Share your story why you upgrade/buy Reason 11 as rack plugin ?

[cowby]

Hi,

Would you please share your story for the captioned/subject ? Like many other users, I have a primary DAW (my case Bitwig recently switched from Live 10) and I also got Reason 10. I d/l Reason 11 and it works pretty well in Bitwig.

However, I can't justify to upgrade by spending around $199 to Reason 11 suite just to use it as a plugin or FX. And I may not use Reason 11 as my DAW to make music alone where I found I loved the workflow of Bitwig so even though Suite comes with some nice REs/FXs but I will not just make songs within Reason 11 alone. So please let me know if you have a primary DAW (cubase, live, FLstudio you name it) how do you justify to buy/upgrade Reason 11 ? Appreciated you to share your story.

Cheers!
Cowby

[antic604]

I've spent well over EUR 1k on REs since late 2017, but because of GUI and workflow issues I'm mainly in Bitwig and/or Studio One, so as soon as the opportunity to use the REs and Reason's native stuff materialised I jumped on it. I guess that's the case with majority of people who upgraded and I suspect many wasn't even using Reason for some years, but could finally access their stuff and took the advantage.

But as soon as the high-res GUI gets sorted out and few workflow things are taken care of (tracks folders primarily!!!) then I'm back in Reason, because I love it!!! Even at this very moment I'm considering which REs to buy during the May Madness sale, because some of the stuff there is really unique, especially Players.

Oh, and BTW - you can't "buy Reason 11 as rack plugin". It's the full DAW + Rack VST

[cowby]

I've spent well over EUR 1k on REs since late 2017, but because of GUI and workflow issues I'm mainly in Bitwig and/or Studio One, so as soon as the opportunity to use the REs and Reason's native stuff materialised I jumped on it. I guess that's the case with majority of people who upgraded and I suspect many wasn't even using Reason for some years, but could finally access their stuff and took the advantage.

But as soon as the high-res GUI gets sorted out and few workflow things are taken care of (tracks folders primarily!!!) then I'm back in Reason, because I love it!!! Even at this very moment I'm considering which REs to buy during the May Madness sale, because some of the stuff there is really unique, especially Players.

Oh, and BTW - you can't "buy Reason 11 as rack plugin". It's the full DAW + Rack VST

Thanks for your prompt reply, antic604. EUR 1K on REs investment is an huge amount tbh. And I like some REs like Complex-1 and some Effects/tools like Quad Note Generator & PolyStep Sequencer. If it is not on sales at the moment, I will not bother to decide to go/no go for the upgrade. Knowing that Reason 11 or even 10 is a full fledged DAW. But still would like to hear more ppl who has a primary DAW but still go for 11.

[antic604]

And I like some REs like Complex-1 and some Effects/tools like Quad Note Generator & PolyStep Sequencer.

I think they are, but that's still gonna be almost EUR120, so it "makes more sense" to double and get full Suite that includes them + several fantastic REs, like Parsec, Umpf Drums, Reason Drum Kits & Reason Electric Bass, Radical Keys, Polar, Drum Sequencer. Or wait until there's sale on 10 -> 11 Suite upgrade.

[Psuper]

As many would attest (and detest), I'm not afraid to state my enjoyment and benefits of a product while at the same time point out on the shortcomings with authority -- roads laid down by others aren't taken, mine is of pure personal experience.

Reason has been a top Yin and Yang since I've been using it consistently as of V3. There's a long history with Reason and the community, which can be found by reading other Reason forums and even here somewhat. "Reason needs to DAW" was my thing, and while some recognized the truth of it, many just made excuses for Props. Unfortunately, I decided to give up on Reason as a DAW, and put more effort towards DAWs and communities that take that aspect seriously.

A year or so later I've got Cubase humming along nicely (I've had many DAWs in my lifetime, but decided on Cubase in the recent past). R11 comes around, and excitement bounds! First, rewire is a massive pain in the ass -- again, long posts about that gigantic inconvenience timewasting of many files and structures backups and convertings over the years. But mainly, I know Reason extremely well and can bring that knowledge back in a robust DAW environment. I wait it out since midi out of the rack is 100% necessary for me, Props finally update it for midi out, I buy it, I'm satisfied. Very satisfied. Mindblowing things can be done with that Rack in Cubase, and the full-circle is complete.

I still wish Props didn't screw up the RE development and motivations over the years, huge opportunity squandered, however what exists and has been purchased is more than enough, especially since VSTs aren't going anywhere.

A very long story rolled into a few paragraphs, and frankly I'm glad its over so I can just focus on music making, which I've been happily doing.

[cowby]

Yes, thanks for sharing your story with me, Psuper. Actually, I am fine with just using Reason 11 Suite as a plugin within Bitwig as long as I can do something you just mentioned "Mindblowing things can be done with that Rack in Cubase, and the full-circle is complete."

Now, all I can think of are using say complex-1 (my Fav RE) with some kind of cool efxs within Reason 11 and form a contaminator then use it as a VST plugin (to be an alternative to U-he's Bazille). Or use the Drum sequencer/Quad Note Generator & PolyStep Sequencer to "Midi-out" to my fav VSTs. Anything missing that Reason 11 "as a rack plugin" can do more than the things I mentioned ?

[jeffb01]

Bitwig is my Daw. I have others (logic, Maschine, etc) but plan to always use Bitwig. I recently bought Reason intro to use in Bitwig. I had demo'd Europa years ago (when it was a VST) and was impressed - so for $99, I was getting Europa, as well as a bunch of other content. I still think Reason Intro is the best value in music software. Also, Antic604 (posted above) always speaks highly of it, and (just from seeing him around the boards) I know we have similar tastes and I respect his opinion.

Well, I was so impressed with how smooth it worked and surprised how cool the midi players worked in Bitwig that I decided to upgrade to Suite. I really like the Drum Sequencer player, the beat map player, grain, and Europa. I think Layers is cool, too. I haven't totally explored all the stuff in there as it is a fairly recent purchase, but I would like to dive into Complex-1. I have a ton of VSTs already (like, a ton) so a lot of the purchase was GAS, but that's okay.

The one thing I will say is you can tell when a synth came out by the GUI. Some, like Grain, are clean and modern, so you know they are recent releases. Others look very dated.

[antic604]

Anything missing that Reason 11 "as a rack plugin" can do more than the things I mentioned?

Well, Rack VST can be used in 4 general ways:
- instrument
- audio effect
- MIDI effect and/or sequencer
- CV sequencer

So I'd say that's much more than most VSTs can do

[antic604]

The one thing I will say is you can tell when a synth came out by the GUI. Some, like Grain, are clean and modern, so you know they are recent releases. Others look very dated.

Isn't that the case for VSTs too, though? And to be honest I like the look of "old" devices more, because they all shared that initial ethos of "virtual hardware studio" and common visual language, whereas recently they've forsaken that (Scenic? WTF!) and also stopped paying attention to what 3rd parties release as RE - there's some monstrosities out there or devices that look totally out of place in the Rack.

Oh, and

[Distorted Horizon]

I use Bitwig as my main.. Still have R10 license and I'm waiting for a nice upgrade price for 11. Not sure if it's a suite jump though.. I think I'll be fine with basic version.

[Calenberger]

Have you tried REAPER?

[enCiphered]

I want to use the sequencers and arps that come with Reason Rack. I find most M4L sequencers lifeless. Totally uninspiring.
I can really feel what @antic604 described in his posts and he is right. It dosn´t take a second to realize if a tool inspires you or not and many Reason players will instantly help you to focus on creativity.

[starflakeprj]

No story, just money to spend. Also, I hate being a version behind.

[antic604]

No story, just money to spend. Also, I hate being a version behind.

That should be KvR's motto

[starflakeprj]

No story, just money to spend. Also, I hate being a version behind.

That should be KvR's motto

People talk all the time about having GAS, I AM GAS