Multitrack audio and MIDI recorder for your Windows PC

REAPER

REAPER

  -  15.62 MB  -  Trial
  • Latest Version

    REAPER 7.43 (64-bit) LATEST

  • Review by

    Sophia Jones

  • Operating System

    Windows 7 64 / Windows 8 64 / Windows 10 64 / Windows 11

  • User Rating

    Click to vote
  • Author / Product

    Cockos Incorporated / External Link

  • Filename

    reaper743_x64-install.exe

  • MD5 Checksum

    e3e09859f69a0e1be584d3a2e31380e7

REAPER (Rapid Environment for Audio Production, Engineering, and Recording) is a powerful digital audio workstation (DAW) designed for professional and amateur music producers alike.

Developed by Cockos Inc., it offers a full suite of audio recording, editing, mixing, and mastering tools at an affordable price. Unlike many DAWs that require extensive system resources, REAPER is known for its lightweight footprint, flexibility, and customization options.

REAPER Screenshot 1

It supports VST, VST3, AU, and JS plugins, making it highly compatible with third-party effects and virtual instruments.

With its advanced scripting capabilities, REAPER for Windows PC is also a favorite among users who seek a highly customizable workflow.

Main Features

Multitrack Recording – Record multiple tracks of audio and MIDI simultaneously with non-destructive editing.

MIDI Support – Comprehensive MIDI functionality including piano roll editing, MIDI routing, and support for MIDI controllers.

VST and Plugin Support – Compatible with a vast array of third-party plugins and effects.

Scripting and Customization – Support for Lua, EEL, and Python scripting to automate workflows and customize functions.

Audio Routing Flexibility – Highly customizable signal routing for complex mixing setups.

Automation and Envelopes – Advanced automation tools for volume, pan, and effect parameters.

Low System Resource Usage – Optimized performance with minimal CPU usage, making it suitable for older computers.

Portable Installation – Can run from a USB stick without installation, making it a great option for users on the go.

Video Support – Basic video editing features for scoring and syncing audio to video.

Regular Updates – Frequent updates that introduce new features and bug fixes.

User Interface

REAPER’s user interface is designed for efficiency and workflow optimization. It features a clean and highly customizable layout, with a dark theme by default, but users can install custom themes to change its appearance. The main interface consists of:

Track Panel – Displays all active tracks with customizable settings.

Mixer Panel – Provides a traditional mixer view for managing volume levels, panning, and effects.

Transport Bar – Offers essential playback controls such as play, stop, record, and loop.

MIDI Editor – A separate window for detailed MIDI note editing.

FX Browser – A library of built-in and third-party plugins.

Installation and Setup

Download – Visit the official website or FileHorse.com and download the installer for Windows.

Run the Installer – Launch the downloaded file and follow the on-screen instructions.

Select Installation Type – Choose between a standard or portable installation.

Customize Preferences – Set up the audio interface, MIDI devices, and buffer size.

Install Plugins – Add third-party VST instruments and effects as needed.

Start Using – Open a new project and start recording or editing audio.

How to Use

1. Creating a New Project
  • Open this software and select File > New Project.
  • Set up project settings such as sample rate and bit depth.
2. Recording Audio
  • Click Insert > New Track.
  • Arm the track for recording by clicking the Record Arm button.
  • Choose an input source from the dropdown menu.
  • Press Record on the transport bar to begin recording.
3. Editing and Mixing
  • Use the split, trim, and move tools to edit audio clips.
  • Apply fade-in and fade-out effects by dragging the clip edges.
  • Add VST effects by clicking on the FX button of a track.
  • Adjust volume and panning using the mixer panel.
4. Exporting the Final Mix
  • Click File > Render.
  • Choose the desired file format (WAV, MP3, FLAC, etc.).
  • Set render options and export the final audio.
FAQ

Is REAPER free?
It offers a 60-day free trial, after which users are expected to purchase a license. However, the software remains fully functional even after the trial expires.

What is the difference between the discounted and commercial licenses?
The discounted license is for individual users and small businesses generating less than $20,000 in revenue per year. The commercial license is for professionals and larger studios exceeding that income threshold.

Can REAPER run on older computers?
Yes, this software is highly optimized and can run on older hardware with minimal CPU and RAM requirements.

Does REAPER support third-party plugins?
Yes, this program fully supports VST, VST3, AU (Mac), and JS plugins, allowing users to expand its functionality with third-party effects and instruments.

How does REAPER compare to other DAWs?
REAPER is more affordable, lightweight, and customizable compared to major DAWs like Pro Tools, Cubase, and Ableton Live. However, it lacks built-in instruments and loops, requiring external plugins for enhanced production.

Alternatives

Pro Tools – Industry-standard DAW for professional studios and engineers.

Ableton Live – Best for electronic music production and live performances.

Cubase – Comprehensive DAW with a strong focus on MIDI and orchestral composition.

Studio One – A powerful all-in-one DAW with an intuitive workflow.

Pricing

Discounted License: $60 (for individuals and small businesses)

Commercial License: $225 (for professional use)

60-Day Free Trial: Fully functional, non-restrictive trial period

System Requirements
  • OS: Windows 7, 8, 10, 11 (64-bit recommended)
  • Processor: 1 GHz or higher
  • RAM: 4 GB minimum (8 GB recommended for larger projects)
  • Storage: 100 MB for installation, additional space required for audio files
  • Audio Interface: ASIO-supported device recommended for low-latency recording
PROS
  • Lightweight and efficient
  • Affordable pricing
  • Extensive customization and scripting capabilities
  • Regular updates and active community support
  • Highly flexible routing and automation options
CONS
  • Lacks built-in virtual instruments and loops
  • Steep learning curve for beginners
  • Outdated default UI (requires customization for modern aesthetics)
  • MIDI editing tools not as polished as competitors like Cubase
Conclusion

REAPER is a powerful and budget-friendly DAW that caters to both beginners and professionals. Its extensive customization options, low system requirements, and support for third-party plugins make it a versatile tool for audio production. While it lacks built-in instruments and can be intimidating for new users, its affordability and efficiency make it a worthy alternative to expensive DAWs.

Note: 60 days trial version and nag screen.

Also Available: REAPER for Mac

Why is this app published on FileHorse? (More info)
  • REAPER 7.43 (64-bit) Screenshots

    The images below have been resized. Click on them to view the screenshots in full size.

    REAPER 7.43 (64-bit) Screenshot 1

What's new in this version:

MIDI editor:
- when coloring by track/item and track/item is default colored, add option (enabled by default) to color by source instead
- fix initial zoom issues when using note folding
- fix reset of inline editor zoom/scroll on undo/redo, other actions
- preserve sequencer specific messages, support viewing and editing similar to sysex
- support snap to visible grid in inline editor
- fix displaying all text/sysex messages at item start in MIDI editor
- fix loss of default settings when gluing/etc in certain instances

Localization:
- fix control resizing errors on Windows
- improve layout of automation item properties window
- improve layout of track envelope manager window
- improve measurement/expansion logic of controls on Windows

Razor edits:
- allow editing track envelopes in media lane, media item take envelopes similarly to track envelopes
- avoid adding unnecessary edge points when editing envelopes
- fix behavior when editing envelopes with multiple razor edits at once
- fix tooltip when editing envelope left-side tilt

Actions:
- add action to toggle project timebase between time and beats
- fix toggle command state for track groups 65-128
- improve actions to move selected points up/down a tiny/little bit with mute/stepped envelopes (move by step size)

Crossfade editor:
- add actions to mute left item, mute right item, solo crossfaded items
- if re-center/auto-center options disabled, do not clamp edits or display to crossfade edges; allow crossfade to be partially or completely offscreen
- support hand-scroll by dragging above the top item

Envelopes:
- add actions to remove unnecessary points
- fix action to reduce envelope points removing first or last point

Media explorer:
- support marking and favoriting non-media files (projects, templates, FX chains/presets, etc)
- support adding metadata for non-media files; persists as long as the file remains in the same folder
- when writing metadata to file, preserve user-edited cached metadata that the file type does not support

MIDI:
- add explanatory timebase text to MIDI source properties dialog
- automatically pool copies of items when they are already pooled, regardless of MIDI pooling preference
- fix extending unlooped MIDI item when timebase is set to time and tempo changes exist

Phase aligner:
- add text explaining that multiple rows can be selected
- support applying phase adjustment per-track rather than per-item

Project bay:
- improve handling of double-click on collapse buttons
- remove useless behavior when drag/dropping FX parameters

ReaScript:
- FX_Get/SetNamedConfigParm() supports channel_config to allow configuring ReaPlugs I/O and VST3 requested bus size
- support I_FREEZECOUNT for GetSetMediaTrackInfo()

Render:
- avoid saving default rendered file name as "untitled"
- do not embed loudness metadata if embedding metadata is disabled generally
- when rendering to a lossy format like mp3 or ogg, calculate normalization and statistics based on the format-encoded signal rather than the source signal

Track I/O context menu:
- support multiple selected tracks when adding new track
- when adding a new track with sends, select the new track and ensure it is visible

Windows:
- fix date UTF-8 formatting issues with certain locales
- fix FX chain focus issues when renaming FX, toggling bypass, etc

Freeze:
- fix intermittent issues with overlapping items being generated

Items:
- fix looped item playback when item is just barely longer than source material

JSFX:
- improve syntax highlighting of parameter names

Metronome:
- commit volume edit when editing and immediately closing window

Mixer:
- fix adjusting mixer control panel height for visual spacers and scrollbar

Project:
- support importing .adl (AES-31) project files

Project tabs:
- support up to 1000 project tabs (increased from 128)

Regions:
- fix mouse-clicking regions when preference enabled to display selected regions over unselected regions

Ruler:
- fix display update after double-clicking region

Scrub range window:
- support entering negative values

Section source:
- preserve take envelope timing when slip editing section source

Snap:
- respect snap to sample setting even if project sample rate is not set (use device sample rate instead)

Take envelopes:
- add option to move or not move take envelope points when moving media item contents

Theme:
- no longer show meters for non-record armed tracks that are over +0dB as a different color

Track manager:
- fix sorting by certain columns

WAV:
- fix reading certain kinds of metadata (7.23 regression)