MIDISketch in Reaper

Reaper's flexible routing and lightweight architecture make it an excellent host for MIDISketch. Load it as a VSTi, host your synth inside, and start drawing per-note pitch curves.

Getting Started

Download & Install

Download the installer for your platform. Windows uses an .exe, macOS uses a .pkg that installs VST3, AU, and CLAP. On Linux, download the VST3 or CLAP tarball.

Download MIDISketch

Load in Reaper

On any track, click the FX button. In the FX browser, search for MIDISketch under VST3 instruments (VSTi). Add it to the track.

Reaper should detect the plugin automatically. If it doesn't appear, go to Options → Preferences → VST and rescan.

Hosting Synths

The simplest approach, load your synth directly inside MIDISketch. Reaper's lightweight plugin hosting means virtually any VST3 synth works.

Click the Synth button in MIDISketch's toolbar to open the plugin browser.
Load any VST3 synth, Serum, Vital, Phase Plant, Pigments, Surge XT, or anything installed.
Inside the hosted synth, enable MPE mode and set pitch bend range to 48 semitones.
Most synths default to a pitch bend range of 2. Bends will sound barely audible until you change this to 48. Alternatively, match MIDISketch's pitch bend range to your synth in File → MIDI Settings.
Place notes in MIDISketch's piano roll. Double-click to add pitch points, drag to create bends and glides.
Press play in Reaper. Everything plays through the hosted synth in real time.

Why Reaper

Reaper supports full MPE pass-through natively
Lightweight, MIDISketch + hosted synth runs efficiently
Flexible routing for complex MPE setups
VST3, CLAP, and AU all supported
Works on Windows, macOS, and Linux
Export MIDI or drag-and-drop into Reaper items

Guides for Other DAWs

Get MIDISketch, Free Trial

VST3 + AU + CLAP · macOS, Windows & Linux · $45 Lifetime License