KVR Audio

original flipper · Post by **original flipper** » Thu Jul 08, 2004 6:07 pm

Hi

Spent some time with Reason recently and although I dont think this would/could be my only host I did see/hear some very interesting and versatile things going on - in particular the routing/cv/matrix possibilities.

The thing that struck me though was when I realised that my nose was almost touching the screen trying to see the very small controls or move a 2 pixel by 2 pixel fader up!

Are there any workarounds for the small interface or
will I need a 48" plasma!

Flipper.

Meffy · Post by **Meffy** » Thu Jul 08, 2004 6:36 pm

Hi -- I use Reason and love it. It's not a host... except for its own modules. That is, you can't use VSTs or other plug-ins within Reason.

But it's an excellent program, underrated in my opinion. You're entirely right about CV and audio routing. Those are among Reason's biggest strengths, and provide much of its power. They're also one reason (small "R") new users don't always immediately see how powerful Reason can be, and how fat a sound you can make with it.

I use Reason along with either Sonar or Live as a host (most Reasoners seem to prefer Live). The host can handle VSTs, etc., and I like Sonar's sequencer best of the three. You can use Reason's internal MIDI sequencer to write very good complete songs if that's what you like. It's just not my preference. :-)

As for the small controls... that's a concern, yes. Working at a lower display resolution is the only way I can think of to improve the situation, sorry. (If you use a LCD display this will probably make things worse, not better, but on a CRT it can help.)

Hope you decide to get on board. By itself, Reason can be an all-in-one workstation. In conjunction with a good host, it gives you an infinite rack that you can load with synths, samplers, effects, and other goodies. And the cables on the back are soooo cute! ... not to mention useful.

Best wishes,

Meffy

Sicklecell666 · Post by **Sicklecell666** » Thu Jul 08, 2004 6:59 pm

drop your screen res, that's about all you can do for now.

Hopefully, the prop guys will adress this issue in Reason 3.

Reason is worth every penny man!

gizmo · Post by **gizmo** » Thu Jul 08, 2004 7:10 pm

You can make amazing sounds in Reason through combinations of routing and effects and it's incredibly CPU efficient compared to my alternative, VSTs in Traction. I'm also really used to editing in the sequencer. It's tricky to change tempo, I mainly use Traction for that and final mastering with Voxengo stuff. I agree about the GUI but it gets pretty intutive after a while; you know what the sound needs and which dial or fader to go to. Also there's a ton of free fefills that are really good. Check out Power Tools for Reason 2.5 by Kurt Kurasaki for some routing and configuration ideas. There's a lot of anti-Reason folks around here, but for getting a tune together quickly with quality I'm happy.

Jeremy_NSL · Post by **Jeremy_NSL** » Thu Jul 08, 2004 7:20 pm

Yeah, you can whip up some good stuff in a hurry with Reason. No worrying about trying the latest free SE goodie, or searching for the perfect delay effect. I like it, alot. And the problem of not necessarily having the most varied synth sounds can be solved by sampling stuff into NNXT format (see my site for some free NNXT patches/samples)

original flipper · Post by **original flipper** » Thu Jul 08, 2004 7:36 pm

Hi

Thanks for that - I am looking at Reason and (well from tonight!) Energy XT as a couple of programs to use within Logic to give me an enhanced enviroment - I think Ableton Live4 might also get a look in if once the demo comes out I like it.

It is really hard getting all the 'bits' together to create the 'right' creative workspace - I just felt in a rut with Logic and a load of synths - they are perfectly usable but i felt there must be more!

Flipper.

DHR53 · Post by **DHR53** » Thu Jul 08, 2004 7:41 pm

The more youu work with Reason, the better it is... A basic start-up template wired up with everything is essential... My basic setup: 2 mixers, one for redrum, (all channels wired seperately) one for the instruments... 4 NNXTs, 2 Maelstrom's, 2 Subtractors, 2 Rex, 3 matrix, wired to CC or arps... 8 RV7000, wired to sends on the 2 mixers (various reverbs and delays)... scream, and compressor for drums, Subtractor LFOs to panning or pitch on the mixers... Maybe a matrix routed to an NNXT for drums too... I also have the send from Redrum wired into a filter through spiders... That basic template loads when I start up, which let's you get going pretty quickly! Some tips...

1. After you record a couple of bars of notes, group them. Set the snap to bar, and it's easier to move sections of songs around.
2. Set up a template that autoloads with everything wired already.
3. I use 2 redrums a lot, and even add the two Rexs going at the same time.
4. Route the redrums through seperate channels on the main mixer, so you can space them out a little, and add an overall fx to it.
5. I max out the sequencer, in one screen and use command/cntrl 1 and 2 to switch back and forth between the rack and sequencer... helpful for the big picture while composing...

I'm using it mostly on the Mac with OSX, but works great on either platform...

Try the Orange 2 refill, and Lapjockey, Ambient Textures refill (Zero G) and Punch ERM and Kazhawanna... they all rival any VSTs in my opinion...

Cheers!

vtx · Post by **vtx** » Thu Jul 08, 2004 8:12 pm

Make sure parameter value tool tip is on in prefs,,then just click on fader, button, cv gauge etc. and a nice value line pops up..its somewhat helpful,,even when wiring,pop up screen gives you a chart for where you want to go..oh, and uncheck cable animation..
Also it works nicely with dual monitors so you can separate the rack from edit lines..
I know what you mean about some of the reason flaming but synched with Abelton for live multitracking...mmmmmmmmm!!

Jeremy_NSL · Post by **Jeremy_NSL** » Thu Jul 08, 2004 8:12 pm

Yeah, I second the Orange2 and Ambient Textures recommendations. I wish I could find somewhere in Canada to buy Ambient Textures, its quite awesome. The Maelstrom stuff in particular is by far the most advanced use I've seen. And the NNXT stuff is top-notch, great layering.

Orange2 is great for a variety of 'digital' sounding VA stuff, and it even comes on a DVD with all the wav files in case you want to use it in Halion, etc.

Andywanders · Post by **Andywanders** » Fri Jul 09, 2004 4:02 am

original flipper wrote:Hi

Thanks for that - I am looking at Reason and (well from tonight!) Energy XT as a couple of programs to use within Logic to give me an enhanced enviroment Flipper.

Hey Flipper, Reason is sweet with Logic.

You're gonne love it..!

I tried EXT but couldn't deal with it. Don't let that stop you though, plenty of people swear by it.

Stupid American Pig · Fri Jul 09, 2004 11:45 am

One thing that I like about Reason is that it is very musical when it quantizes. I dont have to tweak the quntizer much at all and I get nice and natural sounding results. My only real gripe with it is the rewire protocol-

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begin rant

Why oh WHY does rewire not save your work with the hosts project? It is a pain in the arse to save your work in reason(making sure that you save it to match the hosts project name) just so that you can keep your work for the next session? I further dont like the fact that you cant just close your host and have that close reason and your host.

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end of rant

Other than that, I find its power in the simplicity of the available instruments/efx, and routing. it lets you get down to business without vst searching.

DHR53 · Post by **DHR53** » Fri Jul 09, 2004 1:30 pm

Oh, and another thing... I find myself looking for specific sounds in Reason, (when composing something) as opposed to looking for specific instruments in say Logic... I tend to think of the rack as one instrument, that the sound I'm looking for is contained in?? I don't necessarily look for an NNXT or whatever, just the right sound... Subtractor is also great to use the LFOs just for panning and stuff in the mixers... And a matrix wired to an NNXT loaded with a drum kit is quite scary! try that sometime... mixed with Redrums! Yikes that's some drum mayhem for sure...

original flipper · Post by **original flipper** » Fri Jul 09, 2004 1:46 pm

Hi

The Rewire sounds like a pain in the ass - a bit like how using Reaktor Sessions used to be before they updated to a system of 'Total Recall' - sounds like a movie!

That is Ok though - perhaps I will make entire songs in it!

Flipper.

drez · Post by **drez** » Tue Jul 13, 2004 2:56 pm

original flipper wrote:Hi

The Rewire sounds like a pain in the ass - a bit like how using Reaktor Sessions used to be before they updated to a system of 'Total Recall' - sounds like a movie!

That is Ok though - perhaps I will make entire songs in it!

Flipper.

In Live4, Rewire is seamless. You can use Reason as a rack of gear no problem. Its fast, easy, and low CPU. If you haven't tried Live4 beta, give it a shot when it becomes available for you.

drez · Post by **drez** » Tue Jul 13, 2004 2:59 pm

I've posted a tune in the Music Cafe done completely in Reason.

http://www.kvr-vst.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=49296

This isn't an ad to come listen to my tune. Its to show you that Reason can sound pretty diverse (at least I think so). It can do alot of different things well, you just have to flip the rack around and patch patch patch

Any Reason users out there?