Video summary

Backing Up Your Projects in REAPER

Main summary

Key takeaways

Technology

Purpose of the video

  • Shows how to back up REAPER projects so you can restore them later from a separate hard drive/backup service, with multiple project copies.

Key REAPER settings for importing media (prevents missing audio on backup)

  1. Open Preferences:
    • PC: Ctrl+P
    • Mac: Cmd+,
  2. Go to Media → Import and enable:
    • Copy imported media to the project media directory (usually on by default).
  3. Confirm in Project Settings (if needed):
    • PC: Alt+Enter
    • Mac: Option+Return
    • The Media tab contains the same import behavior.

Important behavior: If you choose not to copy media into the project folder, then backing up the project folder may miss some media assets.

Tutorial: how saving affects backup completeness

Normal audio import (works with “copy all media” save option)

  • Use Media Explorer to drag audio (e.g., drum loops, guitar files, recorded vocals) into tracks.
  • After saving, save with the correct options:
    • In the Save dialog, enable:
      1. Create a subdirectory for the project
      2. Copy all media into the project directory
  • Result: the project folder will include:
    • the .RPP project file
    • a media folder containing imported/used audio (loops, guitar, recorded vocals)

Backing up that folder then restores everything needed.

Special cases: sampler/instrument plugins require extra handling

REAPER sampler: ReaSamplOmatic5000

  • If you drag samples into the sampler and then save normally:
    • the sample may not automatically get copied into the project media folder.
  • Fix:
    • Use Save As with copy all media into project directory enabled, so the sample is stored inside the backup folder.
  • Alternative workflow to avoid “Save As”:
    • Insert samples using the context menu: Insert into sample player on new track
    • When imported this way, the sample is placed into the project media folder automatically (avoids the “Save As” step).

Reverb plugin (impulse responses / IR files)

  • Reverb uses impulse response files that REAPER doesn’t automatically bundle.
  • If you add IR files to the reverb:
    • they won’t appear in the project backup folder immediately.
  • Fix:
    • Use Save As (or save with copy all media enabled) so impulse responses get stored in the project media directory (often in a dedicated subfolder like an “impulses” folder).

Limitations and what to do for third-party content

  • The backup workflow may not automatically include:
    • Third-party samples
    • Third-party plugins’ external assets
  • Recommendation:
    • Manually copy third-party sample/asset files into a folder within the project backup directory so the project works the same when moved to another studio/computer.

Main speakers/sources

  • Reaper Mania (the channel/person presenting the tutorial).

Original video