*PLAY* Engine And REAPER 32bit/64bit Please Help!

[Johnny_B]

Greetings, I have an issue and I cannot figure it out!
I've tried everything (but not everything) since it does not do what I ask of it...

HERE is my issue:
I wish to run *One* instance of the PLAY engine, and output 16 different instruments via midi,
and be able to configure a template as such for production... Possibly group tracks as
many have done here via Cubase, and have sections of instruments...I, for some reason cannot do this!

I run REAPER 32bit/64bit depending on what is working...
When I open up REAPER, I right click on the section where the tracks would be listed
(REAPER loads this area blank)...

When I right click this area, options appear.
I click ADD INSTRUMENT TRACK, and REAPER asks me if I
want to build an 18 out version of the PLAY engine? I say, SURE!:)

So, I have what appears to be ONE master track that says, "PLAY"
I arm the track, load an instrument in PLAY, and can how hear the audio from that instrument.

I have made sure to enable increment midi track as opposed to OMNI in the PLAY settings menu.

When I play that instrument, which is labeled in PLAY as midi (1) AND has a set output to 1-2....
In REAPER, the meter bridge lights up for the next track underneath the first track named *PLAY*

If I were to set the output to 3-4, the meter bridge for that selected track in REAPER will light up...
But, only when I click the keyboard in the software with my mouse? Not with my Midi controller?

In REAPER, there is a master I/O (in and out) setting.
When I click that button I get 10 channels total, and they list midi at none (all of them)
and list audio like this

1-2 => 1-2
3-4 => 1-2
5-6 => 1-2

Does this mean that audio channels 1-6 will be output on 1-2?

I use a Presonus FireBox and the main outs are listed as 1-2??

If so, why doesn't the midi correspond to the midi channel on PLAY

When I load, say 4 instruments, there are (4) midi channels listed which corresponds to the instruments
I have selected when I pressed the (add) button.

I'm so confused, and eager to record something!!!

Any help would be so appreciated from anyone!:(

[peter5992]

Hm - my workflow is very different, I use one instance of Play per channel. The midi files are first created in another program (Sibelius) and then imported into Reaper. After importing I insert instances of Play in the FX bus for each of the channels, and then load the appropriate instrument. Then I can render to audio, after some tweaking and mixing. That works for me.

I tried to copy what you just described, I also get a "play" channel which is armed and then 9 more channels, labeled with odd numbers from 1 through 17. I do get playback of the instrument on channel 1 (as well as any instrument routed to '0' which I guess is omni). Guess this is a mid / audio routing issue. Sorry I can't be more helpful - I am no midi guru by any measure. You could try the Reaper forums or their chat page, they are usually quite helpful.

[Johnny_B]

Thanks for the reply Peter.

I was repeatedly told that using multiple instances is bad for resources, and CPU usage?
If you say it works for you, then I guess it works. I have *only* 6GB of RAM, in my system, and I am
wondering if I should get rid of my limited 4dimm slot Motherboard (which can only use 3 of them in Tri Channel mode)
or get an ASUS Rampage Extreme or equivalent with 6 slots for a hypothetical 24GB???

Not sure, what to do.
The system I bought came wired so beautifully, I'd hate to ruin it, lol...

Many have done what I am asking , but not with the PLAY engine? Or if they have it's not been done in REAPER?
Ahhh.

[Phillip L.]

There is another guy on some other site with trouble using PLAY with Reaper....Is it just me, or is Cubase the sequencer with the least amount of problems?

[qnitech]

Hello there, John form France here (so be patient and kind ;o)
I manage to have all traks routed as I want, each drived by a midi file (I use MOR) and have each track doubled with an audio output to add effects (if I want) so I think that (Johnny B) your problem stand in the play engine, you must assign the play engine output to the REAPER tracks, use IO button for that.
Let me know if it helps.

[Johnny_B]

There is another guy on some other site with trouble using PLAY with Reaper....Is it just me, or is Cubase the sequencer with the least amount of problems?

When I had Cubase, the bish would crash constantly.
Reaper does not crash. I just do not know how to set it up for 16channels of midi, using one instance of PLAY...

REAPER is AWESOME!!!!
And it's only $60

[PHLENDOCAT]

I second that: Reaper KICKS ASS! (and is only $60).

BTW, I've officially made the switch from Cubase Studio 4- it takes FOREVER to load, and it's not worth the wait.

Also, does anybody know how to remedy the (sometimes) missing Play GUI in Reaper?

Cheers,

Drew

[Johnny_B]

I second that: Reaper KICKS ASS! (and is only $60).

BTW, I've officially made the switch from Cubase Studio 4- it takes FOREVER to load, and it's not worth the wait.

Also, does anybody know how to remedy the (sometimes) missing Play GUI in Reaper?

Cheers,

Drew

Sure!

When the GUI disappears, drag and hold the window (holding the mouse button) and woosh it around, left right up, and down
it will appear.


Oh, and btw, I posted the instructions for doing what I asked inside of REAPER, yet another plagues me, and I don't know if it is just the 64bit version of PLAY? Or not?