Not using Reaper is an issue in itself, there is no going around it. It’s important that any person considering of becoming an author and reading this thread understand it. However, let’s address things properly…

No one, at least no one I have ever read, implies that if you use this or that software you automatically can’t recognise a chord from a single note or a snare from a tom. The ability of a person to properly *chart* a song is not based on the software they use. There are excellent authors in this community who don’t use Reaper to chart and there are poor quality authors who only use Reaper. For what is worth I have personally said many times that authors should chart using what suits them better. If EOF provides better tools for you to transcribe a song there is no reason not to use it (unless you need time signatures different than */4, in which case EOF will produce spotty tempo maps).

However, *authoring* covers everything, from charting individual instruments to delivering a MIDI file that complies with RB3 rules. And this last part is what Reaper and the existing tools are for. Here are some things that even the average good FoF chart not worked in Reaper exhibits:

– Unquantized notes

– Improper sustains length (stubby sustains, sustains with no space before the following note, sustains with too little space, etc.)

– Improper tempo maps for songs with time signatures different than */4

Now, that’s an assessment purely based on software limitations. There are also procedure limitations, meaning that if you learned to work in Reaper you tend to properly tempo map, while if you use another software it means you don’t come from a RB3-friendly background and you’re more prone in example to tempo mapping using spikes to make the measures fit the tempo.

Again, being able to properly lay out notes does not depend on the software you use. The software you use however impacts on your ability to produce a properly compatible RB3 version, for which Reaper is essential: I don’t think I ever come across a song not gone through Reaper that properly complies with RB3 rules. Of course there are plenty of songs done in Reaper that don’t comply with the rules either, because as I said it’s not just about the software. But if you want to produce something that complies with RB3 rules fully, you need Reaper.

– Unquantized notes

– Improper sustains length (stubby sustains, sustains with no space before the following note, sustains with too little space, etc.)

– Improper tempo maps for songs with time signatures different than */4

I do get what you’re saying, but just for the sake of making a point, EOF can quantize notes (called “snap to grid”), fully supports all time signatures, and the sustain problem is with the charter themselves, not the program.

Songs done solely in EOF can completely comply with RB3 rules, easily. The only reason it’s commonly believed that it can’t, is because most charters that use EOF chart for FoF/PS exclusively, so they don’t add what’s needed to make it for RB3.

When in fact, EOF has full support for RB3 customs, that includes the beat track, events, etc. It even has the option to make RB3 specific files to compile in Magma.

With my last 13 customs (checked and counted), I didn’t even touch Reaper, yet people seem to enjoy them, as indicated by ratings and comments.

Of course, as you said, people should use what they’re comfortable with.

And I’m not trying to start an argument, but I’m just pointing out that EOF can make RB3 customs without Reaper.

And with that, have a nice day.