I had Reaper by Cockos around for quite a while but I was too much into other DAWs to take the time and actually do some proper in-depth exploration of the thing. Well, few days ago, after reading a thread on our local guitar forum I gave it a spin and boy, did my eyes open!
Can’t write a lengthy review, so this is just a quick rundown of the most important features.. Scratching the surface as they say, and a bit of the next layer.
Pricing, licensing, protection: Basically, it’s up to you do the right thing and pay the 60$ fee (40$ atm) after the 30 day trial ends. Next major version + updates included. Costs more if you’re big business.
Tracks and Routing : supreme! I still can’t wrap my mind around all the possibilities just yet.
A track is a track, there is no audio-midi distinction. And an effect is an effect, instruments included. Drop them in any order and they’ll probably work. You can have two instruments in the same track with some effects between them and they output sound from the same midi data. Both of them.
Also, you can split the chain from within into several parallel lines via aux routing, add various effects to each line, then join them again for some final torture. Example : you can process the sound from a delay with a reverb without affecting the dry signal, all within the same track. So there is not much need for FX channels if you don’t want them. And speaking of sends, you can route pretty much anything to anywhere across tracks in order to abuse your effects even more. Crazy good!
There is also a dry/wet control on any effect (how this is not industry standard I don’t know) and an UI bypass button which displays a list of sliders, one for each parameter, just in case you missed something.
Adding effects is easily done as you can filter the list using a text field, like in the jump to file window in WinAmp. You can also define lists of favorites and there’s a ‘recent effects’ list.
Parameter modulation: Ever seen a synth modulation matrix? Well, imagine that applied to the whole workstation, linking parameters across effects and tracks. Didn’t touch on this madness myself just yet.
Automation: the program supports several types of curves between two automation points so you don’t have to draw a lame approximation of a curve by hand. Can record stuff, of course.
Midi editor: is still a bit minimalistic and there’s no scoring. Does the job pretty well however, and I hope the new version will expand the feature set.
Mixer: different panning modes (v4 feature). Can arrange tracks on several rows if size allows it.
Graphic interface: does not look as evolved as others. However, things are properly sized and in the right places so everything is easy to read at a glance. Version 4-alpha comes with a different look and feel and it’s a bit too ‘square’ for my taste. Themes are available, and can be modded.
Parameter lists: Some plugins offer hundreds of controls and when a list of such controls pops up you’ll find them quite difficult to work with. However, a trained eye will find information rather easily.
Supplied effects: Can’t really compare to the big names but what is included works well. And for the price difference you can get a bundle like Melda or Blue Cat or something else.
Customization: Lots of options to change shortcuts and menus and everything. And it supports horizontal scroll via my second mouse wheel, which makes life much sweeter for me.
Audio/Midi recording: works well, but i didn’t do much of it. I edited midi by hand mostly, like newbs do.
Support: Great forum, and they also replied quickly to an e-mail we sent.
Don’t want to extend this any further, but check this out for an in-depth article from a pro.
Conclusion: Love.
Tags: audio · Cockos · DAW · love · Reaper · sound design · vst · vstiNo Comments.
