Record: New DAW from Propellerheads

[bendedavis]

I keep wondering what their reason is for only letting you import one audio file at a time? Thought I might like to try mixing in this, but after importing 20+ tracks one at a time I'm thinking of giving up.

+1

You still can't do this in RC4? I haven't tried the last few builds

[koalaboy]

Overall, my opinion is that it looks quite nice, it's pretty tight so far as coding/bugs are concerned (even in early beta) and is a worthy addition to the propellerheads way of doing things...

However, for my way of working (and I suspect, many others) it's way behind the curve in terms of flexibility and customisation, doesn't integrate well at all and doesn't really actually offer anything other than fixing a few wishes with respect to Reason. Unfortunately it doesn't address most of my problems with Reason, and therefore won't be on my shopping list.

I also realise though, that it's allegedly not aimed at people like me. I'm not sure it would convince my (currently) Audacity using friend either, as he'd just find it more complicated for little (from his point of view) actual gain - I mean, he's happy using my old Akai DPS12 at the moment, even with a broken backlight - but I'm sure there's a market for it, if only amongst the diehard reason users.

Hopefully, none of that will read as me being biased - I have the greatest respect for the props and what they do - we just don't agree on what makes usable software

[SimSam]

You still can't do this in RC4? I haven't tried the last few builds.

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Nope. I'm using RC4.

[Dogboy73]

They could just as easily have upgraded the old mixer, added the master bus compressor as a new device, and brought the audio track/device and other sequencer improvements into Reason 5.

Agreed. I'm a huge Reason fan but I'm struggling to find much in Record that would make it worth while. Record is lacking features my current sequencer has. It doesn't actually offer anything worth buying it for over that. And given how intuitive & well laid out Reason is, well, Record is just a cluttered mess by comparison. 'Recording for musicians not not engineers'? Musicians won't know what the f**k they are doing with Record! It's a bloody mess!

[X-Soul]

I think I will forgot soon what Cubase\VST is after Record + Reason usage. Almost perfect tool for pure software music creation. Great sound in right hands, inspiring gui, amazing workflow. What else do you need?

[koolkeys]

I think I will forgot soon what Cubase\VST is after Record + Reason usage. Almost perfect tool for pure software music creation. Great sound in right hands, inspiring gui, amazing workflow. What else do you need?

VST Support. Among other things. No way that this replaces Cubase. Maybe for some people, but there is no comparison in functionality.

But seriously, without VST support, there is no way I would use the combo exclusively. YMMV.

Oh, and I still think Record is an ergonomics mess. Again, YMMV.

Brent

[X-Soul]

VST Support. Among other things.

VST? What for? Reason have great synths and full set of good fx'es. I use vst more rarily now and fastly moving towards Reason fx'es.

No way that this replaces Cubase. Maybe for some people, but there is no comparison in functionality.

What, you heavily use score editor there?

And the biggest decision on choosing the Reason over Cubase is that its inspires me, comparing to zero inspiration in Cubase. Even worse, Cubase is a place of boredom for me now after few years of using it.

[tenshin111]

Oh, and I still think Record is an ergonomics mess. Again, YMMV.

Brent

I agree 100%. As much as I love Reason and its workflow Record is a nightmare. I really wanted to love this piece of software but I can't. It kills creativity completely. And it's barely usable (unless you've got two big screens and a magnifying glass - haven't tried this combination yet...).

[koolkeys]

VST Support. Among other things.

VST? What for? Reason have great synths and full set of good fx'es. I use vst more rarily now and fastly moving towards Reason fx'es.

But not exhaustive by FAR. Sorry, but Reason does NOT offer a comprehensive toolset for most productions. It's VERY good for creative moments and getting good ideas. I used it to create one of my favorite riffs that I've never done. But the included tools are not at the quality of many external VST instruments and effects, and they don't cover all the ground either. I like Reason, and have nothing against it. And for YOU, it may be perfectly fine and have all that you need. But there is so much that it lacks, even with Record.

No way that this replaces Cubase. Maybe for some people, but there is no comparison in functionality.

What, you heavily use score editor there?

Since they introduced VST Expression, yes. Now, I don't use it for score printing. I have Finale for that.

But the score editor is only one single thing out of many that Cubase can do that Reason can't. Whether or not you need these things, that's up to you.

I'm not saying that I expect Reason to replace Cubase, or that Reason isn't enough to make music with. But it can NOT replace Cubase as a whole. That's a fact.

And the biggest decision on choosing the Reason over Cubase is that its inspires me, comparing to zero inspiration in Cubase. Even worse, Cubase is a place of boredom for me now after few years of using it.

I agree with Reason being good for inspiration. But I disagree about Cubase being a place of boredom. Cubase has a LOT of tools for creativity and for getting ideas down fast. Is it more or less "inspiring" than Reason? Depends on the person.

I get a lot done in Cubase, and so do many others. But my main point was that you can't replace Cubase with Reason as a whole. If you don't NEED all the features, then you might be able to.

I don't dislike Reason. I think it is great. I do think that Record is still a mess, and is not a friendly environment even for what it's intended for. It's so much easier to knock down a few tracks in almost every host out there than to fiddle with Record, IMO.

Oh, and YMMV. In case anyone missed it.

Brent

[headquest]

I think I will forgot soon what Cubase\VST is after Record + Reason usage. Almost perfect tool for pure software music creation. Great sound in right hands, inspiring gui, amazing workflow. What else do you need?

Crikey... where to start!

+ Audio editing - even most basic features missing from Record
+ MIDI output for my synths/keys
+ Far better MIDI tools...
+ ...including Staff notation
+ Actual control of the file management system
+ Batch file import
+ Proper GM compatibility
+ More creative effects, e.g. glitch type stuff, decent auto-filter, etc
+ Pitch correction for vocals/etc - a basic effect missing from Reason/Record
+ Convolution Reverb
+ Timing correction (audio)
+ Groove quantise for audio
+ Something comparable to the "VST expression" for using decent sample libraries...
+ Ability to tempo match audio files/loops
+ Group Tracks, Folders, Busses
+ Wider range of software instruments
+ Video support
+ MP3 encoding and better file support

To be honest this is just the start of an absolutely huge list of stuff that Cubase (and other programmes) can do which Record just can't.

I'm happy that you don't need/want any of this stuff at all - good for you. But the fact remains that Record + Reason + ReCycle costs a whole lot more than the top end versions of Cubase or Logic. And its a combination that may have a bit of sexy appeal (at least for the next few months)... but once that werars off you'll be left with a pile of software that struggles to cope with basic music production needs in the 21st century.

[X-Soul]

Sorry, but Reason does NOT offer a comprehensive toolset for most productions.

Really? I have an opposite opinion. It have all essential stuff for electronic music production.

But the included tools are not at the quality of many external VST instruments and effects, and they don't cover all the ground either.

Yeah, Reason fxes isnt top notch quality, as the best vst's out there, but they're good enough to make great sounding track anyway. Why need more? I comparing my pro stuff maded with Cubase and first track maded with Reason 4 and dont hear the difference in quality. Btw, i'm good at sound engineering and have 11 years experience overall.

If you don't NEED all the features, then you might be able to.

Yes, i dont need many of them. And most of them just gives better comfort and quicker job done. Not a big loss.

+ MIDI output for my synths/keys

Well yeah, thats the problem when you have some hardware synths and fx'es. I'm on pure software anyway, except midi keys.

+ More creative effects, e.g. glitch type stuff, decent auto-filter, etc

Hmm, its hard for you make some glitch sounds with reason synths? or make auto filter with matrix device?

Other features just isnt important. And what Reason have that all vst hosts just fails to deliver - unlimited signal routing possibilities.

[koolkeys]

I think it's obvious now that your needs are more basic and your workflow preferences are just very different than those who run studios, recording bands, working heavily with MIDI, etc.

Reason can't replace Cubase though. It may meet your needs, but it can't even begin to do all that Cubase can do. That's a fact.

But anyways, your needs are more basic and Reason is enough for you. For myself and plenty of others, that just isn't the case.

And experience has nothing to do with it. Many people here, myself included, have many years of experience. It's irrelevant here.

Brent

[X-Soul]

But anyways, your needs are more basic and Reason is enough for you. For myself and plenty of others, that just isn't the case.

But Reason have almost everything for all music/sound ideas realisation, isnt it?

[koolkeys]

But anyways, your needs are more basic and Reason is enough for you. For myself and plenty of others, that just isn't the case.

But Reason have almost everything for all music/sound ideas realisation, isnt it?

No, not even close. For one, not all synth types are reprensented. Not all types of effects are there. Audio editing is not there in any form(and Record does almost nothing except very very basic editing). The MIDI tools that exist in hosts like Cubase aren't there. The sample collection is severely lacking compared to what else is out there.

There is SO MUCH that is not there. It's not just things to make work easier or faster, but things to manipulate the sound as well as creating the sound.

Again, Reason is a great closed environment that is great for getting some cool ideas and instrumental tracks together. But it's not complete, not by any stretch. There is a TON of sound potential that it doesn't reach into. If you don't need those things, great. Reason may be for you and nothing else needed. But there is a reason why studios of all sizes aren't working in Reason exclusively. There is just so much that isn't there. Why do you think so many people ReWire it to their main host?

Brent

[X-Soul]

For one, not all synth types are reprensented.

Reason have graintable, subtractive, fm, phase distortion, sampling, hypersampling, wavetable, waveshaping. How much do we miss then? Physical modelling, additive and granular - most of commercial musicians use them, huh?

Not all types of effects are there

Which ones? You know you can recreate alot of missed fx'es there with combinator. Multiband compression for example - easily.

Audio editing is not there in any form(and Record does almost nothing except very very basic editing). The MIDI tools that exist in hosts like Cubase aren't there.

It limits reason in sound possibilities somehow? You cant make Tchaikovskiy/Beethoven/Bach (put any other great composer) arrangement there? It impossible to make a real sound masterpiece there? This is a rhetorical questions.

Why do you think so many people ReWire it to their main host?

To use audio tracks and use some little better quality vsts/ their daw sequencer is more handy for them/hardware/big studio which handles many projects from different artists.

There is SO MUCH that is not there. It's not just things to make work easier or faster, but things to manipulate the sound as well as creating the sound. ... There is a TON of sound potential that it doesn't reach into.

Really a ton? Maybe 1-5% if to be realistic? Which can be compencated with good sampling libraries or some smart device routing. Maybe its easier to think for you that Reason is limited in sound, because you cannot accept it or you just wont think that you can be wrong? I agree tho that it lacks features for a big studio integration. But lacks only a little (few synth types and audio recording which Record delivers) in individual studio based on soft synthesis only.