Reason (program)

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Reason

Reason 3 on a Mac
Developer: Propellerhead Software
Latest release: 3.0.4 (Windows), 3.0.5 (Mac) / August 25, 2005
OS: Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows
Use: Digital music workstation
Licence: Proprietary
Website: http://www.propellerheads.se/reason/

Reason is a popular music software program developed by Swedish software developers Propellerhead Software. It emulates a rack of hardware synthesizers, samplers, signal processors, sequencers and mixers. Reason can be used either as a complete virtual music studio, or as a collection of virtual instruments to be played live or used with other sequencing software.

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[edit] General

Reason 1.0 was released in November 2000. The program's design mimics a studio rack into which users can insert virtual devices such as instruments, effects processors and mixers. These modules can be controlled from Reason's built-in MIDI sequencer or from other sequencing applications such as Pro Tools, Logic, Cubase and GarageBand via Propellerhead's ReWire protocol.

As of version 3.0, modules available include two mixers, a subtractive synthesizer, a graintable synthesizer and four different kinds of sample players - one with a step sequencer designed for drums/percussion, two for tonal instruments, and a sliced loop playback device. Effects include distortion, reverb, chorus, a vocoder and mastering effects. The Combinator device, introduced in version 3.0, allows users to combine multiple modules into one. Another device connects Reason to Propellerhead's (now discontinued) ReBirth.

One of the most striking aspects of Reason's interface comes into play with the Toggle Rack command, which flips the rack around to display the devices from the rear. Here the user can route virtual audio and control cables from one piece of equipment to another in an almost unlimited number of ways. This cable layout enables the creation of complex effects chains and allows devices to modulate one another in creative ways.

Unlike many other audio applications, Reason cannot record audio tracks or be expanded with third-party plug-ins. Some users complain about these limitations; others argue that they can be easily surmounted by using Reason in tandem with another application that has these capabilities.

A stripped-down version of Reason known as Reason Adapted is packaged as bonus software with other audio software such as Pro Tools LE. It restricts the user to a limited number of devices.

The program's name was taken from software used by the lead character in Douglas Adams's novel Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency. Early in development it was known as Realizer (after the PPG Realizer). The English band The Prodigy has used Reason as a production tool, as have André 3000 of (Outkast) and Luke Vibert. Wonder Arillo, one of the songwriters on rapper T.I.'s hit "What You Know", used Reason on this song. In addition, numerous commercials and movies make extensive use of Reason. It is required, along with a laptop computer and other music production equipment, of new students in certain majors at the Berklee College of Music.

[edit] Reason devices

(Numbers in parentheses indicate the version of Reason in which the device was introduced. Devices not followed by a number have been present since Reason 1.0.)

  • Mixing & utilities
    • Combinator -- utility that combines other devices into a single instrument. (3.0)
    • Mixer 14:2 -- fourteen-channel stereo mixer with four aux sends.
    • Line Mixer 6:2 -- six-channel stereo mixer with one aux send. (3.0)
    • Spider Audio Merger & Splitter -- utility to merge and split audio signals within Reason. (2.5)
    • Spider CV Merger & Splitter -- utility to merge, split and invert control voltage (modulation) signals. (2.5)
    • Matrix Pattern Sequencer
    • ReBirth Input Machine

[edit] Advantages

Reason has won praise from users and critics for its original and playful interface. Audio software that mimics hardware was not unknown when Reason debuted, but Propellerhead advanced the concept by allowing users to connect devices via realistically animated cables, making the path of audio and modulation signals through the program easily visible and graspable.

Reason has rich parameter automation support, which is available through automation curves for each Reason device. Automation can also be recorded via MIDI controller or by using the mouse during live song playback (for example filter cutoff or channel volume slide), which enables live creative expression capabilities.

The program's modular structure allows beginning users to construct songs quickly, while experienced users can combine simple elements to produce complex results.

The license allows each user to install Reason on two computers, such as a desktop and a laptop.

Reason has also been praised for its stability, with reports of bugs or crashes very rare — an asset that is especially important when using the program in live performance.

[edit] Disadvantages

Criticisms of Reason have often focussed on features the program doesn't offer. The most commonly mentioned are:

  • proprietary ReFill format. Can only be read by Reason. At least one public ReFill Unpacker exists for Reason 3, but it isn't official.
  • No audio recording, which would allow users to record, say, vocals or guitars onto their hard disks through Reason (although there are programs available, such as the open source Audacity, that allow this);
  • No support for VST and other plugin effects and instruments;
  • No MIDI out, enabling users to control hardware or software instruments from Reason's sequencer.
  • Limited mixer featureset (most notably the channel EQs, which consist of a fixed-frequency high and lo shelf).
  • Complex 'spaghetti routing' of components makes routing fx and generators particularly troublesome on larger projects.
  • Limited 'Undo' action

Propellerhead spokespeople have said that the addition of audio recording and VST support is unlikely. On the subject of audio recording, founder Ernst Nathorst-Böös said in a 2003 interview, "It's not right for us. We'd just be an inferior Cubase, and why would we want to be that?"[1] In the same article, press liaison Niels Larsen said that support for VST plugins could compromise Reason's stability and efficiency. These shortcomings can all be addressed by connecting Reason via ReWire to another application such as Pro Tools or Logic Pro, allowing Reason to run alongside audio tracks from the hard disk, plugin effects, external instruments, etc. Of course, this adds expense and complication and can compromise stability, too.

Some people criticised the sound quality and functionality of the program's effects units in earlier versions of Reason. These complaints have diminished since the addition of more powerful effects in versions 2.5 and 3.0.

Some people criticised Reason for low mixdown quality of ready tracks, mentioning that it`s better to connect Reason's outputs via Rewire to Logic or Cubase, which are assumed having better algorithms of track mixdown and final track mastering purposes. Reason staff in official Reason forum have mentioned, that Reason is not designed for mastering purposes, and that other 3rd party software should be used for that purpose to achieve professional results.

[edit] References

  • "Man of Reason" by Debbie Poyser and Derek Johnson, Sound on Sound, January 2003, retrieved February 18, 2006.

[edit] External links

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