First time trying audio recording on a PC. Also just re-learning guitar after some 35 years. So I have not played guitar for longer than many of you have been alive :D. I am learning how much I have forgotten, both mental and muscle memory. Maybe I am just old and stiff:(. I have watched a few YT videos on Reaper about this and also played about with it myself, and what I am gathering is that an external device is needed to set actual input/record levels to Reaper. That can be anything from an "input box," to the volume levels on a guitar. But what puzzles me is that Reaper has its own input and output sliders in the mixer. AFAICS the input slider alters the audible level, but not the recorded level. The output slider does the same. So do I have to have external gear to get any control over recorded levels? What exactly does the mixer do in Reaper? I am aware of stuff audio: I have mixed for bands quite a bit on a 12 channel mixer, ancient though it was ( it had a spring reverb, so you had to protect it from bumps front of house, or remember to turn reverb clean off) Help appreciated

Hi there, no, there is no record level in Reaper, normally you would adjust the interface level. You can however create one by putting a 'volume control effect' as an 'input effect' instead of a track effect, then you will have a record level control. Dave

The mixer control panel sliders only control volume levels on each track during monitoring or playback, they are normally routed to the master track where you have the ability to add final effects eg. Limiter and adjust the level to be rendered to final stereo output. Hope that all makes sense, have you downloaded the exelent user manual from the main site? Dave

Start here:

Nick, I record guitar(s) at home the same way you are planning, and yes, the first thing you will need is an interface of some type. I use a Presonus 2 channel USB interface, a lot of people here use the Saphire products, all work very well. In my setup, I have a mute switch on my Fender Bassbreaker tube amp that lets me mute the speaker, (I live in a condo and my neighbors don't appreciate my guitar wizardy. :) ) but I still get output on my XLR line out that I connect directly to the interface. However, if I wanted to, I could just connect the guitar directly to the interface, then use amp/cabinet sims on that track to get the tone I want. As far as recording levels, that's all done through the interface. The rule of thumb around here seems to be that you set the input level on the interface to where the signal is showing around -18 db on the meter. But in my setup, going through the amp and pedal board, getting that level on the interface introduces a lot of noise so I crank the interface input level down below that noise level, then use tools in Reaper to boost that as needed in the mix. I'm just a home/hobbyist so that works for me.

Nick Please watch Kenny Gioia videos. They are excellent and will save you many hours referring to the (434) pages of the REAPER user manual (but pls refer to that also if you need to). If you let Kenny guide you through the basics, you'll find the rest often follows intuitively. (If you're watching Kenny, a big thanks for your tuition videos).