Multitrack audio and MIDI recorder for your Windows PC

REAPER

REAPER

  -  16.31 MB  -  Trial
  • Latest Version

    REAPER 7.80 (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

    reaper780_x64-install.exe

  • MD5 Checksum

    1eb505d466d07301e477a6c288b76fcd

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 7.80 (64-bit) Screenshots

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

    REAPER 7.80 (64-bit) Screenshot 1

What's new in this version:

Pop/click:
- add 'Edit > Repair Pops/Clicks' dialog, to interactively find pops/clicks and apply sample-edit spectral repair
- add actions to go to next/previous detected audio pop/click 

CLAP:
- fix I/O possibly being set up incorrectly with some plugins
- hide non-automatable parameters from various REAPER automation interfaces
- support CLAP_EVENT_IS_LIVE
- support hovered-parameter draft spec via FX_GetNamedConfigParm(param_hovered)
- support linking MIDI program change to factory preset
- support requesting plug-in bus size 

ReaScript:
- add MIDIEditor_GetSetting() support for timebase_unit, pixels_per_timebase_unit
- allow querying default value for FX parameters using FX_GetNamedConfigParm(param.X.default_value)
- fixing writing empty strings via set_config_var_string()
- fix ResolveWildcard() issues with background projects
- get_config_var_string()/set_config_var_string() support generic .ini file keys
- update TCP button display after changing track MIDI hardware output 

MIDI:
- do not snap MIDI media items to PPQ when pasting
- fix behavior when applying track volume as MIDI velocity and volume is set to -inf
- ignore media item take phase setting for MIDI items
- avoid changing editor active MIDI channel in response to adding undo points or saving state chunk 

Docks:
- rearrangement preview indicators use new theme color
- fix macOS flicker when dragging tab and mousing over indicator
- improve drag/drop preview consistency, fix many corner cases with reorganizing docks/tabs/etc 

Envelope manager:
- fix behavior when canceling MIDI learn for FX on multiple tracks simultaneously
- fix undo points when modifying MIDI learn for FX on multiple tracks simultaneously 

FX:
- avoid incorrectly linking parameters of multiple FX if routing is set up like multi-mono/multi-stereo but the user has not explicitly set up parameter linking
- when creating multi-mono/multi-stereo FX, automatically map all parameters of the primary instance to the container
- in generic UI, display default position of parameters on faders, reset to default on double-click 

Media items:
- improve behavior when moving item contents, snap to grid enabled, and source media length is much smaller than snap size
- fix zombie stretch markers left behind when changing media item timebase from auto-stretch to time using the Media Item Properties dialog 

MusicXML:
- fix incorrect tempo map when importing files with certain time signatures
- reduce memory usage on import, fix potential memory leak when importing multi-track .mxl files 

ReaSurroundPan:
- draw selected speaker in a slightly different color (customizable as 'selspkcol')
- support custom speaker presets, to save/load speaker setups without affecting other plug-in settings 

Regions/markers:
- draw locked regions/markers slightly grayed out
- fix behavior when moving regions/markers containing other locked regions/markers 

Sample edits:
- combine sample edit repair and scale dialogs
- fix behavior when mono source is panned right 

Toolbars:
- fix toolbar button feedback for "Set project timebase to beats (position, length, rate)" when in auto-stretch mode
- relabel menu item 'In Toolbar Docker' to 'In Docker' for clarity 

Video:
- add FFmpeg 9.x support
- detect mov/mp4 XML metadata timecode as source media preferred position
- fix detecting rotation attribute for mp4 files that are greater than 4GB 

Actions:
- reset JSFX loudness meters on monitoring FX when resetting all track meters 

Automation:
- provide menu/action state feedback for actions like 'Global automation override: All automation in touch mode' 

Colors:
- add actions to set track or item/take color based on focus 

Envelopes:
- enable 'Preferences > Envelope Display/Editing > Prevent mouse edits of single envelope points from moving past other envelope points' by default for new users 

Fades:
- add actions to enable/disable/toggle default fade-in/fade-out when recording or importing media items 

Import:
- fix importing non-REX files with embedded beat slice information when project tempo is lower than source tempo 

LV2:
- fix UTF-8 display of preset box on Windows 

Marquee zoom:
- fix behavior when zooming to a track below an expanded fixed lane track 

Razor edits:
- support pasting automation envelope razor edit areas to the master track 

ReaSurround/ReaSurroundPan:
- improve button images when in dark mode on macOS/linux 

Render:
- handle unknown render formats more gracefully (for example, when moving projects between computers that support different video render formats) 

RS5k:
- when playing notes via combobox change, improve handling if 'obey notes off' is enabled 

Ruler:
- fix ruler lanes potentially remaining hidden for users with stale configuration settings 

Tempo:
- fix behavior of timebase 'beats (auto-stretch at tempo changes)' when project contains a gradual tempo change following an incomplete measure 

Track routing window:
- do not set window focus on undo/redo 

Transients:
- set default double-click value of tab-to-transient threshold slider to the same value as the factory default threshold setting 

VST3:
- workaround for plugins that attempt to open at a very tiny size 

API:
- fix PlayTime toolbar addition when toolbar is not already customized