Again, if you like a lightweight DAW Reaper is great.
What? No it can't there are thousands of different menus and pop ups, that can't properly be changed.

If you look at the Ableton, FL Studio or Logic - these are not half-working VSTs. These are often exceptional tools.

No the reason does not matter. It is absolutely irrelevant if the UI of Reaper is ugly because of a conscious decision (and given the abhorrent amount of menus , ugh) - or because an unconscious one.

Subjective aesthetics, yes. But UX isn’t just consistency in code, it’s usability in practice. REAPER has a notorious sprawl of menus, pop-ups, and cryptically named options. Tiny click-targets and buried submenus are not ‘efficient architecture.’ They’re friction points that force users to hunt or script fixes. Compare that with Ableton or Logic: core features are exposed up front, not hidden behind layers of right-click menus. The notorius "Do you want to save this file you just recorded" default prompt.

That’s a rationalization, not a strength. Every serious DAW ships with quality stock instruments, not as toys, but as production-ready tools. Logic’s Alchemy, Ableton’s Operator, FL’s Harmor, these aren’t ‘half-working freebies,’ they’re used on chart hits. REAPER offers zero equivalent. Which means a new user either spends extra for third-party VSTs or can’t start producing. That’s not a feature, it’s a barrier.

It’s not a strawman if the workflow demands scripts and community patches for what are standard stock functions elsewhere. Essential features are hidden behind odd defaults or require third-party scripts. That’s the definition of needing one-offs. The fact that the community fills gaps shows demand, not dishonesty.

Who coded it doesn’t matter, correct. What matters is usability. My critique hasn’t shifted: I’m saying usability suffers when basic features are hidden or missing. That’s true regardless of whether it’s coded by one guy or a team of fifty.

You’re overcomplicating a simple point: when people evaluate DAWs, they look at real-world costs and feature sets. Logic costs $200, includes a full suite of pro-level instruments and effects, and comes with ongoing updates. REAPER may be cheap, but out of the box it offers none of that. If a DAW is barebones, the user will have to buy plugins to reach parity. That’s not irrelevant, it’s literally part of the buying decision.
Most people who buy Logic already own a Mac for other reasons — work, school, creative software, etc. For them, Logic’s price really is $200.

If the sale price is often enough, i would count it at standard price.

Reaper's trial is 60 days. Using it without paying is against the license. So that is not an argument. If Reaper would have a 0$ sale 5 times a year that would be an argument.
Everyone needs a computer to run a DAAW. You can't add the full price of a Mac to Logic unless you also add the price of comparable Windows PC to reaper.
if the user has a mac -> Logic = 199$ all in for a massive instruments effects bundle.
If the user has a PC -> Reaper = 60-225$, but no instruments.

To approximate Logic lodout you would need at least 1 flagsip synth, a sampler, drums, keys/pianos anda few bread and butter like reverb.

Saying “update your Mac every 6 years” while claiming REAPER users “maybe update every 20 years” is unserious: OS support cycles, plugin minimum versions, large sample libraries, and CPU-heavy synths drive both Mac and PC upgrades.If you load modern third-party instruments on REAPER, you need modern CPU/RAM/SSD anyway. The workload comes from projects and plugins, not the DAW logo.

Not really, you are rationalizing each flaw that Reaper might has.

 

each flaw which you try to expose as simply far-fetched or not true, there are so many false arguments that I'm too lazy to even write how helpless they are
I had the same problems and misunderstandings when I first started using Reaper, you just need to use it a bit longer then it will open up.
Reaper has problems and they are not at all what you are trying to show
And the last thing, I don't know anything more convenient than Reaper, although I've tried almost all DAWs. Opening them today, make think how much they are behind in time projecting on the user their own way of seeing UI convenience, it's like comparing elementary school and doctoral education, using these subDAWs you are simply doomed to get used to someone else's not very intelligent mindset.

 

I do not use Reaper as my primary DAW, I'm decades deep in investment in Cubase and Ableton Live. However, I do own and use Reaper occasionally, usually for audio specific work, like editing. I also used to keep a copy on my older laptop because it was just quicker to work with on that hardware than Cubase. My point is, I don't use any scripts. I use the software as is. I can recreate the same MIDI-based compositions that I have in Cubase within Reaper. The workflow is much different, but by no means do I need scripts to accomplish this.

 

This is the clue of the entire discussion. You attach your self-worth to things you like and you just can't stay objective. It's not like iTzPrime has good arguments. Nah, he is just dumber than you and "needs to use it a bit longer then it will open up". Duh. It's not like other DAWs are better at certain things and Reaper has its own flaws. Nah, Reaper is perfect, it's a DAW for big, smart boys like you. After all, YOU chose it and you cannot be wrong, so every other DAW is just a "subDAW", obviously.

This is pure tribalism and the way you try to smugly undermine his credibility makes you look like a condescending prick. I seriously don't understand what went wrong that so many people act this way nowadays. It's impossible to have an actual discussion on the Internet.

Just look at @Sinus Well's arguments. They are absolutely ridiculous if you look at them closely. He will be defending his precious Reaper to death.

Like, seriously... Yes, of course it's a GOOD thing that Reaper has ugly UI, because it's BY DESIGN and saves you an entire picosecond when you open the DAW! Of course, why have I not thought about that. It's totally not like everyone uses themes to rectify that issue and ones like White Tie Imperial had to be created, so we can actually have something decent. Naaah.

It's a GOOD thing that we don't have any serious VST instruments included by default, because it allows us to... *checks notes*... buy third party VSTs! That's just perfect! Like, I can imagine someone selling him a car without airbags by convincing him the car is faster that way.

Oh, and Reaper doesn't require any one-off fixes. He is right about that one as well. I totally didn't need to install, configure and set up Reaticulate to use articulations. Other DAWs, like Cubase, don't have that feature by default, so it's all good. Reaper is perfect the way it is.

Like seriously, give me a break. The only proper way of talking to people like you is mocking you and calling you out on your shitty behaviour. It's impossible to have a proper argument, because you just twist the reality to your liking.

 

Reaper is incredible and can do pretty much anything you can think of. With the addition of Helgoboss's Playtime it adds Ableton-like functionality. I wish it were easier to link multiple instances on different computers similar to Ableton Link.

 

Why so serious, did you have a bad day? you sound offended or oppressed.. calm down, internet warrior drink some water, go take a breath of fresh air.
Poor guy, Reaper affects you so much that are you shitting out such canvases of absurd text

 

Last edited: Sep 12, 2025

Every accusation is admission with folks like you. Boo-hoo, cry me a river.

 

Perhaps you should take an even closer look at my arguments and what they are actually addressing.

 

Last edited: Sep 12, 2025

you're writing some nonsense again, as if you're arguing with an imaginary friend, I didn't accuse anyone of anything
and since when we are discussing not Reaper but people who speak what they think about Reaper

 

I came on here to read about Reaper, but the thread is filled with bickering. ;-0

 

Don't buy it, you are not new here. You know what's gonna happen

 

For you. I tried Reaper for over a year.

"subDaWs". "not very intelligent mindset". No - Reaper does have serious UI/UX flaws. Just because you are fine with them, doesn't mean they aren't there.

And that is great. I did need scripts for tons of stuff, and I felt more like scripting my way rather than properly making music.

 

Of course, any software has its problems, but Reaper's advantages outweigh its drawbacks. Maybe another year? It took me a long time to get used to it too, and there are still some things that irritate me.

 

Last edited: Sep 25, 2025

I could loose 40% of my iq points trying to explain my stance on Reaper, i use it more than any other but the only thing i really like...is how you can drop the theme zip file on that thing. Other than that only basic stuff, which also corelates with being non professional, volume automation i´m ok with, routings thru asio and in/outs is cute, but other than that most of the time i switch to FL or Ableton to be creative.

I cant use that piano roll, i cant, it is like i´m trying to drink water thru my ear.