Rob,

Two of my main reasons for using Reaper are: (a) the ability to create tracks through copy and paste; (b) control over the types of envelopes. A third reason would be that it is a program I feel comfortable with (although I barely scratch the surface of what it can do).

Even though partial regeneration has always been possible in Realband, sometimes I want to replace some particular chord or bass note in a generation with a chord or note from somewhere else in the track. Using snap features and different types of envelopes (e.g. slow start and end, fast start, fast end, etc.) in Reaper makes it much easier for me to create seamless joins in Reaper than in Realband. I'm not sure if that's true of today's Realband, though, because my techniques began developing years ago when Reaper was more streamlined in this regard than Realband. Over the years, I have also developed some strategies using routing techniques envelope-control techniques in Reaper. Like many things in the music field, it often boils down to feeling comfortable with the software you use. I like all three products equally. Creating vocal harmony in Realband is still one of the great strengths of the product. Now that it supports VST3, I will be playing around with Realband's harmonies and Synth V as I attempt to find out what's possible.

If you are curious, below is my latest musical creation. I forged the track by using Synth V (standalone) with a rendered backing from BIAB. When I was happy with the vocal line, I then rendered it to wav and sent it to Reaper for dressing up and mixing with the guitar tracks. I also used a MIDI chord track (exported from BIAB to Reaper) to play the MIDI guitar (a Kontakt instrument). My final two guitar tracks, one Realtrack and one rendered MIDI track, were assembled by a reasonable amount of cutting/copying and pasting to create the overall comp'd track. In this particular instance, I didn't use Realband. Had I wanted vocal harmony, though, Realband would have featured in the production chain.

--Noel

★ my latest song: How Do I Love Thee? (vocals by Synth V’s vocaloid, Natalie)

MY SONGS...
Audiophile BIAB 2026