Reason 8 - Official

[samplemania]

Even if there would a be "free" device as add on with the release in september this update is kind of frustrating.

Beside the browser - a standard in nearly all current daws - there is nothing really new.
Double click to add a note as workflow enhancement...

[sin night]

I upgraded from 4 to 7 at mid of last june, because I needed a sampler to use with Cubase at 64 bit (using a different slave machine just for Reason was not for me) and I just figured out that it was the cheapest solution.
I was waiting to see Sampletank 3 new features, but it wasn't what I needed, so I spent my money on Reason 7.

Then, less than two month after my purchase, a new version has been announced. I knew that a new version was probably due soon (it was about time, based on the few last Propellerheads releases) when I upgraded and I consciously accepted that, still I'm feeling a little bit pissed.



Reason 8 new features doesn't excite me and I'm not going to upgrade soon. I understand asking money for the workflow improvements (I think that's a classic in the software world... and it may take a lot of work, so I'm ok with that, though some of the "new features" are totally forgranted nowadays), still I find it hard to pay just for the workflow enhancements and the new amp models, I really hope there's more than that.

[aMUSEd]

They could at least create a new Reson8or effect

[jacqueslacouth]

gone

[spirit]

Ugh! That promo video is a awful. Full of hipsters and stock video models.

[stroker_ace]

Actually, they're back in the black and in a pretty big way. 2010 was their previous profitable year and 2013 more than tripled that performance, possibly their best year yet.

The 2013 profit doesn't come close to making up for the loss from 2011-2012. They are skating on thin financial ice no matter how you slice it.



Source: http://www.solidinfo.se/foretag/propell ... 43/ekonomi

I think the constant fleecing/milking of their user-base is another clear indicator that they're not doing well. Every year they've got their hand out!

The almost complete lack of big name rack extension developers is another bad sign. Where's the rush to create rack extensions? Wouldn't companies be lining up to develop them if Reason was doing well?

Of course they would.

The only thing that's currently holding up the shop are little homegrown utilities, effects, and instruments from members of their user-base. They're actually getting their own users to provide content for them.........while they take a 30% cut!

I must admit, that is kind of brilliant.

Also, I suppose Propellerheads should be applauded for getting this far; they've strung out providing extremely basic, "should already be part of the package" features over the last five years, charging a premium for them every step of the way.

the ability to the record audio in 2009

the ability to use (proprietary and non-transferable) third-party plug-ins in 2012

MIDI out in 2013 (which isn't something you do if rack extensions had taken off, is it?)

and now: an updated browser

If a customer upgraded each time these "should have been included from the jump, or at the very least, should have been free when they eventually were included" features became available, it would have cost them over $350.

When compared to all the other DAW options out there, Reason is the great music-making software swindle.

It's the worst deal out there, by far.

And I suspect at least some of the Props fan-boys are Props employees, or are at least getting some sort of payola for their efforts.

They should be, because, ironically, you pretty much have to abandon reason to defend/champion it.

[loungepanda]

I know it's not a fair comparison, but still....I guess the real irony is that they're targeting the Apple-type-hipster demographic by selling a DAW with less features at twice the price of what Logic Pro X costs.

[festeringheap]

because, ironically, you pretty much have to abandon reason to defend/champion it.

Lol! Very funny
(Coming from a long time Reason defender)

[Numanoid]

the ability to the record audio in 2009

the ability to use (proprietary and non-transferable) third-party plug-ins in 2012

MIDI out in 2013 (which isn't something you do if rack extensions had taken off, is it?)

and now: an updated browser

Obviously the path is laid: Next they will [tan-tra-ta]enable VST plugs[/tan-tra-ta]

That would be very innovative now wouldn't it

[Numanoid]

For me, I really think it is time they updated the synths. I know that some will say you CAN get a good sound out of them with the right combinators, but c'mon….look at the alternatives in sheer sound quality in the VST world, DIVA, Blue 2, Monarch, Dune 2, Omnisphere….etc…. Malstrom, Subtractor and even Thor need to be version 2 releases.

+1 At least include some new patches for their synths

[bharris22]

I would have paid for this upgrade if they simply would have allowed Reason to act as a Rewire master - that would solve the VST issue.

[neverenoughfunk]

I would have paid for this upgrade if they simply would have allowed Reason to act as a Rewire master - that would solve the VST issue.

i do not think that will ever happen... because that would kill the Rack Extension market... the last acronym Propellerheads want to hear is VST!!!

[bmrzycki]

And about the new RE's, I have been fascinated with how much of what is released can be done already with some creative patching in Reason 4. At the same time, the fascination users seems to have of some of the RE's makes me wonder if the old programming spirit has somehow got a bit lost in favor of 'out of the box' solutions. I still hope for a more 'modular' version of Reason in the future, where it will be possible to install Reason without Record. Until then I will save my money.

I agree with this. It used to be that each new device in the rack added a new module or workflow enhancement. The latest Re offerings from PHead and others have very few interesting inputs/outputs on the back. Remember when people would trade combinators for mid/side compression, gated delays, filter banks? Nowadays all I see on the PUF is "you need blah Re". Some of the most creative patchers (selig, jiggery-pokery, Peff) have started selling their own Res and seem to post far fewer of those interesting modular playgrounds.

I saw one user over there lament that he was losing his wah wah pedal with the Line6 devices being removed. I thought to sweep a low pass filter from any number of devices with an envelope follower from Scream4 or Pulveriser. Or use an LFO. Peff taught us how to do that in Power Tools for Reason 3 in 2005. (Oh how I miss Peff doing creating patching instead of Res).

I'm not saying the closed down rack was better. I'm saying I don't see Res that get me excited. The most interesting one I've seen is CV Mutant, giving users an almost-but-not-quite MSEG source. I wish it had a looping sustain section and was graphical (Not the dev's fault, it's the RE SDK 1.0 fault).

I think PHead realized their most lucrative userbase are the kind that would rather pay a quick $15-$50 for something than learn how to make their own with what they have already. Makes sense really.

[Frantz]

And why don't you post the entire picture? If you look at their actual assets reported in 2013-12 they are nowhere near "thin financial ice" no matter how YOU slice it, so don't spread disinformation please.

Since you insist, let's include assets and, while we're at it, CEO and board compensation:


Source: http://www.solidinfo.se/foretag/propell ... 43/ekonomi

Previously we looked at profit (blue). The 2013 profit doesn't make up for the losses in 2012 and 2011.

Adding total assets (red), we see the general trend is downwards. The company's assets were worth the most in 2010. Oops.

Strangely CEO and board compensation (yellow) has been rising steadily each year despite the rough times. I guess it would be embarrassing driving an old Ferrari.

[tonkatodd]

I know it's not a fair comparison, but still....I guess the real irony is that they're targeting the Apple-type-hipster demographic by selling a DAW with less features at twice the price of what Logic Pro X costs.

Except with Apple Logic X you need there criminally over priced dongle to use it. A dongle so embarrassingly made in the manufacturing world and made to fail in less than 2 years to milk the user for thousands of dollars again.