Reason 2.0 Options

[Odrec]

Well I use a Midiman Keystation 61 and Reason 2.0 on OS X and works like a dream... I use an iMac DV, probably one of the least powerful macs out there, but still works fine.

To link to a sequencer I would definitely recommend you to wait for Cubase SX, and link via ReWire: in OS X. (I have tried this in PC and works great)

If you're hung up on OS 9, use Reason 2.0 and link to ProTools (even the FREE version will do) via ReFuse... This will allow to do a good job at recording vocals or other instruments.

In OS 9 you can link via ReWire to Cubase 5.xx

Odrec

[wonx]

I was thinking about getting Reason 2 so I would have the new synth and sampler to use from within Logic but after my rep told me that... i opted to just get the ESX24 sampler for Logic instead. Less features but still love it.

Hey synthetic,

Does the ESX24 compare to Reason 2. I didn't get a whole lot of info needless to say a demo from Emagic. You said it had less features. What can and can't you do with it? Does it run in OS X?

Thanks,

Wonx

[sanfordmay]

I'm strictly an amateur, trying to create a small hobbyist's music workstation around a Quicksilver G4 on OSX.2.1. For reasons of economy, I am planning on Reason 2.0 and the Oxygen 8 midi controller from midiman.

What does the lack of multitrack recording in Reason 2.0 mean? From what I've read, it means I'll have trouble with things like recording full-blown vocal tracks. What if I just want to use a few vocal samples? I assume I will be able to record my songs, as in demo version there is a save song as audio option. But what if I should later add Deck LE or another multitrack recorder to this workstation? Will I be able to do multitrack work. For example, could I export song as audio and then use that audio file as a single track in a multitrack recorder while adding other tracks in the multitrack software?

[sanfordmay]

It dawns on me that things like a horn solo or whatnot would have to be added in the same way: by exporting the solo as a song to audio and then importing into a multitrack recorder like Deck LE. Correct?

[pimpdaddynash]

Don't underestimate the power of both the NN-19 samplers in Reason. I just finished a remix using nothing but 2.0 just to see how it would come out. All vocals and instruments were edited in Peak and then imported into the NN-19 and NN-19xt. Worked like a charm - kinda like the old days when I didn't have digital audio and had to use hardware samplers. Now if Propellerheads will give us a an osX version of Recycle I'll be really over the top...

The dust on my studio just keeps getting thicker...

_pimpdaddynash_

[Synthetic]

Reason is a great program... don't get me wrong... but it does how it's drawbacks. First, as much as I liked using Reason 1... I wasn't happy with the overall sound of my tracks that were completely composed in it. There is something to be said for variety in sound sourcing... meaning that I am beginning to think that using sound sources from more than one app, one synth etc... sometimes improves the unique and appealing sound of a track in my opinion. I can listen to many different electronic music songs and easily spot one that was made in Reason usually. I did actually decide to publish one of my tracks that was totally composed in Reason 1 but it was polished with a few ProTools plugs and T-Racks mastering app. If anyone is interested in hearing... click here. This was my best effort of breaking free from the over used Reason presets and sound.

Second, the only way to add vocals or sounds from other samplers, synths, guitars etc... is to convert them into audio files and import them into a sampler. You cannot record outside sound sources directly in Reason. This is why its not a true multitracker and instead only a midi sequencer for most part.

So yes Reason is great for what it does especially considering the price but I wouldn't recommend it as the center of a studio... it works better as a addition to a studio that already has a multi-track audio recording setup unless... all you plan on doing is making trance or other electronica and don't have lots to spend. If you plan on adding other outside instruments or vocals though... I suggest just purchasing Logic Silver and then add some VST instruments or samplers for more flexibility and options.

[Synthetic]

wonx... the ESX24 is just a sampler and no synths or sequencer and it is a VST plug instead of stand alone app. The ESX24 is not currently OSX compatible but should be soon. After having a EMU ESI2000 sampler for all of 6 months... I sold it because it was pain in the a$$ to use with a mac because it wouldn't read from mac CD-Rom and is not the best supported sampler in audio apps. I really wanted a good sampler and was about to get AKAI Z sampler for around $1300 and decided to go the soft-sampler route instead especially since I have a Tibook which becomes this awesome portable sampler that can output to 24 seperate tracks in Logic which is like having 24 cheap hardware samplers or 3 or 4 expensive samplers (with multiple outputs). Plus its much easier to program and setup the ESX24 compared to most hardware samplers I have seen.

[wonx]

Thanks synth tone. Liked what you did with reason 1. Let me know when you publish something with the ESX24.

peace
-w

[Synthetic]

Thanks synth tone. Liked what you did with reason 1. Let me know when you publish something with the ESX24.

peace
-w

thanks for the compliments... I try to create dramatic and exciting electro music that doesn't really fit into to many sub-electronic genres very well so I get lots of mixed opinions but always love the good ones. I am doing well on the charts at Broadjam.com too... WOOHOO!

I have a few tracks in works now using the ESX24... one being a soundtrack type of song, another industrial, and one that is a remix of a metal band I know here locally. The ESX24 opened up lots of new possibilities for me and can't say enough about it.

[Odrec]

Well importing samples via sound files into the NN XT is quite crafty, but I do think it is easier to limit the function of Reason and use another app to record tracks from an external source...
Deck LE will do just fine, and it allows you to use VST plugs.

I have used to record my bass for use with reason sequences, works just fine...