I own Reason 2.0, and the b'n'b sounds (the generic instrument samples) included are okaayyyy...but I'm wondering how they compare w/ Sample Tank/Sonic Synth's?

If you own both, please shed some light on this.

Thanks in advance.

Well, I don't own Reason but I can confidently say that the SonicSynth sounds are definately above OK! The pianos are full of life and character, the Rhodes are smoother than a baby's bottom, the guitars (both accoustic and electric) are very well thought out and dynamic, pads are gorgeous, strings are heavenly, ethnic sounds are varied and useful, chromatic perc is nice and I especially like the vibes (despite small size), drums are quite varied and will fit many genres, and as for the rest (this thread getting too long) is generally high class stuff!

Created the sound designers of the Alesis QS range of keyboards. I've heard a QS6 and that sounds real nice even with it's small amount of sample ROM. My 0.02c.

Thanks for the quick reply. Actually, some of Reason 2.0's included sounds are great...but some are sub-par. I've listened to the sample mp3's at the Sonic Reality site, but I can never really get "a good picture" with those things.

I'll have to think about this one.....

I can't recommend sonic synth enough (And the Erom expansions). I did a piece for last months competition here and a lot of folks thought the piano was real (and considering I can't actually play one at all that says an awful lot for the Piano erom).

Seriously if you're having doubts check out the Sonic Synth reviews, and all the threads similar to this one about Sonic Synths quality. SS users like myself love these sounds and with good reason. As far as bread and butter goes SS is your best bet by far.

dezai,

for some orchestral instruments the Reason 2 Orkester set is pretty good but the Sonic Synth sounds are much better than most everything else in terms of realistic emulations and workstation kind of sounds.

Reason soundbank is pretty good, Sonic Synth is way better. I think there is a refill version of Sonic Synth for Reason but I havent heard it yet. I'm sure its good, you should check it out @ SonicReality.com

Thanks guys. This has got to be one of the more civilized and helpful music forums around. I really like this place.

Anyway, looks like I better save up some dough.

dezai, hang around here and you suddenly realise just how mental everyone here really is

Seriously though, SS is really wonderful and is definitely worth saving up for.

Michael

welcome to the forum......reason and sonic synth can't even be compared.....sonic synth is where its at

The good news is that you can also have your cake, bread and butter (and eat it too- although the discs are a little hard to chew... I know that was only marginally funny BTW).

You can pick up "Sonic Refill" in about a week or two and that will give you some bread & butter for your Reason 2. It's only $179. Sonic Synth is $299. but you can actually get both Sonic Synth AND Sonic Refill (so you can have both Sampletank LE to run in Cubase etc. AND have a sound set designed for Reason as well) for only $399. for both. Or, you can upgrade from one to the other. So, if you owned Sonic Synth first you can get (for a limited time- til the end of the year) Sonic Refill for just $100. as an upgrade. You can also start from the Refill and upgrade to Sonic Synth. You'd have to email me to do that (dave@sonicreality.com) until our web site- www.esoundz.com has these bundles and upgrades implemented (which should be this week or next week).

The Sonic Refill however interestingly also has Rex files, Malstrom patches, Subtractor patches and other goodies in addition to the NNXT stuff (about 1.2 gigs of NNXT samples). You also get "init banks" of just the raw multisamples so you can start from scratch and do your own programming. It's going to be very cool. Similar to Sonic Synth in some ways but very different in others.

For me, there is no question. Sonic Synth is miles better than Reason. When the Sonic Refill comes out, you'll be able to tweak them with the familiar Reason interface, as well. However, it's a choice you do not make, as Reason certainly has it's own desirable qualities and you can ReWire it into whatever host you might be running Sonic Synth in...

Well...I'm NOT trying to start any wars here, but I'm finding that uhhhhhhhhhhh the Refill format and Reason in general do not have the same sound quality as vstis. *cringe* I don't know if its the 32 bit architecture of Cubase or some kind of compression that is inherent in Reason/Refills or what. Maybe it's psychological???

I've heard of people doing all kinds of scientific tests w/ graphs and numbers and shtuff, but to my plain-o-ears, there seems to be a qualitative difference between the sound of Reason's modules and vstis. AGGHGHGHHGH...but again, I'm NOT trying to start any wars. Reason's cool for what it is....but I'm starting to get into vsti's a lot more (that's why I'm coming here now!).

Thanks for the help, people. Im gonna save up for SoSyn by eating only bread and butter....maybe not so much butter though.

edit: Now I'm confused, cause they're coming out with Sonic Station. Seems to be more tweakability in that? Omg. There's too many options these days.

dezai wrote:

Well...I'm NOT trying to start any wars here, but I'm finding that uhhhhhhhhhhh the Refill format and Reason in general do not have the same sound quality as vstis. *cringe* I don't know if its the 32 bit architecture of Cubase or some kind of compression that is inherent in Reason/Refills or what. Maybe it's psychological??? I've heard of people doing all kinds of scientific tests w/ graphs and numbers and shtuff, but to my plain-o-ears, there seems to be a qualitative difference between the sound of Reason's modules and vstis. AGGHGHGHHGH...but again, I'm NOT trying to start any wars. Reason's cool for what it is....but I'm starting to get into vsti's a lot more (that's why I'm coming here now!). Thanks for the help, people. Im gonna save up for SoSyn by eating only bread and butter....maybe not so much butter though. edit: Now I'm confused, cause they're coming out with Sonic Station. Seems to be more tweakability in that? Omg. There's too many options these days.

Sonic Refill is 1.2 gigs or so. Incidentally, there will be a way for you to test the quality of Reason directly with other software samplers. One of the interesting things about Sonic Refill and Sonic Station are that Sonic Refill is the same as the first two discs of Sonic Station (Sonic Station also has another disc with some larger instruments too). While Sonic Refill will be in just Reason format and specifically packed into a Refill, Sonic Station will be multi-format compatible from the same package with AIFFS being referenced by Kontakt, HALion, EXS24, Samplecell and yes even raw NNXT withOUT it being packed into a refill. Talk about the ultimate comparison material! You'd have every type of instrument to compare how it sounds in Reason either packed in a refill or not and then what those raw samples sound like in every other format. I am sure there will be some of you that will want to do some shootouts having that at hand. Then you will know if it is psychological or the truth.

dezai, I have to agree with Scot that Reason 2 doesn't hold up to a good VSTi with Sonic Synth. I don't know what the Sonic Synth refill will sound like but Squids has a great track record and I'm more than interested to hear what he's doing with Maelstrom.

Reason is good for what it does. There have been dozens of debates here and elsewhere about whether it sounds as good as an open system. I'm on the side of open systems but use Reason 2 quite a bit.

If you are inspired, if you enjoy it then whatever you use and however you make music is the right way.

Reason can sound REALLY good depending on what you do with it. It would be nice if it had more options of I/O besides just Rewire (or maybe update and enhance Rewire). I think the effects could be better. But, the sound of Mälstrom (how much do I ROCK for doing the ä??? just kidding) is really good. NNXT sounds very good too. I will have a better direct comparison when we are done with Sonic Station though but Sonic Refill is almost done and it sounds awesome.

Although Sonic Synth in Sampletank has a stronger sound with ST's filter (which is really liquidy and fat) and of course the wonderful DSP it has. It's mainly just different which is why having both is nice. But, Reason is just FUN to work in and quick too. I know a lot of people who like to use both. I was just talking about it tonight with a touring pro musician from a famous band that I won't bother naming (for once! I am a name-dropping beeeoch 90% of the time!!!). Anyway, he was telling me that he uses Protools LE sometimes but also Reason 2 on his Powerbook when he's on the road. A hidden value is HOW it helps you write and not necessarily the exact quality comparison to other things. Of course, this musician has Sonic Synth running in Protools and was excited about getting Sonic Refill for Reason too. It's nice actually to be able to switch programs but still have native programmed Sonic Reality pianos, strings, guitars, pads, drums etc. available to work with. That's something only a few companies do... support multiple formats that is.

Sorry, Malström. Here I was bragging about my ä and I was wrong. Well, a lot of people say Maelstrom. That's not right... right? I love this synth but is it me or does it look like a fancy Lager or Pub sign? (That Cat & Malström).

Sqüïds.

Thanks, Squids, for bringing some dots to the forum – makes me feel right at home.

I'm glad to report I'm joining the party - just ordered my Sonic Synth.

/Yössäriån

Yö!

A Möose once bit my sister...

It seems like 'squids' has diplomatically sidestepped the nn-xt
quality issue while further promoting sonic synth and its Reason
cousin. (pretty slick)

Question for Dave or others: without l having to go on record as
to the quality of Reason--how would you proceed if asked to determine
the relative quality of Reason? I think there is a funkiness about Reason
beyound its obvious gain issues--Although functionally redrum is
IMO the best drum sampler--it seems to introduce a grainy sonic
artifact. NN-19 and nn-xt seem ok. Dr. Rex seems the most problematic.
I seldom use the synths. Overall, I think fruity sounds much better.