Jump to content
Please note: You can easily log in to MPN using your Facebook account!

Reason is Here!


Recommended Posts

I recently got a review copy of Reason (I'm doing a piece on it for EQ), and have had enough time with it to say WOW.

 

This software rings my chimes more than anything since Acid. It also has applications that go beyond the obvious. For example, I loaded up 16 instances of the digital sampler, loaded each one with loops, and controlled their levels with a Peavey PC-1600 controller. Now I can do real time remixing of 16 independent loops!!!!

 

Or you can load in a bunch of drum machines...the Rex player is cool...the interface is wild...and the assignment of MIDI controllers is painless.

 

This is a brilliant piece of software!! Just thought you ought to know. Comments are, of course, welcome.

 

n.p. "Bhangra Beatz"

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 53
  • Created
  • Last Reply

I concur - Reason is the coolest thing in a long time. Not only does its architecture lend itself to use in lots of creative ways (Craig's unconventional approach is a good example), but it's programming efficiency is pretty amazing... you can runs tons of virtual synths and samplers even on a slower G3, and latency is inaudible (to me, anyway).

 

Yep, it works on a Mac. Audio can be routed into other apps through ReWire.

 

Mad props to Propellerheads, and to you for the help with the Reason tech thing the other day, Mr. Anderton. http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/smile.gif

 

Jim Bordner (Guest Room Warrior)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

>>As far as the drum samples go, the demo only has a a few samples. Th efull version supposedly gives you ton of stuff to use, and of course you can use your own.<<

 

A ton of sounds and example files come with the program. In fact, it's very easy to select samples and create custom kits.

 

It is amazing how many synths you can load up and hardly see the CPU meter budge...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

>>Does it work on the Mac? "Direct connect" with Pro Tools?<<

 

It works great on a G3 Powerbook, I can attest to that.

 

Haven't found any references to Direct Connect, though. The star of their show is ReWire, the protocol that lets you slip it right in to Cubase (which you'd probably use for hard disk audio tracks, and for triggering favorite VST instruments).

 

BTW the thing supports 64 MIDI channels, and pretty much everything can be MIDI controller-controlled...it would be great if someone came out with a hardware interface.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I downloaded the demo but of course as is true with most of these programs my Mac 7500 doesn't have the horsepower to play the tracks.

When I bought this computer it was considered to be pretty decent for it's time which translates to boat anchor by todays standards.

 

So here's my question.....

Ultimately a dual processor G4 fully blown would be ideal but that of course is a fortune and out of the question.

Which way is the most cost effective way to go to run these virtual synth type of programs while staying in the Mac world?

Any suggestions on used G3's? Do people use I Mac's sucessfully for virtual synth based programs?

Should someone just buy a used G4 instead?

Off course I know price is a factor but at this point I'm just doing the research to see what the options are.

 

Also.....Craig....

Do you have anything you have created on Reason that someone can listen to in an MP3 format?

I wasn't all that impressed by the demoes for the exception of Trance Control's which pretty much sounds like their other tracks they have created with hardware synths.

 

Thanks

Tom

Link to comment
Share on other sites

>>Also.....Craig....

Do you have anything you have created on Reason that someone can listen to in an MP3 format?<<

 

Not yet, but there are many more options in the system for originality than any demos might lead you to believe.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If you want some MP3 Reason fun, check out what a complete recording novice (my 19 year old son Aiden) created with it in one 14 hour session.

http://mp3.com/Rezolution

 

It's a progressive trance kinda track, and used nothing but Reason, a G3 and a Roland PC-300 controller.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Curve:

 

It's ALL Reason. No outboard, no mixer, no synths, no nothing. Just one piece of amazing software, a G3 (using less than 30% of it's CPU power, I might add), and a PC-300 controller. It was boosted with Waves L1+ and converted to MP3 in SoundJam. Pretty cool tool, huh?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Reason is cool but Orion SMOKES!!

 

It has a built in Sampler(with DOPE!! filters) that supports soundfonts and Kurzweil programs. It can load VST instruments and effects. Comes with a .wav drum module, 909 beat box, 303 bass and two virtual analog synths.

 

Cost is a measely $59, plus I can now play VST instruments on my Dell Laptop with an ESS sound card in real time. I can't do that in Cubase.

 

I am no way affiliated with this company at all. You can download the demo(which also doubles as a VST host) at http://www.sonic-syndicate.com/

 

The only gripe I have is the lack of a swing/shuffle in all the sequencers other than the .wav drum module.Hopefully they will remedy this in in v1.8

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Originally posted by Tom Aragon:

I downloaded the demo but of course as is true with most of these programs my Mac 7500 doesn't have the horsepower to play the tracks.

When I bought this computer it was considered to be pretty decent for it's time which translates to boat anchor by todays standards.

 

So here's my question.....

Ultimately a dual processor G4 fully blown would be ideal but that of course is a fortune and out of the question.

Which way is the most cost effective way to go to run these virtual synth type of programs while staying in the Mac world?

Any suggestions on used G3's? Do people use I Mac's sucessfully for virtual synth based programs?

Should someone just buy a used G4 instead?

Off course I know price is a factor but at this point I'm just doing the research to see what the options are.

 

Also.....Craig....

Do you have anything you have created on Reason that someone can listen to in an MP3 format?

I wasn't all that impressed by the demoes for the exception of Trance Control's which pretty much sounds like their other tracks they have created with hardware synths.

 

Thanks

Tom

 

Tom,

 

If budget is the issue, consider upgrading the CPU with a G3 or G4 card from Newer Technology (available via Mac Mall and other places). I put a G3 466 card into my 8600/250 and saw a four to five fold increase in performance. Not as good as a new machine, but you WILL be able to run Reason on that platform.

 

Please give my regards to Aunt Catherine (sorry, saw your name and couldn't resist). http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/smile.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites

<< If budget is the issue, consider upgrading the CPU with a G3 or G4 card from Newer Technology (available via Mac Mall and other places). I put a G3 466 card into my 8600/250 and saw a four to five fold increase in performance. Not as good as a new machine, but you WILL be able to run Reason on that platform. >>

 

I agree. Newer Technologies cards are a cost effective solution, but the company went out of business last week. If you can still find one of their cards, support may be a problem.

Enthusiasm powers the world.

 

Craig Anderton's Archiving Article

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Originally posted by bigstarlet@yahoo.com:

Is there a PC version of this?

If you are talking about Orion-yes It is only PC. It even works on slower computers. But don't get me wrong, I think Reason is also a great program. But it really needs an above average computer to run it. They are similar programs but the abilty to load .sf2 and Kurzweil programs not to mention VSTi's and VSTfx's is just a bonus. Oh and it's $49 not $59 as I prviously stated

 

JM

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Originally posted by soapbox:

I agree. Newer Technologies cards are a cost effective solution, but the company went out of business last week. If you can still find one of their cards, support may be a problem.

 

Ouch! Okay, so it looks like you're going to be buying a new machine after all. http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/smile.gif

 

I assume this was one of those limited license deals with Apple, which Steve Jobs chose not to renew, a la Power Computing a couple of years ago.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

<< I assume this was one of those limited license deals with Apple, which Steve Jobs chose not to renew, a la Power Computing a couple of years ago. >>

 

Actually Newer Technology went bankrupt. You can read more about it at MacCentral's site: http://www.maccentral.com/news/0012/29.newer.shtml

Enthusiasm powers the world.

 

Craig Anderton's Archiving Article

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Originally posted by soapbox:

I agree. Newer Technologies cards are a cost effective solution, but the company went out of business last week. If you can still find one of their cards, support may be a problem.

 

I have also heard that Sonnet was a good upgrade to use so I guess that would be the most cost effective way to go for the time being. Thanks for the input.

 

Tom Aragon

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Originally posted by Tom Aragon:

I have also heard that Sonnet was a good upgrade to use so I guess that would be the most cost effective way to go for the time being. Thanks for the input.

 

 

Before you buy your Sonnet card, you may want to check with software manufacturers about known compatibility problems and workarounds. For example, if you plan to use the upgraded computer to make music using Reason, check with Propellerhead Software first about Sonnet. It would be a shame to invest in the card if it were incompatible with the software with which you intended to use it.

Enthusiasm powers the world.

 

Craig Anderton's Archiving Article

Link to comment
Share on other sites

FYI - I've been using a Peavey PC-1600 to control the various Reason controls, and have now gotten into it REALLY deep. Amazingly, there is very little latency (not noticeable when remixing) and the flexibility is killer. It's nice to have real faders controlling a piece of software...
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

Hi Craig

 

Could you post some of your thoughts on Reason? (just like what Jim did with the AW4416)

 

I've downloaded the demo and the thing is amazing. What's your experience like? (More importantly, is it STABLE?)

 

Thanks

Nick

Link to comment
Share on other sites

i am surprised more people aren't looking at buying a mac cube for tracking. the thing is minute (8"x8"x8"), and it has no fan. no fan = no fan noise. especially if you're upgrading, i can't see why you wouldn't, at least, look into buying a cube. i think it's a single 450MHz G4.

robb.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

<>

 

it also boasts 0 pci slots, which is going to keep it in the same "aw, how cute" as the imac. not saying you can't do anything with it, but for the time being, a mac that you can't add scsi and a digital audio pci card to is already a doorstop.

 

judson snell www.slangmusicgroup.com

judson snell

slang music group

chicago, il

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Craig-

 

Very much appreciate your comments re: Reason and your use of it. Sounds like it will fit into your live rig as well - great!

 

As additional info for potential customers of Propellerheads, I would like to mention that Propellerheads SEEMS to me to be one of the FEW software vendors who truly "gets it". What do I mean by that? We are all aware of vendors who A) release buggy software (to different extents); B) Do not communicate with their customers effectively.

 

Why do I mention this in regard to Reason? I have been a customer of Steinberg's for years and up until recently Reason was distributed by them. As a result I was aware that Reason was under development.

 

When their expected initial release date slipped and they fell into the vaporware black hole they responded in the MOST positive way. They posted a high level summary of the development project on their site for everyone to see. When a phase was completed or slipped they updated it so customers would have the latest estimate immediately available.

 

And it now appears by your comments that they may have come through in another way. By delaying they have apparently delivered a product that actually works, although there may be the occasional bug, missing feature, etc. But you don't see the boards clogged with bad news.

 

That said I have a request for "reviews" in general. We consumers are of course responsible for our purchases and can download the demos like you. Many users however are not as experienced as you (Craig), but even if they are could use your perspective.

 

While we respect your positive reviews, please help us by telling us what the product under evaluation can't or does not currently do. Or maybe a wish list (to stay somewhat positive?).

 

I guess what I trying to say is that while we appreciate your validation of the vendors claims, sometimes it would be even more helpful to stress what is NOT included or could be better.

 

Thanks for all your time and expertise on these boards. Truly a miracle!

 

P.S. The same advice applys of course to all posters. It seems to me that 80-90% of the product related posts I see are either totally pro or con. Reminds me of the Les Paul / Strat (insert your own) debate I have heard from various guitar players for years.

 

We all benefit if we learn to think of the products as tools. They all have pros and cons. Let's talk about them...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

In case it was not clear; hat is off to Propellerheads for delaying and then delivering (apparently). Note to all: the download demo is for 20 minutes - quite a lot of time to evaluate...not. I guess we can never get it all.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...