Reason noobs questions

[rubez]

I am looking for a DAW. Reason looks like the best one to me.

Reason Essentials can had had for cheap, and i wonder if i would regret not buying the full version. the propellerhead website is down... everything is 404-ing. Are they still in business?

Does anyone know the differences between the cut down and full versions? I am thinking Essentials may be less cluttered and therefore more simple/intuitive for a noob?

Do third party VSTs work in reason?

Is Reason the best DAW for hardware integration? currently have a TR8, TB3, JDXI which do not require an audi interface (don't even have one) but may also think about getting a decent software synth like Diva or Omnisphere - or maybe even NI stuff - and capable MIDI keyboard controller.

Thanks.

[hivkorn]

reason don't support VST , if you want for a full functional DAW just take a look at Reaper or Cubase Element.

[rubez]

Cubase Element would be my next choice... but Reason doesn't take VSTs?!

Only hardware?

[hivkorn]

but Reason doesn't take VSTs?!

No VST in reason.I 'm not even sure it handles hardware (not sure about this point).

Only rack extension with reason:
https://www.propellerheads.se/reason/rack-extensions

No compatible with VST , AU , AAS ....

[rubez]

in other words, rack extensions are first party VSTs? (closed system, but like NI)

of course you can use external hardware with it.

[hivkorn]

in other words, rack extensions are first party VSTs? (closed system, but like NI)

of course you can use external hardware with it.

NI close ?
You're talking about the kontakt extension ?
If not , let me know because NI do VST /AU / AAS

I 'm not sure to know what you mean by first party VST (language barrier surelly) , but there is no way to open a VST / AU / AAS in reason. The only thing you could open is the rack you buy from reason website.

[D-Fusion]

Reason essentials doesn't have Midi out so it is not good for hardware synths.
For that you need the full version which have midi out and sync.

[maschinelf]

rubez is probably talking about nks. From what I know though, it's just a wrapper for vst/au for hardware integration, very different from rack extensions.

[rubez]

Reason essentials doesn't have Midi out so it is not good for hardware synths.
For that you need the full version which have midi out and sync.

thanks. i am considering cubase now.

also, i read that you can use thisrd party VSTs in Reason via the same way you use external hardware.

[hivkorn]

Reason essentials doesn't have Midi out so it is not good for hardware synths.
For that you need the full version which have midi out and sync.

thanks. i am considering cubase now.

also, i read that you can use thisrd party VSTs in Reason via the same way you use external hardware.

If you want to use VST , cubase is better and you don't need to tweak the DAW

[ruczaj]

Reason essentials doesn't have Midi out so it is not good for hardware synths.
For that you need the full version which have midi out and sync.

thanks. i am considering cubase now.

also, i read that you can use thisrd party VSTs in Reason via the same way you use external hardware.

1. You can use 3rd party VSTs, but ONLY synths and it can go with latency - you have to use third party software, routing vst to Reason isn't oficially suported by Propellerheads, it's just homebrewn workaround. You CAN'T use vst other than synths.
2. Reason has own RackExtensions system, but there lacks any mayor vendors, only small developers. Mayor devs like Korg, U-He or FXpansion ceased to support RE format and abandon their Reason plugins.
You can't sell RackExtensions, even when you sell whole Reason licence.

[DJBuddhaBear]

I don't know where you are getting your information but Korg RE's have received updates since release. And the latest updates of U-He products were in October of 2015.

Reason may not be for everyone, but there are many high quality RE's and Refills from all sizes and types of developers. Rob Papen released two this year. Synapse Audio released Antidote about a year ago. D16 Group, SugarBytes, McDSP, and Kuassa are hardly 'unknowns'.

I really don't give a shit what DAW someone uses or prefer. I just don't like when people make up shit to justify their choices.

[Studio Saturn]

Cubase element? that version is not even have a side chain support. Studio one is the way to go. It is very easygoing not complicated. He can get it in market place here in KVR the Pro version with a little bit of extra cash. From 150 to 200 USD and it worth the price though.

[chk071]

Yes, mind that Cubase Elements has some limitations, which could really spoil it for you. No sidechain (really, no way to achieve it), no ability to record your VSTi's output, no adavanced routing options, no midi plugins, and you might miss some other stuff too. You can see a version comparison here: http://www.steinberg.net/en/products/cu ... ne_up.html I don't want to talk it out really, but, in my case, there were some limitations which really makes it hard to work with it, so i bought Studio One 2 Producer second hand here, for $40 i think, and it really fits the bill here. Work flow wise, it's definitely comparable to Cubase, and some things i find even easier. For example, it has an easy way to map your midi controller to your VSTi's parameters. That's a total PITA in Cubase.

Regarding Reason Essentials: It's also quite limited compared to the full version. For example, you get Subtractor as the only synth device. Subtractor already is in Reason since version 1, and it's quite dated by now, sound and feature wise. In the full version, you also get Thor and Maelstroem which are moer modern and functional devices. And regarding VST support, see Reason as a complete studio replacement. It has been meant that way since its creation. A few years ago, they bowed down to some user wishes, and developed the rack extension format, which lets third party developers develop their plugins for Reason (RE is Reason only). That way they didn't have to implement VST support, which would IMO kill the DAW, because there are DAW's which are light years ahead in terms of VST support, and DAW specific features. But anyway, that's never how i saw Reason. Reason is for me a tool kit to produce music fast and easily, and which gives you loads of content to start immediately. For me, it isn't really what i'd want to have, simply because i don't like it sysnths, and i am a synth person, i don't need samplers, or loop players, or lots of content. And i don't need to get really eager to experiment, and do a lot of things with routing, and connecting stuff together. I want to have my ping-pong delay option right in the delay, i can't be arsed to route stuff together to get a ping-pong delay, and even then it doesn't work like i expect it to work. Another example would be that there is no synth in Reason which has stereo oscillators, or even the ability to do unison spread. And yeah, i could connect 9 Subtractors in the combinator, and get the same effect, but, duh, really? Every VST synth does that out of the box nowadays, without any need to connect this to that and that to this. But, each to his like, for some people, limitations are what gets them to be creative, so, if that's your work flow, it may work for you.