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Things I wish I'd known

Wish I Knew

If I could climb into a time machine and sit down with my younger self at the very beginning of my first band, I’d have an endless list of advice to share. From the challenges of writing songs and surviving chaotic rehearsals to the overwhelming experience of recording music without losing your creativity, sanity, or sense of self, there are lessons you can only learn through trial and error. This post is a reflection on the tips, tricks, and insights I wish I’d had before ever plugging in, hitting record, and diving headfirst into the world of making music.

  • in general
  • 3 min read


Drums EQ in Reaper

Drumkits

Creating a polished drum mix in REAPER can transform a good track into a great one. Whether you’re producing jazz, rock, electronic, or anything in between, shaping each drum element individually gives you far more control and clarity. In this guide, I’ll walk through how I prepare and process the x42 Blonde Bop stereo drumkit—starting from a simple MIDI import and ending with a flexible, mix-ready drum bus setup.



Vocal Effects Chain using

Vocals

Crafting a polished, professional vocal sound doesn’t have to feel mysterious or overwhelming. With the right effects chain—and a little guidance from the excellent Joe Gilder of Home Studio Corner https://www.youtube.com/homestudiocorner, you can transform raw recordings into mixes that shine. In this post, I’ll walk through my go-to vocal chain in Reaper using Linux-friendly plugins, showing you the exact steps and settings that consistently deliver clean, present, and expressive vocals.



My New Challenge

Challenege

Every music producer eventually reaches a point where it’s time to reassess their workflow, tools, and creative direction. I’ve hit that moment again, and this time the decision feels clearer than ever. After years of jumping between operating systems and DAWs, I’m committing to a new challenge: leaving Windows behind and fully embracing Linux for music production. It’s a return, a reset, and a chance to build a workflow that truly fits how I want to create.

  • in general
  • 3 min read


How to Add VST3 Plugins in REAPER on Linux

DAWs

Adding VST3 plugins to REAPER on Linux is thankfully simple—especially if you stick to native Linux plugins, which avoid the complexity of Wine, Yabridge, and Windows bridging layers. Native plugins install cleanly, behave consistently, and integrate with REAPER just like they should. In this guide, I’ll walk you through the entire process step-by-step: installing the plugin, configuring REAPER’s scan paths, rescanning your plugin database, and troubleshooting common issues.



Welcome

Welcome

This blog is where I document my journey into home-studio recording and music production on Linux.

I’m Richard Walker — a Yorkshireman, aging hobbyist musician, and former member of a York-based band who somehow found his way back to music after a decade-long detour. Years ago I was gigging, songwriting, and living the classic “musician in his twenties” life. Then life got busy, time moved on, and music drifted quietly into the background.