Automatic Vocal Track

This process uses Reaper plug-ins that will attempt to take a vocal track and convert it to MIDI export it to MIDI. The output from this process is very messy. But if you have absolutely no knack for hearing a pitch or tune from vocals, it may be easier to do the work of cleaning this up than to author from scratch.

Using Audio To MIDI Template (C3 Method)

Download the Audio to MIDI Template file: http://dl.c3universe.com/62993ed45274b3.63930385

Put the template in the TrackTemplates directory in your REAPER install.

Follow these steps to open the template under your PART VOCAL track:

• Select the PART VOCALS track
• Click Track > Insert track from template > Open Template
• Select Audio to MIDI.RTrackTemplate
• Click OK

The MIDI Converted track is armed, and ready to record.

Copy your dry or separated vocal track to the Audio File track.

Solo the Audio File track.

Position the playhead at the start of the song and press the Record button.

Your vocal audio will be converted to MIDI notes in real time.

When the song is finished press the Stop button, then press the Save All button.

Select the PART VOCALS and MIDI Converted tracks and press Ctrl + Alt + E to open them in a single editor window. Press Alt + N to toggle between the two tracks.

Using REAPER

C3 Addition:

You need to select or create a track to record the dry vocals MIDI output onto. You can use the existing PART VOCALS track or create a new track.

If you use the PART VOCALS track you will need to delete the PART VOCALS MIDI item:

• Select the PART VOCALS MIDI track and then press the delete key

If you create a new track then you will need to adjust your setup accordingly:

• Set up MIDI_TOOL_II and ReaTune on the new track
• Arm the new track and configure the Record output for the new track
• Adjust the routing matrix to go from your dry vox to the new track

C3 Addition End

ARM to record your MIDI vocal track to Record and then apply the ReaTune autotuning plugin to your dry vocal track:

Make sure that your PART VOCALS track is set to Record and output to MIDI:

• Right click on the Arm (record) button in the part vocals tracks
• In the context menu click Record: Output and then select Record: Output MIDI

Next apply the MIDI_Tool_II plugin to the MIDI PART VOCALS track:

Now! Don't forget this next minor little step. Route the dry vocals track to the MIDI PART VOCALS track using the routing tables:

Open up the Routing Matrix from the View Menu (or hit Alt+R)

The rows of the table (listed on the left) correspond to the track you're sending FROM: In the case of this pic the first track listed is the dry vocal audio.

The columns of the table (listed on the top) indicate the track you're sending TO: You want to be sending to the PART VOCALS track.

In order to setup the sending properly. you'll need to click on the appropriate cell (box) in the table. When you do that, an icon will appear (kinda looks like a blocky 7), that means the send is engaged.

Now you are set to click Record and play through your recording. If you leave the ReaTune open and watch, it will totally FLIP OUT and go crazy on you, it is quite mesmerizing to watch actually. But then afterwards you will get an ugly, crazy MIDI output like this:

which you can then cut around the edges, kind of judge a bit by ear, and make into this:

but at least you have a starting point with that first midi track.