Reaper install check list. (Educational)

Hi all. I started to use Reaper for my audio lessons with my students. I've been encouraging them to use this DAW and, as I learn more and more about it I translate this knowledge to them in an effort to build a Reaper users community in my home town. Now I'm just giving them a copy of my setting in a USB pendrive using the option "install reaper to a USB or removable drive". But some of the students want to install it from scratch and add all the improvements and modifications. So I think that a basic Install Check list is needed in order to have the most up to date Reaper version with some "must have" improuvements. Until now I have this but I'm sure that there must be more to add: 1. Install Reaper v3.72 2. Install SWS Extension v1.8.6 #1 3. Install ReaMenus #008 4. Install EvilDragon Color Toolbar v2.5 5. Install some of my own Macros and actions I created to emulate ProTools workflow (I'm learning a lot from AdamWatham Reaper customizations for ProTools). My intention is to provide all the files to the students and make a simple text tutorial for them to properly install all the files. Many of them are non english proficient with basic computer skills so it's hard for them to doit themselves. Well tell me if I had to add something essential to the list or what ever you think could be usefull. Thanks. Ed.

No suggestions?

I think you've pretty much got it covered dude! Only other things I install are: - themes - custom toolbars

fingers groove extension and perhaps media sweeper too ;) (oh and AAtranslator if you need to import export from other DAWS) :)

and perhaps an app for an external wav editor... audacity is the free one... I don't love it but it is free... there are other free ones on the net if you google around...

Fingers extension TRULY is a must have!!! Subz

Provide links. Newbies tend to get lost here, it happened to me.

Fingers thread x64 (64bit) x86 (32bit) :) Subz

The message of this thread can be understood as "what a newcomer to Reaper should install before diving into Reaper". I disagree with that notion. While it is a good idea for you and your students to be on the same grounds installing all that from the get-go is only a good idea when guidance is provided like in your case. Not for the lone rider who wants to learn the app on his own/by manual/with help from the forum. When I recommend Reaper to a newbie (to Reaper, not necessarily to recording) I tell them about the modular stuff and the possibility to extend the feature set, but I highly recommend a vanilla install without all those extras for the first encounters with the program. Better to learn to walk first before trying to run. ReaMenus are a double ended sword. The moment you install them you say goodbye to being consistent with the user manual (as far as it regards menus). Not the best idea for newbies I'd think. Personally, when I started out reapering I was - though overwhelmed by the shear masses of first level entries - glad that the menus were that wordy and that most functions were at the first level. It made scanning menus for the function I was looking for a lot easier than the far more abstract ReaMenu strategy where I would have to visit lots of submenus to find something. If Reaper came with ReaMenus by default, I guess I'd have been totally lost in my first steps. While ED's colorbar is nice and dandy, installing it is not something a newbie should feel obliged to be bothered with. I mean it's just about coloring stuff more easily. It's a cool demonstration of what the custom toolbars are capable of, but for sure not necessary for somebody who just wants to dive in. The person will most probably be put off just from figuring out how to install it, before he even first started the program. And if he's been told it's kind of a necessity to have in order to have fun with Reaper, I think that's the wrong message. I am a bit torn apart when it comes to SWS extensions. Lots of stuff in there that in an ideal world would be included in the core app (and hopefully will be in some future versions). Still my general feeling is leave them away for the first encounters and install them when you're hitting functional stop-gaps or want to seriously dive into macro programming. Same for finger's groove extension. It is a godsend that all these 3rd party modules exist and can be used, but it's not a good idea to make people think that you need to install them in oder to use Reaper. I am not saying that's the intent of the OP, but it can easily be read like that. The latest example how this implication can hit back is this thread:

Thanks for the clarification and I wish you the very best for your endeavour. I totally agree that in a guided scenario you are doing the right thing. That's also how I understand the OP. But having read that other thread I thought this one might be misunderstood ;). I just wanted to make sure people are aware that it may not be the best option for the newcomer who learns on his/her own.