KVR Audio

shatteredmindofbob · Post by **shatteredmindofbob** » Tue Nov 08, 2022 6:41 am

So, I'll fully acknowledge, I'm a noob, I'm in the process of comparing DAWs, doing research and playing with demo versions.

In the research portion, it seems to be "common wisdom" that REAPER is bad for MIDI editing... but in the tinkering with demo versions portion of the process...I'm having a hard time telling the difference.

For example, I've got Ableton Live Lite, which I've been enjoying quite a bit, but once I switch to Arrangement View in it...I'm not sure what the different is between it and REAPER? In fact, I think it's actually easier to draw in notes in REAPER vs. Live.

I'm not trying to claim one DAW is better than another...I have no clue, that's why I'm doing research, but the whole "common wisdom" aspect that REAPER is bad for MIDI editing seems odd. Where does this come from? Is there something I'm missing?

darkinners · Post by **darkinners** » Tue Nov 08, 2022 9:05 am

I never heard of anyone saying Reaper is bad at MIDI editing.

Trancit · Post by **Trancit** » Tue Nov 08, 2022 9:07 am

Don´t worry too much!

Compared to Ableton Reaper is far far ahead... people claiming Midi editing would be bad are often comparing it to i.e. Cubase which has much more advanced funtions like Expression maps, logical editor with it´s millions of functions etc...

For standard Midi editing Reaper does the job very well especially when you have set the mouse modifiers the way you want it... apart from MPE ... this isn´t present in Reaper...

The only gripe I have with it: If you are creating a new midi clip of 4 bars or longer in the editor for the first time... it´s zoomed way out that the actual clip just takes 1/3rd of the space on the left hand side and you have to setup a key command/custom action to zoom in the way it should be for you ...

GaryG · Post by **GaryG** » Tue Nov 08, 2022 9:09 am

I've asked this before, especially in relation to FLs midi functionality (often cited) and it seems to be Reaper is lacking more advanced tools like chord stamp(?), tools to make painting in midi parts in key easier. Reaper has plenty of scripts that emulate stuff like this (chordgun etc) but if you want it all built in then that's where I think the criticisms lie.

Personally, I find the bread and butter editing fine, plenty of actions to do clever stuff (split notes into so many separate notes etc). I'm more more of an audio person so maybe someone doing orchestral arrangements may have more insight. But for creating your day to day pop/rock/'beats' stuff I think it covers everything.

syntonica · Post by **syntonica** » Tue Nov 08, 2022 1:36 pm

It's fine, unless you are a MIDI power user and need some of the funky tools mentioned above. My gripes with Reaper are ALL UX related.

ElVincente · Post by **ElVincente** » Tue Nov 08, 2022 7:55 pm

You can't edit poly after touch with it.(I use mulab 9 plugin for that)
You can't edit mpe pitch precisely with it either, but it does support mpe.
You have to learn to customise it to your needs to get the full power.
Other than that, it's very good IMO.

jonljacobi · Post by **jonljacobi** » Tue Nov 08, 2022 7:59 pm

Once more. Ableton has my favorite MIDI editor of all time. I've used just about all of them. Needs vary.

vurt · Post by **vurt** » Tue Nov 08, 2022 8:00 pm

a lot of people say a lot of things.
better to make your own mind up.

3lu5iv3 · Post by **3lu5iv3** » Wed Nov 09, 2022 12:39 pm

Reaper isn't bad at MIDI editing IMO.

audiojunkie · Post by **audiojunkie** » Wed Nov 09, 2022 10:24 pm

shatteredmindofbob wrote: Tue Nov 08, 2022 6:41 am So, I'll fully acknowledge, I'm a noob, I'm in the process of comparing DAWs, doing research and playing with demo versions.

In the research portion, it seems to be "common wisdom" that REAPER is bad for MIDI editing... but in the tinkering with demo versions portion of the process...I'm having a hard time telling the difference.

For example, I've got Ableton Live Lite, which I've been enjoying quite a bit, but once I switch to Arrangement View in it...I'm not sure what the different is between it and REAPER? In fact, I think it's actually easier to draw in notes in REAPER vs. Live.

I'm not trying to claim one DAW is better than another...I have no clue, that's why I'm doing research, but the whole "common wisdom" aspect that REAPER is bad for MIDI editing seems odd. Where does this come from? Is there something I'm missing?

That research portion that you read is probably a decade or more old. There wasn’t much for MIDI in the early days of Reaper. Reaper has long since caught up in this area, and is just as good as everything else.

chk071 · Post by **chk071** » Wed Nov 09, 2022 10:43 pm

vurt wrote: Tue Nov 08, 2022 8:00 pm a lot of people say a lot of things.
better to make your own mind up.

Yeah, especially as it seems to me like everyone means something different when he says "DAW XY is good for MIDI".

As professional music is made in all DAW's, maybe we can settle on "Any DAW is good enough" in most departments. And, that the question is rather which one suits your personal workflow the best.

Bartone · Post by **Bartone** » Fri Nov 11, 2022 1:02 pm

Some DAWs do something better than other DAWs and in exchange are missing something that other DAWs offer… It’s maybe good to try think what features you might need the most and see what DAW offers these things.

IE: if you need retrospective midi record, Bitwig & Reason don’t offer this (not sure if this has been added in their latest updates?).

If you want your DAW to offer good selection of VST synths, Studio One is not for you etc etc…

spaceman · Post by **spaceman** » Fri Nov 11, 2022 1:23 pm

Bartone wrote: Fri Nov 11, 2022 1:02 pm If you want your DAW to offer good selection of VST synths, Studio One is not for you etc etc…

Studio One doesn't have a large selection of built in synths, but what is there are actually really quite good bread and butter synths. I like Mai Tai's simplicity. Impact is a very quick and easy to use drum machine. Mojito does really useful basses and SampleOne is, again, a quick and easy to use sampler.

Not the most inspiring selection but very usable and no one would ever complain when hearing any of them in a mix.

enroe · Post by **enroe** » Fri Nov 11, 2022 1:56 pm

shatteredmindofbob wrote: Tue Nov 08, 2022 6:41 am For example, I've got Ableton Live Lite, which I've been enjoying quite a bit, but once I switch to Arrangement View in it ...

Yes, compared to the really, really poor Ableton, Reaper's midi editor is great!
But all other DAWs (apart from Ableton, of course) are just as excellent!

Trancit · Post by **Trancit** » Fri Nov 11, 2022 2:16 pm

enroe wrote: Fri Nov 11, 2022 1:56 pm
shatteredmindofbob wrote: Tue Nov 08, 2022 6:41 am For example, I've got Ableton Live Lite, which I've been enjoying quite a bit, but once I switch to Arrangement View in it ...
Yes, compared to the really, really poor Ableton, Reaper's midi editor is great!
But all other DAWs (apart from Ableton, of course) are just as excellent!

While Ableton does a whole lot better than Reaper i.e.
- inbuilt Probability with adjustable random functionality
- MPE controls... especially per note pitch envelopes (taken from Bitwig)... S1 implementation is BS
- much much better Scale highlighting (in the grid and not just the keys) and has fold to scale
- Ableton is the only DAW (I know of) which does legato correctly... all others do not extend the last note to the clip end which is absolutely nonsense...
- buttons for half or double time
- much better controlling of notes by keyboard shortcuts...
- Reapers autozoom for new midi clips is messed up since more than a decade...

Otoh Reaper has more functionality build into the PR but mostly with wonky scripts and is lacking of advanced Midi plugins where Ableton shines especially with M4L...

Why do so many people say REAPER is bad at MIDI editing?