

If you prefer a more traditional workflow, you can use Reaper’s built-in menu to browse for and import files.

From the top menu, navigate to Insert > Media file....
Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + I on Windows or Cmd + I on Mac.
This will open a standard file browser window. Locate the audio or MIDI file you want to import, select it, and click Open.
Just as with the drag-and-drop method, a dialog will pop up asking if you want to copy the media to the project directory. Again, always click “Yes.”

Understanding the Difference: Audio vs. MIDI

While you can import both audio and MIDI files into Reaper, it’s important to understand what they are and how they behave.

Audio Files (.wav, .mp3, .flac) are digital representations of soundwaves. Think of them like a picture of a performance. When you import an audio file, you’re importing the actual recorded sound.
MIDI Files (.mid) are not sound at all. Instead, they are a set of instructions. Think of MIDI like sheet music or a list of commands that tells an instrument what notes to play, when to play them, and how hard to play them.

Because of this key difference, when you import a MIDI file, Reaper will also prompt you to select the appropriate virtual instrument (VSTi) to play the MIDI data. This is a very handy feature that helps you get sounds from your MIDI files quickly.

Pro Tip: Working with Loops & Samples

Once you’ve imported a drum loop, sample, or other piece of audio, you’ll often want to stretch it to fit the tempo of your project.

Looping: To quickly create copies of an item, hold down the Ctrl key on Windows or Cmd on Mac, and click and drag the right edge of the item to the right. The item will repeat for as long as you drag.
Stretching: To stretch a sample to fit your project’s tempo, hold down the Alt key on Windows or Option on Mac, and click and drag either the left or right edge of the audio item. This will activate a time-stretching mode, allowing you to visually snap the audio to the project grid.

My Final Thoughts

Importing files into Reaper is a core part of the creative process, and thankfully, the process is streamlined and efficient. By using these two methods and always making sure to copy your files to the project directory, you’ll ensure that your projects remain organised and your files are never lost.

Now that you know how to bring your sounds into Reaper, in my next article, we will go one step further and discuss how to record your own audio from scratch.

I’d Love to Hear Your Thoughts…

Do you have any go-to tips or tricks for importing files into Reaper? Or have you run into any common problems you’ve managed to solve? What are your experiences with importing files in other DAWs? Share your insights and questions in the comments below!