Reaper - What's the catch?

[michael2]

are there any key features that Logic has that I might find myself stumbling on,

You obviously haven't touched "The Enviroment" at all in Logic.

It's not just a thing to help you connect things together.
Turns out that you can create generative music.

or
and look for "Creating Generative Music with Logic 9"

I'm currently working on video tutorials regarding what I did with this video.

Notice how I use an existing MIDI file and with several Logic Enviroment Macros I created, that was able to generate a new musical pattern/song/idea.

Now that's just one MIDI file, I could replace the MIDI file and keep the same setup and see what other music it creates.
No additional 3rd party software, it's only Enviroment Macros that are being used.

that is very cool. I haven't messed with the environment yet; honestly I think I have been a little intimidated. but as I get more comfortable on Logic I am thinking it's time to stretch out more. you said you were going to make some tutorials? if you don't get around to it, maybe you could point me in the right direction?

you should start another thread about this, I think people would be interested.

to the OP: sorry for the temporary derailing. I have used Logic and Reaper. Reaper was stable in 32 bit on Snow Leopard, but I haven't opened it in a long time. I found the MIDI a little clumsy to work with; although that may have just been me fumbling around a new DAW. I thought Reaper was very nicely put together, and very well thought out. That said, I couldn't think of a reason to keep using it since I already own Logic. I didn't really mess with the customization as I pictured myself tweaking on that for months and getting no music done.

I have a week long trip for work coming up, so I will probably install Reaper on my work Macbook and give it another go at night while I'm twiddling my thumbs in a hotel room.

BTW: what don't you like about Logic and how long have you been using it? I find the workflow really fast and easy; but I have been using only Logic since pretty much day one and I feel pretty comfortable. Whenever I use another DAW, I feel like I'm making love to someone other than my wife. "Hmmm, wonder if she's ok with me doing this?"

[gabebrunogarza1021]

that is very cool. I haven't messed with the environment yet; honestly I think I have been a little intimidated. but as I get more comfortable on Logic I am thinking it's time to stretch out more. you said you were going to make some tutorials? if you don't get around to it, maybe you could point me in the right direction?

you should start another thread about this, I think people would be interested.

Thanks.
I'm working on the videos only because I wanted to get more people involve to push Logic as a great generative music program.
Once I finished a good portion of those videos, I'll create a thread on this so I can get input as well as more contributions as well.

[DuX]

I can tell you only that Reaper has so many features [if you need them] that no other DAW has. Like "hardware insert" VST, or "ReaStream" which can connect your other computers through an ethernet network in one coherent working DAW, with some additional latency, of course. If you have outboard processors you will especially appreciate the hardware insert VST. Also, ReaRoute ASIO driver makes it possible to route audio from every ASIO capable app into Reaper, just like Rewire, but better. I tend to think of Reaper as not just another DAW, but an audio operating system within the operating system because of all these features. It's just so easy to get everything you hear on the computer into Reaper.

I do find it lacking some features, mostly MIDI, but as a whole it is just great, and the mixer and routing is worth it in itself. You can use it as an "outboard mixer". That's what I've been doing for quite some time, actually, but now I'm finally getting rid of EnergyXT and getting into Reaper only. I was doing MIDI arrangements in EnergyXT and rendering it in Reaper for mixing before, but now I think Reaper finally got it regarding MIDI editing, so goodbye EnergyXT. It's been nice, while it lasted.

Cheers!

[h2ogun99]

to the OP: sorry for the temporary derailing. I have used Logic and Reaper. Reaper was stable in 32 bit on Snow Leopard, but I haven't opened it in a long time. I found the MIDI a little clumsy to work with; although that may have just been me fumbling around a new DAW. I thought Reaper was very nicely put together, and very well thought out. That said, I couldn't think of a reason to keep using it since I already own Logic. I didn't really mess with the customization as I pictured myself tweaking on that for months and getting no music done.

I have a week long trip for work coming up, so I will probably install Reaper on my work Macbook and give it another go at night while I'm twiddling my thumbs in a hotel room.

BTW: what don't you like about Logic and how long have you been using it? I find the workflow really fast and easy; but I have been using only Logic since pretty much day one and I feel pretty comfortable. Whenever I use another DAW, I feel like I'm making love to someone other than my wife. "Hmmm, wonder if she's ok with me doing this?"

Good input. I would suggest getting the Groove3 tutorial. It was worth the $20 to get a real understanding of what's going on. If I were to do it blindly, my experience would have lasted about 20min.

I have been using logic for about 2 years. All of the songs on the reverbnation ,link below, were recorded on it. Those are now "demos" since we got picked up by a small label and are now in a studio recording a full album (fun!!!). So I do have a good understanding of Logic - not the environment though.

Reaper was more a curiosity than a genuine need to find a new DAW. It is now more of an interest because of what I learned. I have a good workflow in Logic and we get along most of the time, yet Reaper's features (no time to list) had me sitting up in my seat, wondering if this will give me new options in creating my tunes - a different "fresh" perspective. I'm the type person that likes to, for example, rearrange my studio, or my environment. That gives me a mental "tabula rosa", which is nice. Maybe Reaper could do that. It's not that I can't make music in logic, or that I'm the person always waiting for the newest version of a DAW as my excuse for not making a tune. Instead, I feel that sometimes I get in a doldrum, a routine if you will. Maybe we could call it a DAW midlife crisis, where the pretty girl you run across temps you to have a fling...

Does that make any sense?



L

[h2ogun99]

I do find it lacking some features, mostly MIDI,

Can you explain some of what you're missing in the MIDI department?

Thanks!

[michael2]

to the OP: sorry for the temporary derailing. I have used Logic and Reaper. Reaper was stable in 32 bit on Snow Leopard, but I haven't opened it in a long time. I found the MIDI a little clumsy to work with; although that may have just been me fumbling around a new DAW. I thought Reaper was very nicely put together, and very well thought out. That said, I couldn't think of a reason to keep using it since I already own Logic. I didn't really mess with the customization as I pictured myself tweaking on that for months and getting no music done.

I have a week long trip for work coming up, so I will probably install Reaper on my work Macbook and give it another go at night while I'm twiddling my thumbs in a hotel room.

BTW: what don't you like about Logic and how long have you been using it? I find the workflow really fast and easy; but I have been using only Logic since pretty much day one and I feel pretty comfortable. Whenever I use another DAW, I feel like I'm making love to someone other than my wife. "Hmmm, wonder if she's ok with me doing this?"

Good input. I would suggest getting the Groove3 tutorial. It was worth the $20 to get a real understanding of what's going on. If I were to do it blindly, my experience would have lasted about 20min.

I have been using logic for about 2 years. All of the songs on the reverbnation ,link below, were recorded on it. Those are now "demos" since we got picked up by a small label and are now in a studio recording a full album (fun!!!). So I do have a good understanding of Logic - not the environment though.

Reaper was more a curiosity than a genuine need to find a new DAW. It is now more of an interest because of what I learned. I have a good workflow in Logic and we get along most of the time, yet Reaper's features (no time to list) had me sitting up in my seat, wondering if this will give me new options in creating my tunes - a different "fresh" perspective. I'm the type person that likes to, for example, rearrange my studio, or my environment. That gives me a mental "tabula rosa", which is nice. Maybe Reaper could do that. It's not that I can't make music in logic, or that I'm the person always waiting for the newest version of a DAW as my excuse for not making a tune. Instead, I feel that sometimes I get in a doldrum, a routine if you will. Maybe we could call it a DAW midlife crisis, where the pretty girl you run across temps you to have a fling...

Does that make any sense?



L

makes total sense. I have tried out Reaper and Ableton for the same reasons. sometimes that lack of familiarity makes things exciting again (back to the lame sex analogies),

you should just buy it and play with it at your leisure. so cheap and it's not like you really get what you pay for. I was shocked that it was so cheap.

congrats on your new deal. have fun.

[h2ogun99]

@michael2


"Salem Witch Hunt" - love it. Fantastic mood, and lyrics. I'll work my way down the list. Afraid to hit the Equipment button... jealousy might ensue.

[hibidy]

It's fair to mention that development has slowed considerably in the last 6 months. Kenny's vids are really good

[h2ogun99]

It's fair to mention that development has slowed considerably in the last 6 months.

It might be time for them to enjoy some of the $$$ they have made. If so, can't blame them. haha

[hibidy]

It's fair to mention that development has slowed considerably in the last 6 months.

It might be time for them to enjoy some of the $$$ they have made. If so, can't blame them. haha

Do you know the story behind reaper? Here's a wiki that gives some insight:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justin_Frankel

Money, I'm guessing hasn't been an issue for a long long time.

[h2ogun99]

It's fair to mention that development has slowed considerably in the last 6 months.

It might be time for them to enjoy some of the $$$ they have made. If so, can't blame them. haha

Do you know the story behind reaper? Here's a wiki that gives some insight:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justin_Frankel

Money, I'm guessing hasn't been an issue for a long long time.

HAHAHA never mind... Good god.

[Tricky-Loops]

Even with the slow down - in one year you'll get more (substantial) updates for REAPER than other programs get in a period over 10 years...

[hibidy]

Another fair point.

[michael2]

@michael2


"Salem Witch Hunt" - love it. Fantastic mood, and lyrics. I'll work my way down the list. Afraid to hit the Equipment button... jealousy might ensue.

thanks; that was an early experiment in home recording. I really need to update that blog (shocked they're still hosting those songs). the equipment list is pretty lo-fi for the most part (sold most of the hardware when I stopped touring). I need to check out your stuff when I get home.

[JohnDaniel]

I'm a huge Reaper fan! It's my #1 DAW - mostly because I love tracking live acoustic instruments, which this does painlessly and with great stability. Routing is great and I do some EDM and sound-fx production with it too. One catch I haven't seen mentioned here: people don't take it very seriously. It's an incredible DAW but dismissed as some sort of freeware. I've had clients I've brought into my production studio. They love the stuff they've heard me record/mix/produce, and then when I load the program up it's "oh isn't that the free one?"

Personally I think they should add a zero to the end of the price, since that seems to be how a lot of people judge a DAW's abilities

I also have Cubase, Sonar and Pro Tools 10 ... but I don't use 'em. All sampling/sequencing I do through NI Maschine. Reaper MIDI works great for me though, even if it's not the best.