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🎹 My Audio Production Setup

This document provides a detailed overview of my audio production environment. The goal is a seamless and automated workflow centered around REAPER, the PreSonus Quantum 2626 audio interface, and a set of custom scripts that tie the hardware and software together. The entire system is designed for single-switch power management, making startup and shutdown incredibly simple.

This guide is designed to be a complete reference for replicating the setup from scratch.

Hardware & Connectivity

The physical setup uses a central power conditioner to manage peripherals, with data and audio signals routed through the Quantum 2626 interface.

Core Components

  • Furman Power Conditioner: All hardware, except the Mac, is plugged into this unit. Turning it on or off controls power to the entire studio in one step.
  • PreSonus Quantum 2626: An 8-in/8-out audio interface with the option for ADAT expansion.
  • Behringer X-touch: A USB/MIDI fader controller used for controlling REAPER's mixer, transport, and plugin parameters via the DrivenByMoss extension.
  • Touchscreen Monitor: Connected to the Mac while it is in clamshell mode.
  • Analog Sources:
    • A turntable with a built-in phono preamp.
    • Guitar
    • Bass
    • 4 Microphones
  • Digital Sources:
    • USB MIDI Keyboard

System Flow Graph

This diagram illustrates how power, audio, and data signals are routed through the system.

graph TD
    %% Define Styles
    classDef hardware fill:#eceff100,stroke:#607d8b,stroke-width:2px
    classDef computer fill:#e3f2fd00,stroke:#1565c0,stroke-width:2px
    classDef interface fill:#e0f2f100,stroke:#00695c,stroke-width:2px,font-weight:bold
    classDef power fill:#fff3e000,stroke:#ef6c00,stroke-width:2px

    %% Power Source
    Wall[Wall Outlet] --> Furman[<b>Furman Power Conditioner</b>]
    Wall --> Mac[💻 Mac]

    %% Powered Peripherals
    Furman -- Power --> Q[<b>PreSonus Quantum 2626</b>]
    Furman -- Power --> Mon[🖥️ External Monitor]
    Furman -- Power --> X[<b>Behringer X-touch] -- USB --> Mac

    %% Audio Inputs
    A[🎤 Mics & Instruments] -- Analog Signal --> Q
    T[Turntable] --> S[S/PDIF Converter] -- S/PDIF --> Q

    %% Data Connections
    Q -- Thunderbolt 3 --> Mac
    K[USB MIDI Keyboard] -- USB --> Mac
    Mac -- Video Signal --> Mon

    %% Apply Styles
    class Furman,Wall power
    class A,T,S,X,Mon,K hardware
    class Mac computer
    class Q interface

⚙️ Workflow & Procedures

The setup is designed around a simple, two-step process for both starting and stopping a session.

Startup Procedure

  1. Flip the switch on the Furman Power Conditioner. This provides power to the audio interface, monitor, and all other connected peripherals.
  2. Click the mouse or press a key on the keyboard. This wakes the Mac from sleep.
  3. The Hammerspoon script automatically detects that the Quantum 2626 has reconnected and will launch REAPER. The system is now ready to use.

Shutdown Procedure

  1. (Optional but Recommended) Save your current project in REAPER.
  2. Flip the switch on the Furman Power Conditioner.
  3. This cuts power to the Quantum 2626, which triggers the Hammerspoon script. The script automatically saves the project again, quits REAPER, and puts the Mac to sleep.

Adding a MIDI Device

If you connect a new MIDI controller while REAPER is already running:

  • Click the "Reset MIDI" button in the custom "Big Buttons" UI to force REAPER to rescan and recognize the new device.

💻 Software Installation

This section covers the installation and configuration of all essential software components. We'll use Homebrew for installations on macOS where possible.

1. System-Level Tools

Hammerspoon is the core of the system-level automation.

  • Official Website: hammerspoon.org

  • Installation (macOS): Open a terminal and run:

    brew install --cask hammerspoon
    • After installation, launch Hammerspoon. It will create a configuration directory at ~/.hammerspoon/. This is where the automation script will live.

2. REAPER and Essential Extensions

A. Install REAPER

  • Download and install the latest version of REAPER from the official website: reaper.fm.

B. Install DrivenByMoss (Manual Installation)

Unlike many other extensions, DrivenByMoss cannot be installed with ReaPack and requires a manual setup.

Installation Steps:

  1. Download the latest version of DrivenByMoss for macOS from the official website.
  2. In REAPER, go to the Options menu and select Show REAPER resource path in explorer/finder....
  3. Navigate into the UserPlugins folder.
  4. Unzip the downloaded file and copy its entire contents into the UserPlugins folder.
  5. Restart REAPER to load the extension.

Configuration Steps:

  1. In REAPER, go to Preferences > Control/OSC/web.
  2. Click the Add button.
  3. From the Control surface mode dropdown menu, select DrivenByMoss.
  4. Set the MIDI input and MIDI output to your Behringer X-touch (or other control surface).
  5. Click OK to save the settings. The control surface should now be active.

C. Install ReaPack

ReaPack is a package manager for REAPER that automates the installation of scripts, extensions, and themes.

  • Official Website: reapack.com
  • Installation Steps:
    1. Download the appropriate .dylib file for your macOS architecture (Apple Silicon or Intel) from the ReaPack website.
    2. In REAPER, go to the Options menu and select Show REAPER resource path in explorer/finder....
    3. Open the UserPlugins folder.
    4. Copy the downloaded .dylib file into this folder.
    5. Restart REAPER. ReaPack will now be available under the Extensions menu.

D. Install Additional Extensions via ReaPack

Now, use ReaPack to install the remaining tools.

Install Packages:

  1. Go to Extensions > ReaPack > Browse packages....
  2. In the filter box, search for and install each of the following packages by right-clicking and choosing Install:
    • SWS/S\&M Extension: A massive extension that adds hundreds of new actions and features.
    • ReaImGui: A library that allows ReaScripts to create complex graphical user interfaces.
  3. After selecting the packages, click Apply to install them.
  4. Restart REAPER to complete the installation.

🤖 Automation & Control Layer

Quantum 2626 & System Automation

The entire system is automated to power on and off based on the connection status of the Quantum 2626 interface. This is handled by a Hammerspoon script.

REAPER Control & Custom UI

DrivenByMoss Control Surface

The DrivenByMoss extension provides deep integration for MIDI controllers like the Behringer X-touch. It adds more functionality and has good defaults.

Big Buttons ReaScript

This is a custom ReaImGui script that creates a simple window inside REAPER with large, easy-to-click buttons for common actions like refreshing audio devices or MIDI controllers.