Reaper: Is it worth it?

[FlyingNinjaBannanas]

Edit: This has been re-posted in the right section. Sorry for my mistake.

http://www.reaper.fm/

I've been exploring DAWs as of late to find one that suits my tastes more than FL (Great program. I know so much about it, but hate the workflow). I've downloaded the demo, and from what I've read so far, here are the obvious pros.

1. 60$. That's it. I am in awe.

2. Fully functional and VST friendly.

3. Allowed installation on multiple computers if only one is running at a time.

4. 6 MB, 60 day, fully functional demo. *faints*

5. Very stable.

But while I meddle with it, I would like to see other opinions on it. It doesn't seem to be used around here by many, so it would be interesting. So I ask, to you, is it worth it?

[cloudshovit]

yes go for it. if you midi sequencing or beat sequencing isn't your thing its highly recommended. the only thing I don't like about is the workflow since I'm used to FL but Reaper is insanely good. btw the you get to try it forever

[ChocolateChicken]

Reaper is very good, although there's a little secret I can share with y'all.

*leans in close and whispers into ear*

The """"demo"""" version is the full version and lasts forever.

I've been using the """"demo"""" version for about five years now.

Great daw.

[FlyingNinjaBannanas]

Reaper is very good, although there's a little secret I can share with y'all.

*leans in close and whispers into ear*

The """"demo"""" version is the full version and lasts forever.

I've been using the """"demo"""" version for about five years now.

Great daw.

Even though I am 100% positive that's pirating, and is something that should not be discussed farther than this post, I'll keep that in mind, especially if I can't afford it right away and would like to learn it more thoroughly. Though 60 days should be enough for me to make my decision, and it's cheap enough that affording it should not be a problem. It'll probably take me that long to learn it. Though from what I've fiddled with, it reminds me of FL so much. The midi sequencing, while different, still has an FL feel. Also with the fact I have an idea on how it works, though I'm still going to read the manual. Which, since it's over 350 pages long, is going to take a while.

yes go for it. if you midi sequencing or beat sequencing isn't your thing its highly recommended. the only thing I don't like about is the workflow since I'm used to FL but Reaper is insanely good. btw the you get to try it forever

See above. I don't want this thread to get locked due to pirating. That would not be a correct way to do this.

[ChocolateChicken]

Even though I am 100% positive that's pirating...

I don't think you understand. The reason I put quotations around the word demo is because the demo version is actually the full version. It never expires. I didn't pirate anything. Nobody here is pirating.

When cloudshovit said "you get to try it forever," he wasn't joking.

I am 100% positive...

So much for being 100% positive...

[Captain Ironhelm]

Wow, I'll have to take a closer look at this, just in case it's something I'll refer people to that are looking for good cheap alternatives to the big boy DAWs. $60 is a very reasonable price for anybody looking into music.

[Foxtrot89]

Yeah, Reaper is on the honor system. They let you use the "demo" for as long as you like without paying. You just have to deal with nagging messages. Though honestly, for $60 you might as well just spend the cash as a form of good will. I don't have much experience with Reaper, but from what I've heard it's the way to go if you're a poor man. The two things I remember hearing about it though, and this was a few years back so it might be outdated info, is that there's a bit of a learning curve and it's the skeleton of a daw. It's got the means to record/program midi, but you're going to need a lot of external VST's and VSTi's to get decent songs out of it. There are basically no synths and if I remember correctly, there's very little in the way of effects n' stuff. Totally worth it, if you feel like hunting down free/non-free vst's.

edit: There are two versions you can buy, which are again on the honor system. (and the same exact thing.) Basically it's the "bedroom producer" price ($60) and the "I'm a big shot who makes more than $40k a year off music" or something like that price, which I forget.

[Captain Ironhelm]

after goofing around in it for a short time, the only negative big thing that worries me is the automation capabilities. I'm not sure if it can automate almost any changeable parameter in plug-ins, or if it's limited to a few parameters like the volume, panning, etc. I don't know as I haven't spent a whole lot of time with it.

Also it really doesn't come with an arsenal of instruments and plugins, but it seems like there are some built in filers and such. However, searching for free instruments and effects is easy on KVRaudio.com, and most people tend to move on to 3rd party plug-ins anyway.

[Omegastick]

I used to use Reaper. Great program, if really rather buggy (at least when I used it, maybe that's been fixed since). You can automate everything, but it's a bit fiddly. The program can do everything that more expensive DAWs can, it's just not as easy or quick.

[cloudshovit]

Reaper is one the most updated DAW, it updates like every month. And its plugins are among the best freeware available, I'm even using some of them on FL. It doesn't come with synths cause its mostly geared towards band recording etc but I have come across a lot electronic music made on it that were actually good

[FlyingNinjaBannanas]

Even though I am 100% positive that's pirating...

I don't think you understand. The reason I put quotations around the word demo is because the demo version is actually the full version. It never expires. I didn't pirate anything. Nobody here is pirating.

When cloudshovit said "you get to try it forever," he wasn't joking.

I am 100% positive...

So much for being 100% positive...

It's a 60 day trial. Not forever. The only way it would go forever if it was bugged. I would be using the program beyond the demo's capacity, the full version, for free. While that's not 100% piracy, it's too close for me to call morally. That's all.

[ChocolateChicken]

It's a 60 day trial. Not forever. The only way it would go forever if it was bugged. I would be using the program beyond the demo's capacity, the full version, for free. While that's not 100% piracy, it's too close for me to call morally. That's all.

It's painfully obvious that you haven't even downloaded the trial yet to confirm your suspicions. Do your research instead of making assumptions. The download is on their website. See for yourself.

[Captain Ironhelm]

It's because they go by an honor system. They're trusting that you have the character to follow the agreement.

Honest Business Model
We offer a good product at a fair price.

We don't spend money and effort on marketing, complicated piracy protection, or other things that do not directly improve REAPER and the user experience.

We think the good will generated by playing fair and being responsive to users is more valuable to our business than short-term profits.

^anyway that's what it's at.

[Freewave]

Reaper is a great little DAW. I used to use it when i had an older system with less cpu and ram and it worked pretty good, a lot better than FL with the same pc. Of course i find FL is much better product once you learn the layout and have the extra power. That said Reaper is cheap, has a trial period, works good, and doesn't suck up your pc so i can give it a good recommendation.

[FlyingNinjaBannanas]

It's a 60 day trial. Not forever. The only way it would go forever if it was bugged. I would be using the program beyond the demo's capacity, the full version, for free. While that's not 100% piracy, it's too close for me to call morally. That's all.

It's painfully obvious that you haven't even downloaded the trial yet to confirm your suspicions. Do your research instead of making assumptions. The download is on their website. See for yourself.

That is all I'm going to say. If the demo lasts longer, it's bugged, and I don't want to use something for free that needs to be payed for after the trial expires. That is all.

Thanks for the information everybody. It's nice to get other outside opinions of this DAW before I consider purchasing it. It's not necessary, but it is nice to know.