Is REAPER the current best long term choice?

[Michael L]

@Michael… guess why I still use MuLab?

Because MuLab plugin greatly increases the "Tinker Factor" ??

[liquidsound]

@Michael… guess why I still use MuLab?

Because MuLab plugin greatly increases the "Tinker Factor" ??

Nope! Even when I was using Ableton I always used MuLab for starting all my ideas.
I never explored its modular world at a deep level (creating tools etc).
There are some functions I miss in order to do more audio work in MuLab. Hopefully they will eventually be implemented.

[Michael L]

There are some functions I miss in order to do more audio work in MuLab. Hopefully they will eventually be implemented.

If you miss some functions, can I suggest... Reaper?

BTW, the elegantly-designed MuLab had four updates just in the past week!

[GaryG]

the ugly thick automation lines

not sure I get that gripe...

Screenshot_20240324_220352.png

are these not like the lines in other DAWs?

[liquidsound]

There are some functions I miss in order to do more audio work in MuLab. Hopefully they will eventually be implemented.

If you miss some functions, can I suggest... Reaper?

BTW, the elegantly-designed MuLab had four updates just in the past week!

I know. Jo is incredibly talented. MuLab Audio stretching algorithm is extraordinary.
I use it a lot by bouncing MuLab Audio manipulations to a Track in Reaper.

[Trancit]

the ugly thick automation lines

not sure I get that gripe...

Screenshot_20240324_220352.png

are these not like the lines in other DAWs?

No:
Reaper (left) vs. FL Studio (right)... how much thicker are the lines in Reaper?? 2x, 3x??

Automation.jpg

Perhaps it´s theme dependant or there are other settings as on your screenshot they are looking thinner...
I don´t know... I just know in FLS they are looking fine out of the box... and my Reaper skin is the default one without any tweaks

Anyway... Automation lines were just a tiny example of what I wrote...
Reaper is the most ugly DAW since Project5 and being customizeable is not an excuse as long as not even the company itself is able to provide defaults which are looking nice without the user having to interact to actually do their (the companies...) job...
A car manufacturer doesn´t sell it´s cars in light green with pink stars on it by default with the excuse the buyer can always paint it in other colors...

[liquidsound]

the ugly thick automation lines

not sure I get that gripe...

Screenshot_20240324_220352.png

are these not like the lines in other DAWs?

No:
Reaper (left) vs. FL Studio (right)... how much thicker are the lines in Reaper?? 2x, 3x??
Automation.jpg

Perhaps it´s theme dependant or there are other settings as on your screenshot they are looking thinner...
I don´t know... I just know in FLS they are looking fine out of the box... and my Reaper skin is the default one without any tweaks

Anyway... Automation lines were just a tiny example of what I wrote...
Reaper is the most ugly DAW since Project5 and being customizeable is not an excuse as long as not even the company itself is able to provide defaults which are looking nice without the user having to interact to actually do their (the companies...) job...
A car manufacturer doesn´t sell it´s cars in light green with pink stars on it by default with the excuse the buyer can always paint it in other colors...

Reaper = 4 pixels
Ableton = 4 Pixels
Bitwig = 5 Pixels (1+3+1)
FL = 4 Pixels (1+2+1)
Reason = 3 Pixels (2+1)

The #1 are shadow pixels.

I didn't check S1 yet...

As you see, you have a personal mood to Reaper. It doesn't help your case

[writheuk]

Here's the main page of my beautiful little REAPER Daw...

[summer2000]

Here's the main page of my beautiful little REAPER Daw...

Wow I really like that theme and your layout. It's been some years since I've used Reaper and I'd like to give it a shot once again. Any chance you can point me in the right direction to help me configure something similar to yours, theme, settings, shortcut toolbars, etc? Feel free to PM me if you like. Thanks in advance.

[Michael L]

Any chance you can point me in the right direction to help me configure something similar to yours

He starts with this theme, and then goes into crazy places you can only find in Reaper:
https://www.houseofwhitetie.com/reaper/ ... erial.html

I think people who use a daw for composing have different aesthetic needs than people who use a daw for producing or mixing.

[a9k1tp]

Reaper's only weakness is midi programming with mouse/trackpad. It is the worst DAW when it comes to this. You have to search for 3rd party scripts to make it behave as a basic midi editor like Ableton or Studio One.

Apart from that, it is the best DAW which happens also to be ugliest, no matter what skin you apply.

really don't know what's wrong with you, but seriously.

It's not about buttons and colors. User experience is pretty bad when compared to Ableton, Bitwig or Studio One. Themes can't change the UX.

But the only reason I can't work with Reaper is the behavior of Piano roll. It is different and slow from other DAWs I have tried.

For example, Piano roll's grid can't change automatically when zooming in or out. But Arrangement view's grid can change based on zoom in or out. Inconsistencies like this results in poor user experience.

If you have solution for this, please let me know by sharing the link to the solution. Thanks.

[BuddySpencer]

For example, Piano roll's grid can't change automatically when zooming in or out. But Arrangement view's grid can change based on zoom in or out. Inconsistencies like this results in poor user experience.

If you have solution for this, please let me know by sharing the link to the solution. Thanks.

Here is the solution:
https://forums.cockos.com/showthread.php?t=260388

That's what I really like with REAPER. It already works well out of the box, but if you want to improve something there is always a working script

[xbitz]

MArpeggiator is also really good https://forums.cockos.com/showthread.php?t=283743 (just to able to remember it later) check the advanced page of it

[summer2000]

Thanks. I'll check it out.

Any chance you can point me in the right direction to help me configure something similar to yours

He starts with this theme, and then goes into crazy places you can only find in Reaper:
https://www.houseofwhitetie.com/reaper/ ... erial.html

I think people who use a daw for composing have different aesthetic needs than people who use a daw for producing or mixing.

[liquidsound]

Audio to MIDI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbiQzNPIWWg