It syncs fine thank you. If there is an issue with sync to multiple hardwares then that should be the claim, not a general one as it syncs without issues in my single hardware setup.

"Reading and writing" sysex is the least it should do, but that is hardly a comprehensive implementation. Sonar has an ancient but very functional sysex editor/librarian built in. You can have all your sysex dump requests for all your hardware available within the app, not in a project template, or a track preset but in the program, same as with the instruments definitions, other thing where Reaper is clunky at best. You can tweak your hardware and request the patch or combi dump and save it in the Sysex View within the project, NOT IN A MIDI TRACK, and have it sent to your gear when your project opens, or at aný other time you wish, manually or automatically. You can even keep several versions of an edited sound,stored with the project for further reference. You can import and export your patches in .syx or .mid file format. In a nutshell, you can have total recall of a session with sysex controlled hardware. Reaper is light years behind being able to do this, though this is one of the oldest features of Cakewalk (it wasn't even Sonar then).

About sync, this has been a pretty popular topic in Reaper forum, like Monkage says, so I will not insist, it is very easy to find out. Anyway, another thing I don't like about Reaper is that it will not output midi clock unless the transport is running. Sonar sends midi clock to the chosen ports, in my case the sync port of my MOTU Midiexpress XT, that distributes it to the rest of devices. It does it all the time, even stopped. I may be jamming with a groove box and a couple of synths arps, and when I get something I like going I just press R in time in Sonar and all midi data get recorded just where I want and perfectly in time. I've tried in Reaper and this means that I need to have the app running, and when I hit record it will be like bar 289, not pretty at all. Or it will crash before that, it does not seem Reaper like dense streams of midi data. Dont get me wrong, I know that Reaper's midi is usable one you get used to its idiosincrasies, but it wasn't conceived as a MIDI sequencer and it shows.

So what happened to no sysex at all? The claim that it couldn't handle sysex dumps?

As for no librarian, sysex items can be drag/dropped to any folder in Media Explorer, and/or the other way around.

I had many more hardware items before and spent hours writing sysex dump request in Cubase, or trying with external programs like SoundDiver and Midi Quest to get a neat system, but in the end realized that to have something which would work reliably and over time (between operating system's and DAWs), nothing beats manual button dumps to MIDI file inserted on tracks. And like I said, to keep the file(s) for other uses is just a matter of dropping it in a folder(s) within Reaper's Media Explorer. If I need them for something else or migrate again, it's just Windows files in folders.

I don't know what's the sport with Reaper bashing but it's doing the rounds lately. Jealousy much? This thread is about the frequency of updates. For all DAWs anybody can find something to slag, I'm sure even in your beloved Sonar. Should they? I believe for example writing MIDI involves endless switching of tools, right? And adding MIDI plugins in front or after/in between synths needs adding new tracks and routing, messing up the project, right? Will they all work reliably and as expected? I'm sure if I had a weekend with Sonar I could come up with many more things but does finding things that other DAWs do better warrant me saying Sonar MIDI sucks and is way out of league? No.

Besides the classic DAW war garble most of the time it seems the stuff is just based on ignorance as with the no-sysex dumps here for example.

I hope they add an performance mode like fl studio for using akai apc series

Well, you guys will have to tell me how it went, but at one point they were working on regions have a performance-ish type thing iirc. Have no idea how that went.

1 whats with the over sensitive responses
2 how could sync be effected with one item, the very nature of sync is multiple items synchronised together

no need to lose the plot. The point was that updates on reaper are very nearly always flim flam and dont really fix bad issues ie midi problems

Well, if YOU press the button in the synth and then your only option is storing that in a track it does not seem like Reaper does handle sysex dumps very well, does it?

Anyway, I agree that we've gone too far off topic, so I'll leave it here. Ah, and spend that weekend using other tools sometime (and read the manual).

At this point I've got to say that I'm actually VERY disappointed with Reaper and its developer because of how the MIDI situation has been dealt with - or rather not dealt with. There are many great things about this DAW, and that's why I supported it and invested so much time in it over these last few years. I thought the developer just had the right attitude about things, so that the MIDI problems that Reaper had (issues both with regards to performance and a serious lack of features) would be fixed in no time. Well, here we are many, many moons later and not much has happened at all. So f**k it. I'm done.

I do realize that Justin is not a MIDI-guy like me, but I guess I was naive enouugh to be thinking that he'd nevertheless still value the MIDI-oriented share of his customer base - but it now seems absolutely clear to me that he really couldn't care less. And so I have now stopped recommending this DAW to other MIDI users (if you're a four piece rock band I still think this DAW is great), I will not be upgrading, and I'm now actively looking for a replacement. I'm done wasting my time with this thing, and I feel REALLY silly for coming to that realization sooner. Seriously, WTF was I thinking??

I'm curious to know what features you feel are missing. I use Reaper as my main DAW for commercial composing nearly every day and I don't see myself feeling the need for features. Granted, I'm not the most MIDI-intensive user, but I'm honestly curious to know what I'm missing out on.

To be clear, I'm not trying to be defensive on Reaper's behalf, I just don't know what there is that can be improved upon.

* Cannot edit more than one item at time

* No logical editor

* No visual polyphonic aftertouch editing

* No note off/release velocity editing AT ALL

* Track inspector not dockable to MIDI editor (opens only as separate Filter window - ridiculous)

* Quite lacking event list editor

* Drum map notes not possible to reorder or recolor


etc...

Thanks ED! I'm not sure what I'd use most of those for, but like I said, I'm not an extremely heavy MIDI user. Play in what I need, slight editing after, then move on.

The devs have said at one time (at least) that Reaper is an audio first app and while they intended to update midi that was not their main focus. Hearing that I let go of any wish to see it be the midi app I would like. I use Reaper for editing audio only.

My guess is that they're working on those things behind the scenes, developing a plan to get some of the big things like "consolidated multitrack midi editing" done.

I'd really be surprised to see Reaper 5 without it. I mean, there's really not much left to do on the audio front so they'll have to eventually work on midi more at some point.

Yeah although I think Evil Dragons list is obviously right, most of those features that are lacking I have adjusted to, by changing my workflow a little.
Although I would love to see the Events List seriously worked on and the Midi Filter made dockable, amongst other things.
But there are things I personally would want more...and that would be global editing of folders...transpose, quantize etc... that would apply to all nested tracks, but people dont ask for these things probably because they have never used them and therefore dont miss them.

To make a another point tho about apps... I have been doing a lot of video editing for music clips in Premiere CS6 lately, and although the interface is nice (really nice)..
I have to say there are sooo many features it is lacking...and after so many years as a top rated app and being developed, that the mind simply boggles!!
I found myself getting really angry when I couldn't do this, couldnt do that etc... and these are simple things, like not having a friggin solo video track on the timeline inspector...unbelievable!!
In fact the timeline inspector is totally lacking TBH!!
And people LOVE this app, its slowly taking over from FCP on the Mac.
It has some AMAZING features like stabilization, great compositing etc...but in other areas its an absolute joke.
My point is that even in apps like that there is plenty missing (more than Reaper)...but it is refined and works like a refined and smooth somewhat lacking video editor, after so many years of development LOL!!

So I dont get really mad anymore I just work with what I have.
I see ED sounds fairly pissed about not having this and that, well there is a simple answer ED...simply switch apps and be happy (for a while)....but it wont last I can guarantee that.
And finally I tend to agree with Lawrence, they may be working on midi behind the scenes, updates are now slower and more measured, I have a feeling they are changing their approach...maybe not, but we will see.
Lawrences other point was good too, midi is the area that has the most potential right now for them to develop, there is not a lot of other areas left that they can really push the boundaries in.

+1

Cubase for composition, Reaper to adjust mix & master.

You'll just stress yourself out trying to convince the devs to fix any basic MIDI issues languishing in the "Elevated Feature Requests" forum.