"digidesign and ProTools, it's time to die" – Grim Reaper

Recording software: Music industry and studios take note!

Isnt it funny when certain items, software, guitars, shoes, clothes, anything really become what is known as ‘the industry standard’. I find this term and phenomenon totally bi-polar, it’s either perfectly warranted and the item is by far and away the leader of the pack, OR it’s almost completely bamboozling, where it almost seems as though the only reason it occupies the top spot is due to critical mass… and mass attracts mass, right? So, in saying this… Pro Tools. What is up with digidesign? I mean, can anyone tell me why the industry standard in software and hardware continue to use cheap components, design and manufacture in their products? Why is it that the software is limited in it’s uses compared to some others? Why? Why? Don’t get me wrong, we use it at the sitting room, we have it but the more and more I use it the more I think that the only reason it is here is because joe public always asks ‘do you have Protools?’. Within the last 3 years I have almost done a full 180 regarding ‘the tools’ (I would say I am at 175 right now). I used to be the biggest poster boy for protools, always the first to dismiss anyone’s  claims that there was something else out there that was better, or faster, or cheaper, or more stable…until….Until I was introduced to Reaper.

Reaper has been on the scene for about 4 or 5 years now and is the brain child of Justin Frankel (the guy who made winamp and then sold it). He was sick of the same limiting things I was about ‘other’ multi track audio editing software on the market. So he made one himself. A fraction of the footprint size of protools, the reaper installer file is tiny and can be run off a USB drive. It’s simple, it’s fast, it’s stable, it’s unlimited, it’s customisable, it’s cheap… like REALLY cheap, it allows you to use ANY hardware with it, but best of all the developers are DAILY refining it, asking users for ideas and feedback, implementing changes and you know what? All of these updates… for ever… and ever… are FREE.
Dare I say it, but I think protools (digidesign) better keep a close eye on the underdog here before it sneaks up and gives them a very large, long overdue bite on the bum.

Snapshot of REAPER in action

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Tagged as: Bands, mixing, recording