All user reviews for the Cockos Reaper 4

Test on a Kxstudio (with wine / wineasio) super stable, powerful, super, super easy to learn, super customizable. I use it for both dial / Laying out with VSTi for the pro record.

The doc is pretty full, but if you're familiar with Pro Tools, Cubase, Nuendo, Pyramix, Samplitude and so on, you can do without!

Side effect, it really is basic good reaXcomp is a good multi-band compressor, and allows reaverb, if you have good impulse responses (wav on the other hand), to have room reverbs quite realistic! After, if you have plugins like Altiverb, it's even better for sure, and will manage the Reaper carefree!
Ditto for virtual instruments, easily integrated, and very stable!

The strong points Reaper is:
1- it's all tracks (buses, midi instrument, audio, everything looks the same way!)
2- its customisabilité! You can really fit any workflow, it's just fun!
3- the price !! It's just 10 times cheaper than an equivalent market leader ...

RAS. an executable featherweight!
I never read the manual because it looks like most other DAW that I use for 20 years now, but I do not do either of customization. I just use the DAW and existing config parameters without trying to create my own.

SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE

i7 / 8Gb RAM. RAS pure performance level. After the plug-ins as it works more or less well. Sometimes Reaper is doing better, some other DAW offers a slightly better performance (AC is not doubled, about 10 or 15% more or less depending on the case, but sometimes it makes a difference ). For example, I recently acquired Recabinet4 and everything in Reaper background I crunches and I can not really use it without changing the parameters of the first DAW X3 but with sonar, it live on. on the other hand with Sonar, if I add a little reverb greedy, I have the same problem as in Reaper. By contrast with Sonar times I can stack 30 plugs before it saturates in Reaper and I get to 35 or 40.
In short all that to say that performance level is kif kif with other current DAW (I also tested the newest versions of Cubase and Studio1).

OVERALL OPINION

I use Reaper from the beginning, it's been a long time! What I like most is its simplicity (eg there is only one type of track, no need to choose audio or noon or else!). I love its modularity and the ability to actually customize the interface (it must also know how to program, but there is a good community not bring a lot of good things for those like me who can not program). I like the fact that it does not scan ALL VST / VSTi if one adds that! I also like to mix in Reaper.
I like some of the original interface against, but there has very good skins developed by users.
Short for short because there would be many things to say, this is a great DAW that does bother with nothing superfluous (no sample pack or other instrument of m # $% e), offers good performance (also depends on the PC of course) and everything has a ridiculous price! So if you do not want to break the bank and also have the ability to switch from a Windows platform has a MacOS platform with the same DAW, this is an excellent choice!

Mo. weighs some super simple installation, no dongle or activation horrible but just a file to keep. After you install it, or you will, on a Mac or PC or both) back to our good old freedom.

SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE

2 macs in Mavericks
No but then no worries.
Outstanding performance, fully parameterizable
Indestructible, perfect for audio sessions live, I have never seen better.

OVERALL OPINION

I have for years, but I'm scattered. Having sold my license presonus I focused on Logic Pro X.

The "big pro software" Apple is buggy and not a little, I folded emergency on Reaper.

Luckily I have otherwise I would have more serious DAW hands.

Reaper is the best DAW ever had, and I had, loved heavy, complicated ...

While Logic X bugguait crashed and I started a record via Reaper, hot. Nothing to do. It continues to run while I write this review, it is the least we can do. At this price it is a royal gift. I installed on my Macs both 32 and 64 bit, so I keep all my inserts and effects. I think I need to use the same rewire to use one in the other ... a test ...

Spent two years of experimental app for my part in main app.

Unlike (alas) Logic proX was well ADAT 8-track Fostex D90> RME UCX CLEARLY IDENTIFIED that appear in the DAW Reaper (see attached picture) I also do not understand why some find Reaper complicated ... there I tests only 2 tracks (since 1080 JV)

REAPER is a very small download and a quick installation. It could not be any easier to get on your computer and ready to use. The manual is lengthy, but with plenty of screenshots and diagrams explaining each of REAPER’s many features concisely. Getting your plugins and MIDI devices setup is pretty much the same as other software packages, so there’s no hassle there.


SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE

The interface is snappy and responsive, everything is clearly laid out. The CPU usage is low and I’ve yet to encounter any instability or crashes even after 5 years of use.


OVERALL OPINION

REAPER’s features are pretty standard. Multitrack recording, flexible audio and midi routing, audio editing and so on are implemented just as you find in most other DAWs. The interface doesn’t have a lot of panache but it’s very customizable and the community creates custom themes and skins, drastically changing the look of the software. While REAPER is a very straight-forward program that does most DAW functions by the book, it does have a few subtle changes to the concept of tracks and bussing that are rather clever. There is no “audio” or “midi” track. All tracks are just general purpose tracks that can contain a MIDI or audio item or even both in the same track. Also, you can make any track act as a bus simply by dragging tracks underneath it and clicking the folder icon. This will nest the other tracks under the parent track and route all audio through it. You can also just drag and drop tracks into a desired bus track to nest them underneath. Very elegant and intuitive.

Included are a suite of some very usable processing plugins. A couple of compressors, limiters, EQs, pitch shifters, a convolution reverb and so on. The interface for these plugins, much like the interface of REAPER itself, isn’t the most inspiring--it’s very bland with no fancy graphics, but the plugins work and fairly well at that.

There isn’t a whole lot to say about REAPER, by design. The developers actively post on the forums and frequently update the software and keep on top of bugs and minor feature additions. It’s a powerful DAW that eschews a lot of bloat and flash, keeping things fast and simple while still delivering everything you need for professional audio production at a great price.


Pros:
+Fully Featured
+Simple Interface
+Low CPU use
+Clever Bussing and Track implementation
+Great, Active Community
+Frequently updated
+Low Price

Cons:
-Fairly bland looking
-Doesn’t come with a sample or instrument library
-No bells and whistles in general

Fast, simple, no surprises.

SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE

Win7 64bit. Pork intelG 3.2GHz, 8GB of Ram.
Focusrite Saffire Pro 40 card + Octo MkII in adat.
A CPU load / exceptionnelement low memory on greedy projects on track and VST plug. Did catch with 14 tracks in Simultaneous rec. No stalling, no slowdown, no crash!

OVERALL OPINION

User from the exit of the V4.
I tested all daw PRO24 since Atari (that is, !!).
Pros: everything is great in this app and especially the quality of the audio engine, plus a pricing and profitability focused on R & D and not on marketing. You buy an app at a reasonable price because the publisher does not sell you its expenditures com, packaging, etc ... you buy the fruit quality developments.
Less? may be the lack of editor partoches, though that's not really the job of a DAW in my opinion, but good.
If Reaper continues to exist in its current form, I do not change it for anything in the world.

A highly recommend !!!

Congratulations Cockos

Ultra fast and without any problems installing, time to declare its peripherals (sound card, master keyboard, midi controllers), and it works.
By default, the software is configured, but not too bad its great strength is that you can set all the way to simple skin to the other toolbars and keyboard shortcuts.
The number of tracks is unlimited and a track can receive any audio or midi format without selecting anything.

SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE

Intel I5 4570 @ 3.2GHz with 16GB RAM PC12800
Sound card ESI ESP1010
Configured and 44.1 256samples, latency is 5.8ms
Used on several other all different configs, never one cares.
CPU consumption almost zero.
The most common use: recording of 4 tracks in multi-track playback and 16 to 32 channels simultaneously with a whole bunch of rain-gins open in all directions, never any problems.

OVERALL OPINION

Used for 3 years, I have not toured the possibilities of this sequencer.
Former user of Adobe Audition I left since version 3, not taking more care of MIDI, I turned to Sonar 3 and I only had galleys and finally Reaper ...
What I like most is stability, ease of use, customization and finally Reaper community is incredibly active and reactive.
It lacks more than a score editor integrated worthy of the name, but be patient ...
This software is the cheapest on the market and yet it is not ashamed to face competition.
I think Reaper still stay on a long time because it gives me total satisfaction.

I had many apps computer music too much to my taste (and that of my bank account ...) Cakewalk Pro Audio 9 to Logic Pro via Sonar, Samplitude6 ... And to my surprise, Reaper is No. 1 on the list. Installation very simple whether in windows or mac os X (I have mac and pc). NO incompatibility whatsoever with his or AUI VSTI card. This is why it is remarkable. Everything is recognized all happening in this app.

SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE

- PC hp pavilion laptop Core I7, 1TB HDD, 8 gb ram in Win8 64.
- IMac 24 "Mavericks 2009 under 10.9

OVERALL OPINION

I bought there over a year, but polluted by marketing I have never adopted, oddly preferring expensive apps ... With the experience I remake this choice for many reasons:
- The price, unbeatable
- Runs on Windows and Mac (single fault does not exist under linux)
- Works with any sound card
- Works with AUI, AU, VST, VSTi, nothing blocks, if a plugin is not recognized is that the plugin is poorly coded. This is the ONLY DAW that accepts ALL, plugins WAVES plugins Tone booster eaReckon, Melda Production, SSL, IK Multimedia ...
- CPU usage ridiculous
- Skins to have a look protools ...
- Community growing, self-help videos on Youtube
- Free updates every month or several times a month
-Devs tuned continuously
-Fully configurable

I am not 10/10 because there is no Linux version, it is in my opinion the only lack.

I'm working on cubase since the first twelve o'clock version 88 or 89, There are 2 or 3 years I tried reaper, a version without free book or other support, no problem to install no problem recognizing motu converters in fact no problem no part.

SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE

Mac pro 1.1 card owner motu 24in24out
everything works shuttle!

OVERALL OPINION

frankly pay less than € 50 for a program of this quality and this power!
I have not changed sequencer, cubase I stayed, because I am very well, that a direct relationship with the interface; But since I reaper board to all the people I meet who want to get serious about computer music, I think this is a perfect software to start with a small tiny budget, get a pro quality on the other hand you should know that reaper is not a toy and will do nothing for you!

Clean, quick and light installation. It takes maximum 5 clicks and you are ready to discover this superb sequencer.
Configuration is easy following the kind advice of people in the forums.
I recommend you to install one of the configurations made by Réno and to pay close attention to his tutorials. You will have at your disposal an incredible customizable and powerful DAW.

SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE

I use it on a QOSMIO laptop with an i5 processor and 8GB ram.
Resource usage is ridiculous even if stuffed to death with plug-ins.
My system has never crashed. I've never experienced such flow elsewhere.
except maybe with Ableton live (which isn't comparable at all).

OVERALL OPINION

I've been toying with it for a year, but the last three months I've been working more seriously with it.
To be honest, I installed it some years ago but I never really paid much attention to it.
Big mistake!
I worked for a long time with cubase (from atari to version 3.7, I think).
I then put general-purpose sequencers aside to focus on
more creative software (ableton live, usine...)
I simply love its versatility, how easy it is to familiarize oneself with it, the great implication of the community in the forums, and its sound business policies, which led me to buy a license without hesitation.
I have never regretted my decision and I recommend it to anyone who still hasn't found his Holy Grail among DAWs.

It's light, effective and can be installed in two or three clicks.
Except for Linux users, everybody else is catered for from Windows 95 to Windows 8 32 or 64 bits, Mac OS 32, 64 bits or PPC.
Do note that it works better under Windows than Mac OS.

SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE

I've tried multiple options but this software is currently the lightest there is.
We could disregard the hardware because this software is really optimized.
Relatively stable and very powerful, Reaper can compare with the major players.
I was surprised with the Mackie Control support, it is excellent.

OVERALL OPINION

I couldn't tell when I started to use Reaper, but I have version 4 since it came out.
Its price/quality ratio is very interesting, but it depends on how much you earn and your plug-in collection.
It's a version stripped of all unnecessary features. It goes straight to the point, while allowing some unprecedented things in this type of product.
Reaper is an expert sequencer that isn't meant for everybody, but those who master it will have an unlimited world of possibilities at hand.
I would criticize its not very intuitive usage, due to its endless possibilities. It's not easy to make it simple when you offer so many things.
Its midi editor, while having evolved quite a bunch, is not the most user-friendly.
It is actually off-putting for beginners. It lacks certain options that would allow beginners to really get on with a comprehensive product.
But apart from that, it's really a performance beast. It's a unique product without equal.
I use it rarely, preferring Logic, Cubase and Sonar. Probably out of habit. But even if I'm not a regular user, its qualities do not need to be proven and must be recognized.
Reaper is a minor player in the sequencer world, like Linux in the OS world. It's a bit harder to get a grip of, maybe a bit less sexy in the beginning, but very powerful and customizable.
When it comes to price/quality ratio, I have mixed feelings: it costs $60, which isn't much, but if we want to use it for professional applications its $225.
For people who have a good plug-in collection, it's OK. But for those who don't, they have to buy everything, so it is a stiff price.

To summarize:
Reaper is the sequencer we end up using when we are disappointed by the rest and have already come a long way. Starting directly with Reaper is not as obvious nor advantageous.

Installation without problems! It would be hard to make it lighter, a bit like Linux back in the 90's with maximum 2 diskettes.

SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE

I work on a i7 4702MQ with 32GB ram, a 256gb SSD and another 1 tb disk at 7200 tr/m, the performance bears no comparison to other DAWs. With the same amount of tracks, VSTi instruments, FX, Buses, etc ..... Reaper seems almost not to use any resources, it's amazing. Stability seems to be this beauty's key word.

OVERALL OPINION

I've used it for a week and I must confess that it's fairly easy to spot its deficiencies, certain features are disconcerting when you are used to other DAWs. As a master in the subject says (don't replicate your automatisms on reaper, it will only make it harder to understand). And I would add that it suffices to know what we want to do and find out how to do it here or there and we will win some priceless time. This software offers endless customizable options, both on the visual and technical sides. It's stunning. I recommend you to install the Reno configuration because it makes it easier to understand. I then chose the imperial theme, which suits me perfectly. I already created a project with a dozen VSTi instruments, a dozen audio tracks and RAM usage raises to 10%, while CPU is only 1.2%. In short, I think I still need another week to be able to try the main midi and audio tasks needed for creation and mixing. I'll let you know in a future post how that goes.

Everything has been said

SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE

I7 / 16GB RAM / SSD / RAPTOR
FIREFACE 400 / ADAT FOCUSRITE ( 16 out )

10 / 10 for installation and stability. (some plug-ins had to be configured as "dedicated process") In any case, anything that uses samples

OVERALL OPINION

I've used it for a week.
I have been a Cubase user for 10 years, I stumbled upon it a year ago but never payed much attention to it .... What a mistake!!!
Seriously now, I am so thrilled: the concept is so amazing, the workflow is customizable at will...
Properly configured I think you can win 50% of time and, thus, productivity. Even more.
My musical creativity has come back, the geek is gone after having configured everything once and for all )

Personally, I followed these steps to have a boosted learning:
To start with, I downloaded the demo to my mac; added a new API 1608 "skin" that is super nice and relaxing to the eyes (very important!)
I then browsed the software's menu, I tried to understand the features I had in front of me... You can classify / tidy up / rename the menus and submenus as you wish, a very nice trick. So many things are customizable.

You can create your own menu with the features that you need. For example, if you work with vocals, you can adapt your workflow with the appropriate tools needed for that ... creating a group of 10 voices, for instance, takes less than 10 seconds... it's a real no-brainer.

I've been a Cubase user for a very long time and I think that's it for me... or is it? Can a $60 software stand up to Cubase or Protools? In my opinion, it can. Reaper developers are going in the right direction. Bravo .
And I didn't even mention some great extensions (SWS extension) nor the small plug-ins included ...Don't be fooled by appearances....not the best looking but very effective and light on CPU resources.
The click for me was Reno Mellow, who offers some great tutorials. He is also a very active member in the forums ...he is really good. Bravo ... take your time to look into them and you won't regret it

Top! You get my point.

Installation without a sweat: best example of a DAW that can be installed on any OS without any problems. Currently running on a Mac with os X 10.9 beta 2 Mavericks. I haven't looked at the manual, I learned as I went along thanks to Reno Mellow (who has made a remarkable job) and the courses at groove3.com

SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE

2 macs, Mid 2009 and Early 2008, both running Mac os X 10.9 (beta, which is a much better option than Mountain Lion). Reaper performs much better than anything else. I have never seen anything as stable, reliable and light. Even if, like me, you own a better-known DAW, like Logic, don't hesitate to record your most critical sessions (live) with Reaper — I have never seen this software crash!

OVERALL OPINION

In spite of having bought a license a long time ago, I left this little gem aside for months disheartened by the decrying of Reaper (it's ugly, it's difficult, it's complicated... how long until some say reaper is evil?). In the meantime I bought DAWs that are supposed to be more pro and weren't of any use to me (a waste of money in my opinion). I tried all demos you can imagine until I finally came to realize... That the perfect DAW had been all this time on my computer, and I had already paid for it (if you can call it a purchase, given its price). How can I put it? You can pack reaper with tracks, AUis, and it doesn't break. You don't like the GUI? No problem, there are lots of skins available that can be installed via copy and paste. You want to use two soundcards, no problem... You want to make your own templates, you can choose your own icons, etc., etc., etc... I have just started using it but I am not only excited, I am downright impressed. (and I've had DAWs...) I have suddenly realized that my $400+ presonus is no longer installed and Logic is still on my Macs but I never open it anymore. I have Reaper, which I use spontaneously. I'm already making templates, recordings...
Paradoxically, the only thing that stops Reaper from hitting it off commercially (even if it is starting to be pretty well known) is its price, which is very low. It makes the big guys think it's not professional. If it were to cost $600, it came inside a nice (but useless) box with two or three names of top engineers, everybody would think it's great and it would be cool. (I certainly hope it never happens — I'm kidding) So forget all the media hype and advertising, judge for yourself. Just forget all of it and give it a good and thorough test drive (the demo is not limited). I bet you will end up adopting it. Do I have to find a defect? OK, no OMF support, so you need an external audio editor for that. That's why I give it 9/10. I cannot give it less — exceptional value for money.