Reaper
Digital audio workstation (DAW) for recording, editing and mixing audio.
HN commenters use Reaper as their main DAW123 and value its Linux support45 and generous try-before-you-buy license.6 Caveats are that overdubbing with take lanes gets cumbersome7 and that it is paid software, not free as some assume.89
Why people recommend it
Linux support · 3
Runs on Linux as a commercial DAW, including via Flatpak or Wine.
“bitwig, renoise and reaper all support linux for those who want or need commercial audio applications on linux”
“I use Flatpaks to install many GUI apps, such as FreeCAD, KiCad, Darktable, Steam, Reaper, and a lot more.”
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“using the (now obsolete?) Non DAW or Reaper via Wine”
Main DAW · 3
Commenters name it their DAW of choice and use it for most audio work.
“REAPER - daw of choice”
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“a few open source applications that are already perfect (and free) like Reaper (DAW)”
Generous trial · 1
Its try-before-you-buy license lets people use it before paying.
“you should reward them by paying $40 if you use it and decide it is a tool you want to continue to use!”
Caveats and dissent
Overdub workflow · 1
Overdubbing gets cumbersome as take lanes take up space and routing grows complicated.
“For the overdub thing, Reaper is the closest it gets, but it easily becomes super cumbersome.”
Not free · 2
It needs a paid license after the trial, though some assume it is free.
“you should reward them by paying $40 if you use it and decide it is a tool you want to continue to use!”
“a few open source applications that are already perfect (and free) like Reaper (DAW)”
Quick voice clips · 1
One user finds Audacity less hassle for recording quick voice clips.
Often compared with
Threads where it came up
- Audacity 4.0 2 mentions
- Anyone Can Build an App Now, but Who Is Going to Pay for It? 1 mention
- Show HN: WaveLoop – A destructive-first looper suite I built in 8 days 1 mention
- Native Linux VST plugin directory 1 mention
- 2026 will be my year of the Linux desktop 1 mention
- Ask HN: What Is Your 2026 Personal Software Stack? 1 mention
Also written as REAPER. Data: reaper.json. Quotes are verbatim; the verdict and theme labels are written by a model from these comments, and every clause links to its sources.
All comments 8
“a few open source applications that are already perfect (and free) like Reaper (DAW)”
“you should reward them by paying $40 if you use it and decide it is a tool you want to continue to use!”
“I use REAPER for most things”
“For the overdub thing, Reaper is the closest it gets, but it easily becomes super cumbersome.”
“bitwig, renoise and reaper all support linux for those who want or need commercial audio applications on linux”
“I use Flatpaks to install many GUI apps, such as FreeCAD, KiCad, Darktable, Steam, Reaper, and a lot more.”
“REAPER - daw of choice”
“using the (now obsolete?) Non DAW or Reaper via Wine”