Propellerhead Software • Reason
Analog synth, sampler, drum machine, ReCycle!-based loop player, mixer, effects, pattern sequencer, and more. As many of each as your computer can handle. All the power of hardware, but without the hassle. Forget tripping on cables. Reason doesn't need dusting. Picking up where you left off is as simple as turning the power on. When you save your work, your whole studio setup is stored along with your music.
In the following pages, we examine each of the Devices in the Reason Rack Studio. So click ahead to the next page for more about Reason!
- SubTractor Polyphonic Synthesizer - A monophonic/polyphonic analog synthesizer capable of thick bass, screamin' synth leads and lucious pads and textures.
- NN-19 Digital Sampler - A full featured Sample player for loading up and playing your own WAV or AIFF samples, loops, and more.
- ReDrum - Based on the classic drum machines but with all the features and conveniences of modern drum machines.
- Dr:rex Loop Player - Load up samples, slice and dice them, and more. Use this to lock any drum/rhytmic loop of any tempo into your sequence, or rearrange it completely.
- Matrix Analog Pattern Sequencer - Based on the simplicity of classic analog sequencers, use this to create TB303-like loop patterns for the synth or sampler modules.
- ReMix, Midi, ReBirth Interfaces - Reason's flexible and full featured interfaces and Mixer sections.
- Effects Devices - A whole lotta effects, choruses, delays, distortion, EQ, reverb, compressors, envelope followers, and more.
- New Devices in Version 2.0 - The Malstrom Graintable Synthesizer and the new NN-XT Advanced Digital Sampler are introduced in v2.0.
- New Devices in Version 2.5 - RV7000 Advanced Reverb, BV512 Vocoder, UN-16 Unison, Spider CV and Audio Merger & Spliters.
- Sequencer and Transport Controls
- Rear View
I recently started using VST synths (eg. GForce Minimonsta, which is a very very serious and fat synth) but yesterday I revisited one of my tracks which I did with Thor and I was just amazed by Thor's punchiness, low end roundness, biting highs and the overall organic quality of the sound.
Like I said, MODULATE the bastard and it will keep you smiling.
Reason is a MUST HAVE software if you are just getting into electronic music! Its very simple to use, and your possibilities are endless.
The only downside is that (as of version 4) you cannot record vocals into it.....yet...)
The rewire feature however makes up for it because this allows you to open Reason as an istrument in another host program.
(ie; Cubase)
ALSO: Owners of REASON might want to consider the Korg Kontrol49 or the Korg Microkontrol as these midi controllers are ideal with Reason because they have parameter display's and controls that sync up with reason and the LED display's change as you change instruments...SWEET!!!
The Thor is an improvement in the overall sound dept. It is deep although there are still presets I dont like. Some of the Maelstrom sounds are cool, and many are intolerable digital rasp. Its not a replacement for a really sweet keyboard, but midi'd to a keyboard, its cool.
I find the sequencer very unpleasant ergonomically. I prefer to Rewire it into Live and this much happier. Even exporting samples (very easy) and then using them in Live is preferable. Whether Live's purchasable sample libraries are adequate to skip Reason I dont know. The Redrum drum machine is pretty decent, with a lot of detailed control. The reverbs in Reason are good and the mastering suite is better than many. We'll see what comes next. This program desperately needs autoquantize as found in Live.