Quickstart Guide

You can use the VST3 plugin in Reaper as a VST3i (instrument plugin). If you installed the plugin to the default location, Reaper will find it. If you installed the plugin to a different location, add the new plugin directory through Reaper's Preferences dialog and re-scan for plugins. You can load the plugin to generate tracks, then drag the tracks into the Tracks window as a stereo mix from the green rectangle or as separate tracks from the blue rectangle. See below for more information.

Reaper Panel: Special New Feature for Reaper Users in Version 6
(Included with Band-in-a-Box^® 2024)

For Reaper users, the Plugin has added built-in specific support for the Reaper DAW API allowing direct transfer of Band-in-a-Box^® files to/from Reaper tracks, including tiny lossless files of instructions which play audio instantly from disk.

When you run the Plugin from Reaper, there is a panel to set the following options:

BB Track(s) to send: This allows you to select the Plugin tracks that will be sent Reaper.

Destination Reaper Track: This lets you select the destination Reaper track to receive media content from the Plugin.

At Bar: You can select a bar in Reaper where the Plugin tracks should be placed.

Start Below Selected Track: This allows you to place the Plugin tracks below the destination Reaper track.

Overwrite Reaper Track: You can overwrite previous content on the destination Reaper track.

Move to Project Folder: With this option, you can move the Plugin tracks to the Reaper project folder.

Send Reaper Instructions Enable this option to send the Reaper Instructions instead of rendering audio tracks, which is faster.

Render Audio & Instructions: Enable this option to generate audio files and the Reaper instructions.

Send Tracks After Generating: This allows the Plugin to automatically send tracks to Reaper after generating.

Send Audio for MIDI Track: Enable this option to send rendered audio for MIDI tracks.

Send RealCharts with Audio: If this option is enabled, Enable this option to send RealCharts with audio.

Contents

• Installation
• Tips & Tricks
  • Drag Instruments to Separate Tracks
  • Disable Time Stretching of Audio in Reaper
• Support
  • I Can't Find The Plugin
  • Reaper is Out Of Sync with The Plugin
  • I Can't Find My RealTracks, RealDrums, or RealStyles
  • I Can't Load the 64-bit Plugin in Reaper
  • One of my Tracks is Too Loud
• External Resources

Installation

1. Run the Band-in-a-Box^® Plugin installer
2. Open Reaper and go to Options > Preferences > VST
3. Make sure your plugin folders are correct (see above)
4. If You installed the Band-in-a-Box^® Plugin to a custom location, add the directory here
5. Press the Re-scan button
6. Click the FX button on a new track to select plugin

Drag Your Instruments to Separate Reaper Tracks

First, make sure you have generated all of your tracks in the Band-in-a-Box^® Plugin. You can tell if they have been generated because the green and blue rectangles beside the track names will be filled with color instead of outlined in color. Now, drag from the blue rectangle on the Master track to any blank space in your Reaper project tracks window. Reaper will ask you if you want to drop the audio to separate Tracks or a single track. Select Separate Tracks. You should now see all of your Band-in-a-Box^® instruments on separate tracks.

Tips & Tricks

Drag Your Instruments to Separate Reaper Tracks

First, make sure you have generated all of your tracks in the Band-in-a-Box^® Plugin. You can tell if they have been generated because the green and blue rectangles beside the track names will be filled with color instead of outlined in color. Now, drag from the blue rectangle on the Master track to any blank space in your Reaper project tracks window. Reaper will ask you if you want to drop the audio to separate Tracks or a single track. Select Separate Tracks. You should now see all of your Band-in-a-Box^® instruments on separate tracks.

Disable Time Stretching of Audio in Reaper

Say you want to change the tempo of your Reaper project but you don't want Reaper to stretch your audio tracks. You can prevent this by selecting all of your audio blocks, pressing the F2 Key, clicking on the dropdown box beside Item timebase, and selecting Time.

Support

I Can't Find The Plugin

The Band-in-a-Box^® Plugin is listed as an instrument plugin. Instrument plugins are catalogued in Reaper with an "i" at the end of their plugin type. For example, if you would like to load the VST3 Band-in-a-Box^® Plugin, search under the VST3i category. For the VST2 version, search under the VSTi category.

Reaper is Out Of Sync with The Plugin

Please adjust the BPM (beats per minute) of your Reaper project before dragging tracks from the Band-in-a-Box^® plugin. If you adjust the tempo after dragging audio from the plugin to Reaper tracks, Reaper will automatically stretch or compress the audio time to match the new tempo (by default). If your Band-in-a-Box^® style has a time signature like 3/4, make sure you have changed the time signature in your Reaper project too.

I Can't Find My RealTracks, RealDrums, or RealStyles

From the Band-in-a-Box^® plugin, go to File > Preferences and select the correct directories for your Band-in-a-Box^® installation, your RealTracks folder, and your RealDrums folder. The default locations are listed for your convenience. You can either type them in or browse to them with the Select buttons.

I Can't Load the 64-bit Plugin in Reaper

First, make sure that your operating system is 64-bit. If you're using Windows 7 or 10, you can do this by searching for computer from the start menu. Then right-click on Computer and select Properties. Under System Type: look for 32-bit or 64-bit. Next, make sure that you have the 64-bit version of Reaper. You can check if you have the 64-bit version by going to Help > About Reaper and look for x32 or x64 in the title. If you need to download the 64-bit version of Reaper, you can do so from http://www.reaper.fm.

If you are unable to run the 64-bit version of Reaper because your operating system is 32-bit, you can run the 32-bit version of Reaper and use the 32-bit VST2 Band-in-a-Box^® Plugin.

One of my Tracks is Too Loud

Some people are experiencing a bug in Reaper that makes your track's audio too loud if you have audio on the same track that the Band-in-a-Box^® plugin is loaded to. The solution is to load the plugin to a separate track that does not contain any audio.

External Resources

Official Reaper Resources

The official Reaper resources include themes, screenshots, projects, and more. If you sign in to your Reaper account, you can even upload, rate, or leave comments.

Reaper Forums

Post your questions, seek answers, or have conversations with other Reaper users in the official Reaper forum.

Reaper Documentation (wiki)

The Reaper documentation is structured like a wiki and is a great resource. You'll find information on everything from the basics to advanced features here.