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I have used most of the major DAWs at one point or another (including deep dives into Cubase, Ableton, Logic, and Pro Tools). I switched to REAPER years ago an
by sramsay 7y ago
I have used most of the major DAWs at one point or another (including deep dives into Cubase, Ableton, Logic, and Pro Tools). I switched to REAPER years ago and never looked back. It's absolutely outstanding.
People often cite it as the "best deal in audio," and it certainly is that. But honestly, DAWs are not the big expense for us (my studio monitors cost twice what my laptop cost; the most expensive DAW out there is still one of the cheaper elements of my studio).
I use REAPER because the answer is always "yes." "Hey, can you? . . ." You name it. If it has something to do with audio, REAPER can probably handle it. And it's hands-down the most stable DAW I've used. I can't remember the last time it actually crashed, but I guarantee you it was a wonky plugin.
I've heard it described as "the emacs of DAWs," and that seems about right. As with an industrial-strength editor, there's a bit of a learning curve (maybe an endless one). But if, by some miracle, REAPER can't do what you want out of the box, you can almost certainly hack something on top of it that will.
- vonseel 7y ago(my studio monitors cost twice what my laptop cost; the most expensive DAW out there is still one of the cheaper elements of my studio). Wow, that's up there in pro studio territory. I hope you've invested in appropriate room treatment. Having also used Logic, Cubase, Ableton, and Reaper, I can't say I was too impressed with Reaper. Logic Pro X, OTOH, is amazing, and Ableton is excellent in conjunction with Push 2 (the only reason I use it). there's a bit of a learning curve (maybe an endless one). Ah, there's the catch. Yeah. Reaper seemed clunky to me.
- cartiloupe 7y agoIs there something in Reaper akin to Max4Live in Ableton? Or a nice way to interface with max/pd or even supercollider? That's one of the largest reasons why i consider buying the full Ableton version.
- uxcolumbo 7y agoWhat type of music are you producing? Is Reaper suitable for all types of music or more suitable for music you record from live instruments, i.e. traditional band music vs electronic music. I was looking into Bitwig[0], because I like its modulators and the way you can automate things. PS. I'm a total beginner. [0] https://www.bitwig.com/en/bitwig-studio.html https://www.bitwig.com/en/bitwig-studio.html
- sramsay 7y agoHonestly, if you're a total beginner, you almost can't go wrong with DAWs these days. All the mainstream ones are superb. After awhile, you may well find that one or another is more to your taste, but that's the kind of thing that can only reveal itself gradually over time. You'll hear lots (and lots) of talk about which DAWs are best suited to which types of music, but honestly, I've written symphonies using Ableton Live and electronica using REAPER (and I'm hardly alone). It's true that some communities of composers/producers gravitate toward certain DAWs, but -- especially if you're starting out -- that fact isn't as important as it might seem. Here's my advice on the matter: Pick a DAW (Bitwig is amazing), and commit to not buying a single third-party plugin for at least a year. The problem beginners have is that they think there's something wrong with their software, when the reality is that they don't yet understand how compressors, and EQs, and reverbs, and delays, and filters (and all that stuff) work. And they think that if they drop a fortune on fancy third-party versions of those things, all their problems will disappear. They won't. Truth is, the "stock" versions of these things that come with DAWs nowadays are absolutely fantastic. I have close to 300 third-party plugins in my plugin folder. That gives me all kinds of shades of color and nuance that I can use to create certain kinds of sounds and moods. But if someone asked me to make a record using only the stock plugins in Live, or Logic, or Studio One, or REAPER, that wouldn't bother me in the slightest. Wait until you really understand how those components work before you start chasing down "that sound." And remember that some of the best records ever made were made using equipment that is startlingly primitive in comparison to the audio facilities of your phone. Everything on the internet says otherwise, but it's all about the music and your knowledge. It is almost never, in the end, about the gear.