KVR Audio

Arglebargle · Post by **Arglebargle** » Tue Dec 06, 2011 6:53 pm

mgpqa1 wrote:As someone who actually likes to use a DAW's bundled synths/effects/content (spoiled Logic user here), I'm going to have to say no. What Reaper offers in features doesn't outweigh what others offer in content (to me, personally). To be honest, Reaper's low price is what got me on-board. I do like Reaper for general purpose audio editing, but to me it just doesn't feel "right"... I can never find the exact words to better describe that feeling, unfortunately.

Reaper has a tacked on feeling. And I say that as someone who is thrilled from switching to it. Its various components feel as if they were cobbled together at different times. I think the guys need to hire a UI guru to tell them how to perfect what they already have.

LBN · Post by **LBN** » Tue Dec 06, 2011 8:02 pm

I switched from Cubase SX to Tracktion because Cubase really had way more than my simple needs and it felt silly to use. I also fell in love with Tracktion's workflow and interface. After bumping heads with its prehistoric MIDI implementation I supplemented it with energyXT and later Bidule. When it became apparent that Tracktion was nothing more than an abortion to Mackie and showstopping bugs wouldn't be fixed I started looking around for a new DAW. I didn't really want to go back to one of the big names because I again didn't want something with way more features than I would need (I have no need for scoring and have no need for bundles samples and synths).

Reaper 3 entered my life. The MIDI implementation was still basic but way more advanced than Tracktion's. I found a skin I liked, tossed in Bevosss' freeze macros, and I was set. But it wasn't until I dug into it and started to customize it that I really fell in love with it. I think Reaper appeals to the inner geek in me the same way that Linux does. It's not about "sticking it to the man". It's more about getting under the hood and customizing things so that it fits me better. Now I have mine customized to fit my workflow just perfectly. Reaper 4 came along and gave me even more advanced MIDI and native freeze. It's worth more to me than the $60 I payed for it. Is it worth $600? I don't know about that but I don't think any of the other DAWs are worth that either. I just think Reaper is a steal at $60.

One of Reaper's killer features for me is the ability to sandbox plugins. Now that I've put troublesome plugins in their own processes Reaper is rock solid stable for me. If those plugins decide to barf and exit then Reaper is still running.

An extra value that's rarely talked about are the plugins that come with Reaper. While they lack polished GUIs there are a ton of gems in there. Everything from MIDI filters to audio effects. I'm especially in love with the step sequencer. The Stillwell plugins are lovely as well.

aMUSEd · Post by **aMUSEd** » Tue Dec 06, 2011 8:08 pm

Yeah probably - I paid for Studio One and upgraded to Sonar X1 but keep going back to Reaper as it does things S1 and X1 just can't do. The main thing about Reaper is it gets the job done and just works - I've tried virtually every other host (except Cubase and stupidly expensive stuff) but it's Reaper I keep coming back to to get stuff done in. People seem to focus on superficial aspects but it's an amazingly elegant and powerful host for doing some really neat things in.

ford442 · Post by **ford442** » Tue Dec 06, 2011 8:13 pm

not me - i bought REA because it is a low cost and light weight app for my notebook.. i can barely afford to keep up to date with Cubase..

blueman · Post by **blueman** » Tue Dec 06, 2011 8:22 pm

No, it lacks a simple, stable workflow and harbors the worst GUI of nearly any DAW out there. That said, it is still my DAW of choice and it's priced right for what it does

blueman · Post by **blueman** » Tue Dec 06, 2011 8:28 pm

Arglebargle wrote:Reaper has a tacked on feeling. And I say that as someone who is thrilled from switching to it. Its various components feel as if they were cobbled together at different times. I think the guys need to hire a UI guru to tell them how to perfect what they already have.

^^ this

blueman · Post by **blueman** » Tue Dec 06, 2011 8:32 pm

gpunk wrote:Like Xenakios i would probably say no
Reaper has various issues, not least is the devs complete non interest in finishing any of the features they have already started, there is always something new to be added and it shows in its basic usability

^^ and this

hibidy · Post by **hibidy** » Tue Dec 06, 2011 8:48 pm

:fanboi: Well, if it's got all these deficiencies, then why is it the only one where everything seems to work, cpu use is inline with system use, and I get wet everytime I launch it? :fanboi:

In all seriousness, I've tried EVERYTHING (except samplitude and that is too expensive......no more expensive hosts!)

Also, I'm the only one in the world that actually likes the GUI

dgkenney · Post by **dgkenney** » Tue Dec 06, 2011 8:51 pm

hibidy wrote:
Also, I'm the only one in the world that actually likes the GUI

That's quite possible.

Dan

DrApostropheX · Post by **DrApostropheX** » Tue Dec 06, 2011 8:56 pm

dgkenney wrote:
hibidy wrote:
Also, I'm the only one in the world that actually likes the GUI
That's quite possible.

Dan

If you don't like the GUI, wait five minutes... it'll change!

Er, I mean, if you don't like the GUI, try some of the newer V4 skins like RADO, RADO-VOX, or White Tie's BrawnBespoke. And then go into the Options->Layouts menu and play around with some of the track and mixer layouts. I gaurantee*, you'll find something there to love

*I cannot actually gaurantee this.

hibidy · Post by **hibidy** » Tue Dec 06, 2011 8:57 pm

dgkenney wrote:
hibidy wrote:
Also, I'm the only one in the world that actually likes the GUI
That's quite possible.

Dan

bradleyfilms · Post by **bradleyfilms** » Tue Dec 06, 2011 9:09 pm

hibidy wrote: Also, I'm the only one in the world that actually likes the GUI

Nope, there are at least 2 of us, and quite possibly a third

Steve

memyselfandus · Post by **memyselfandus** » Tue Dec 06, 2011 9:10 pm

looks pretty good to me

http://www.houseofwhitetie.com/reaper/wtbb_2.png

http://www.houseofwhitetie.com/reaper/wtbb_3.png

spaceman · Post by **spaceman** » Tue Dec 06, 2011 9:17 pm

If it does what I want I don't care too much about the price, as long as it's not a silly price.
So, yes.

VitaminD · Post by **VitaminD** » Tue Dec 06, 2011 9:25 pm

Arglebargle wrote:
mgpqa1 wrote:As someone who actually likes to use a DAW's bundled synths/effects/content (spoiled Logic user here), I'm going to have to say no. What Reaper offers in features doesn't outweigh what others offer in content (to me, personally). To be honest, Reaper's low price is what got me on-board. I do like Reaper for general purpose audio editing, but to me it just doesn't feel "right"... I can never find the exact words to better describe that feeling, unfortunately.
Reaper has a tacked on feeling. And I say that as someone who is thrilled from switching to it. Its various components feel as if they were cobbled together at different times. I think the guys need to hire a UI guru to tell them how to perfect what they already have.

Orion has the same feel. 10+ years of development.. and you can see the different years... much like looking at ground samples and seeing the layers of historic eras.

'Here we had the 303/909 era... followed closely by the Soundfont era... and now we have the track recording era... etc etc' with each 'era' having its own GUI design. I try not to think about it because it drives me batty when I think of a professional DAW that looks as it does.

Reaper is head and shoulders above this.. BE THANKFUL for the UI in Reaper atm. It could be worse... it could be Orion.

Would you still buy Reaper if it will cost you as much as the other DAWs ?