REAPER is a powerful but sensible Windows application designed for the recording, arrangement, editing, mixing and rendering of audio. REAPER provides a flexible but easy to use interface that is equally suited to amateurs and professionals alike.
REAPER versions 0.4-0.99 are freeware, but starting with version 1.0 the license will change to very reasonably priced (with amateur and professional rates/support) uncrippled nag-free shareware, supporting unexpiring full functionality in unregistered form.
REAPER Feature Highlights
- Unlimited creativity with no track limit, free routing for sample-accurate MIDI and audio alike, sidechain control of any plugin
- Incredibly flexible and powerful routing - functions as an entire virtual studio with patchbays, enabling all sorts of effects not possible anywhere else
- Fast installation and execution - starts up in seconds, always ready to record
- Streamlined, tool-less work flow with context menus and item handles for fades, volume, per-item effects, etc
- Integrated network FX processing - use spare machines for additional processing power
- Supports mixing sample rates and media formats on the fly - WAV, AIFF, OGG, FLAC, ACID, APE, WavPack, MP3*, and more
- Intuitive editing features - auto-crossfades, takes and lanes, ripple editing, arbitrary item grouping and locking
- Unlimited sound processing - tons of included FX, support for thousands of third party virtual instruments, sample players, audio and MIDI processing plug-ins (VST, VSTi, DX, DXi, JS)
- Design your own graphical interface and create your own custom action lists for total customizability
Fast and powerful editing
- Drag and drop files to instantly import them into a project, arrange, and render out to a file
- Mix any combination of media, file type, sample rate, bit depth on each track
- Easily move, split, glue, resize, trim, loop, timestretch, pitch shift, fade, crossfade, snap items
- Intuitive zoom, scroll, scrub, jog, tab to audio transient, midi navigation
- Separate audio or midi into freely arrangeable takes and lanes for easy comping
- Normalize, quantize, and more complex per-item manipulation
- Configurable and editable automatic crossfading of overlapping items
- Powerful folder system allows group editing, routing, bussing all in one step
- Easily group any number of items across any number of tracks
- Ripple editing - moving and deleting items can optionally affect later items
- Unlimited tempo, time signature, and playback speed changes per project
- Define and easily copy/move regions, to quickly try out alternate arrangements
- Record and edit automation envelopes for volume, pan, mute, plug-in parameters, playback speed, pitch
- Lock items, envelopes, loop selection, and other elements independently
Unlimited and creative routing capabilities
- Any track can function as a track, bus, or bus folder - any signal can be sent anywhere else
- Unlimited parallel sends to other tracks or hardware outputs
- Sends can be fully configured: audio, MIDI, before or after FX and track controls, volume/pan/phase
- Tracks can have as many as 64 individually routable channels for easy support of multi-out virtual instruments, parallel FX processing, sidechaining, and submixes
- Visual routing matrix to easily view and change signal flow for the whole project and every plug-in
- Any audio signal can be converted into parameter modulation for sidechain control of any plug-in, even plug-ins that dont support sidechaining
Powerful recording and rendering options
- Direct multi-track recording and rendering to all supported formats, including WAV, AIFF, OGG, FLAC, ACID, APE, WavPack, MP3*, and more
- 64-bit audio signal path throughout, for maximum resolution and clipping overhead
- Any track can record any audio or MIDI input signal, or that tracks processed audio or MIDI output
- Punch and auto-punch recording in and out, loop and overdub MIDI, and change track recording settings on the fly
- Easily split, glue, explode, and collapse recorded items and takes
- Optionally bounce mixed output live to disk
- Automatic gapless file switching to avoid 2GB/4GB filesystem limits
- Import and export cues and loop markers
- Very high quality dither and noise shaping options for final audio renders
Extensive MIDI support
- MIDI items can be mixed and arranged with audio on any track
- Piano roll, drum map, or event list MIDI editor with multiple continuous-controller lanes
- MIDI channels are as freely routable as audio, with unlimited parallel sends
- Multi-track recording/monitoring of any MIDI hardware input, and any track can send to any MIDI hardware output
- Support for MIDI virtual instruments (synthesizers and sampler players) and MIDI filter/processing plug-ins
- Record MIDI input in loop, punch, and overdub mode, or record processed MIDI output from any track
- MIDI ReWire support
Totally customizable
- All graphical elements are themeable - create your own user interface colors and images or choose from hundreds of user-created themes
- Configure and dock utility windows right where you want them, save and restore screensets
- Create custom action lists and assign keyboard or MIDI controller shortcuts to do complex tasks with ease
- Track and FX chain templates allow you to easily save and reuse work
- Define aliases and organize hardware I/O and plug-ins
- Fully searchable pages of user preference settings allow you to set default behavior exactly the way you want
- Use the included JS effect scripting engine to design your own audio and MIDI plug-ins, including graphical interfaces
- Public API/SDK allows seamless integration of third-party extensions
Bundled effects and third party plug-in support
- Unlimited FX chains and routing
- Automatic plug-in delay compensation (PDC)
- Apply FX in real-time, or nondestructively render FX output
- Real-time network FX processing, in addition to ReWire support
- Supports almost any VST, VSTi, DX, DXi, JS audio or MIDI plug-in
- Includes over a dozen top quality 64-bit ReaPlugs:
o Unlimited multiband EQ
o Graphical FFT equalization/dynamics processing
o Technical and multiband compression
o Flexible, open-format convolution reverb
o Real-time pitch correction, including Elastique Pro built in
o Multitap delay, basic synthesizer, sample player
o Special-use plug-ins to virtualize outboard hardware, stream audio, connect to NINJAM servers, and more
- Includes the JS audio and midi plug-in scripting engine, and hundreds of user-programmable effects
Intangibles
- REAPER loads and starts fast - be ready to record in just a few seconds
- Portable - put REAPER in your pocket and run it from a USB key or other removable media
- Tightly coded - installer is only a few MB, updates can be installed in less than a minute
- Rapid, efficient development - new features and optimizations are added quickly and often
- Very active, enthusiastic, and helpful user forum, get help quickly
- Fantastic and readable user-created manual
- An honest business model that aims to provide the best possible user experience