Komeda Posted June 8, 2001 Share Posted June 8, 2001 I would like to produce electronic music entirely on my PII 400 PC. Sam Ash is having a no payment sale http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/smile.gif My music is electronic so all I need is a stereo in for sampling, etc. I'm trying to decide between Cubase 5 or Reason. I realize that Cubase is a better sequencer but how do the included VST plugins compare to Reason's sound generators and effects? Which alone will produce the superior sounding WAV file? Or as another option I could get Reason with the $99 Cubasis. Thanks in advance for your advice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anderton Posted June 8, 2001 Share Posted June 8, 2001 They are quite different programs: * Reason is an "all in one" solution, Cubase is more open-ended. * Cubase does digital audio recording, Reason doesn't. * Reason includes fabulous soft synths, but you can't add to the ones already in the program. Like if you wanted to use Waldorf's Attack, you can't. * Cubase's included instruments are nothing to write home about. The plug-ins you can get for it are cool, but are optional at extra cost. * To do what you can do with Reason using Cubase will cost you much more. * Cubase's sequencer is easier to use and more pro. * Reason's patching functions are way cool and let you do bizarre tricks. * Reason is very efficiently coded and seems to run on any decent computer; Cubase is more picky. Of course, Reason is ReWire compatible, so if you get Cubase VST and later get Reason (or vice-versa), the two will work together very happily. The more accurately you define what you want to do with these programs, the easier it will be to make a decision. For example, if you want to record vocals and guitar, it's a no brainer: Cubase can, Reason can't. If lots of soft synths are your thing, you can't beat the level of value that Reason offers. Craig Anderton Educational site: http://www.craiganderton.org Music: http://www.youtube.com/thecraiganderton Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/craig_anderton Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Komeda Posted June 9, 2001 Author Share Posted June 9, 2001 Thank you for clearing that up for me! It sounds like Reason would be the better choice for me based on my budget. Cubase would be great but you need extra cash for the plugins. I hope that with Reason a newbie like me can produce a professional sounding CD!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KBP Posted June 9, 2001 Share Posted June 9, 2001 If you plan on recording anything at all in the way of vocals or anything else real you can't in reason. You can only do looping and sequencing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anderton Posted June 9, 2001 Share Posted June 9, 2001 << I hope that with Reason a newbie like me can produce a professional sounding CD!!!>> Absolutely. The only real limitation is how creatively you use the tools they give you. Craig Anderton Educational site: http://www.craiganderton.org Music: http://www.youtube.com/thecraiganderton Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/craig_anderton Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Komeda Posted June 10, 2001 Author Share Posted June 10, 2001 <> Yeah that's the easy part!! http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/wink.gif BTW I just picked it up from Sam Ash today($299.) Guess what? The damn installer won't load, in fact the only thing that works is the Rebirth demo. There's nothing worse than picking up some new gear and then finding out it's defective. ARRRRGGGHHH!! Oh well I guess i'll have to wait till tomorrow. http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/frown.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anderton Posted June 10, 2001 Share Posted June 10, 2001 Are you installing it on Mac or PC? Craig Anderton Educational site: http://www.craiganderton.org Music: http://www.youtube.com/thecraiganderton Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/craig_anderton Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Komeda Posted June 10, 2001 Author Share Posted June 10, 2001 I'm installing it on a PII 400, 192 megs of RAM with an old SoundBlaster 16 for my sound card. It's funny because I can listen to the dublab sapmples and I can install the Rebirth demo from the CD just fine. When I double click on the "Install Reason" or the "Install Recycle" files, I get an hourglass for a few seconds and then nothing. I was even able to re-install the Reason demo that I downloaded from the net. I thought it might be a registry problem so I tried installing it on a different hard drive with a fresh copy of Win 98 but I got the same results. I also use my computer for video so maybe there's a conflict with my firewire card or my SCSI burner. Windows never fails to surprise me with some new problem or error. ARRRGGHHH why can't it just work!!! This message has been edited by Komeda on 06-10-2001 at 05:20 AM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CephaloPod Posted June 10, 2001 Share Posted June 10, 2001 Hi. Based on what you've told us, I'd recommend Reason. I used the demo for awhile, then recently bought the full version (partly because of the review that Anderton gave it in EQ mag!). I am envious of electronic musicians just getting started these days, because if products like Reason had been around when I was just starting out, I think I would have had a lot more fun! It's possibilities are absolutely SICKENING! I agree with earlier posts that say that if you want to do any recording of audio (guitar tracks, vocals), get Cubase (or something like it). But if electronic music is what you are after, and you want to start NOW, get Reason. One problem I can forsee with using Reason if you are new to electronic music is that it is very easy to push a few buttons and get something that sounds cool, but did YOU really do it? It is almost TOO easy (never thought I'd hear myself say something like that). I often wonder after making something in Reason, if I did it, or did REASON do it. But that's kind of cool too! Reason is good for experimental music where there is a blend of man and machine, just make sure there is some of the MAN there (or WOMAN!). If you just use the sounds that come with the machine and just push buttons, you may get something you like, but it will sound like Reason, not YOU. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CephaloPod Posted June 10, 2001 Share Posted June 10, 2001 Oops, I just realised that you already made up your mind. Maybe someone else in your shoes will find my post useful (or not!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Komeda Posted June 10, 2001 Author Share Posted June 10, 2001 <> No kidding!! When I was young I started with a Sequential Circuits Six Trax hooked up to an Amiga 1000 with Dr. T's MRS as my sequencer. All I had was event editing. It was terrible!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Komeda Posted June 10, 2001 Author Share Posted June 10, 2001 Well everyone it is 5 a.m. but I finally installed Reason!! Nothing like staying up all night to solve a problem. I copied the cd to my hard drive and installed it from there. Why it wouldn't install from my CDROM is a mystery to me. BTW the patching is cool. From the back pannel I ran the stereo outputs of the Reverb to two channels on the mixer. Then I turned up the AUX send. The feedback almost blew my speakers out just like in real life!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anderton Posted June 10, 2001 Share Posted June 10, 2001 I have a FireWire card and a CD-Burner in my computer too, so that not's necessarily the problem. I think you may have programs active at start-up that you don't know about. Try doing Start > Run > MSCONFIG. This lists the programs that run at startup. Uncheck the programs you don't need to have run. Sometimes these interfere with the installation concept of "please close all open programs before installing." Craig Anderton Educational site: http://www.craiganderton.org Music: http://www.youtube.com/thecraiganderton Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/craig_anderton Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Komeda Posted June 11, 2001 Author Share Posted June 11, 2001 I tried something similar earlier by shutting down all of TSRs except for systray and explorer. I shut down everything in MSCONFIG and had the same results. The final solution was to copy the CD to the hard drive and run the installer from there. Why the installer will run from the hard drive and not my DVD or CDRW is a mystery to me. Windows is a strange beast!! At any rate i'm up and running now. I cleared out matrix and redrum and in no time was able to create a basic song. The sound quality is amazing. The wav file I created sounded 10 times better compared to the wavs i've made in the past. Now for the fun part - making music!! http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/smile.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
batman forgot his cape Posted June 11, 2001 Share Posted June 11, 2001 Yes indeedy...... Craig's advice is good.... Reason is a toatal blast!!...light on processing, very usable on-board sounds...etc etc..I tandemed it up with Logic Plat, so i could run those necessary VIs...B4, PPG, model D etc, and record audio tracks........... I sacked Cubase 2 years ago.....it's a wonderful piece of software, but it only delivers 95%...and...when that last 5% includes synchronisation/talking to my studio.....it's exfenestrated!!!! Best t'yall Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.