I have Cubase SX2 but I just tried Reaper and.....

Yes, a good comparison Lawrence. I'd also underline Curve's and Ted's args here. MIDI-wise Reaper has much to learn yet. -Data

for the menu's lacking.... think a command and go to action list, search, got it you quite don't need any menu/icon/whatever

Lawrence, I have to add to your impartial post. Reaper has no dongle. Cubase uses a dongle manufactured by a third party company, so if there is a problem with the software which allows the dongle to control the licencing of Cubase you may run into problems. Multiple instances of Reaper can be routed to each other, so on XP64 you can run ReaperX64 and Reaper-32bit and use the 32 bit version to host your 32bit VST plugins. I must admit I haven't used SX3 for some time, so I'm not quite sure how Cubase handles this.

Basic pitching/stretching is similar in both but there are some practical differences in use. For example, if I set a Cubase project to F, I can drag in clips/loops in the key of D, E, A etc, and it pitches them to F automatically. You don't have to do anything. There are some advantages to working against standard musical references. If the daw knows where and what you are (clip key and tempo) and where you want to be (project key & tempo) it can take over and pitch and stretch for you by itself. So in those cases the key modifiers/methods don't enter into it. Cubase does this in musical context before import during preview which is a huge time saver when you're auditioning multiple loops. Just a little more mature in some ways like that.

just a little FYI... 

I hope this is not "thread hijacking", as this is my first post, and I certainly don't want to get off on the wrong foot here with you Reaper vets, as I know I'll be needing your help. The reason I posted in this thread though, is that my issue almosts mirrors the thread author. I too, have Cubase now, and for the limited(at least for now)things that I want to do; I find Cbase just too difficult. I have SX1.03, and that's money long gone, so I'm not to concerned with the lost money. My questions are more midi related. I've been recording audio now for almost 6 years. I've never really done much more than just multitrack guitar parts, and mix them down. I have never opened the door on midi, but I just bought myself a new Roland Juno-G for Christmas, and even though I have been able to record some midi in cbase(the actual syth sounds; not vsti's); it's been a laborious task. I read here about Reaper not being quite the midi DAW that Cbase is( I think I recall it being phrased like that), but will it record, and mixdown just basic 1 track at a time stuff easier than Cbase? I also have an EMU 1212m sound card, and the Patchmix app is complex enough on it's on. Does anyone know if there are any know problems with Reaper, and the EMU cards? These are great cards but the virtual routing is harder to understand for me than the old analog stuff. I'd like to be able to use the Roland as a synth(hardware), and also as just a controller. Thank you for any help or answers you provide. I've been playing for 46 years now, but some of this DAW stuff is just hard for me to figure out. John Sr. hemmick reef, I apologize if I've hijacked your thread. John

I recieved a copy of Cubase LE4 when I purchased Guitar Rig 3 Session. I could never get the dang thing installed so I just gave up with it. Way to complicated installation from Steinberg.