REAPER MCP Server

A comprehensive Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that enables AI agents to create fully mixed and mastered tracks in REAPER with both MIDI and audio capabilities.

Features

Complete project management (creation, saving, rendering)
Track operations (creation, routing, parameter adjustment)
MIDI composition and editing
Audio recording and importing
Virtual instrument and effect management
Mixing and automation
Mastering tools
Audio analysis and feedback

Requirements

REAPER DAW installed
Python 3.8+
OSC support enabled in REAPER (for OSC mode)
ReaScript API enabled in REAPER (for ReaScript mode)

Installation

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/itsuzef/reaper-mcp.git
cd reaper-mcp

# Create and activate a virtual environment
python -m venv venv
source venv/bin/activate  # On Windows: venv\Scripts\activate

# Install the package
pip install -e .

Usage

Quick Start

The easiest way to get started is to use the provided startup script:

# Start REAPER first
open /Applications/REAPER.app  # On macOS
# or start REAPER manually on other platforms

# Then start the MCP server
./scripts/start_reaper_mcp_server.sh  # On Unix/Mac

Windows Users

For Windows users, use one of the provided Windows scripts:

# Using Command Prompt (CMD)
scripts\start_reaper_mcp_server.bat

# Using PowerShell
powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File scripts\start_reaper_mcp_server.ps1

Configuration

By default, the server will use OSC mode, which is more reliable and doesn't require the ReaScript API to be working correctly. You can configure the server using command-line arguments:

# Start in OSC mode (default)
./scripts/start_reaper_mcp_server.sh --mode=osc  # Unix/Mac
scripts\start_reaper_mcp_server.bat --mode=osc   # Windows CMD
powershell -File scripts\start_reaper_mcp_server.ps1 -mode osc  # Windows PowerShell

# Start in ReaScript mode
./scripts/start_reaper_mcp_server.sh --mode=reapy  # Unix/Mac
scripts\start_reaper_mcp_server.bat --mode=reapy   # Windows CMD
powershell -File scripts\start_reaper_mcp_server.ps1 -mode reapy  # Windows PowerShell

# Configure OSC settings (Unix/Mac)
./scripts/start_reaper_mcp_server.sh --host=192.168.1.110 --send-port=8000 --receive-port=9000

# Configure OSC settings (Windows CMD)
scripts\start_reaper_mcp_server.bat --host=192.168.1.110 --send-port=8000 --receive-port=9000

# Configure OSC settings (Windows PowerShell)
powershell -File scripts\start_reaper_mcp_server.ps1 -host "192.168.1.110" -sendPort 8000 -receivePort 9000

# Enable debug logging
./scripts/start_reaper_mcp_server.sh --debug  # Unix/Mac
scripts\start_reaper_mcp_server.bat --debug   # Windows CMD
powershell -File scripts\start_reaper_mcp_server.ps1 -debug  # Windows PowerShell

Setting up REAPER for OSC

Open REAPER
Go to Preferences > Control/OSC/web
Click "Add" and select "OSC (Open Sound Control)"
Configure the following settings:
- Device name: ReaperMCP
- Mode: Local port
- Local listen port: 8000
- Local IP: 127.0.0.1 (or your computer's IP address)
- Allow binding messages to REAPER actions and FX learn: Checked (optional)
- Outgoing max packet size: 1024
- Wait between packets: 10ms

Setting up REAPER for ReaScript

Open REAPER
Go to Preferences > Plug-ins > ReaScript
Make sure "Enable Python for ReaScript" is checked
Set the Python DLL/dylib path to your Python installation
- On macOS: /opt/homebrew/Cellar/python@3.x/3.x.x/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/3.x/Python
- On Windows: C:\Path\to\Python\python3x.dll
Run the setup script:
```
python scripts/setup_reaper_python.py
```

Project Structure

src/reaper_mcp/: Main package directory
- __main__.py: Command-line interface
- osc_server.py: OSC-based server implementation
- server.py: ReaScript-based server implementation
examples/: Example scripts demonstrating usage
scripts/: Utility scripts for setup and running

MCP Tools

The server provides the following MCP tools:

create_project: Creates a new REAPER project
create_track: Creates a new track in the current project
list_tracks: Lists all tracks in the current project
add_midi_note: Adds a MIDI note to a track
get_project_info: Gets information about the current project

Troubleshooting

ReaScript API Issues

If you're experiencing issues with the ReaScript API, try using the OSC mode instead:

./scripts/start_reaper_mcp_server.sh --mode=osc

OSC Communication Issues

Make sure REAPER is configured correctly for OSC:

Check that the OSC settings in REAPER match the server settings
Verify that no firewall is blocking the communication
Try using the local IP address (127.0.0.1) instead of a network IP

Windows-Specific Troubleshooting

If you're having issues running the MCP server on Windows:

Script Execution Issues:
- For PowerShell scripts, you may need to adjust the execution policy: Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope CurrentUser
- Alternatively, use the -ExecutionPolicy Bypass flag as shown in the examples
Path Issues:
- Ensure the REAPER path in the scripts matches your installation location
- Default is C:\Program Files\REAPER\reaper.exe, modify if needed
Virtual Environment:
- If you created the venv with a different method, the activation script might be in a different location
- Try activating manually before running: venv\Scripts\activate
Firewall Blocking:
- Windows Firewall may block OSC communication
- Add exceptions for Python and REAPER in Windows Firewall settings
Administrator Rights:
- Try running the Command Prompt or PowerShell as Administrator if you encounter permission issues

License

MIT