All user reviews for the Cockos Reaper 4

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

-------
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?

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.