Multitrack audio and MIDI recorder for your Windows PC

REAPER

REAPER

  -  15.75 MB  -  Trial
  • Latest Version

    REAPER 7.53 (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

    reaper753_x64-install.exe

  • MD5 Checksum

    509f773a37ad0187d9ce203442062d98

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 7.53 (64-bit) Screenshots

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

    REAPER 7.53 (64-bit) Screenshot 1

What's new in this version:

Actions:
- add action to bring all project FX online one at a time
- fix extra MIDI events possibly being added at end of item when applying track FX as new take with MIDI output
- add action to open 'choose project' prompt (allows opening multiple projects at once)
- add actions to set all project take fx online or offline based on whether the take is active or not
- show splash screen when closing projects via action

Import:
- add action to insert all media items in directory
- add setting and preference to create folder tracks for imported directories
- recursively import files from subdirectories when dragging a directory into REAPER
- warn/verify when importing more than 1000 files at once
- ignore .txt files when drag/dropped into arrange view with other media

MIDI editor:
- add option to draw CCs as gray
- add option to hide CCs in secondary contexts
- add preference for opacity of secondary editable contexts, extend opacity configuration range for inactive items
- show note names from tracks that MIDI is routed to, if any

Project load:
- add checkbox to load project with FX offline, then bring FX online one at a time
- add FX offline/online options to import RPP dialog
- display loading progress in splash screen
- improve loading speed of projects that have many per-take FX

Spectral edits:
- add actions to bypass/solo/delete selected spectral edits, reset/adjust gain of edit
- add new preferences page to configure defaults for new spectral edits
- control+clicking an edit allows multi-selection of edits
- faster drawing updates when modifying edits
- improve selection behavior, deselect spectral edits in other items when selecting, etc

Automation items:
- add project setting to choose whether 'Beats (position only)' timebase changes length of automation items (on by default, matching behavior of 7.49 and earlier)
- fix start offset when changing effective timebase

Fades:
- clear LPF fade, reset fade curvature when performing various editing actions
- improve behavior of 'move crossfade' mouse modifier when editing non-crossfade

Media explorer:
- set default fade-in/fade-out to 20ms
- support either fade-in or fade-out (or both/neither) for preview audio (replaces option to crossfade)

Media import:
- don't prompt to match empty project tempo to media if the project tempo is already set to the media tempo
- simplify tempo-match preferences

Mouse modifiers:
- add ripple options for edge edits (only affects editing right edges)
- modifier to adjust item edge without changing fade only applies to pre-existing fades

Peaks:
- draw first sample of peaks over left border of containing media item
- fix errors where the first sample of media file may get skipped (7.39 regression)

Project bay:
- properly handle dragging items into 'add new track' area of project
- support creating folder tracks from project bay folders

REX:
- fix potential error when importing as beat slices and source tempo is lower than project tempo
- when importing as beat slices from media explorer with time selection set, import slices if they start within the time selection, and do not truncate the end of the slices

Searching/filtering:
- better handle case folding of UTF-8 codepoints up to U+800
- improve synonym case folding support for localized synonyms

Spectrogram:
- add high resolution spectrogram view (when sufficiently zoomed-in, zoom threshold is configurable in preferences)
- add mousewheel/MIDI CC/OSC assignable actions to adjust brightness/contrast/curve/frequency curve
- fix slightly-incorrect display (skipping one very high frequency bin)

Toolbars:
- prevent overly-large images from resizing toolbar editor too large
- allow larger toolbar images (7.50 change partially reverted)

Undo:
- allow longer undo messages
- support longer track names/etc for FX, envelope context messages

Auto-crossfades:
- fix manually edited crossfades being reset when deleting unrelated media items

Color theme:
- add theme elements for LPF fade color and blend mode

Control surfaces:
- add Console1 support

Debug:
- add project load time report, accessible via 'projload_report' in debug console

Default theme:
- update send level meter images slightly

FX:
- add preference to control whether pin mappings are loaded when loading FX presets

JSFX:
- fix showing JSFX pathname when inserting via action/script on Windows

Paths:
- increase maximum length of VST/LV2/CLAP plug-in path lists to 64k

Portable installs:
- fix issue in new 7.50 feature where VSTs would be rescanned even if skip requested by user

Project backups:
- add option to auto-save unsaved projects, will also save at exit and be available (if configured) when re-launching REAPER

Project settings:
- add project setting (advanced tab) to always load project with FX offline, or bring FX online one at a time

Render:
- fix brickwall limiting to master mix when also rendering master mix and normalizing to master mix

Shutdown:
- improve shutdown process (display splash screen while unloading project), better compatibility with some plug-ins/control surfaces

API:
- add StartPreviewFade(), to immediately fade preview audio in or out