Some notable artists who use REAPER for music production are Tycho, Tim Henson, Boyinaband, Waterparks, and more. However, because REAPER is an excellent DAW for other audio purposes and music production, you can also find Jacob Collier and Deadmau5 using REAPER for live stream audio.
Artists Using REAPER
Because Cockos released REAPER in 2006, it is still a reasonably new DAW (Digital Audio Workstation).
With REAPER being such a new DAW, not many artists and music producers use it, especially when compared to Pro Tools, Logic Pro, FL Studio, etc.
In this article, we will look at what artists use REAPER.
What Artists Use REAPER?
Some of the more notable artists that use REAPER that I want to go over today are Tycho, Tim Henson, Boyinaband, Waterparks, Jacob Collier, and Deadmau5.
However, remember that some artists are only known to use REAPER for live streaming and not necessarily music production.
Tycho
Tycho is a successful electronic music producer and touring artist based in San Francisco, CA.
Tycho has been producing music for over fifteen years and is still active today.
He has explained before that he uses two systems running REAPER as a part of his live setup.
Timothy Henson
Timothy Henson is a music producer and guitarist for the popular band ‘Polyphia.’
He is from Dallas, TX, and is famous for his unique and innovative style of guitar playing.
You can find Tim Henson using REAPER in various videos on the internet.
Boyinaband
Boyinaband is the artist name for David Brown, who had a song of his blow-up on YouTube a few years ago.
Boyinaband has several pictures and videos online that show him using REAPER to produce music.
Waterparks
Waterparks is another musical artist that uses REAPER for music production.
Waterparks is a pop-punk band from Houston, TX, who previously told fans that they used REAPER to produce one of their albums.
Jacob Collier
Jacob Collier is a London-based Grammy Award-winning musician and multi-instrumentalist who is also a successful touring artist.
Although Jacob does not use REAPER for music production, he sometimes uses REAPER for live stream audio recording.
Deadmau5
The last artist that I want to go over with you is DeadMau5.
Deadmau5 is a famous Canadian electronic music producer, DJ, and musician.
Deadmau5 does not use REAPER primarily for music production, but he occasionally uses it in Twitch live streams.
Is REAPER Used By Professionals?
Yes, although REAPER is not nearly as popular as other DAWs such as Pro Tools, Logic Pro, FL Studio, Studio One, etc., it is still used by professional composers, musicians, and music producers.
Also, because of its affordable price and high functionality, REAPER is gaining popularity as time goes by and word gets out.
I believe that in due time, more and more professional producers will begin to use REAPER.
Can You Make Professional Music With REAPER?
Yes, you can. REAPER is a fully functional DAW with almost all the tools you need to produce professional tracks.
REAPER includes a complete collection of mixing and mastering plugins and an easy-to-use interface.
I think REAPER is a fantastic DAW, and I have had no issues creating professional music with it.
The only weakness of REAPER is that it does not come stocked with any virtual instruments, audio samples, or loops.
This can be a major turn-off for modern music producers. Still, thankfully you can always use third-party virtual instruments and plugins in REAPER.
Is REAPER Easier To Use Than Ableton?
This question is tricky because it’s partly a matter of opinion.
Both REAPER and Ableton are well-designed DAWs that you can use to produce professional music. It just comes down to your workflow and what you prefer.
For example, in my opinion, REAPER is easier to use than Ableton. Still, it depends on what type of music you produce and what tools you need to create it.
To know which DAW is easier for you, I recommend spending some time on each one using the free trial period that both REAPER and Ableton.
Is REAPER Hard To Learn?
No, in my opinion, REAPER is very user-friendly and easy to learn DAW.
When I began learning to produce music, REAPER was my first DAW, and I remember it being a breeze.
All it took for me to learn to use REAPER was to start trying to work on songs and do research along the way when I didn’t know how to do something.
Obviously, every computer program will have a bit of a learning curve, but I can confidently say that REAPER is pretty straightforward.
Click here for all our REAPER tutorials.
Do I Need An Audio Interface For REAPER?
Not necessarily. This depends on what type of music production you are looking to use REAPER for.
For example, you can buy a MIDI keyboard, studio monitors, and microphones with USB connectivity to use directly with your computer instead of an audio interface.
However, an audio interface is essential if you are ready to take the next step in your audio production journey.
An audio interface allows you to use microphones, studio monitors, MIDI devices, etc. It is more reliable than plugging these items directly into your computer.
Is REAPER Free?
REAPER does offer a sixty-day free trial for the DAW, but no, REAPER is not free.
After the sixty-day trial, you must purchase a license for REAPER, which is $60 for an individual license and $225 for a commercial license.
While REAPER is not free, $60 is a very low price compared to other digital audio workstations.
Can You Use REAPER On Windows?
Yes, you can use REAPER on both Windows and MAC operating systems, unlike other DAWs such as Logic Pro, which is only MAC compatible.
In fact, in my time producing music, I have had both Windows and MAC computers, and they have both worked with REAPER just fine.
Does REAPER Have Built-In Instruments?
No, REAPER does not really have built-in instruments.
The only virtual instrument that REAPER comes with is ‘ReaSynth,’ a low-quality synthesizer engine that I hardly even count.
Although REAPER does not come with any built-in instruments, it does include a complete collection of mixing and mastering plugins that you can use in your tracks.
Check out the following article for an in-depth guide on REAPER virtual instruments.
Is REAPER Good For Mixing?
Yes, REAPER is a good DAW for mixing.
REAPER comes with a whole collection of mixing and mastering plugins. It is also a very organized DAW that is easy to navigate and manage a mix with.
For example, one of my favorite things about REAPER is how easy it makes it to group tracks together during a mix to consolidate and organize similar instruments.
REAPER may not be the best DAW for music production or beat making. Still, I do recommend using it for mixing and mastering.
How Much RAM Do I Need For REAPER?
To use REAPER or any other DAW for that matter, I recommend that you have at least 8GB of RAM (Random Access Memory). However, 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, etc., is ideal, especially if you are looking to use virtual instruments or third-party plugins.
RAM is a crucial computer component for music production. The more you have, the more smoothly your computer will run when producing.
If all you’re trying to do is produce a song with a few tracks and light plugins, you can get away with having less RAM. If you want to create music with lots of tracks, plugins, and virtual instruments, you will need more RAM.
Why Should I Switch To REAPER?
Some of the reasons you should switch to REAPER are its low cost, customization capabilities, and functionality.
At only sixty dollars for the full license, REAPER is a low-cost DAW, especially compared to others such as Pro Tools, Logic, etc.
Also, REAPER allows for complete customization of things like the color scheme, layout, toolbars, hotkeys, etc. This makes it so that you can set up REAPER for your ideal workflow.
Lastly, you should consider switching to REAPER because it is a highly functional and easy-to-use DAW.
Related Questions
Which DAW is Currently Used by The Most professionals?
The DAW that most professionals currently use is almost undeniably Pro Tools. Pro Tools has been the industry standard DAW for music production professionals.
The reason for this is that Pro Tools is a mighty DAW that is not lacking in any features.
Why Is REAPER Not as Popular as Other DAWs?
The two main reasons that REAPER is not as popular as other DAWs are that it does not have any virtual instruments or samples and is still relatively new in the market.
Music producers want a popular DAW with everything they need to make professional music. Therefore, REAPER’s lack of virtual instruments and samples is a significant turn-off for many producers.
Also, REAPER is still so new makes it less likely for music producers to use it since they can easily go with Pro Tools, Logic Pro, FL Studio, etc. These have all been out for twenty or more years.
How Many Installations of REAPER Can You Have?
Once you have paid for the full REAPER license, you can have as many installations of it as you need.
For example, since I have purchased REAPER, I have had three different operating systems. I have downloaded REAPER successfully on each one. However, if you pay for only the single-user license, you can have it installed in multiple places. Still, only you alone can use it legally.
What and Who Is REAPER Best For?
In my opinion, REAPER is most efficient for session recording and audio engineering. This is because it is a very streamlined and organized DAW that does not have any virtual instruments, loops, or audio samples.
Because of the lack of modern production tools such as virtual instruments and samples, REAPER is best for session recording and audio engineering and not necessarily music production.
However, because you can use third-party plugins and samples, a savvy music producer can still produce professional music of any genre using REAPER.
Which Is Better, REAPER or Audacity?
This question is a no-brainer. In my opinion, REAPER is better than Audacity by a long shot.
This is because REAPER is a professional DAW that Cockos developed for professional music production and Audacity is a free DAW that is very basic and lacks features.
By using each digital audio workstation, you can tell that REAPER is a much better program.
Do You Have Any Recommendations for Good Piano VST Instruments?
Check out the soft piano from LABS Instruments by Spitfire Audio. The soft piano is an excellent and free piano VST plugin that you can download from that link.
Also, there are dozens of other awesome free virtual instruments in the LABS collection, so make sure to check them all out!
Final Words
As you have seen from this article, the REAPER DAW is not the most popular among artists and music producers, especially when compared to Avid Pro Tools, Logic Pro X, FL Studio, etc.
However, because REAPER is not as popular as these other programs, that does not mean that it isn’t an excellent DAW.
REAPER is a highly functional and easy-to-use software that you can use to produce professional music. I believe that as time goes on, it will gain popularity, and more music producers will start to use it.
Click here to find out if REAPER is good for EDM.
Want to connect with other music producers for help and guidance?