Cockos Reaper

[rhythmtech]

http://reaper.fm/


REAPER is reasonably priced, requires no dongle, has no copy protection, and can be evaluated with full functionality.

• 64 bit audio engine and signal path end-to-end
• Excellent low-latency single and multiprocessor performance and stability
• Built-in high quality 64 bit audio effects include unlimited multiband EQ and compressor, oversampling technical compressor, convolution reverb engine, real-time pitch correction, and a dozen others
• Portable - supports running from USB keys or other removable media
• Supports almost any audio interface or outboard hardware, most control surfaces
• Tightly coded - installer is only a few MB
• Rapid, efficient development - new features and optimizations are added quickly and often

Have to say that this is an amazing piece of software. everyone should at least evaluate it, if not buy it.

im using it for my mixdowns at the moment and A/B testing against pro-tools m-powered. so far reaper seems to be winning out. it wont be replacing sx for composition as im not convinced of the midi but as a mix tool its amazing.

pros
crystal audio engine
very low cpu usage (even packed full of waves plug-ins)
skinable (might seem like nothing but what you're looking at can make a huge differance to how things sound)
price!!! (a big FU to steinberg and the likes)
bundled plug-ins are simple yet very very usable.

cons
midi implementation is still somewhat lacking
few bugs need ironing out (although they are releasing free updates almost once a month)

go to the link above for a free (no time limit or restrictions) trial.


heres a couple screen shots using my own custom skin.

Sequencer area with custom colour/faders & buttons


custom console view spread over 2 screens


seriously guys, this is the f'in business.

[loopdon]

This surely is becoming a very serious competitor to the more established daws - and all this at the speed of light and at a fraction of the cost. I really plan to get into this daw

[herman]

Very buggy on OS X or I would give it a go. But your right anyone on Windows who is looking for an audio based DAW it's a good place to start looking.

[Jay Pace]

$50?!?

Thats pretty impressive. Been meaning to migrate from cubase for yonks.

Installing now.

[Elvio Neto]

i think i talked about this daw a few months ago

its a very good daw , complete and powerfull

doenst have demo limitations (only a warning screen after 30 days of usage)

this daw is made by the creator of the famous WINAMP (he sell the winamp to yahoo and started the REAPER project)

[Electrictribe]

looks interesting may give it a go.