REAPER
A complete, customisable DAW at a fraction of the price — and it runs on Linux too.
What it is
About REAPER
REAPER (Rapid Environment for Audio Production, Engineering, and Recording) is a full-featured digital audio workstation from Cockos. It supports unlimited audio and MIDI tracks, runs on Mac, Windows, and Linux, and is one of the most customisable DAWs available — nearly every aspect of the interface, shortcuts, and routing can be modified. The discounted personal licence ($60) is one of the best-value professional tools in audio.
What you can do with it
Capabilities
Record, edit, and mix multitrack audio and MIDI on an unlimited-track timeline
Route audio between tracks and buses with surgical precision using REAPER's flexible routing matrix
Use razor edits to cut and rearrange specific regions of audio without affecting surrounding content
Automate every parameter — volume, pan, plugin knobs — by drawing automation curves directly on the timeline
Customise the entire interface, toolbars, and keyboard shortcuts to match exactly how you work
How to learn it
Learning Resources
The REAPER User Guide at reaper.fm/userguide.php — thorough and free
YouTube: Kenny Gioia's free REAPER tutorials (100+ videos) cover the entire application systematically
The REAPER forum at forum.cockos.com — one of the most active and helpful audio communities online
Start a podcast editing project — REAPER's trimming and noise gate tools make it excellent for this use case
Pro Tip
REAPER's default look puts people off. Within the first hour, change the theme (REAPER ReaperThemes) and set up your routing template. The out-of-the-box experience does not represent the tool once configured.
Skills that use this tool
Roles that use this tool