All user reviews for the Cockos Reaper 4

Installation is very simple, no remarks! The 400-page manual is comprehensive and frequently updated.
No incompatibilities to point out.

SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE

Reaper is really powerful and well optimized! You can adjust a large number of parameters via a simple, well-organized and intuitive interface! Which is no surprise, considering that it's the users who suggest the features!

OVERALL OPINION

I've used it since version 3, and I had tried many DAWs before, but Reaper is the best for me and that's due to the community that supports its development. The routing possibilities are simply jaw-dropping! I don't know any other software that is as versatile!
I strongly recommend Reaper to everyone!

Very easy and fast installation.
Rather simple setup, no ugly surprises.
No incompatibilities found.
I haven't read the manual yet, I have relied on the forums and videos for now.

SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE

Quad core 3 Ghz 8 G Ram SSD @ 64 Bit
I installed the 64- and 32-bit versions but I work in 32 bits for the time being since the differences are not noticeable.
The performance is all right, no sudden audio cracks, no slackening of the system, crashes only due to plug-ins that crash, very good responsiveness.

OVERALL OPINION

I started using reaper 4 several weeks ago, but I had already tried version 1 or 2 (I don't know anymore), and the difference with this version is impressive. This software evolves in the right direction.

At first, it can be a bit disconcerting, given the fact that you can modify absolutely everything (the mouse clicks according to context, all keyboard shortcuts, complex actions in the form of processes, and even internal plug-ins, etc.), but in the end you can easily find what you want to do in the action list. Menus are well thought-out.
Audio routing is simple but powerful. I also like the simple but effective plug-in management.

I tried FL studio before, which is awesome to write music but is very limited (at least in my opinion, but it might be that it doesn't suit me well) when it comes to effects routing (prefader, for example) and the actions on the automated playlist (like tempo mapping).

You have to try it out. You'll either love it or hate it, I guess.
The price of the software is ridiculous given its quality.

Everything is great, EXCEPT that in order to integrate hardware that is not MIDI you have to go look for plug-ins in the forums. It's a pity that a mackie controller isn't installed directly.

With the interface it's either make or break. I got a hold of it much quicker than any other software I tested. On the other hand, if you have a habit of doing things in a way, it's hard to change (regardless of the software).

SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE

One of the software's main strengths is that it is not resource-intensive and it allows you to do anything (advanced routing options and a very interesting audio/VST hybridization).
I've already used it with more than 100 tracks on very big projects and it never fails.

OVERALL OPINION

I have been using it since version 2 and wouldn't change it for anything in the world, even if the price were 10 times higher to match that of competing products.

Runs great on Mac or PC. Never any issues. Constantly being update. A picture book example of how a company should deal with software.

SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE

Rock solid on PC,and OSX, also on OSX the 64 bit version that is still a public beta is rather stable as well.

OVERALL OPINION

I was turned on to Repaer at version 2 by one of the guys writing code for one of their competitors.We're talking a DAW that cost 20 times as much.
I was intrigued and tried it.
The first thing I noticed is the amazingly small foot print it has. We're not talking bloated couple of 100 mB software. We're talking 10 mB. Put this a thumb drive and use it anywhere. Better yet put the Mac and PC version on there and you can just connect the drive to any computer and you're good to go. i also believe they make a Linux version. So they got all their bases covered.

The GUI looks a little bit like Sony Vegas, which was my first DAW, so the learning curve for me was non existent. And seems to be rather small anyways.
The routing options inside the program are more than I'd ever use. And I rather have too many options than not enough.
The fun part is that summing inside the box actually sounds good. Unlike some of the more expensive DAWs out there where you really have to go out to a mixing board for it to sound right.
It comes with a slew of usable, good sounding plug-ins, and reads all the typical VST, AU, DirectX etc plug-in formats.

The only down side is that it doesn't do OMF or AAF import, so when you want to bring a project out of another DAW in you will have to bounce out stems.

Bottom line...it's a great DAW, and for the price no one can touch this.

Very simple installation, but during installation there are some options: Check Rearoute Asio driver: It's a multitrack asio driver: To route any Asio program to Reaper! It's stable and indispensable for me, a sort of Re-wire but much more functional.

SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE

Currently Quad-core Intel/GTX460/4GbRAM/Fast-track pro
Latency <10ms without problems: Reaper is very stable, due to its lightness! It really never crashes!

Reaper also works fine with more modest setups, for example it starts just as quickly as Audacity

The rearoute ASIO driver can route the tracks of several programs at the same time: The ASIO driver of the soundcard for Reaper, then select the rearoute ASIO driver in your sequencer (FL studio in my case).

Reaper and rearoute ASIO allow to keep it more dynamic, to add vsts on every track and, especially, to export multitracks live if needed

Demo of the principle in this video, for example:

OVERALL OPINION

I've used it for several years as a complement for other sequencers and for mastering.

The - :
- Sometimes its interface is too much, it's better to have some references and it's all good, plus it's much better in bigger screens.
- If operated incorrectly it can produce very violent feedbacks and echoes: Be careful!
- Track editing is well accomplished, but it lacks some precision when it comes to "millimetric" editing compared to ableton/cubase, reaper is not the best for a break-beat track by itself xD

The + :
- What convinced me and won my loyalty is: The dynamics, the gain, the stability.
- Rearoute Asio driver: bye bye hassles!
- Lightness and performance: Synonyms of stability^^: confirmed over time.
- The fact that it was a freeware up to version 3: Its freeware versions are still very good.
- The internal Vsts are very, very good, on the same level as the wave suite (believe me, they are)
- Midi: It's clear and easy to set up.
- Multiple export formats
- Provides a creative outlet thanks to its multiple routing possibilities. It's a delight to do and undo things with it, unlike with many other programs.
- ...

It might not be the best for someone who is starting out with computer music, except to record vocals/instruments without too much editing, but everything is possible.

Other programs I know:
Ableton : ++++
Fl studio: +++++
Cubase: ++

Very good program: Lots of upgrades on its back.

Reaper is a scary program to look at when you first open it. Something about the simplicity of the design of the graphical user interface scares the user when the user begins to delve into the many contextual menus of the program. This is in keeping with the company's vision, of course. Reaper is a comprehensive suite with feature and features and features just jam packed into its little package. This makes someone who is new to recording extremely intimidated by reaper, unlike some of the more flowery digital audio workstation programs like Logic or Studio One or Pro Tools. All fantastic programs in their own right, and this review is not about them anyway. What was incredible about Reaper when I first opened it was that I was initially overwhelmed by how much information was punching me in the face, but then I started to set goals on what to do in Reaper. You do not just explore a program aimlessly. You have it because you want to use it for something specific, so go in with a goal in mind and you will be fine.

SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE

Once you figure out what you want from the program, Reaper just works. The thing about Reaper is that it is overwhelming to the explorer, not the goal setter. It is honestly baffling how intuitive Reaper actually is, because none of the intuition is presented to the user at first glance. The program is intensely scary when first opened, but everything just seems to make sense after only a few minutes of intensive goal oriented work.

OVERALL OPINION

Reaper rocks because nothing seems quite out of place. There are a few odd features that are left out, but the simple truth is you are getting a DAW the stands up to and often surpasses the big boys for next to nothing. And the fact that the DAW in and of itself is no nonsense, makes music making easy as pie.

Light and easy to install

SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE

The price of the software is much more accessible than many educational licenses. There's no need to get any software illegally! They are all included!

OVERALL OPINION

Let's be honest, not everything is perfect, and you need some time to adapt to it. In the end, the workflow improves a lot thanks to several very appropriate keyboard shortcuts. On the other hand, you have to explore the complex menus from top to bottom, the plug-ins don't always have a GUI worthy of their capabilities and audio quantization is much more arduous than with Live.
On the other hand, the routing is amazing! You need an LFO or the envelope of another track on a parameter that is too static? Just check a box and it's done on the fly! Awesome!! All program and VST buttons are sidechainable and modular!

I downloaded the update, having already bought the license for version 2.
No issues, everything was in its place.
It works flawlessly under Windows (even under Win7 X64 with my erratic VAIO), and it can be easily installed with Wine on Ubuntustudio, TangoStudio, Fedora CCRMA, KX Studio, and I haven't tested all Linux distributions there are!
I didn't reinstall it on me USB key, I keep the old version on a removable hard drive.
It doesn't recognize all my plug-ins but I have downloaded all sort of things throughout the years, so it takes 10 minutes to load them all if I make it re-scan all folders with VSTs. But apart from that, it starts right away.
I haven't read the manual in two years. It has lots of improvements, but if you've used it you know where you are going.

In short, no installation nor operation problems. I don't recall it having crashed, it just freezes sometimes when scanning 10Gb of plug-ins and soundfonts, but I only need to wait for it to be over and then it gets going again.

SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE

Portable Sony VAIO with 4Gb RAM, 640 GB HDD + removable HDD, second screen, an Alesis Multimix USB 4 and a Toneport UX1 Line6 (barely runs on Linux), 2 monitoring speakers.
Stable setup.

OVERALL OPINION

I've had different version of Reaper the last 5 years.
I tested several freewares before, including some really bad ones (GRRRR!) and read the reviews of more expensive software programs before paying for my license.
I also tested some free and free-of-charge software on Linux, but it's a different concept altogether: A brick per function and you link everything, it takes time to get your bearings.
The pros: The price, stability and portability, the power.
The cons: It has everything, so you have to get used to a new way of working, find a setup that suits you because everything is adjustable.

Installation: No remarks!
OS / VST / VSTi (and all other) compatibilities: No remarks!
Setting up a soundcard and other devices: No remarks!
Internal DAW setup: It depends on the workflow, but it's very adaptable: No remarks!
User manual a bit lengthy, but modeled on the flexibility of the DAW!

SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE

Computer: portable HP DV6 with 4GB RAM. CR 4 is light but it all depends on the complexity of the project.
So far I haven't reached the limits of my computer, so, no remarks!

OVERALL OPINION

Since version 3 it's a real pleasure, flexible routing above all, fast arrangement/composition especially given the tracks/Fx Chains templates. Flexible track organization (interlocking tracks folder, etc.), creative mixing according to your needs thanks to the flexible routing.

DAWs tested:
Samplitude, the best for audio and mastering
Sonar X1 (Cakewalk since 98...): yuk, very heavy!
FL Studio: excellent for patterns/loops!
Studio One: Reaper's most direct competitor, simpler but not less effective. Its advantage compared to Reaper is the processing suite, the mastering!
Cubase: yuk, I gave up on it, but basically because I almost never use it!

The + :
Routing flexibility
Internal track routing.
Track, effects and project templates.
The adaptability of the interface (customizable menus/buttons)
Track interlocking (track folders)
Like Samplitude, FX assignment by "clip" (items...).

The - :
Internal track routing a bit complicated.
Lacks direct and contextual tools, like Studio One, but it's customizable
Lacks a browser like Studio One or FL Studio

Otherwise, it's an excellent DAW. I prefer it over Cubase or Sonar, which are no longer among my DAWs

Hats off, Cockos Reaper, keep up the good work!

Ultra-fast and easy installation with a very small exe file, incredible

SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE

Vista 64 bits (core 2 quad, 4 Gb RAM)
It works really well, much more responsive than my old Cubase SX2
I'm only discovering the software (I will update my review after a couple of months of use). For the moment, it's excellent!
Reaper supports VSTs without problems and you can apply effects to virtual instruments in real time - radical!
What's more, it is very customizable, which allows you to gain time: It's the software that adapts to the user not the other way around.
Perfect stability up to now.

OVERALL OPINION

I'm still in the learning phase, I used to work with Cubase (SX1 and then SX2) but now I realize how badly I needed to get rid of it!

The value for money is incredible ($60 for an amateur/semi-pro user) because this Reaper appears to be really powerful.

It probably isn't as rich and powerful as the major DAWs (I'm not an expert that pushes the sequences to extremes), but it's more than enough to make demos at home.

Thank you Reaper, I have finally found the product that truly fits my needs, and for a more-than-fair price.

Extremely fast download and installation
accepts virtually all vsts, works perfectly with reason 5. very easy to use

SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE

I use a laptop with amd turion dual 1.6mhz 2gb ram
a yamaha i88x and a yamaha 01x via firewire
extremely stable system, almost no latency, I find its behavior clearly superior to cubase and even logic audio, the interface is well thought out and adaptable
it lacks only the eraser and razor tools
and it would be perfect

OVERALL OPINION

I've already done a project with reaper, I'm an audio engineer with lots of experience with computer music, the stability is unmatched in relation to other software programs. I give it 10/10
on the other hand, the internal plug-ins are its main weakness
really lightweight but that can be solved by integrating plug-ins that are a bit more pro. its value for money is unmatched

6mb download, no incompatibilities with my system. The setup is rather simple, but it can prove to be very complicated if you decide to get your hands dirty and enjoy making templates, modifying the basic worklfow, even creating a fully customized interface, which is possible. Nevertheless, it's easier to learn than Cubase or ProTools once you spend a couple of hours with it.

SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE

Perfectly stable with my system (AMD Phenom II X4 965). 8 Gb RAM, 64-bit and a TC SK48.

OVERALL OPINION

I'm a user since V2. I like a lot of things about this software. Its usability, its setup and routing flexibility, its lightness, its stability, and a bunch of other things, like the fact that it's fully skinnable. It's as effective as the major players in the market, but with a fair price for private users ($60). I renewed my license as soon as it was available, and if it lacks anything compared to others is that you sometimes don't know where to find something, but the software itself has no limitations. So, as usual, you have to test it in detail to understand how it works rather than try to keep the same habits you have with Cubase, Protools or Live. It has its own workflow, which you can adapt ad nauseam when you have discovered its secrets.