Steve PMHProduction is among the most important processes that go into creating anything audio-related.
Production involves everything from capturing the sounds of each instrument along with vocals, manipulating those sounds, and applying different effects to achieve the desired output.
Today, production is carried out using software known as DAWs, which is short for digital audio workstations, and Reaper is one of the best DAWs out there.
Stick around to learn all about Reaper, from what it is and who developed it to how it works and why you should consider using it.
What Is Reaper?
Reaper is one of the most popular digital audio workstations (DAWs) available.
It’s a computer software that can be downloaded on any PC or Mac. It’s used for recording, editing, mixing, mastering, and producing audio files.
Who Created Reaper and Why?
Reaper was created in 2006 by the company Cockos Inc, which was founded by Justin Frankel in 2004 after he departed from the company Nullsoft.
Frankel’s experience at Nullsoft led him to develop one of the most well-known audio projects at the time, Winamp.
Leaving the corporate world behind him, Justin looked into developing a DAW that would put the user first. This idea stemmed from Frankel’s frustrations after using other DAWs available on the market.
His background and experience in music and sound programs pushed him to start working and releasing programs in that field.
Some of Cockos’ most notable releases include NINJAM, GPL, LICEcap, JSFX, and, of course, Reaper.
According to the company, its goal was to “develop software sustainably,” all while not forcing engineers to compromise for the sake of profits.
Note that Reaper is an acronym short for Rapid Environment for Audio Production, Engineering, and Production.
How Does Reaper Work?
Like many DAWs, Reaper works primarily with audio, using certain functions and features to manipulate the audio being produced to reach the desired product.
Among Reaper’s main functionalities:
Record Audio Tracks
Using Reaper and a connected device, the DAW can record and overdub audio coming from a microphone, instrument, midi controllers, and virtual plug-ins.
These audio files can be recorded via different tracks, but what makes Reaper unique is that it has a theoretically unlimited number of tracks. They’re only limited by the device’s hardware capabilities.
Produce, Mix, and Master
After recording your audio, you can edit, mix, and master your audio using the features already in Reaper, or plug-ins you downloaded to work with it.
Using Reaper, you can cut, copy, duplicate, arrange, add effects, and more to produce your auditory piece the way you want it.
What Makes Reaper Great?
Reaper has many benefits, which is why many users put it among the most professional DAWs in the market today.
Reaper’s advantages aren’t small either, as they’re at the core of what makes this DAW unique and different from that of others.
Remember, Cockos had the user in mind when creating the DAW, so the advantages that you’ll have are going to be geared toward function rather than fashion.
Check out some of the features and benefits below:
Price
When weighing your options, money is a big factor, and DAWs aren’t cheap, with many reaching in the hundreds of dollars when it comes to price.
Reaper, on the other hand, is considered to be one of the cheapest options in the market, if not the cheapest, making it an excellent bang for the buck.
Size, Speed, and Stability
Reaper has an impressive size, ranging between 12MB and 20MB, depending on the OS.
This small digital footprint makes it fast on launch and dedicated to what matters most, your creativity. Not to mention that you take it with you easily on a flash drive.
Reaper’s small size makes working on it a breeze, as loading times are pretty short and you’ll be able to do more without worrying about lag.
This makes the program also light on the CPU and thus it’s almost crash-free and able to work on older PCs too. This allows for a stress-free workflow overall.
Customizability
Raper is highly customizable. Not only can you download different themes and designs; you can even find some themes and designs that replicate the themes of other DAWs.
So if you’re coming from another DAW, you can change Raper’s interface to match your previous DAW.
Control
When we get to the drawbacks, we’ll talk about the interface, which is a bit staggering at some points, but that’s due to the extent of control that it gives the user.
You can control virtually everything!
Even when plug-ins are installed within Reaper, more controls get added, from sliders and faders to different parameters and so on to give the user the ability to change the most minute details.
Easily Organizable
You can also organize the projects you’re working on to your liking.
Projects can easily be arranged into numerous regions that can be moved around or edited simultaneously to try different arrangements and more.
Effects and changes can be saved together in order to be streamlined in future projects. Further, they can be assigned to certain keys to create macros.
Sidechaining Plug-ins
Among the stand-out features that Reaper has is sidechaining plug-ins.
This isn’t that special, but what is unique about it here is that you can sidechain plug-ins even if that plug-in doesn’t support sidechaining natively.
Active Developers
The people working at Cockos Inc are always active and aim to offer the best user experience possible, so they’re always pushing out new updates and patches.
This ensures that Repair is always up to date, all while keeping bugs and issues at a minimum, thanks to the team being able to fix them quickly.
Versatile
Reaper has been developed to be able to work on almost every platform, as Cockos has made the DAW work on Windows, Mac OS, and even Linux. This makes it accessible to users who work on different platforms.
It also has no copy protection, which makes it easy to install and run straight away without a need for a dongle or anything like that.
Simple
Even though users can add as many tracks as they want according to the hardware capabilities of their device, these tracks work with any and every audio file.
Be it stereo, mono, midi, or video, the tracks in the DAW will work consistently and smoothly to help reach the desired outcome.
What Are Reaper’s Drawbacks?
Nothing is perfect. There’s always going to be an issue or things you don’t like about whatever DAW you decide to use.
While it’s considered simple and very easy to use at first glance, Reaper has a few issues that make it slightly overwhelming when getting introduced to it for the first time.
Here are some of the DAW’s drawbacks:
Interface
The interface is deceptively simple at first glance. Once you start delving into it, things can get a little complicated.
Not only is Reaper’s user interface utilitarian, but it also gives the option of customizing almost everything down to the smallest feature.
The sheer number of sliders, buttons, and information input options will be overwhelming to any person who isn’t familiar with it.
However, the more you use Reaper, the more you’ll start to appreciate its high customizability. In fact, it’s one of the attributes that set it apart from most other DAWs.
Dated Look
Reaper’s small size, unfortunately, means that there are no bells and whistles to greet you once you load up the DAW.
It has a dated look compared to other DAWs on the market and lacks that extra polish, which makes it look like something from the late 2000s.
Lack of Loops and Instruments
The DAW doesn’t come with any loops or instruments, which is a letdown to newcomers as they’ll have to download their own.
This can be pretty frustrating for those who are new to using DAWs, as well as disappointing to professionals that want native plug-ins.
Is Reaper Free?
No, Reaper isn’t free. However, the company behind, Cockos Inc, is adamant that users figure out if the program is a good fit for them before they buy it.
There’s only one version of Reaper, and users, be it professionals or hobbyists, can try it out themselves for free for a designated period of 60 days.
After that 60-day period ends, the user should have a better idea of what Reaper is capable of and will be able to decide if they want to buy it or not.
At that point, they’ll need to either purchase a license or look for another DAW.
What Packages Is Reaper Offering?
There are two licenses available for Reaper. Whichever license you decide to get, you’ll be set to get the latest version of the Reaper with a one-time purchase.
You’ll also continue to get updates for free as they get released with no further payments required.
The two licenses are:
Discounted License
People can purchase Reaper for a discounted price, but they need to fulfill certain requirements.
- The purchaser is a user who is going to use it for personal use.
- The purchaser or business is part of a non-profit or educational organization.
- The purchaser or business is going to use it commercially, with a yearly gross revenue that doesn’t exceed $20,000.
Commercial License
The commercial license is for those who didn’t meet the requirements of the discounted license. The commercial license is considerably more expensive than the discounted license.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a Reaper community forum where I can ask questions?
There is! Reaper has its community forum straight on its website, where people can talk with the team behind the program and others.
It’s a forum where people can ask questions, provide ideas, and talk about any technical issues they might be facing.
There’s also a section intended for new users, where newcomers can feel welcome and ask for support about the DAW without being embarrassed.
What if I have several devices and I want to switch between them?
Reaper gives its buyer the ability to install the DAW on as many PCs as they want, but they can only work on one computer at a time.
Is there any kind of support for Reaper besides the forum?
The website offers a free download of the Reaper user guide in several languages.
There are also specialized PDF guides that users can download focusing on specific functions, topics, and troubleshoots.
The website also offers a videos page that has an extensive list of tutorials, techniques, and how-tos for newcomers and professionals alike.
This page will provide visitors with virtually everything they need to know about Reaper and how to use it.
This can include everything from how to trim audio to ripple editing and keeping project folders organized within the DAW.
Are there alternatives to Reaper?
Yes, there are several alternatives when it comes to DAWs, each with its own set of advantages and disadvantages.
Some of these disadvantages can come in the form of competitive pricing, as many DAWs tend to be expensive.
It can also come as a compatibility advent since not all DAWs are compatible with all operating systems and so on.
It’s a good idea to test as many DAWs as you can. You might find some DAWs too complicated or don’t have what you need, so trying them will help you find the one that suits you best.
Is Reaper available in different languages?
Yes, it is. While it’s originally in English, there are downloadable language packs to make it more inclusive with other users from different parts of the world.
These languages include Polish, German, French, Russian, Japanese, and more.
