Do You Need Audio Editing Software In Addition to Reaper?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ryan Teasnob
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Ryan Teasnob

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Hi Everyone. I've been seeing a lot of recommendations for Reaper as good recording software. I've also read some stuff on the web that says you need additional software for editing if you use Reaper. Is that true? If so, I'm wondering why? What are the things (if any) that Reaper cannot do such that you would need an editor in conjunction with it?

Thanks.

Ryan
 
Reaper IS an editing software. Reaper is a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation). It will have a track (edit) view and a mixer window. You will be able to have multiple tracks and mix, add effects, etc with Reaper. I am guessing what they may be reffering to needing as extra would be things such as plugins. These are extra effects, instruments, or tools that can be used to edit your tracks, mix, etc... But Reaper in itself will allow you to mix and edit audio.
 
Yeah, I'm thinking that he's thinking of plug-ins too :D Definitely need some of those...they're what makes DAWs truly fun for me :)
 
guitaristic said:
Yeah, I'm thinking that he's thinking of plug-ins too :D Definitely need some of those...they're what makes DAWs truly fun for me :)
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I am not a Reaper user, but I had installed once to check it out. But if I remember right, it doesn't really come with many, if any, stock plugs. Am I right on that?
 
Couple of points:

1 Reaper comes with its own range of plugins. There are about 20 Cockos plug-ins and over 200 JS plug-ins that accompany it, so there is no shortage there.

2 Most likely what is meant if people say you "need additional software for editing" is that in Reaper, unlike many other DAWs, when you double-click on a WAV you don't bring up a special editing window, unless you have specified an external audio editing program (e.g. Soundforge). Those who regard this as a deficiency haven't realised that you can fulfil all your WAV editing needs simply by zooming right in on the main track window and doing all that stuff right there.
 
phriq said:
I am not a Reaper user, but I had installed once to check it out. But if I remember right, it doesn't really come with many, if any, stock plugs. Am I right on that?
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Errrr well idk! I'm a Cubase user myself :D I think it comes with a few basics though (comp, eq, delay, reverb, etc.)

I think it calls them like "Rea_____" so like "Reacomp" would be the compressor.


Possibly :D
 
guitaristic said:
Possibly :D
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Nothing like advice on a program from two dudes that don't even use it ;)

gecko zzed said:
2 Most likely what is meant if people say you "need additional software for editing" is that in Reaper, unlike many other DAWs, when you double-click on a WAV you don't bring up a special editing window, unless you have specified an external audio editing program (e.g. Soundforge). Those who regard this as a deficiency haven't realised that you can fulfil all your WAV editing needs simply by zooming right in on the main track window and doing all that stuff right there.
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So basicaly there is no track edit view window but you can do it just from the main edit window itself?
 
I dont use reaper...but if i only recorded audio, or it was my prime recording source, it would be my choice...its a no brainer
 
Another "I don't use Reaper but..." reply. I installed the free trial to check it out and it seemed very complete to me. You could certainly make a lot of good music with just the included stuff.

Frankly, your best bet is to just used what's there and only worry about extra plug ins if you get to a stage where, even knowing Reaper well, you start to think "I wish I could do xxxxxx". You'll probably find an xxxxx plugin.

Well, that and the other thing I can't resist is when somebody says a certain plugin is great and available for free. I have a bunch of those but usually find myself returning to a bunch of old favourites for 99% of what I do!
 
Thanks everyone! I actually wasn't really referring to plug-ins so much as just wondering why so many folks seem to use, say, Soundforge "in addition to" Reaper. From what I read I think it was for doing things like noise reduction, click and pop elimination, p-pop elimination, etc. Also something about destructive vs non-destructive editing.

Anyway, thanks again!

Ryan
 
Ryan,

Actually I'm one of the folks who like to use an audio editor in addition to Reaper. I think it comes from my days of Using Adobe Audition (once Cool Edit Pro) like that. I'd track and mix in the multitrack screen and then edit my wave files in the edit screen. Once I changed to Reaper I kept that workflow. I have a lot of shortcuts and am very familiar with AA, so maybe I should start really checking to see if I can't do more (maybe all) of these things in Reaper.

Hope that helps.

Ken
 
I dabble with Reaper but I'm certainly not a pro at it. Not exactly sure where do you mean "editing" but one thing weird about Reaper IMHO is the individual track editing process. But you don't need extra software for that. Maybe that's what the posts you read are referring to?
Another option if you're a PC guy is Acoustica's Mixcraft 5. Same price, not as many bells & whistles but easier to learn IMHO.
 
phriq said:
So basicaly there is no track edit view window but you can do it just from the main edit window itself?
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Correct. I've mentioned elsewhere that I found this disconcerting at first, having been used to opening an editing window. However, I soon got used to it and found it to be a better way of oidng things generally. Hear a problem . . . zoom in . . . . identify and fix . . . play in context . . . hmm, not good . . . undo . . . try again . . . yes.

You can edit stuff, hear it in context, and if it doesn't work, 'undo' is your friend.

If you use an external editor, you have to save the edit . . . which means if you get it wrong, you are stuck with it.
 
gecko zzed said:
Couple of points:

1 Reaper comes with its own range of plugins. There are about 20 Cockos plug-ins and over 200 JS plug-ins that accompany it, so there is no shortage there.

2 Most likely what is meant if people say you "need additional software for editing" is that in Reaper, unlike many other DAWs, when you double-click on a WAV you don't bring up a special editing window, unless you have specified an external audio editing program (e.g. Soundforge). Those who regard this as a deficiency haven't realised that you can fulfil all your WAV editing needs simply by zooming right in on the main track window and doing all that stuff right there.
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I was totally unaware of this. Thanks Iguanadon
 
Funny how many first posters manage to get some sort of commercial linkage in their signature and then resurrect dead threads to thrill us with their viewpoint in the hope we'll click on the shit in their signature .... spamming troll.;)

Oh.. welcome aboard.
 
Armistice said:
Funny how many first posters manage to get some sort of commercial linkage in their signature and then resurrect dead threads to thrill us with their viewpoint in the hope we'll click on the shit in their signature .... spamming troll.;)

Oh.. welcome aboard.
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Yeah, this one is toast....
 
I'm glad the question was asked. I have just started to use Reaper. In one of the demo videos I found the guy recorded with Reaper but then used Audacity to edit tracks. I was wondering if that was necessary.
 
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