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Old 11-04-2015, 11:00 AM   #1
X-Raym
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Default REAPER 5: An Exhaustive Review

Hi everyone,

Two month ago, I wrote an article about REAPER. I wanted to make a detailed presentation of the software and its ecosystem, showing main concepts behind it. It was meant to be published outside of the REAPER community, on BPB, so the approach is not "what are the main new REAPER 5 features" but "What is REAPER today, what it is good at".

After two months of suspens, I finally posted it on my website:
REAPER 5: An Exhaustive Review / ExtremRaym

I don't think that any advanced REAPER users will learn something new in it, but maybe the article could be a nice link to share to people who want learn more ?

Anyway, thanks for reading, and thanks for sharing if you do (please do :P )
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Old 11-04-2015, 11:45 AM   #2
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Nice! I think lots of people will find that very useful!
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Old 11-04-2015, 12:29 PM   #3
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Its very good, I learned plenty.
The biggest negative in Reaper for me was the lack of a user guide to get started, but I found out in your article and will read it. I didn't know there was a user guide until now, maybe it should be included in the download.

Yrs ago I bought Cubase and found it simple because it came with a good instruction book and beginners video.

The problem with Youtube videos is they are often done by people who don't know how to teach, they make the mistake of trying to impart way too much redundant information to function as a good beginner guide, for instance they will give several different methods of doing the same thing.
Its not necessary to know the 4 different ways to open a new track, just one will accomplish the desired result.
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Old 11-04-2015, 12:34 PM   #4
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Good one. I shall peruse at mah leisure. Though I have used Reaper for some time I would not consider myself an "advanced"" user. Trouble with this program is that it's so easy to use, it just works without fail, does what I want, when I want and, in general, however I want.

Thanks again.

ns
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Old 11-04-2015, 01:12 PM   #5
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Very good indeed.
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Old 11-04-2015, 01:41 PM   #6
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Impressed!! Real good!
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Old 11-04-2015, 01:59 PM   #7
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Only partway into your 'review' and find it very professional and useful.

Congrats on what is clearly a major, talented effort!

Any preferred way to feedback 'perceived' errors or omissions?
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Old 11-04-2015, 02:39 PM   #8
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Thanks you so much guys, I didn't expect so many positive answers in so little times :P

@jonesg
I came from cubase too and I confirm. The window at begining that will let you choose different template model based on "what do you want to do" it great.
But I saw things that get even further, like in OhmStudio where UI elements are highlited with tooltips and instructions in tutorial mod.
Also 3DsMax and Adobe Software have a box with linked to tutorials.
It is ok to not include content (the tuorial and user guide) inside the installation (to keep it low sized) but sure a tab that would present infos and few project template would already be a good thing More engaging than the "REAPER is not free" tab.

@nightscope
Exactly, that's one reason I consider it can be used by beginner. It can be simple, and it works.

@sostenuto
Thanks
If you mean spelling and words omissions, I prefer a direct correction, in order to save times for everyone. I could open a collaborative editing document in this case.
If you think feature showcase omission, well, leave a comment below the article
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Old 11-04-2015, 06:11 PM   #9
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I don't know how one could miss the User's Guide. It is found in two very obvious and logical places:

1. It is clearly linked at the top of the same page where you download Reaper. http://www.reaper.fm/download.php
You kind of have to go there don't you?

2. In Reaper itself, under Help/Documentation.

Am I missing something?
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Old 11-04-2015, 08:22 PM   #10
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It looks really good. Like sostenuto, I'm partway through.

I'd be happy to suggest corrections in a collaborative document. I have technical writing experience where precision in word meaning is important. For mega- (some would say anally) pedantic scientific and engineering types.

Great work anyhow!

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Old 11-05-2015, 05:19 AM   #11
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Just a couple of things i found on a quick read through.

In the compatibility section, maybe add the Rex file format along with the other audio format file types. I would guess that the Rex filetype is used more often then ogg files, i know i use them a lot so it might just be me though.

In the audio section, where you talk about the take system, you have "inly" where i think you mean "only"

It was a great read otherwise and i found a couple of things that i hadn't known about before. I also liked the idea of explaining how reaper came into being and how cockos differs from any other daw developer put there.
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Old 11-05-2015, 06:11 AM   #12
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@Rodal
Thanks for the typo errors :P
Oh in fact OGG is very used in games industry, because it is an open format, and it is pretty efficient.

@Punk Duck, @sustenuto
So I put the article source HTML source code on a free online public simultaneous collaborative editor, framapad, so that you are sure to always work on the up to date version of document.
Link
Only click on Users button and add your name before making any change.
Please only focus on spelling error or on really bad syntax (if there is), don't add or delete features, or change my writing style :P
I can't stay in the chatroom allday but I wil regulary check the modifications made on the doc and commit the change offline if it is ok.

@all
I'm glad you liked the article, it is not easy to present a software in such details :P
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Old 11-05-2015, 07:26 AM   #13
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one more typo:

I will not details all the MIDI related features, most of them are pretty basics,

should be 'basic' instead of 'basics'

Great piece of writing and I think this will really help people get some better understanding of Reaper...
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Old 11-05-2015, 07:57 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hopi View Post
one more typo:

I will not details all the MIDI related features, most of them are pretty basics,

should be 'basic' instead of 'basics'

Great piece of writing and I think this will really help people get some better understanding of Reaper...
and details should be detail.
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Old 11-05-2015, 08:03 AM   #15
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@hopi, @karbomusic
Corrected :P

I'm quite reassured if you only found one error untill this paragraph haha :P
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Old 11-05-2015, 09:27 AM   #16
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HELLS YEAH +1
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Old 11-05-2015, 12:14 PM   #17
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I think the writing is very well done, well covered.

My only bit of subjective constructive criticism would be to tone down the few (very few) parts where you kinda "promote" it rather than "review" it, and tend to drop any hint of objectivity. Like comparing it's application size to iTunes while using an exclamation point, which is a really big chunk o' Apples to Oranges.

If I were editing it I'd actually remove almost all, if not all, of the exclamation points.

Great coverage though. You are a fine writer sir.

Last edited by Lawrence; 11-05-2015 at 12:22 PM.
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Old 11-05-2015, 02:26 PM   #18
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@Lawrence
Oh yes my bad for the iTunes comparison, it is not fair: they don't have the same purpose. I just wanted to make a comparison with a common application (and yes I have to admit, I'm not a iTunes fan :P ).

I like exclamation points, it add a bit of personality. But you are right it is like smileys, we finish by putting them everywhere, and by writing in capslock because everything we said IS SO INTENSE !

Thanks for you criticism, I will keep you words in mind.

Last edited by X-Raym; 11-05-2015 at 02:34 PM.
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Old 11-05-2015, 02:41 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by X-Raym View Post
@hopi, @karbomusic
Corrected :P

I'm quite reassured if you only found one error untill this paragraph haha :P
No worries, a 2nd, 3rd, 4th set of eyes is always at good thing, nice work btw.
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Old 11-05-2015, 07:50 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JHughes View Post
I don't know how one could miss the User's Guide. It is found in two very obvious and logical places:

1. It is clearly linked at the top of the same page where you download Reaper. http://www.reaper.fm/download.php
You kind of have to go there don't you?

2. In Reaper itself, under Help/Documentation.

Am I missing something?
When I DL'd I only looked for the program DL button, thats all I was there for.

Now I just opened reaper and looked in the help section, its there but inside another subfolder. Not obvious.

In reaper world everything is simple if you know where to look, to someone who doesn't know its not simple.

Anyone who can't grasp that can perhaps demonstrate and show but they can't teach because they forget to put themselves in the students position of not knowing. Newcomers don't know what they don't know, I didn't even know there IS a guide, once I knew it exists I found it on the DL page.
Teaching requires more patience than I have.
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Old 11-05-2015, 08:11 PM   #21
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@jonesg
In every softwares, the first steps are the harder.
You can miss a simple thing, and then get stucked.

But you have the User Guide now. And everything will became easier

@all

Thanks to Punk Duck who did an incredible job of correction on the article !
The article has been updated, with more than 1700 characters addition/deletion... Good job man !! :P
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Old 11-05-2015, 08:18 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jonesg View Post
When I DL'd I only looked for the program DL button, thats all I was there for.

Now I just opened reaper and looked in the help section, its there but inside another subfolder. Not obvious.
Haha Well, I guess our ideas of "obvious" are different.



If you think finding the user guide was difficult, then good luck actually reading it.

Quote:
Originally Posted by jonesg View Post
Teaching requires more patience than I have.
I suggest that learning requires more patience than teaching.
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Old 11-06-2015, 04:30 AM   #23
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Thanks to xpander who also made a correction pass on the article

It is good to have the support of community members :P
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Old 11-06-2015, 09:43 AM   #24
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Wow Raymond, that's a really ambitious endeavour. The little bit I had a chance to go over seems well detailed, and the overall layout looks good.

I've had to make a half dozen or more manuals over the last few years and, for me at least, it's really challenging for this old brain of mine.

Good job.
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Old 11-06-2015, 09:45 AM   #25
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Quote:
Originally Posted by X-Raym View Post
I like exclamation points, it add a bit of personality. But you are right it is like smileys, we finish by putting them everywhere, and by writing in capslock because everything we said IS SO INTENSE !
Yeah. They kinda lose their value if you use them too much, especially for things that may not be all that unique.

But yes, that was quite a lot of writing. Good stuff.
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Old 11-06-2015, 05:16 PM   #26
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@Tod
Thanks Tod
Indeed, it took a few full days to write all of this, but it worth it. People seem to like it

@Lawrence
Exclamation marks for feaure "not that unique" may be things I found great when I switched from my previous main DAW to REAPER, so yes, some of these things may be integrated in other DAW in some ways
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Old 11-07-2015, 12:55 PM   #27
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I'm happy you took my comments in the way I intended.

I personally think you did an excellent job of writing there and my comments were pretty subjective obviously.

Good stuff.
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Old 11-08-2015, 03:09 PM   #28
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I just added a link to ReaperTV on the Learning paragraph, because I found it very nice Definitely a good place for beginners !

@Lawrence
Thank very much you again :P
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Old 11-09-2015, 04:32 AM   #29
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Great review X-Raym! The passion for REAPER is strong in you
Good job. It's very difficult to explain so many features in REAPER.
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Old 11-09-2015, 08:03 AM   #30
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@heda
Thnks man :P
I indeed kinda like the software ( :P ), as it allows me to do my projects with optimized workfllow, but I'm aware there is still plenty of room for improvements ( as in every DAW ), from the software but also from the website.
Rather than considering what it missed, I focus the article on what it has to offer. And that's a lot of things :P
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Old 11-10-2015, 08:14 PM   #31
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The article just get linked as in depth presentation for REAPER in Bedroom Producer Blog Free DAW Software! (Digital Audio Workstations) article in the "Honorable Mention" section( yes because you know, REAPER is NOT free ! :P )

Nice
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Old 11-14-2015, 11:38 AM   #32
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The article has been linked on REAPER blog
The exhaustive REAPER 5 review | The REAPER Blog

Nice !
Thanks Jon
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Old 11-15-2015, 12:42 PM   #33
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Great article Ray, definitely worth the long read.

I will recommend it to anyone interested by REAPER, as it is the best place to learn a lot about what it can do. Super travail !
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Old 11-15-2015, 12:52 PM   #34
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Cool review
Especially liked the look and feel of your blog with gifs.
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Old 11-15-2015, 01:18 PM   #35
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I'll chime in here with everyone else and add another "well done!"
Clearly, you've put a lot of work into this and it is very nicely presented. I've saved it to view offline and will have a more in depth read later on.

Great job!
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Old 11-16-2015, 04:50 PM   #36
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@Addikition
Thanks you again :P

@G-Sun
Glad you liked it !

@ReaDave
Thanks :P
That's definitely the kind of article that should be read in several times :P that said, I encourage you to check the online version as it may have some updates (spelling for eg.)
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Old 11-18-2015, 05:45 AM   #37
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thanks for the review.

how can i start reaper in dropbox and have all my projects synchron ?
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Old 11-18-2015, 05:54 AM   #38
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@ahs
  • Install REAPER as a Portable installation in your dropbox folder
  • Save and record your audio file in the dropbox folder as well.
Note synchyng ALL your projects may be a bit difficult, if you have projects of several gigas.


I personnaly only synch only archives backup of my config files, not whole projects.
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Old 02-13-2016, 01:00 PM   #39
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Thanks for a great article! Doing my due diligence before jumping into Reaperworld and this helped me lot.
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Old 02-13-2016, 01:17 PM   #40
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@MonkeyBars
I'm honnored to get your post. Welcome aboard !
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