Ask Justin Frankel

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Ask Justin Frankel
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Note: please do not ask questions about REAPER features, bugs or scheduling, use the forums instead.

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Question: "If Reaper already allows sample-level audio manipulation and supports internal FFT processing (as seen in ReaFIR), why not take the leap and enable native graphical spectral editing directly within a Media Item View — perhaps as an official extension?
Asked by Amadeu (82.155.24.x) on May 25 2025, 6:25pm
Reply on May 25 2025, 9:10pm:

Uhh, it does already

Comments:

Posted by Amadeu (148.63.140.x) on May 25 2025, 11:24pm:
Thanks for pointing me to the spectral editing. I gave it a go… and well, let’s just say it feels like trying to retouch a photo using Excel. I get that it's technically functional — but from a musical or creative standpoint, it's about as inviting as a spreadsheet. Have you considered implementing proper graphical tools like brush, lasso, or clone — something that doesn’t require a PhD in patience and guesswork? Even a basic real-time preview or a 'draw-to-remove' function would make a massive difference.

Posted by Justin on May 26 2025, 1:31pm:
it does have some realtime preview and the functionality is more there than you think (you can draw the edges etc), so I'd say spend some more time with it before you whine here. also don't whine here, see the note above.

Posted by Amadeu (148.63.140.x) on May 26 2025, 3:58pm:
Understood. I’ll dig deeper — but just as a suggestion, if more users keep 'whining' about the UI, maybe it’s not whining, maybe it’s feedback. Reaper’s flexibility is great, but usability shouldn’t be a punishment.

Posted by Justin on May 26 2025, 5:59pm:
interesting idea, maybe we should start listening to user feedback /s ;)

Posted by Amadeu (148.63.140.x) on May 26 2025, 10:11pm:
That would be a fantastic start. Thanks for the conversation — sarcastic or not, feedback is still free insight.

Posted by Krispy (165.73.69.x) on May 27 2025, 11:29am:
Can't help myself ... complaining about someone being sarcastic when the response was "like trying to retouch a photo using Excel". People in glass houses. Time for that feature bounty.

Posted by Amadeu (148.63.140.x) on May 27 2025, 12:24pm:
The difference is simple: metaphors are used to illustrate ideas, sarcasm is used to dismiss them. One contributes to the discussion, the other derails it. But I’m glad we agree on one thing: it’s definitely time for a feature bounty.

Posted by argus (31.37.8.x) on May 27 2025, 1:55pm:
thank you Amadeu for enabling others to improve their patience

Posted by Justin on May 27 2025, 2:22pm:
"metaphors are used to illustrate ideas" "retouch a photo using Excel" umm, I have to call bullshit on this. there is nothing constructive there. and honestly, the spectral edit functionality is actually pretty decent, but either you are being too snarky or you just didn't spend enough time with it.

Posted by Amadeu (148.63.140.x) on May 27 2025, 2:35pm:
I understand. We clearly have different standards for what qualifies as usable. Thanks again for your time.

Posted by Justin on May 27 2025, 2:50pm:
I'm sure you will be dismissive and say "yes I knew all of that" but in case it is helpful for anybody else: youtube.com/watch?v=vSBO_VC9q3E
Posted by Amadeu (148.63.140.x) on May 27 2025, 6:01pm:
I have to say — despite the tone, that video is excellent and genuinely helpful. Thanks for sharing it.
Posted by Justin on May 27 2025, 8:54pm:
cool, my pleasure. sorry if I'm a bit cranky in my replies, been dealing with an injury that's driving me a bit bonkers. :/
Posted by Amadeu (148.63.140.x) on May 27 2025, 10:55pm:
I appreciate your honesty — and truly, I hope you recover quickly and fully. All the best.
Posted by alex (187.213.87.x) on May 30 2025, 8:49am:
I think the knobs could be a bit more separated, it opens up with 7 unlabeled knobs in who knows what order and everytime I have to read the 7 tooltips again and again to remember what each does... a bit more friendlier design on that side would be nice, that's the only thing really, even the fade knobs to the sides and the gain on the top left like media items would clear a lot imo

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