To record vocals in Reaper, set Reaper to use your audio interface, create a track, set its record input to the right mic channel, arm the track, enable input monitoring, set a safe level, and hit record. Below is the full workflow so you get a clean, usable take the first time.
This guide assumes you already have Reaper open and a microphone plugged into your interface. If you are still wiring things up, our walkthrough on how to set up an audio interface covers that side first.
Set your audio device in Reaper
Before you can record vocals in Reaper, point it at your interface. Open Preferences, go to the Audio > Device page, and select your interface as the audio device. On Windows, ASIO with your interface’s own driver gives the lowest latency; on macOS, Core Audio handles this for you. Set a small buffer size (for example 128 or 256 samples) to keep monitoring latency low while you sing. If you hear clicks or dropouts, raise the buffer slightly.
Create and arm a vocal track
Double-click in the empty track area (or press Ctrl/Cmd+T) to add a track and name it “Vocals”. Then:
- Click the track’s record-arm button (the round button on the track panel) so it lights red.
- Set the record input: click the input/route area on the track, choose Mono input, and pick the channel your mic is on (usually input 1).
- Set record mode to “Input (audio)” so you capture the audio, not MIDI.
Recording vocals mono is correct for a single mic — a stereo track just duplicates the same signal and wastes space.
Set your input level and gain stage properly
Gain comes from your interface’s preamp knob, not from Reaper. Have the singer perform their loudest section while you watch the track meter. Aim for peaks around -12 to -6 dBFS, leaving headroom so the loudest notes never hit 0 dBFS and clip. If you are unsure why that target matters, our guide to gain staging explains it clearly.
Good mic placement matters as much as level. A pop filter a few inches in front of the mic and consistent distance from the capsule will save you cleanup later — see microphone placement for vocals for the practical detail.
Enable monitoring and record
Click the track’s monitor button so the singer can hear themselves through their headphones. If the slight delay feels off, lower your buffer size or use your interface’s direct/hardware monitoring instead and turn Reaper’s software monitoring off for that track.
When you are ready, press R (or the transport record button). Reaper records onto the armed track. Press the spacebar or stop button to end the take. Each new recording over the same region stacks as a take, which makes it easy to keep singing passes and choose the best parts later.
Tidy up after the take
Disarm the track once you are done so you do not accidentally overwrite it. Listen back, trim silence from the head and tail, and crossfade any edits. From here you can move into processing — EQ, compression and a touch of reverb — covered in our how to mix vocals walkthrough.
If you plan to record several vocal passes and assemble the best moments, read up on how to comp vocals in a DAW, and to keep monitoring smooth for the performer, see setting up a headphone mix in a DAW.
Frequently asked questions
Why can’t I hear my mic while recording in Reaper?
Most often the track’s monitor button is off, the wrong input channel is selected, or your interface’s direct monitoring is muted. Check that the track is armed, monitoring is enabled, and the input matches the physical jack your mic uses.
Should I record vocals in mono or stereo in Reaper?
Record a single vocal mic in mono. Set the track input to a mono channel matching your mic. Stereo only makes sense when you genuinely use two mics or a stereo source.
How do I reduce latency when recording vocals in Reaper?
Lower the audio buffer size in Preferences > Audio > Device, use your interface’s native ASIO or Core Audio driver, and bypass heavy plugins on the input chain while tracking. If latency persists, use the interface’s hardware monitoring.
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