Reason 5 from Propellerhead Software can best be described as an infinitely expandable studio - a native-based set of virtual devices that include synthesizers, sampler, drum machine, effects and a pattern sequencer. In short, the software acts as an expandable, all-in-one music production environment.
Each unit in the virtual rack is edited from its own front panel and multiple instances of all the modules can be opened, limited only by the host computer's processing capacity. Choosing an item from the "Create" menu places the module in the rack, logically patched into the signal chain. A single key-press will turn Reason's rack around to reveal patch points for every port on every module, allowing the user to make custom patch configurations.
The software can function either stand-alone, or as a ReWire application. Full integration with other manufacturer's audio software via ReWire allows audio from Reason to be output to an external software workstation, for further processing and/or mixing with other audio tracks. When the overall project is ready to be saved, the whole studio setup is stored along with the music, including the associated sounds, samples, loops and drum kits.
Note:
This is an educational package for school and educational institutions only (not for individual students) and requires proof of current educational status.
New Features in Reason 5
Dr. Octo Rex Loop Player
- The Dr. Octo Rex Loop Player loads 8 REX loops into one player and lets you switch between them on the fly. This makes arranging a breeze - load the drum loops into one player, the guitars into another and use the sequencer to select what loop to play in a pattern-like fashion
- With 8 loops to switch between, the player also comes ready for the experimental minded. Set the player to retrigger the loops on the beat, on the bar or on the 16th note - or program the loops manually like in the original Rex Player
- For each of the 8 loops, the new Rex Player also comes with an expanded set of per-slice settings. Set pan, pitch, filter frequency and level, reverse slices, use multiple outputs, create alternating groups of slices, and much more
Kong Drum Designer
- Focuses on letting you get exactly that drum sound you're after and includes analog synthesis, physical modeling, sampling, REX loops, support sound generators, effects, flexible routing, multiple hit types, and more
- 16 pads and 16 drums
- Build your drum sounds based on any of the 9 different drum modules
- Color the sound with 11 support generators and effects
- Program automation, create alternating groups and let Reason's powerful sequencer control the beat
- Reason 5 ships with a sound bank containing a generous supply of kits for Kong across a wide variety of styles
- Modules
- Synth Bass Drum - from hard knocking kicks to long booming ones, the analog modeling kick drum can do them all
- Synth Snare - based on tone, harmonic and noise, short and snappy or long and noisy
- Synth Hi-Hat - 4 different hit types that can be spread out across the pads - closed, semi-closed, semi-open, or open
- Synth Tom Tom - if your fondest memories include a musical backdrop of those ubiquitous tom tom breaks in 80's ballads, then this module will make your eyes misty. With its range of settings, this module can produce a wide selection of percussion sounds
- Physical Bass Drum - built on physical modeling, this module generates organic sounding kicks with flexible settings for tuning, size, beater characteristics, and more
- Physical Snare Drum - 4 hit types (center, position 1, position 2 and edge) to generate a very natural sounding snare drum - comes with settings for snare tension, bottom and top pitch, and more
- Physical Tom Tom - includes settings for size, tuning, stick, and more, making it capable of sounding like a wide range of tom tom-like drums
- Sample player - the NN-Nano is a multi-layered sampler and sample player lets you build drum sounds by layering samples - you can create layered sounds or use velocity settings to create velocity switching between samples
- REX player - extremely versatile loop player - use it to trigger an entire loop from a pad, in sync of course, or use it to play a selected slice only. You can assign one loop across several pads and set the REX Player to trigger chunks of slices, still in sync
- Support Generators - 2 modules that can be added after the drum module in the signal flow. One can add noise, the other tone
- Effects - 9 effect modules to help you shape your sound. You can also route external effects into Kong, or use Kong as an effect module
- Compressor
- Filter
- Overdrive
- Parametric EQ
- Rattler
- Ring modulator
- Reverb
- Tape Echo
- Transient Shaper
Live Sampling
- The art of spur-of-the-moment creative sampling is alive and well in Reason 5
- With its live sampling input, all sample players in Reason are now samplers
- Just hook up a sound source to the rack's sampling input and you are ready to start sampling - use a microphone, a turntable, an instrument or the entire Reason mix
- Sampling in Reason is simple and straightforward - hit the sample button and Reason starts sampling
- Reason will detect the sample start automatically and you can sample when Reason is running if you like - no need to stop the music
- If needed, bring up the built-in sample editor to set start and end points, loop points, and more. This is possible for all loaded samples - not only the ones you have sampled
- All samples are neatly stored in the song file and accessible in the new samples pane in the tool window, where you can easily see what samples are loaded into what machine and delete and export samples as you wish
- Live sampling together with pitch detection of root key and automatic zone mapping makes it easy to sample an instrument and map the samples across the keyboard - this way you can create your own multi-sampled instruments for NN-XT and NN-19 in an instant
Blocks
- Many musicians tend to think of music in terms like intro, verse, chorus, breakdown, buildup and so on - with the new Blocks mode, your sequencer does too
- Blocks lets you sequence your songs using a more pattern-based approach, with the segments of your song as individual building blocks to be laid out in your arrangement
- Start by creating the discrete parts of your song in blocks mode. When you are ready to start building your song, just switch back to song mode and draw in what blocks should play in the dedicated pattern lane - use one block for the verse and one for the chorus - or build your song around a single 8-bar loop
- Blocks provide a very fast way of creating musical structures for your song - but the options don't end there. With the basic arrangement laid out, you can see the contents of the blocks and create variations and mute individual parts, or add further musical elements in song mode
- A typical use for Blocks is to create your backing track in blocks and then use the song mode sequencer to record vocals or instrumental performances
- For music based around a single looped section, one repeated block with automation and mutes of individual tracks added in song mode, makes arranging a breeze
- You never have to commit to using either mode - you are free to move back and forth between Blocks and Song mode, and any changes you make in your Blocks will instantly be manifested in all instances of that Block - need some tambourine on that chorus? Add it, and there will be tambourine whenever the chorus block is playing
Additional New Features
- Make your songs self-contained by embedding samples and even ReFill sounds into your song file. The self-contained song format makes collaborating with your friends a breeze
- Record notes on multiple tracks and use multiple MIDI keyboards, pads, and controllers for playing and recording your instruments. Lock a 16-pad controller to a Kong, and use a keyboard to play your synthesizers. Or use two keyboards on stage for controlling different Reason instruments
- The new Mute tool lets you click to mute and un-mute clips. Use it to mute sections, or create variations in your Blocks
- Set and move loop-functions - select a clip and press L to immediately set the loop points to the selection. Use the new Remote parameters for real-time control of the loop points from your MIDI controller
- Tap Tempo button in the transport panel
- Improved key commands for laptop use, or any keyboard missing a numeric pad and new key commands lets you control play, loop, record and more from your keyboard
- A sound designer favorite, the Combinator's programmer window is now even easier to use with hierarchical menus for fast patching
- Combinator is expanded with new CV inputs on the back - the 4 new CV inputs can be used to control any parameter on the contained devices, providing even more options and possibilities for sound designers
- Comes with an improved built-in help system, for both Mac and Windows
- Bounce clip to sample - you can now bounce audio recordings to samples, so you can use them in Reason devices such as Kong, Redrum, NN-XT and NN-19
- Additional changes include advanced multi core support, improved cable management in the rack, faster sample loading, on-screen piano keyboard, sequencer usability improvements, and much more
General Features
- Virtual studio complete with virtual synthesizers, samplers, drum machine, pattern sequencers and effects
- Native performance, no special hardware needed
- Virtual mixer and patching system for any number of modules with endless routings possible
- Creates as many of each device as the host computer can handle
- Includes "thor", a multi-synthesis synthesizer, the RPG-8 monophonic arpeggiator and a 32-channel groove mixer
- Full automation of all fader and control movements - infinite patching and routing possibilities
- Smooth, seamless, out-of-the-box communication with external MIDI controllers and hardware control surfaces
- The preset mappings link the controller's knobs, buttons and faders to the parameters within Reason's devices, providing instant, tactile control over any function in any Reason unit
- Browser allows for free-text searching of the entire library, "preview-playing" of sounds directly from the browser and increases the efficiency of patch management. The task of finding and loading sounds and patches is smooth and intuitive
- Full synchronization with other MIDI equipment
- Audio export via ReWire to other audio software that supports the ReWire protocol
- Customizable editors for all devices
- Devices can be folded away to save screen space