Rapid Environment for Audio Prototyping and Efficient Recording,” abbreviated Reaper, is a great multi-track editor allowing for the production of complete tracks from bits and pieces of audio loops. Reaper doesn’t look impressive-it has a Grey color scheme with an interface filled with buttons, so it doesn’t “feel’ like more mature audio editing tools

such as Adobe Audition. Making things better are the colorful custom themes available.
The left half of the interface is filled with the channel array which allows one to add, delete, mute, and adjust playback characteristic and add effect to a particular channel. The center area is the largest, filled with visual tracks, allowing direct editing of envelopes of specific regions. At the lower left-hand corner, you’ll find the master fader/volume. Adjacent to it are faders for other channels along with VU meters, recording button, FX console, and more.
Excellent MIDI, DX, and VST plugin (VSTi and DXi) integration allows you to work with complex MIDI sequencers and import files into Reaper. The visual pane displays the progress of a track, and can be zoomed into or out of using the scroll wheel-so you can look at the entire project in a single snapshot. Pre-and post-FX effects on a particular channel are easy to apply, and most novices and semi-professions can manage them easily.There’s a handy grid for working write tracks and loops, allowing one to add loops and resize them. Markers are present as in most professional software, and allow fine-tuned placement of loops.
Overall, Reaper works great as a multi-track recorder-you can record single or multi-channel sessions using inputs from multiple channels or sources. loops-based techno and tracks are easy to sequence using Reaper. Reaper doesn’t turn your PC into a Digital Audio Workstation, though; mastering and audio editing software is still required. Reaper stays well under 30 MB while working with two or three tracks.
At $40 Reaper provides great value for the novice. The $200 commercial license isn’t justified. Cakewalk Sonar at $369 is a better buy for audio professionals, with Steinberg’s Cubase and Nuendo Mackie’s Tracktion also available in he same price range.