REAPER is a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) for Windows and OS X that includes everything one needs to record, edit, mix, master, and produce audio and music. Although offering these features leads one to expect low performance and high latency on certain computers, Cockos Incorporated, the company surrounding REAPER, quotes that the DAW “starts and loads fast … [is] tightly coded [and is] portable.” (REAPER About).

Features of REAPER

One of the most notable features of REAPER is its ability to give the user lots of control of the backend. For example, there is almost always a way to customize how REAPER responds to input/output. A plug-and-play MIDI keyboard controller can be set up using the DAW’s built-in  “Actions” list. The downside to this feature is that it makes REAPER less user-friendly which might intimidate new users.

Another notable feature is the ease of which REAPER handles VST’s. REAPER provides its own VST’s and users can drag and drop their favorite plugins into the Plugins folder. Once done, a user can start using the plugin with their project.

Experiences with REAPER

Using REAPER in both private and commercial settings, I can conclude that once one is used to the layout, REAPER becomes quite the powerful audio production tool. It has been used to produce one of my EP’s, to record solo commentary, and to record a live band via multitrack. I have even used other software (Melodyne, Virtual Audio Cable, Kontakt, VSTHost, etc.) and hardware (2, 4, 8, 16 Multitracks, Stereo Receivers, DI boxes, etc.) in conjunction with it and it works the way a professional DAW should.

Overall, I have used REAPER in many ways throughout many years and is still the DAW I recommend music professionals use for their audio production projects. Note that REAPER is not free (the license will cost $60 or more).

If you have experience with using REAPER, feel free to leave a comment to build upon this post. For more information, check out the link given below.


Link to REAPER: http://www.reaper.fm/

John Kwisses

John Kwisses is a musician, software developer, and cyber security advisor. He is the founder of Kwistech, Cyber Soldier, and Music Machine. For more information, please visit https://kwisses.ca
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