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Setup guide

Connect your AI provider

Your AI subscription is entirely external—Sound Copilot never sells or bundles API credits. This page explains how to connect a provider you already pay (or will pay) on your own terms.

What Sound Copilot actually does

The plugin is the bridge between REAPER and your AI. It does not replace Anthropic, OpenAI, or OpenRouter—you keep your own account and billing there. Sound Copilot's job is to read your live session and send the model full project context so answers are specific to what you are working on, not generic chat.

  • Tracks, lanes, names, and routing
  • Items, regions, and arrangement structure
  • FX chains, sends, and mix state
  • Tempo, time signature, and project metadata

Once your API key is set, every co-pilot request uses that context automatically—you only manage subscription and spend with your chosen provider.

Security: Never share API keys in chat, email, or screen recordings. Revoke and rotate keys if exposed. Prefer per-machine keys with spend limits.

Create an API key

Anthropic (Claude)

ConsoleDocumentation

Suggested models in Sound Copilot: Claude Sonnet 4, Claude Haiku 4

  1. Go to console.anthropic.com and sign in or create an account.
  2. Open Settings → Billing and add a payment method. Prepaid credits or pay-as-you-go both work.
  3. Navigate to API Keys → Create Key. Give it a name (e.g. Sound Copilot REAPER).
  4. Copy the key immediately—it is shown only once—and store it in a password manager.
  5. In Sound Copilot (REAPER), open Settings → AI Provider, select Anthropic, and paste the key.
  6. Optional: set a monthly spend cap in the Anthropic console to avoid surprises.

OpenAI

ConsoleDocumentation

Suggested models in Sound Copilot: GPT-4o, GPT-4o mini

  1. Create an account at platform.openai.com.
  2. Add billing under Settings → Billing (API usage requires a funded account).
  3. Go to API Keys → Create new secret key. Name it for your DAW machine if you like.
  4. Copy the sk-… key and save it securely.
  5. In Sound Copilot, choose OpenAI as provider and paste the key in the plugin settings.
  6. Optional: configure usage limits under Settings → Limits in the OpenAI dashboard.

OpenRouter

ConsoleDocumentation

Suggested models in Sound Copilot: anthropic/claude-sonnet-4, openai/gpt-4o, google/gemini-2.5-pro

  1. Sign up at openrouter.ai (one account, many models from different vendors).
  2. Add credits under Credits or connect billing—OpenRouter bills per model you route to.
  3. Open Keys → Create Key. OpenRouter keys start with sk-or-…
  4. Copy the key and paste it into Sound Copilot with provider set to OpenRouter (or compatible endpoint).
  5. Pick the model ID in the plugin that matches your workflow (see agent table below).
  6. Use the OpenRouter activity page to monitor cost per model in real time.

Agent examples & request volume

Each co-pilot role maps to a different kind of prompt. Counts below are typical for one focused REAPER session—not strict limits.

AgentExample useRequests / sessionTokens / requestModels
ProducerArrangement & dynamicsSuggest a 16-bar build, tighten verse dynamics, suggest mute/unmute pattern15–40~3k–8kClaude Sonnet, GPT-4o
Sound DesignerSynthesis & texturesLayer suggestion for pad + noise, modulation ideas, spectral balance notes25–60~4k–12kClaude Sonnet, GPT-4o
Music TheoristHarmony & scalesModal interchange options, voicing for ii–V, scale fit over chord loop10–30~2k–6kClaude Sonnet, GPT-4o mini
Mix / MasterEQ & LUFSSurgical EQ notes on muddy low-mids, stem balance, LUFS target check20–50~3k–10kClaude Sonnet, GPT-4o

Estimated monthly cost (indicative)

Approximate ranges assuming mid-tier models (e.g. Claude Sonnet, GPT-4o) and mixed input/output tokens. Provider pricing changes—check official pages before budgeting. OpenRouter totals depend on which model ID you select per request.

Usage profileRequests / month~Tokens / monthAnthropicOpenAIOpenRouter
Light (hobby, few sessions/week)~200~0.6M€4–12€3–10€3–11
Medium (weekly production)~800~2.5M€15–45€12–40€10–38
Heavy (daily mixing & sound design)~2,500~8M€50–150€40–130€35–120

Rule of thumb: one co-pilot request ≈ 3k–8k tokens total (prompt + context + answer). A 30-request mixing session might use ~150k–250k tokens (~€0.50–€2.50 on Sonnet-class pricing, variable by provider).

Paste the key in Sound Copilot

  1. Open REAPER → Extensions → Sound Copilot → Settings.
  2. Select your provider (Anthropic, OpenAI, or OpenRouter).
  3. Paste the API key and choose the model ID for each agent if prompted.
  4. Run a short test prompt on each agent to confirm billing activity.
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