w e i v Re
Propellerhead
Reason 6 by Ginno Legaspi
FINALLY A DAW I've long been a Reason user, ever since version 2 was released back in 2002. Every time I boot up my DAW it is the first application I play with even though I have a slew of other hosts and soft studios installed on my computer. What's not to like about it, though? It has a great pattern-based sequencer, some good built-in synths, samplers, drum machines, a host of effects and an expandable mixer. Needless to say, it's a complete production tool that enables you to make professional-sounding tracks ... without needing another program. What really attracted me to Reason is that Propellerhead has maintained a quality, self-contained application that is easy to use and CPU efficient. So here we are with version 6. This has got to be the biggest update ever to Reason, and dare I say that the program has matured greatly, not to mention that Propellerhead has changed some things and thrown in a couple of new devices. The biggest news to the update is probably the addition of audio tracks and audio editing capabilities to the program. These features have been constantly requested by die-hard Reason users for years, and now they are finally integrated into Reason 6. It is safe to say that Reason has finally become a
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full-fledged DAW in its own right, which beginners and pros alike will appreciate. Here are the highlights of what's new.
sounds the use of a filter and distortion combo is unbeatable. You can also get some really nice "dubby" sounds out of this unit. Users will be glad that the delay effects in Reason WHAT'S NEW have been beefed up with The Echo especially those producing avantThere is no denying that this version is garde, dub, post-rock and electronica Reason and Record rolled into one. genre. This will help them drive tracks Propellerhead took Record 1.5's to sound huge. generators, effects, functionality and the huge mixer and ported it into Alligator is another new device in Reason. And what's tasty about this Reason 6 - a "Triple Filtered Gate" new version is that you can work with module. It is a threechannel patternaudio and virtual instruments in one based gate effect, along with three single application. No more switching parallel filters, distortion, phaser and or tabbing apps which was the case delay. It functions as a signal splitter, with R+R Duo. There are three new and then some. As a sound travels effect units added to the application through Alligator, it is split into three and they are The Echo, Pulverizer parallel signals. These three signals and Alligator. can be gated, filtered, distorted, phased, panned and mixed The Echo is an advanced stereo echo independently. Each channel is run unit that reminds me of Roland's REthrough high pass, band pass or low 201 Space Echo. Well, sort of. But this pass filters. Then there's the FX modern echo unit is packed with great section in which you can further features and parameters reminiscent process the signal by applying an of analog and tape delay classics. The ample amount of distortion, phasing Echo is made of three sections: the and delay. Lastly, you can set the pan delay, feedback and color/modulation. and volume controls of the There are tons of sound sculpting rhythmically gated channels for some possibilities plus live performance interesting spatial effects. Alligator is options. What I really like about this a fantastic device that many electronic delay unit is the Color section in which producers will simply love due to the you can add limiting, overdrive, rhythmic sounds they can create from distortion or tube saturation effects to this thing. I tested the Alligator by the delay (repeats). For tape echo-like loading up a fairly simple pad preset
December 2011