Cockos: REAPER Full 7.72 is Here [Windows]

📅 May 15, 2026
🎛️ Digital Audio Workstation
💻 Platform: Windows
🔄 v7.73 — Latest
📦 17 MB Installer
🎵 VST2 · VST3 · CLAP · LV2 · DX
🆓 60-Day Free Trial

Cockos REAPER is a complete, professional Digital Audio Workstation for Windows — one of the most powerful, efficient, and customizable DAWs ever created, trusted by home hobbyists and high-end professional studios alike. REAPER lets you import any audio and MIDI, synthesize, sample, compose, arrange, edit, mix, and master songs or any other audio project with a single application. What sets REAPER apart from every other DAW is its extraordinary combination of tiny installer size (just 17 MB — a hundred times smaller than some competitors), blazing fast startup, deep customizability, multi-format plugin support (VST2, VST3, CLAP, LV2, DX, JSFX), an included suite of 18 professional ReaPlugs, and one of the most active user communities in audio production. The latest version is v7.73 (May 15, 2026) — subtitled “Wag the DAW” — with major updates to sample editing, rendering, MIDI, razor edits, and track grouping on Windows.

💡 Quick Summary

Cockos REAPER Windows v7.73 (May 15, 2026) — Complete professional DAW. 17 MB installer. 60-day free evaluation. Windows XP through Windows 11 (32-bit + 64-bit + ARM64 beta). Plugin support: VST2, VST3, CLAP, LV2, DX, JSFX. 18 included ReaPlugs. Up to 128 channels per track. Up to 512 audio hardware I/O channels. ASIO + WASAPI + DirectSound. Élastique 3.3 Pro time stretch. Razor editing. Full automation. ReaScript (Lua/EEL/Python). SMPTE sync. Portable — runs from USB. No registration required for evaluation.

By the Numbers

MB Installer

ReaPlugs Included

128

Channels Per Track

512

Hardware I/O Channels

Day Free Trial

Pitch/Timestretch Engines

Key Features

🎙️

Record

Unlimited simultaneous recording inputs, multiple takes, overdub, punch in/out, loop recording, varispeed, direct to any format at any sample rate and bit depth on Windows.

🎛️

Produce

Drag and drop import, free mix of audio/MIDI/video on any track, nested folders, comping, razor editing, multiple project tabs — all in one window on Windows.

🔌

Plugin Support

VST2, VST3 (with ARA), CLAP, LV2, DX (Windows), JSFX — virtually every plugin format on one platform. Native 32-bit bridging in 64-bit on Windows.

🎚️

Full Automation

Complete automation recording, playback, and editing for all track controls and plugins — every parameter of every plugin fully automatable on Windows.

⏱️

Élastique 3.3 Pro

Industry-leading pitch shifting and time stretching with Élastique 3.3 Pro/Efficient/SOLOIST — with formant preservation and multichannel support on Windows.

✂️

Razor Editing

Powerful razor edit system for editing precise regions across multiple tracks and automation lanes simultaneously — with full group and folder support on Windows.

📜

ReaScript

Full scripting in Lua, EEL, or Python — create macros, automate workflows, build extensions, and develop custom tools with the integrated IDE on Windows.

🎬

Video Support

Full video decoding and encoding via FFmpeg, DirectShow, Windows Media Foundation — video track support with programmable processors on Windows.

📦

17 MB Installer

Tightly coded — 17 MB installer, installs in under a minute, runs from a USB stick, no bloat, no unnecessary files. Fast startup ready to record in seconds on Windows.

🎯

Render Engine

Render tracks, regions, and media items in any combination — thousands of files at once, custom wildcards, Region Render Matrix, LUFS normalization on Windows.

🎨

Deep Customization

Change colors, icons, toolbars, layouts, screensets — thousands of actions triggerable by keystrokes or controllers. Multiple themes available on Windows.

🔁

SMPTE Sync

Generate or synchronize SMPTE MTC, SMPTE LTC, MIDI Clock, ASIO Positioning Protocol — professional sync for studio and live environments on Windows.

18 Included ReaPlugs

ReaEQ

Unlimited multiband EQ

ReaComp

Highly configurable compressor

ReaXComp

Unlimited multiband compressor

ReaDelay

Unlimited multitap delay

ReaLimit

Brickwall limiter + maximizer

ReaPitch

Multivoice pitch shifting

ReaTune

Tuner + pitch correction

ReaVoice

MIDI multivoice pitch shifter

ReaFIR

FFT-based EQ + dynamics

ReaGate

Noise gate with MIDI trigger

ReaVerb

Convolution reverb engine

ReaVerbate

Algorithmic reverb

ReaVocode

Vocoder

ReaSynth

Basic synthesizer

ReaSamplOMatic

Flexible sample player

ReaSynDr

Drum synthesizer

ReaSurround

Spatial positioner

ReaSurroundPan

3D surround panner

Supported Plugin Formats — Windows

🎵 VST2
🎵 VST3 + ARA
🎵 CLAP
🎵 LV2
🎵 DX (Windows only)
🎵 JSFX
🍎 AU (macOS only)

What’s New — v7.73 “Wag the DAW”

🆕 REAPER v7.73 — May 15, 2026

Sample Edits

+ Action to delete sample edits or set to zero

+ Action to set sample edits to a straight line or interpolated curve

+ Sample edit scale dialog stays open while toggling playback

+ Support editing within razor edit bounds

Render

+ Auto-increment up to 100,000 files in a single render (up from 10,000)

+ Seek immediately on mouse click in render preview window

+ Fix .aif render settings readability

MIDI Editor

+ Actions to move/resize notes snapping to grid

+ Actions to move CC events left/right to grid

+ Action to shrink item to last event

Razor Edits

+ Preference to clear or preserve media item/envelope selection when creating razor edits

+ Minimum razor edit length reduced from 1ms to ~40μs

+ Grouped razor edits now supported on hidden tracks

Track Grouping

+ Auto-group folder/child tracks or folder sibling tracks as separate settings

JSFX

+ New MIDI Choke Group processor added

Windows

+ Reverted UTF-8 auto-hooking change from 7.70 that caused issues with extensions

System Requirements — Windows

Requirement	Details
Operating System	Windows XP / Vista / 7 / 8 / 10 / 11 (32-bit and 64-bit Intel/AMD)
ARM64	Windows 11 ARM64 — beta support (arm64ec)
Installer Size	17 MB (x64) · 16 MB (x86) · 13 MB (ARM64 beta)
Version	v7.73 — May 15, 2026 (latest)
Plugin Formats	VST2, VST3 (ARA), CLAP, LV2, DX, JSFX
Audio Systems	ASIO, WASAPI, DirectSound, Kernel Streaming, WaveOut
Max Channels/Track	128 individually routable channels
Max Hardware I/O	512 audio channels + 512 loopback channels
MIDI	128 input + 128 output hardware/loopback devices
Pitch/Timestretch	Élastique 3.3 Pro, SoundTouch, Rubber Band, and 4 more engines
Evaluation	Full 60-day free evaluation — no registration required
Portable	Runs from USB stick — no installation required
Also on	macOS 10.5–26.x (Intel + ARM64) · Linux (x86_64, i686, aarch64, armv7l)
Developer	Cockos Incorporated (reaper.fm)

Pros & Cons

✅ Pros

✓17 MB installer — fastest DAW to download and install
✓60-day full free evaluation — no registration needed
✓Works on Windows XP through Windows 11
✓VST2 + VST3 + CLAP + LV2 + DX + JSFX — all formats
✓18 professional ReaPlugs included free
✓Élastique 3.3 Pro time stretch + 6 more engines
✓128 channels per track, 512 hardware I/O
✓Fully portable — runs from USB, no install needed
✓ReaScript — full Lua/EEL/Python scripting
✓Razor editing — best razor edit system in any DAW
✓Rapid updates — v7.73 released May 2026
✓Very active user forum and community

⚠️ Cons

✗Default UI looks basic — requires theme customization
✗Steeper learning curve than Ableton or FL Studio
✗No built-in sample browser like competitors
✗MIDI editing less visual than dedicated tools

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Cockos REAPER for Windows? ▾

Cockos REAPER is a complete professional Digital Audio Workstation for Windows — the latest version is v7.73 (May 15, 2026), subtitled “Wag the DAW.” It supports unlimited simultaneous recording, full MIDI production, video, mixing, and mastering in a single 17 MB installer. Plugin formats supported on Windows include VST2, VST3 (with ARA support), CLAP, LV2, DX, and JSFX. Includes 18 professional ReaPlugs, Élastique 3.3 Pro time stretching, razor editing, full automation, ReaScript (Lua/EEL/Python), up to 128 channels per track, up to 512 hardware I/O channels, ASIO/WASAPI audio support, and SMPTE sync. Works on Windows XP through Windows 11 (32-bit, 64-bit, and ARM64 beta). Fully portable — runs from a USB stick. 60-day free evaluation, no registration required.

Why is REAPER’s installer only 17 MB? ▾

REAPER is one of the most tightly coded DAW applications ever made — its 17 MB installer is approximately one hundred times smaller than some competing DAW software. This is possible because Cockos built REAPER from the ground up with performance and efficiency as a core principle rather than bundling large third-party content libraries, samples, or loop packs inside the installer. Despite its small size, REAPER is a fully professional, complete DAW with 18 included ReaPlugs, hundreds of JSFX plugins, full plugin support for every format, and every feature a professional studio needs. The small size also means REAPER installs in under a minute and starts up in just a few seconds on Windows — significantly faster than larger DAWs.

What’s new in REAPER v7.73? ▾

REAPER v7.73 “Wag the DAW” was released May 15, 2026 with major updates across multiple areas. Sample editing gains new actions including deleting edits, setting to straight line or interpolated curve, editing within razor edit bounds, and scale dialog improvements. The render engine now supports auto-incrementing up to 100,000 files in a single render (up from 10,000). MIDI editor gains new grid-snapping actions for notes and CC events. Razor editing gets a minimum length reduction to ~40μs and support for grouped edits on hidden tracks. Track grouping adds auto-grouping of folder/child tracks as separate settings. JSFX adds a new MIDI Choke Group processor. On Windows specifically, the UTF-8 auto-hooking change from 7.70 that caused issues with various extensions has been reverted.

Can REAPER run portably from a USB stick on Windows? ▾

Yes — REAPER is fully portable on Windows. You can install REAPER to a USB stick or any removable media and run it on any Windows computer without needing to install it on that computer. All settings, themes, plugins, and project files can travel with the portable installation. This makes REAPER ideal for producers who work across multiple computers or studios — simply plug in your USB stick and your entire REAPER setup, including all settings and plugins you’ve configured, is available immediately on any Windows machine.

Download Cockos REAPER Windows full version — v7.73 “Wag the DAW”, 17 MB installer, 18 ReaPlugs, VST2/VST3/CLAP/LV2/DX, 60-day free evaluation!

Download REAPER Windows