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.

Did you have any problems during the installation?
Installation was always a breeze, regardless of the multiple setups I've used reaper with, both on mac and pc. The same applies to updates. No issues whatsoever.
How complicated is the overall configuration?
It's a little complicated in the beginning. You really have to put some effort into it but, in comparison, other DAWs seem to be more limited. Reaper's major strength is precisely its customizability.
Did you have any incompatibility problems?
None for the time being (after 5 years of use).
Is the user's manual clear and comprehensive?
As usual, it's discouraging to read on its own, but very effective when you are looking for something. What's more, there are tons of tutorials online from the Reaper community. There's even videos on Audiofaznine made by some awesome people.

SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE

- What's your computer setup?
(motherboard/CPU/RAM/HDD/soundcard..)
A dual-core notebook running windows 8 and a Mac mini - external and internal HDDs, 4GB RAM. Midrange desktop PC with a four-core processor.

- How is the performance? (if measurable)
Excellent performance, no excessive use of RAM.

- Does the software work correctly with your setup?
It works perfectly. I almost never have crashes, plus there's a recovery function.
What about the hardware+software configuration stability?
Windows 8 really annoyed me in the beginning but it is usually the asio and VST drivers that are unstable, not Reaper. Nothing that keeps you from working and having fun.

OVERALL OPINION

How long have you been using it?
Five years
Did you try any of other models before buying this one?
Sonar, cubase, garageband... but nothing as good, especially for this price..

Which features do you like the most / the least?
+++ Value for money, routing, functionalities, customization. --- I'm still looking (sometimes too many possibilities can be overwhelming).

How would you rate its value for money?
Unmatched, it's simply awesome.

Based on your experience, would you buy this product again?
By all means, and I have no intentions of giving it up.

Ultra-fast installation. There is a comprehensive manual with feature comparisons between Reaper and different DAWs. which is very helpful in the beginning because it can be a bit hard and confusing in certain aspects. Do note that I have tried steinberg, presonus, cakewalk, ableton. Reaper really stands out in terms of handling and ease-of-use compared to all the others I've mentioned.

SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE

PC with amd athlon x2 4800 + 4Gb Ram, hdd 250Gb and 125Gb and presonus firestudio mobile (two years of savings to buy it). An old system by today's standards, given the current evolution, which I deem unacceptable, because you can't keep up with it unless you make a lot of money. And Mac is prohibitive for the same reasons, as usual, small budgets (like mine) end up losing. And most DAWs have engaged in this frantic race. If you only have the money to change one element, there's no point in doing it. And that's where Reaper plays its cards best: It is not too resource-intensive, less so than my Sonar home studio 7 (basic version) from four years ago. and that's great news for me. I've only had some rare crashes with two problematic VSTs (I shouldn't have unzipped them). It runs perfectly on my old and modest laptop (also 4 years old), better than my old Sonar.

A good point: the FX section. It has allowed me to gather audio and midi in one single place, something I have been dreaming about with other sequencers. This allows me to process midi with audio effects and finally have sounds that sound more realistic! I'm thrilled. The effects included are of good quality.
The interface and menus can be quite confusing in the beginning, you need to get used to them. The editing tools aren't in the same place and they don't use the same terminology (the "split" and "glue" items especially). Some people don't like the way the fx are classified, I mitigated the problem by having them displayed directly on the tab, as if I opened them with the explorer, which seems simpler to manage in the end. That's something other DAWs lack. In conclusion: Reaper is very versatile and I like that.

OVERALL OPINION

It tried it out 2 years ago and it didn't quite convince me, but I just gave it another try and I changed my mind. Some call it the "PT killer," but I can't say anything in that respect because I've never used that software, since I don't have the money for a Mac nor for PT (to get both together I would need to take out a two-year loan). It is undeniable that Reaper has a great quality and that's the one I'll buy. It has allowed me to keep my current pc two years. It has the same functions regardless of the price, and since I don't sell 1.000.000 albums every year, 20.000 dollars is not within my reach. What's more, I can install it on any pc without thinking about any limitations or USB keys. There's no score editor but that's not too bad: I export and import my midi from musescore to reaper and vice versa. The effects are really good and have allowed me to mix my songs with a surprising simplicity, especially for someone like me who hasn't studied audio engineering nor has from 5000 to 15.000 to go into a studio to record. I'll finish by stating that I will never ever go for Steinberg. Why, you ask? No demo versions, which given the price of their sequencers ought to be an obligation (for the pro version, not the basic one that doesn't have enough features). And Halion demos with mandatory security dongle, what a disgrace. And that's just an example from among all software developers with the piracy paranoia: When you want to work seriously you don't get illegal copies, you pay for the software.

+ Full demo without limitations (even beyond 60 days).
+ General quality of the software.
+ PC, Mac and Linux compatible.
+ Not too resource-intensive.
+ Ultra fast launching.
+ FX section that mixes audio and midi.
+ Detailed PC- and RAM-usage tab.
+ Clear main interface.
+ One license and installation on several PCs without limitations.
+ Review updated: Good and easy-to-use (free) effects

- Confusing to get a hold of in the beginning (menus and editing).
- No melodyne (or similar) integration.

I'm thrilled after one year of use! The more I use it the more I like it and whenever I have to switch to other DAWs it's a nightmare, so I only use this one because it covers all my needs perfectly!

Did you have any problems during the installation?
No issues, it's very fast, very compact and very powerful

Did you have any incompatibility problems?
No

How complicated is the overall configuration?
Very intuitive. It is very easy to get a hold of, especially for people who know other sequencers.

Is the user's manual clear and comprehensive? ...
It's very comprehensive. It covers all functions in detail and it is well explained.

SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE

What's your computer setup? (motherboard/CPU/RAM/HDD/sound card..)
Motherboard: I have a PC Dell XPS 512 laptop
CPU: i7
4GB Ram
HDD: 500Gb
Soundcard: Lexicon U-22

Does the software work correctly with your setup?
Yes, perfectly!

How is the performance? (if measurable)
Very good, it never crashes, it's very responsive and has lots of features!

What about the hardware+software configuration stability?
Perfectly stable over two years of use, even with less-performing hardware in terms of PC Laptops, my Reaper crashed 2, 3 times.

OVERALL OPINION

How long have you been using it?
Reaper 3

Which feature do you like the most / the least?
The most: Design, it's clear, intuitive, the FREE price, performance
The least: I don't have anything to complain about!

Did you try any of other models before buying this one?
Cubase: Unnecessarily complicated
ProTools: Perfect, but also unnecessarily complicated
LogicStudio: Very good

How would you rate its value for money?
Excellent ++++

Based on your experience, would you buy this product again? ...
Yes

It is disconcertingly easy to install. The software is very light and it detects your license with a simple file placed within a folder on your computer.

SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE

I've used it with several PC setups running Windows 7 with a simple I3 and a bit of ram on a Mac Pro quad core (with a Fast track M-Audio soundcard): No compatibility problems, no crashes and the use of the software is always seamless.
I write music on different computers, so it's a real delight to start a project on a Mac and then be able to work on it on a PC without any compatibility problems (unless you use AU or Mac-specific plug-ins, but that's a given). The software is perfectly optimized and you are never under the impression of riding a battle tank (unlike with cubase).
The entire interface can be customized, so you can devise a tailored-made DAW depending on your needs. The possibilities are really huge and I probably only use 5% or 10% of the software's potential.

OVERALL OPINION

I've been using Reaper to write music for over a year and I have never been disappointed by it, I've never had a bug nor a crash (even Apple's DAW have a lot of bugs, crashes to desktop, etc.). I've had no problems with my numerous VST and other type of plug-ins either. The basic interface is simple and practical (everything is in the right place and the learning curve is pretty short). The performance is excellent for a RIDICULOUS price.

Installation is very simple, the manual of V4 is really well done. Nothing to complain in that sense!

SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE

Reaper needs almost no firepower to work, I had never seen a software that used so little resources. The installation is very light and the software launches right away. It almost feels "cheap" because you don't see anything — when in fact your sitting on an atomic bomb. I don't know how that's even possible, but it seems that doing away with cumbersome and useless samples you can get very decent results in development.
I use Reaper since version 3 (so I had the chance to download version 4) and it has always been very stable.

OVERALL OPINION

I used to use Adobe Audition which was part of a bundle. And I'm never turning back. There are other software programs that I have never tested that are surely very good. But for $60 (€45) and being an amateur home-studio owner, I don't see any reason to go looking for something else.
So, if I had to pick again, I would definitely go for Reaper.
The fact that you can install it, test it "legally" for 60 days and decide to buy it...and when you see that it still works after 60 days (you only get a notice stating that it would be nice for you to pay for it). The trust is such that you get an impulse to buy a license not to be legal, but rather to support the software, which I hope you'll like as much as I do!

As for "negative" points, I'd say that when you are a beginner like me, it's perfect: You lay down the tracks, you mix, you add VSTs, and you can even burn your demo CD! If you want to go into more complex routing options, the learning curve gets a bit steeper! I'm starting to get it, but it's not easy I'll tell you.

In conclusion: If you are starting out, it's perfect, and if you are a pro, it's perfect, too!

Simple, fast and trouble-free installation.
The exe file weighs only 6Mb, it can be installed to a portable drive (which is practical to take it with you on a USB key). Even entering the license number is child's play (you only need to place it in the clipboard and then launch Reaper, which automatically detects it. Many developers from all sorts of software ought to take note.

SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE

On a modest i3 / 4Gb / Windows 8 setup with a Pod UX2 interface, it works perfectly well and without crashes..

OVERALL OPINION

I've been using it for 6 months.
It's the first computer music software that has thrilled me straight away. I just couldn't stand the complexity of Cubase (which I've had ever since V1.0 on an Atari!), Reaper reconciled me with DAWs.
A particularity of this software is that it's rather comfortable to get started, it is very easy to launch projects. But it's afterwards that things start to get messy: When you start to dig deeper into the program and you are faced with endless possibilities in terms of plug-ins, routing and customization. The learning curve turns a bit steep, which can lead to some frustration. Fortunately this software never demotivates you: There's always something new to discover, to experiment with...
As of today, I probably make us of 15% of its possibilities, but I don't care, because I make the music I want with Reaper and that's all that matters.

No issues during the installation. I had never seen something as simple and light. A simple DMG for mac and you can run the software.. It can be downloaded in 2/3 minutes, far from behemoths that demand 1GB only for the basics.

You can test it as long as you want and you don't have to pay for it unless you are convinced. It's akin to the Free Software philosophy and, in a world where everything is for profit, that's a very good thing. I nevertheless recommend you to pay the insignificant amount of money in order for Reaper to continue.

It runs on any computer, even old ones, under MAC OS X, Windows and under Linux via WINE or CODEWEAVER. I think you can even install a hyper-light version on a USB key.

Continuous updates without the need of having to pay anything again: It's extraordinary.

SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE

IMAC 2008 2.8 Core2duo
4 Gb ram (max possible on this computer)
Original 320 Gb HDD
MOTU Hybrid Ultralite soundcard
PRODIPE6 speakers

NO operation problems whatsoever, I'd even say that it's THE ONLY MUSIC SOFTWARE that works perfectly on my Macs (I also have a more recent macbook pro). Rock-solid stability. In fact, I put a Harrison Mixbus at the end of the chain, because I wanted to color the sound, but Reaper is always on top. True, it's a bit complex but once you're used to it, it's awesome!

OVERALL OPINION

I'll be honest: I had my reserves about Reaper. Not because it didn't work, because it works really well, but rather because it turns upside down all preconceived ideas about DAWs. It's been years since I've been fooling around with Reaper without making my mind up.

But several factor pushed me away from other DAWs and towards Reaper this week.

- Logic X is taking so long that I simply can't wait anymore. Apple doesn't give any signs of whether it will keep on going or not and I'm fed up. We are clients, so it's only natural that we want to know whether a DAW will exist in three years or not, especially considering the intellectual investment required to master such a professional software. FYI, L9's user manual has 1460 pages... I'm tired of this. I give up. I'll see if LX comes out in 2013. Afterwards I'll quit.

- I tested plenty of recent DAW demos, especially Protools10. The software is very clear, much more user-friendly than Logic, but it's sluggish on my macs, and I think that, apart from the HD version, which ought to be awesome, it doesn't offer any real added value to a beginner and/or home studio. The plug-ins included with PT10 are OK, but nothing more. I couldn't even play back the demo song included with PT10, I would need to change my computer. In my view that's not justified in my case...AVID doesn't sell the DIGI003 anymore, and I'm not interested in the MBOX. If someday I can invest on an HD, OK, but that's not gonna happen anytime soon. And I want to make music the next 10 years...PT10 hasn't convinced me and I have read in the forums that people have the same problems I do, regardless of whether it's on a PC or a MAC, like in my case. If different hardware and OS configurations have the same problems with the DAW, then the DAW is the problem. 800 dollars for a well-known DAW that it's hard to even get started, it's unforgivable.

I tested Adobe Audition6, too, but I had the impression of using Soundforge. Not a comprehensive DAW. I tested Presonus, which is very hip right now. Very good design, very clear, but...It didn't pass the latest test I've put all DAWs through: Load the tracks of the Logic9 demo song. It's impossible to play back the song (NB: The latest version of Studio One does load it, so I updated my review: Studio one 2.5 is an excellent version of an excellent software, but what about MIDI and scores??? And that's even without considering that the virtual instruments included are from another era...$350 for SO is way too much).

I tested Reason and I found it excellent. If I had to have another DAW — besides Live, which is remarkable — it would be this one, even if I could never use it as a general-purpose DAW. (But as a specific software)

Since I work on a Mac I excluded all Windows programs. As an occasional beta tester of Harrison Mixbus, I know that this software is very good to give a mix some color in the end but I need something else because MH works only with audio, not MIDI (and it's not fully operational yet).

And then I came to my REAPER4, which I had bought some months before. I heard what Reaper can do for a mix in an AF/AVID/PUREMIX contest in September 2012, where the author said he was a Reaper "specialist" and I was impressed by the result. Only with Reaper plug-ins. While I was struggling to use WAVE plug-ins.

I also installed the free IMPERIAL skin on Reaper and I it was spot on for me. It's simply AWESOME: (See screen 1)

I finally exported the tracks of the Logic9 song: I did it the old way: WAVES export from Logic and Import of the same WAVES into Reaper. The ULTIMATE test, it can't get any harder.

73 audio tracks, 73 WAVE files. If necessary, Reaper can display them on one single screen!!! (See screen2)
The Presonus couldn't read them, neither did the Harrison Mixbus. Reaper did it without a sweat. It plays back perfectly. With such a test I have no doubt that in a real live situation, REAPER4 would not let me stranded. FYI, I let the 73-track demo loop, to see if I could make Reaper crash, even under catastrophic conditions, since I'm writing on AF at the same time on the same computer, but no, it just loops

REAPER comes out victorious from severe and long-lasting tests.

The least expensive, the closest to the Free Software philosophy and with a huge community (now I know why).

You need some time to get used to Reaper, but as you go along you never find yourself in the common situation where you think the software is limiting you and that you need to buy another one or a more comprehensive version. On the contrary, with Reaper you only think that the software offers endless possibilities. So, instead of forking out $400/$600 dollars for the same software an umpteenth time, I bought a good digital audio interface.

FYI, here are the DAWs I used (and paid for) and I'm not including all DAWs I tested:

Cakewalk Pro audio9
Samplitude 6
Cubase SE
Tracktion
Sonar 3
Sonar8
Ardour
Harrison Mixbus
Logic 9

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I didn't test DP because there's no demo version but I've heard good things about it. If I had to make a final choice for Mac OS X, I would choose between Cubase7, DP8, Studio One 2.5, and Reaper4. Which sets Reaper among the best DAWs. With SO last due to its lack of certain features, and Reaper in first place due to its quality and PRICE!

Images linked to this review.

Reaper IMPERIAL Skin. Admire it.

REAPER basic skin with the 73 tracks displayed on one single 24" display: Never seen before.

REAPER4 is still looping while I'm posting this on AF, on the same computer. I wanted to push it to its limits, but it doesn't even flinch

No remarks.

SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE

No remarks.

OVERALL OPINION

I had been using cubase for several years and was starting to get tired of its lack of versatility, its crashes, incompatibilities, things you have to spend hours setting up to end up with nothing special, the transport bar that disappears when you switch from two to one screen, etc.

Imagine a program where YOU decide everything. You create your own toolbars depending on YOUR needs, placing there the tools that are useful to you. For example, an editing toolbar, a recording toolbar, etc.

Imagine a program where you can create and customize shortcuts (keyboard, mouse or icons) and assign them to WHATEVER YOU WANT. For example, to split a track at the next transient, to zoom out on the entire project by minimizing the margin stop of the tracks, to create a track with effects and in/out assigned in one single click.

Imagine a program where every track has an internal routing of 64 channels. That's why this software completely SMASHES all others. You can use the channels to split your track in several frequency ranges, for example. And from there, everything is possible. For example make everything below 200 Hz mono, expand the stereo image between 300 Hz and 500 Hz, boost the harmonics between 6000 Hz and 8000hz, compress different frequency ranges with different compressors. And that for EVERY single track!

You can also split your signal into Mid and Side to process them separately with any plug-in. In short, the possibilities are REALLY, REALLY, REALLY HUGE!

Oh, yeah, Reaper costs 60 bucks.

A word to the wise.

PS: It takes some time in the beginning to learn the customized functions, how to customize toolbars, how to use the 64 channels per track, etc. But once you've got past that, it's a real JOY.

Ultra-fast installation. Consider installing the SWS extension, which adds some very useful extras..
Lengthy but very useful manual.

Super stable!

SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE

It's worth pointing out that the software is SUPER light, I always say that I use it on a 3-year old netbook (ASUS E333 1ghz / 1gb RAM) without any problems (with the condition of not using too many useless plug-ins, although I can use it with Battery).
I had Nuendo/Cubase before, and it's really like night and day. Cubase, the Rube Goldberg machine, against Reaper the light-footed.
Also note that you can install a very practical and light portable version, which can be very useful when you need to work on other PCs.

OVERALL OPINION

I've used it quite regularly for 3 years.

Its customization options are at the same time the software's main strength and weakness. Everything (or almost everything) can be modified. Which is fantastic but also tiresome.
By not imposing a way of doing things, you can easily get lost with such software. But if you come from another software (Cubase in my case) that forces you to work in a given way, it is very easy to replicate.

When you know what you want to do and how to do it, it's really fast because you can have everything adjusted to your needs. On the other hand, if you want to venture into somewhat newer tasks, it takes a lot of time to setup everything the way you want to, because the default settings are often not very good. For example MIDI editing took me quite some time to set up, but once you've got it, its just amazing!

So, I would recommend Reaper to musicians who already have some experience with computer music.

And its price defies all competition! I think it's as powerful as all competing products (Cubase and Pro Tools to name just a couple) and it only costs $60. In short, you have no excuse to get a crack. The value for money is unbeatable, in my opinion.

Despite the customization, which can be too much at times (you can become a geek pretty quickly), and its default options, which aren't the best, I give it the highest rating.

And what's more, you can test it without any restriction for 30 days, what more could you ask for?