Creating White Noise in Reaper: A Step-by-Step Guide

If you're a music producer, sound engineer, or even a regular user of Reaper, the popular Digital Audio Workstation (DAW), then you probably already know how versatile and powerful this software can be. One of the things that many people want to do but don't always know how to achieve is creating white noise in Reaper.

Why would you want to create white noise, you might ask? White noise can be a helpful tool for sound masking, audio testing, or even as a creative element in your music production. In this guide, we'll walk you through the process of generating white noise using Reaper, step by step.

Step 1: Create a new track

• Open Reaper and create a new track by right-clicking on the empty track space in the 'Track Control Panel' and selecting 'Insert New Track.'

Step 2: Add ReaSynth plugin

• Click on the 'FX' button in the newly created track to open the 'FX Browser.'
• Search for the 'ReaSynth' plugin under 'Cockos' in the plugin list.
• Drag and drop or double-click the plugin to add it to the track.

Step 3: Configure ReaSynth

• In the ReaSynth window, set the 'Waveform' dropdown menu to 'Noise.'
• Set the 'Volume' slider to an appropriate level; this will control the amplitude of the white noise.

Step 4: Create a MIDI item

• Close the ReaSynth window.
• In the Reaper arrange view, double-click on the track to create a new MIDI item.
• Adjust the length and position of the MIDI item as desired.

Step 5: Edit the MIDI item

• Double-click the MIDI item to open the MIDI editor.
• In the MIDI editor, click on the piano roll to insert a MIDI note.
• Stretch the MIDI note to cover the entire length of the MIDI item.
• Close the MIDI editor.

Now you have a track that generates white noise in Reaper. You can further customize the sound by adding EQ or other effects, or automate the volume to control the intensity of the white noise throughout your project.

In conclusion, creating white noise in Reaper is easy and quick, using the built-in ReaSynth plugin and MIDI item editing. This new addition to your sound library can open up many creative possibilities and enhance your audio production.