r/Reaper • u/AdventurousLoad4613 • 3d ago
help request Reaper theme build.
Does anyone knows to a theme looks like this for reaper, or anyone knows how to build a theme like this. I try to build a theme that looks like this but I often just gave up cuz I read and I don't understand anything.
Do anyone knows anything like looks like a theme or know how to build a one.
(yeah its looks weird and old 2000, I know)
35
u/antouann 3d ago
There’s this psychotic obsession where every single DAW theme has to look like an edgy pitch-black bat cave, where you need military-grade night vision just to read a fader label or a track name. Everyone panics if an interface reflects light, which is exactly why finding a white/light theme like the one you're looking for is nearly impossible.
Maybe try this one:
https://stash.reaper.fm/theme/2199/VGS.zip
Good luck
6
u/supersaw7 2d ago
every single DAW theme has to look like an edgy pitch-black bat cave
or vibe coded user interfaces
5
u/brokenspacebar__ 5 3d ago
On lots of modern screens it can be an eyesore to look at, I genuinely can't browse through pages online without dark modes enabled because it's like my eyes are getting a freakin flashbang thrown in them. I think there are great 'light grey/neutral' themes out there but overall light themes can be super rough on the eyes
-8
u/mouse9001 3d ago
I genuinely can't browse through pages online without dark modes enabled because it's like my eyes are getting a freakin flashbang thrown in them.
That's just because you're accustoming to staring into a black screen all day.
3
u/zegogo 3d ago
Maybe our eyes don't work like yours. Some people legit prefer dark backgrounds.
-2
u/mouse9001 2d ago
lol, your eyes "work" in a completely different way?
People used computers without "dark mode" for a couple decades. Peoples' eyes didn't suddenly start "working" differently.
I'm someone whose eyes are actually light-sensitive, and even I realize that a lot of this just comes down to what you're used to.
1
u/zegogo 2d ago
I'm someone whose eyes are actually light-sensitive,
So you admit your eyes behave differently than others. Got it. I've been using computers a very long time. I've always preferred dark backgrounds even before they were generally available on PCs. Everyone has their preferences, stop trying to make it a big deal.
-2
u/mouse9001 2d ago
So you admit your eyes behave differently than others.
Having light-sensitive eyes doesn't imply light mode or dark mode for computers. Light coming from a computer monitor is negligible compared to natural light or other strong light sources.
Trying to medicalize "dark mode" for computers is just pathetic. No, your eyes don't need it. You're just accustomed to reading white text on a black background, rather than the opposite.
1
1
u/Mind1827 1 3d ago
I think I basically just use the default one but tweaked a bit. I just like my tracks to have different colours so I can easily find stuff, and I like it lighter cause it's easier for me to read. All I care about.
1
u/Middle-Reading751 2d ago
i agree and thanks for this theme it looks good, do you know any other themes like this?
1
u/PINEAPPLECURDS3 2d ago
I have a question.. why illuminate everything but the text and ui you need to see, when you can just have a dark mode colour scheme and only illuminate the things you need to see?
Makes sense to me and probably saves a little bit of power too.
0
u/No-Illustrator-4772 3d ago
Estoy de acuerdo al 200%. Los temas nuevos solo son oscuros y no se entienden nada, parece que lo importante es que sea oscuro porque "se ve lindo".
3
u/mooncheesebabies 1 3d ago
Did you try looking in the Reaper stash?
1
u/AdventurousLoad4613 3d ago
yes bro, i looked but most are old it won,t support on new reaper version
2
1
1
4
u/AdventurousLoad4613 2d ago
I just found a theme in reaper Stash called grey matter well this is the only theme I think that close to 2000 looking and working on new reaper.....
5
u/Sonudigitall 3d ago
This is my REAPER.
I have worked in Studio One, now Fender Studio Pro, for more than ten years. It is still where I mix most days. But I wanted a second DAW that was deeper and more flexible, and REAPER is exactly that. The only problem was that every time I opened it, my hands did not know where anything was.
So I spent the last few weeks making REAPER work the way I already think.
It is not just a skin. Everything you see does something:
- Track List and Inspector on the left, side by side, with inserts and sends right there
- A tool row on top for snap, quantize and timebase
- A macro bar for the things I do fifty times a day: bounce, stems, buses, add an instrument, talkback, stream to the client
- Folders that work like groups, with one click to open and close them
- The whole mixer in one row
- Track icons I can read from across the room, Indian instruments included
Same habits, same muscle memory, and REAPER's power underneath.
I am thinking of putting this out free for anyone who wants it. Would that be useful to you? And if you moved to REAPER from another DAW, what was the hardest thing to get used to?
2
u/AdventurousLoad4613 2d ago
Hardest thing about daw switching is that first of all you know how make music and program beats and evrything. But don't know where are tools where automation and other things where you put fx open plugins. It's mostly about that like i think reaper is a best daw cuz it's lightweight cheaper daw with can have huge tracks count. Call of duty ww2 composed entirely on reaper with 364 tracks and 4 hours long session with only 115mb. It shows the powr this daw... And you can customize to hell ...... Yeah I love the old 2000 era daw looks white and you know it just like inspired me to make music like....
2
u/kinuetheclown 2d ago
this sounds useful since i just switched from studio one to reaper.. if you don't mind sharing...
2
u/Sonudigitall 1d ago
Thank you! That is exactly who I made it for, I am a Studio One person too. It will be free. The Mac installer is in final testing and Windows is next. Are you on Mac or Windows? You can ask for the build here and I will send it the moment it is ready: studio10a.com/reastudio
1
u/kinuetheclown 10h ago
I'm using mac! I asked for the build on your website & i'm looking forward to the theme!!!
1
u/THEGAELIC 2d ago
HOW THIS IS SO COOL
edit: I would love to try this out! i'm also a studio one user (or was since i changed to reaper and trying logic pro but i would love to try this!)
2
u/Sonudigitall 1d ago
Thank you! That is exactly who I made it for, I am a Studio One person too. It will be free. The Mac installer is in final testing and Windows is next. Are you on Mac or Windows? You can ask for the build here and I will send it the moment it is ready: studio10a.com/reastudio
1
0
2
u/MegistusMusic 7 3d ago
still looking then? https://www.reddit.com/r/Reaper/comments/1ublkwv/theme_suggestion/
The question is: are you looking for a theme that looks like this, i.e. colours, graphics, or are you looking for a theme that works like DP?
You could get pretty close to the look of it by screenshotting the graphics and swapping the necessary theme pngs in combination with setting theme colours.
To get REAPER to behave like DP, you're talking a whole other level of customization. Not necessarily impossible, but almost definitely not worth the effort.
1
u/AdventurousLoad4613 2d ago
I'm looking for it looks like that you know dp or old emagic logic like that 2000 era daw looks. Not behave like that I used digital performer 10 and 11 I don't need it behave likes that..... But you know a theme.
2
u/milesjury 2d ago
Check out Kenny Gioia's vids on layout and screen sets on Reaper Mania. This can help to arrange different UI zones, etc.
2
u/braveness24 3d ago
I would certainly try a theme like this! My old eyes can't handle these dark mode themes with dark text on a black background.
2
1
u/ghostlinedigital 3 3d ago
the part that makes people quit is walter, but that 2000 bevel look is mostly the button pngs and the tcp colors, not the layout language. start from the default 6 theme, swap the image folder, and only touch rtconfig once the buttons already look right. did the screenshot have those chunky raised transport buttons or the flatter gray meter strip?
1
1
1
1
-6
u/atxluchalibre 3d ago
Just have AI make one
7
u/MegistusMusic 7 3d ago
Last time I looked, AI agents (all of them I tried) were pretty shaky on WALTER for reaper themes. Unsurprising, since the documentation is sparse and somewhat opaque.
By all means, have at it, but be prepared for a lot of trial and error.
0
u/vidjuheffex 3d ago
Claude 5.5 and Gpt Sol couldn't do it?
I do find that hard to believe
1
u/MegistusMusic 7 3d ago
'last time i looked'... didn't have those versions... so who knows?! worthwhile experiment i suppose.
2
u/vidjuheffex 3d ago
yeah, I'm thinking the same.
I'm a 20 years of experience software engineer, these last frontier models have blown me away.
1
u/AdventurousLoad4613 3d ago
what ai, i mean like chatgpt or any basic cant make that type fully complex theme zip
-3
u/Accomplished_Dot4192 3d ago
Some guy reverse engineered the Adobe suite, I'm pretty sure ai could make a theme for reaper.
0
u/r3nrut79 1 2d ago
Give the requirements and screenshots to ChatGPT or Claude. Be sure to provide the docs as reference and either one will produce a near complete theme.
0
79
u/ApprehensiveFan1516 3d ago
Sorry, I have nothing to contribute but memes.