Cockos Reaper Review - Most Detailed Version

Welcome to this video, where we'll be taking a detailed look at Cockos Reaper, a powerful and flexible DAW that has been gaining in popularity among music producers and engineers.

In this review, we'll cover everything you need to know about Reaper, from its user interface and workflow, to its feature set and functionality. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned pro, you'll find something of value in this video.

First, we'll dive into the user interface, which is clean, modern and highly customizable. You'll learn how to arrange and customize windows, toolbars, and menus to suit your specific workflow. We'll also cover Reaper's extensive keyboard shortcut system, which allows you to work more efficiently and creatively.

Next, we'll look at Reaper's audio and MIDI editing tools, which are powerful and easy to use. We'll cover editing basics like cutting, copying, pasting, and resizing, and we'll also explore more advanced techniques like grouping, snapping, and ripple editing. You'll see how to use Reaper's powerful automation system to create dynamic and expressive mixes, and we'll also cover how to work with MIDI, including editing notes, creating patterns, and working with virtual instruments.

One of Reaper's most powerful features is its support for third-party plugins, including VST, VST3, and AU plugins. We'll show you how to use these plugins to enhance your tracks and create unique sounds, and we'll also cover Reaper's built-in plugins, which are powerful and easy to use.

Finally, we'll explore some of the advanced features of Reaper, including its surround sound mixing capabilities, video editing tools, and scripting capabilities. You'll learn how to use these features to take your mixes to the next level.

Whether you're a home studio enthusiast, a professional musician, or an audio engineer, you'll find something to love in Reaper. So, sit back, relax, and join us as we take an in-depth look at this powerful and versatile DAW.

TimeSteps:

00:00 Intro & Overview
04:02 Who/What is Reaper
04:49 Cost
06:44 Themes
09:27 Reatraction Simplified Theme
11:17 Who is it for?
14:37 Composing
23:10 Folders
27:31 Automation
32:49 Mixing
36:12 Effects
39:42 Jesusonic (JS) plugins
43:08 Sends & Routing
51:49 Master
58:39 Conclusion

#higherhz​ #cockosreaper #reaper #audioplugin #reaperdaw

[leonline]

I found it to be more intuitive and easier to use than any other daw. You can throw any Audio card at it it doesn't matter!

[Kawin_ShivaSoman]

you need to learn reaper mate.. you know what it may look complex but it has over 300 actions which can be brought to the front using its own tool sets. i have at least 90 features within the screen set in the buttons all working and i am using them in most works.. reaper has no instruments because its made with no extras. its cost efficient . i agree with one point that effects and instruments need to be loaded from third party other than that reaper is overloaded with features which no daw can do...

[frankeisele]

On the looping that you talked about around 17 minutes in - 2 very easy solutions, no need to open the Midi editor. 1) Right-click -> Item Properties -> Uncheck "Loop Source". Done 2) If you in general want to switch off the default looping behaviour, go to the Preferences -> Media Item Defaults -> Uncheck all the "Loop Source..." checkboxes. Done.

[Neumah]

The thing with Reaper is that since it can do so many things, they can't optimize the workflow for one particular thing. Hence, to really use it you have to live with it for a while and spend time to actively customize it for your workflow. Adding custom actions, buttons etc. That's when it gets extremely powerful, and _fast._

[tonal.states]

*_Inhales_*

· You can dock midi editor just right click anywhere on it
· The Fx parameter modulation is in each effect window, top right, "param" button
· You couldn't see all the midi notes in the editor because you have to select the items in the arrange window, you only had time selection, not item selection
· Bare plugins means more CPU for other instruments or Fx
· Every modern software, be it photoshop, final cut or protools have tons of secondary options with the ctrl, command, shift and alt key, not just reaper
· Tons of free plugins, discounts and gifts everywhere so no bloat of 7gb in instruments I never use

*_BUT_*
· Yes it's full of complexity yet worth diving into, but I agree it gets confusing sometimes, on the good side the forum is really helpful

[simontunnicliffe]

I just got to the end of your review. Good analysis of the software. Fair points. It took me about 3 months to iron out all the creases (but wasn't rushing) and going on their official forum asking questions and on a discord channel too but once you learn how it works thoroughly and are used to it, it's very powerful and I don't have problems anymore. I had to dig around for a good looking theme and have settled on Blankfiles Logic 3.90 now, it's about the best overall one for me. Most have maybe a great TCP, Mixer and Transport / Icons but an awful Arranger and Midi Editor and it was hard for me to find one that covered everything to my taste but that one does. I think Maudi's FL Studio Beta 4 is nice too and Smooth Theme, Concept Six and Superior Theme (based on Superior Drummer) are nice too. I also have track templates set up too, one with a Reason Rack Plug-In with a nice 909 Kit in a ReDrum set up and separated out to their own mixer channels, contained in a folder, coloured, labelled accordingly and track templates can (as an option) remember automation and midi info too so have about 8 bars of a 4 on the floor remembered in the template. So when you've got it customised to how you like with the RRP and shortcuts tailored to your likng etc, it's a great daw. I only want Retrospective Recording now in terms of features. Yes - good stock synths and gui's on the fx etc and a really really good looking theme are it's major let downs.

[tomw]

Reaper was my first DAW and literally had at least 70% of your downsides sorted out within the first week. Is it complicated? It certainly can be when you dive deep but just by watching some of the videos on Reaper's web page got me going quickly.

[-IYN-]

If you want to change certain behaviour on an object it is always a good idea in Reaper to... right click on it!

[mogollo]

A very poor review, please go to the Reaper page and watch the videos, and then do a proper review.

[michatroschka]

oh reaper... great to have in the arsenal like a swiss knife alongside ableton. must have! your pros and cons are on point

[reisaki]

My REAPER PROS AND CONS:

PROS:
- 60 bucks
- drag and drop
- traditional workflow
- thousands of actions
- SWS extension
- reascript & community repo
- scripting
- best for editing long podcast and documentaries
- community JSFX
- comping/takes
- top 1 customizable daw
- recording
- we have KENNY

CONS:
- UI and looks. (2021 and yet other daws UI are evolving)
- need a better audio sampler/simpler. (please just copy ableton simpler)
- need modular sound design. (like FL studio "patcher" and bitwig "grid")
- need audio editing panel. (I'm tired editing on arrange view zooming in and out. Think about the audio editing panel popping out like ableton, bitwig and I think other daws had this for decades yet reaper hasn't)
- actions/scripts are too overwhelming. (need a filter for duplicate actions/scripts)
- lack of modulation/modulator effects for built in and third-party vst's.
- need a major update. (like a big update!)
- need a hybrid clip. (when you chop an audio sample/clip, you can make it a single clip "*visually & literally a single clip*" but you can always come back and edit it.)

[davidsprivate]

I like doing puzzles, so I had to put aside thoughts of productivity to one side and look for Jam Tomorrow. I'm not a power user by any means, and I've certainly found the whole "why won't my instrument sound and why do I have to adjust three or four settings to set things up" thing you talk about immensely annoying, but once you have a preferred setup (and youtube is your friend here) you can save it as a project template and/or a track template and just start from there every time. I do think that most of your issues during the video came from using beginner's settings. I think that not being able to find automation in a beginner's settings is kind of the point lol (It's the trim button) but I do think using the default settings until you know your way around is a must. The whole mouse modifier thing is really hard to remember, I keep a crib window open with the ones I use and can't remember. But, once you do know the culture lol, if Reaper comes up with a new automation feature you prefer, or any other feature you want to default to, you can actually change the keyboard and mouse settings, and menu settings, swop them out, to the defaults you want. You can create a menu called Benedict's choices and populate it how you like! Thanks for solving the delete track issue for me, though. I've done that and wondered what the hell happened. Fortunately you can use undo for ever, and if you don't want to do that, you can audition any deleted stuff in media explorer and just reload anything accidentally deleted. Thanks for the review, though. You DO make me want to try Reason!

[simontunnicliffe]

You can turn off auto-linking (pooling) of items (clips) off. I have it this way. There used to be an American tv show called a 1000 Ways To Die, you just invented a new one, 58 Ways To Solve A Problem In Reaper lol!

[vivenzeo]

You forgot Reaper's the most CPU efficient DAW out there. But then again, that's another technical side of things. Musicians who just wants to make music don't care about those.

The part about reaper being too overkill hits me. There were times i would open it not to make music but to setup possible workflow enhancement ideas, which are good but somehow misses the point of the whole DAW thing: making music.

[treemanzoneskullyajan]

How does reaper handle audio loops imported from FL STUDIO, Does it do that thing that makes you feel like committing haricary or taking a dagger to your own ear drums to prevent the suffering caused by the unexplained difference from the mere fact of importing it (even though you check how the sample is to be treated correctly)

[JLG-tmdy]

You mention severl times more suitable skins or themes for Reaper that are better for beginner users; Care to provide some links to suitable beginner options please?

[joselopezpedropiqueras]

"Is Cockos reaper" program the same than "Reaper"?? I want to install the correct one.

[arsart]

Ok. Reaper was suggested to me as an absolute beginner. Before installing this program, I watch a lot of content about other programs ... For my short films, I would do sounds and music in Tascam 2x2 and Midi (Nectar) Impact LX61+. So I’ve never used music programs now I have to and I’d start with someone who really fits the beginner’s lesson. Which one do you recommend to me? Thanks in advance for the reply.

[thegroove]

Fantastic DAW but presonus studio one has got me.

[limbophonic]

I've been a long time Reason user, but in the last few months I've been using Reaper to see how it compares, and i must agree with your Good and Bad points,