Any Reason users out there?

[Jeremy_NSL]

One thing that still amazes me is the variety of sounds you can get out of Maelstrom.

Reading a description of the synth, you'd expect it could create some wavetable-esque stuff and thats about it.. But wow, I've heard just about every kind of synthy tone out of it - from ambient, to moogish bass, to pseudo-real instruments, to crazy fx, to distorted industrial leads.

And what I love most is its easy to program. Not a very complex gui, but the power is there if you take the time to learn.

I wish it did have a HP filter though. Its especially annoying considering the ECF doesn't have a HP.

[christianmusicmaker]

Question: I know there are a lot of loyal Reason fans out there, and I'm wondering, many of you also use full-blown hosts like Sonar or Cubase or Logic. These sequencer hosts are extremely powerful--arguably more powerful than any stand-alone soft studios like Reason, Orion, Project 5..etc. You can plug it with any VST or DXI, and the number of choices for those are insanely more vast than an enclosed system like Reason. And as far as I know, anything you can do in these softstudios you can do in a sequencer host--yet you can do far more.

So why are people raving about the softstudios? Aren't they just glorified VST's that generate sound/effcts and have fairly limited sequencing capabilities compared to dedicated sequencing hosts? What's the allure? Because it's cheaper to get a softstudio that can do a whole song from scratch?

Great points...I use Sonar which is extremely complex yet easy to use once you master the basics.I too have wondered why the interest in studio's is so great.

I can pretty much do more than I could possibly wish for in Sonar 3 but it does have its drawbacks.

The work flow in a package like Sonar can be pretty quick but Project 5 for instance offers a much quicker workflow and a nice set of DXI instruments and DX FX that can all be used directly in Sonar without ever having to even fire up Project 5.

All the FX and DXI's appear in Sonar after Project 5 is installed. This was the key reason I bought Project 5, the instruments are very good and the DX FX swell my collection of native Cakewalk plugs even more and reduce compatibility issues.

I have Reason adapted which is the 2.5 version and has only a few limitattions...

1.Maelstrom excluded.(I use VSampler for this as I have a large collection of sampled sounds now)I also have numerous other synths so it's not an issue.

2.No Spider ( this is unique and would be useful but the flexible bussing in Sonar 3 is also excellent you can route *almost* anything to antyhing. I also have Tracktion that has Racks that can go anywhere and become almost anything!

3.No vocoder (There are many free ones available I have Project 5's Spectral Transformer as well)

4.No NNXT ( I do have the NN19 and of course the very detailed and massive Vsampler)

5.No multiplicity of modules (Again not a showstopper as I would simply open more instances of it in Sonar as Reason has such low CPU usage).

I have all the other Reason 2.5 features.

So Reason Adapted slips very nicely indeed into my studio especially as it came as a freebie with my copy of the M Audio Firewire Audiophile.

FL studio is another soft studio I have but frankly I think it has passed that status as it can record audio and is now a rewire master and slave.

FL is the fastest process I know of getting a great drum track together.

So you see even though I have Sonar I still can find uses for other soft studios.

Even though I have no hardware background Reason is unique and I see it as a very good FX and synth rack even with Reason adapted being just short of the full version.

[headquest]

Hi

Depending on your host, a programme like Reason can expand your options no end...

I use Tracktion as my main host, and Reason via Rewire (which in my experience works seamlessly). Tracktion is an excellent programme, but doesn't have particularly good synths bundled (understatement) and only has a basic sampler. Using Reason 2.5 particularly expands my setup by adding two excellent synths, the brilliant NN-XT and Redrum samplers, Matrix pattern sequencer when I'm in that kind of mood, and some excellent effects (RV7000 has to be the absolute best reverb I've found).

In return, Tracktion adds audio recording and imho a more intuitive MIDI sequencing environment for putting it all together. Not to mention the amazing workflow that Tracktion lends itself to.

I also Use Live as a host, and again the two programmes complement each other brilliantly to produce a very powerful all round music environment.

Hope this helps.

[Stupid American Pig]

...it lets you get down to business without vst searching.

VST searching essentially means searching for sounds, right? If so, then working in Reason is the same in this regard. Unless you're saying that because you simply have less choices there's less searching, in which case you could always limit yourself to a small number of options like in Reason.

I see what you are saying, but with reason being closed, I dont spend 20 minutes trying different delays, or reverbs. I could limit myself with Vsts, but that would be in contradiction with the whole point of Vst, open standards, many plug ins.

I guess what I am saying with reason is that if you have an idea that you quickly want to sketch down, reason is a great choice. If I want it to sound perfect, or if I want to finish your reason project, I use something else (FL studio or Sonar) and rewire my project into them..

[default]

adding tracktion to my tool box is wonderful. I now can create or add audio to my reason compositions, some thing that I always wanted to do.

this is not all that can be done but it is an effextive means to an end.
re: SONAR, I and thinking about Sonar as my main DAW , the interface for me is not as intuitive as other programs that I have used (Reason, Live ,Tracktion, FL Studio). I am planning on obtaining the books "Sonar 3 Power" and "Sonar 3 Mixing and Mastering". I have been told that Sonar is a powerful and stable program well worth the investment of time and effort to learn, plus it is supposed to be a great rewire host . any opinions on this idea?

[nuffink]

I could limit myself with Vsts, but that would be in contradiction with the whole point of Vst, open standards, many plug ins.

Bones<------------------------------------------------------->Devon

[Bassballjg]

adding tracktion to my tool box is wonderful. I now can create or add audio to my reason compositions, some thing that I always wanted to do.

this is not all that can be done but it is an effextive means to an end.
re: SONAR, I and thinking about Sonar as my main DAW , the interface for me is not as intuitive as other programs that I have used (Reason, Live ,Tracktion, FL Studio). I am planning on obtaining the books "Sonar 3 Power" and "Sonar 3 Mixing and Mastering". I have been told that Sonar is a powerful and stable program well worth the investment of time and effort to learn, plus it is supposed to be a great rewire host . any opinions on this idea?

I use Reason as an instrument ReWired to Sonar.It is simply an outgrowth and continuation of what I suppose Tracktion folks call the "old paradigm",you have a recorder,a mixer,a sequencer and instruments,and you wire them all together.Nothing could be clearer.If you have ever hooked up a studio,a hi-fi or home entertainment system,or a guitar pedalboard,it shouldn't be so hard to get Sonar,it's just a virtual representation of the components of the studio.I am not as satisfied by ReWire as I am with hosted plug-ins,but Reason as a modular instrument is worth the effort.The Sonar-Reason team,with certain key VST and DX plugs does everything I want simply,quickly and easily.I do wish you well on your learning curve,I hope the book helps.

I have no intention of starting a flame war.I am not saying that Sonar(or Cubase,Logic,etc)is better or worse than Tracktion;folks should use the tools that work for them,and let's just focus on the music,not the tools.However,I must say that we are kind of in the same boat in the sense that I find Tracktion to be the most incomprehensible thing I have ever seen in my life,period.And I don't just mean music software.I simply don't get it.I tried the demo,and could not figure out step one,how to record or import and play back a piece of audio.Is it possible that in trying to create a "new paradigm",Tracktion has gone so far from established ways of laying out the studio that it is in fact less and not more intuitive to some people who are grounded in the traditional studio?

(edited for spelling,7/19/04,14:32)

[Meffy]

PMFJI -- not to hijack the thread, just a comment and I'm back out again.

I have Reason adapted which is the 2.5 version and has only a few limitattions...

At least two of the big web music stores (zzounds.com, audiomidi.com) have the Adapted to Reason 2.5 upgrade under US $250, if you or anyone else is interested in getting past the limitations. :-) Adapted is quite good; the full version is a delight!

Meffy

[headquest]

[quote="default"]adding tracktion to my tool box is wonderful...
re: SONAR, I and thinking about Sonar as my main DAW , the interface for me is not as intuitive as other programs that I have used...

I don't get why you are lookiung at Sonar if you already have Tracktion, Live, Reason, FL Studio... my advice is to use what already works well for you, unless you are having problems/limitations?

[headquest]

Bassballjg wrote: I have no intention of starting a flame war.I am not saying that Sonar(or Cubase,Logic,etc)is better or worse than Tracktion;folks should use the tools that work for them,and let's just focus on the music,not the tools.However,I must say that we are kind of in the same boat in the sense that I find Tracktion to be the most incomprehensible thing I have ever seen in my life,period.And I don't just mean music software.I simply don't get it.I tried the demo,and could not figure out step one,how to record or import and play back a piece of audio.Is it possible that in trying to create a "new paradigm",Tracktion has gone so far from established ways of laying out the studio that it is in fact less and not more intuitive to some people who are grounded in the traditional studio?

I don't understand the problem you had with Tracktion but I take your point that it follows a different approach to that found in the studio.

I used to teach groups of students (age 12-17) using Cubase VST, which they mostly found difficult, particularly if they had never been in a studio environment. They particularly found it hard to visualise the links between the arange page, mixer, VST instruments, effects, MIDI mixer, wave editor, etc... Most of the sessions were spent explaining the technology, and little time actually making music.

I tried to teach the same course using Tracktion and found that students (so far) have all taken to it like fish to water ... all the questions I get asked in the sessions now relate to the music itself (how can I change this sound?... etc) instead of questions about where the synth has vanished to and why the programme has frozen.

But in spite of my enthusiasm for Tracktion I still have respect for programmes like Cubase, Sonar, Logic, etc, which have transformed music making for so many, and which are still a natural choice for musicians who have grown up in hardward based recording studio environment.

[christianmusicmaker]

PMFJI -- not to hijack the thread, just a comment and I'm back out again.

I have Reason adapted which is the 2.5 version and has only a few limitattions...

At least two of the big web music stores (zzounds.com, audiomidi.com) have the Adapted to Reason 2.5 upgrade under US $250, if you or anyone else is interested in getting past the limitations. Adapted is quite good; the full version is a delight!

Meffy

Thanks Meffy I think I will wait for V.3 I am sure Live 4 has hurried the development somewhat.

On another note can anyone tell me where Reason is listed on KVR... I cannot find it on any of the host, FX or instrument listings?

Please correct me if I am wrong?

[christianmusicmaker]

adding tracktion to my tool box is wonderful. I now can create or add audio to my reason compositions, some thing that I always wanted to do.

this is not all that can be done but it is an effextive means to an end.
re: SONAR, I and thinking about Sonar as my main DAW , the interface for me is not as intuitive as other programs that I have used (Reason, Live ,Tracktion, FL Studio). I am planning on obtaining the books "Sonar 3 Power" and "Sonar 3 Mixing and Mastering". I have been told that Sonar is a powerful and stable program well worth the investment of time and effort to learn, plus it is supposed to be a great rewire host . any opinions on this idea?

Sonar is indeed very powerful I have used it for a year and I am still finding features in it!

If you are US based then go for it but if you are EU based rethink because prices are very one sided in favour of the US.

[drez]

On another note can anyone tell me where Reason is listed on KVR... I cannot find it on any of the host, FX or instrument listings?

Please correct me if I am wrong?

Most of the die hards around here don't consider it any of those, so there is no home for it other than in "Everything Else". Probably a good location as it does do "everything else" that lots of these hosts don't do

[christianmusicmaker]

On another note can anyone tell me where Reason is listed on KVR... I cannot find it on any of the host, FX or instrument listings?

Please correct me if I am wrong?

Most of the die hards around here don't consider it any of those, so there is no home for it other than in "Everything Else". Probably a good location as it does do "everything else" that lots of these hosts don't do

Odd indeed ...thanks anyway

[Meffy]

Thanks Meffy I think I will wait for V.3

I'm sure it will be sock-knocking stuff. 2.5 was amazing enough! :-)

I have to agree that Reason doesn't fit any of KvR's categories. It's its own critter, with just maybe CW's Project5 and Arturia Storm (finally updated!) in the same (very broad) category. Doesn't mean it's not great, just different.

Kinda like... well... me, f'rex. :-D

Meffy
[edit] Except I'm not great, just different. Oh well.