Reaper

Active

Country: United States (US)
Founded: 2006
Developer: Cockos Incorporated
Pricing: 60-day free trial; $60 license
Open source: No
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux

Indexes

Audio Editors Audio Recording Audio/Music Production Music Production/DAWs Podcast Creation

Overview

REAPER is a digital audio workstation (DAW) for recording, editing, mixing, and mastering audio and MIDI projects on Windows, macOS, and Linux systems. It supports importing audio and MIDI, synthesis, sampling, composition, arrangement, and direct recording to stereo, surround, or multichannel files, targeting musicians, producers, and audio engineers who need a customizable and efficient workflow.²

Key Features

Multi-track recording - Record arm and disarm tracks without stopping playback; record directly to stereo, surround, or multichannel audio files before or after effects.²
Audio and MIDI editing - Import any audio and MIDI, synthesize, sample, compose, arrange, edit, mix, and master projects.²
Customizable interface - Customize interface themes, layouts, toolbars, and screensets for personalized workflows.⁸
Action system - Assign knobs, import shortcuts and custom actions for MIDI control and automation.¹
Envelope editing - Drag envelope lines for volume/pan changes; use modifiers to draw custom shapes or remove points.³
Preferences and settings - Extensive preferences for MIDI inputs, undo history, and general behavior customization.⁴

Pricing

Plan	Price	Includes
Trial	Free	60-day full evaluation period with all features.³⁵
Personal license	$60	Single-user license for non-commercial use.⁵
Commercial license	$225	Commercial use license for businesses and organizations.⁵

Platforms & Requirements

Runs on Windows, macOS (10.5 - 26.x, Intel and ARM64), and Linux. Select 32-bit or 64-bit version based on system requirements during download. No notable platform-specific limitations mentioned.²⁵

Integrations & Ecosystem

MIDI devices and controllers (e.g., Jamstik MFC1 profiles)
SWS and RI extension packs
Virtual instruments via MIDI learn
External hardware connections
Audio file import/export (stereo, surround, multichannel)
MIDI input for tracks and control messages

Alternatives

App	Difference
Ableton Live	Loop-based workflow focused on live performance vs. REAPER's track-based editing.
Logic Pro	macOS-exclusive with bundled instruments vs. REAPER's cross-platform customization.
FL Studio	Pattern-based sequencing for beats vs. REAPER's flexible multi-track arrangement.
Pro Tools	Industry-standard for studios with hardware focus vs. REAPER's lightweight affordability.

Reputation

REAPER is recognized for its affordability, cross-platform support, and extensive customizability, making it popular among home studio users and professionals. Users praise its efficiency, action system, and extension ecosystem like SWS extensions. Criticisms include a steeper learning curve due to its dense interface and lack of bundled stock plugins compared to competitors.³⁴⁸

Sources (8)