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If you haven't yet heard of Propellerheads' Reason
2.0 Software, it's time to come out from under your rock. Reason
is a virtual rack of modular software synths, samplers, mixers,
effects and MIDI sequencers that is quickly becoming an industry
standard in electronic music production.
For beginners, the world of electronic music can
seem like a formidable task. Reason makes it simple because it
bypasses the need for external keyboards, MIDI pachbays and sound
modules. Everything is self contained within the program, so all
you need is a fairly updated computer (Mac or PC) and a decent
sound card.
Reason is not a toy, however. It is a very involved,
powerful sequencing program. Although not a traditional audio
sequencer, the program allows the user to create complex arrangements
via external MIDI controller (or by mouse). By utilizing the extensive
sound libraries and instruments (included with the program or
by third party distributors), there are limitless musical possibilities.
Reason also reads WAV and AIFF files so you can load your own
samples, in addition to the soundbanks.
Starting with one of the program's 14 channel mixers,
just add an instrument, hit record and start creating. The audio
of each instrument is automatically routed or can be custom routed
by simply flipping the rack around and via virtual patch cords,
you can drag and drop the signal routing by hand, to fit your
needs.
Included with the program are the following modules:
14 Channel Mixer
2 synth modules: Malstrom, Subtractor
The Redrum Drum Drum Machine
The Dr Rex rex Player (Recycle Loop Player)
2 Sample Players: The NN-19, NN-XT
Matrix Analog Pattern Sequencer
Digital Delay, Reverb, Distortion, Phaser, Chorus, Flanger, Compression/Gate,
2 band parametric EQ, Envelope Control Filter.
All of these modules are fully automatable, fully
routable and can be added or subtracted at will depending on available
CPU power. In addition to being self contained, Reason can be
incorporated into external audio sequencing software such as Logic,
Cubase, ProTools or Nuendo via Rewire.
At the writing of this review,
Propellerheads has announced that they will be releasing the Reason
2.5 upgrade. It will include several new FX modules including
advanced reverb, vocoder, distortion and DSP modules.
- By Schoepfergeist
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