Reason 4.0
Propellerhead have just announced that Reason 4.0 has gone into final beta testing. We should see the new product available sometime during the fall. One feature that many have been awaiting is the new multi-filter, multi-oscillator modular synthesizer called Thor. One fascinating feature is the inclusion of a 16-step pattern sequencer which can be used […]
Propellerhead have just announced that Reason 4.0 has gone into final beta testing. We should see the new product available sometime during the fall. One feature that many have been awaiting is the new multi-filter, multi-oscillator modular synthesizer called Thor. One fascinating feature is the inclusion of a 16-step pattern sequencer which can be used to control any of the modules within the synth, creating not just arpeggios, but step-patterned delay, chorus and filter effects.
Whilst Thor looks impressive, I’m more eagerly anticipating the changes to Reason’s sequencer interface. Whilst I love the simplicity of the current layout, it can get frustrating to work in detail, especially with track automation and non-techno/dance grooves. Reason 4 has adopted a more contemporary DAW feel to the sequencer, with a much clearer way to see programmed patterns and automation features. Particularly interesting to me is the ability to easily make time signature changes and tempo adjustments.
But the kicker is the new ReGroove mixer, which allows you to add groove maps to tracks in a simple mixer interface. It looks remarkably easy to add different grooves to tracks from within the sequencer window. This is important because sometimes making a sequenced piece sound realistic involves applying different grooves to the parts of the arrangement (e.g., swinging bass and kick drum over straight snare and strings).
With Reason 3.0 the Propellerhead folks started using the word “workflow” to describe both the enhancements and the philosophy behind the software. Most of us have experience the effects of feature-creep in software – lots of new bells and whistles that only slow down our work, making us less productive as we struggle to tame and customise the program to our uses.
Now that I have ReWire working properly so that Logic and Reason play nice together, this new set of features look like some great candy that will not get in the way. I keep coming back to Reason as both a scratchpad and sound-bank and it could well be that it will play an even bigger roe for me in terms of production and composition.
[tags] Reason, Logic, DAW [/tags]
