Propellerhead Reason 7 TECH
oomph of a kick drum, another one with just the bright top and another with a fully wet reverb all combined into one group — allowing the user to create a fantastically full and lush-sounding sub-mix that can be set with just one fader.
One of the most vaunted new features of Reason 7 — the addition of external MIDI device support — is, ironically, probably the least likely to excite the modern user. This means you can have a piece of MIDI-equipped hardware such as a synth or drum machine (new or old, it doesn’t matter) and play and sequence it from Reason. The whole thing is also really easy to set up. Users can then easily record anything they compose on the hardware as audio, assigning automation and controllers to it. It really is a doddle. However, it’s not just those with a load of old gear that can benefit from this new feature. Interestingly, with some clever audio/MIDI routing or by adding a second computer, you can use non-Reason software instruments that offer a standalone mode. An example might be using Native Instruments’ Maschine in standalone mode, alongside Reason 7. This opens up a huge number of instruments to Reason 7 users with existing VST soft-synth collections, without having to spend a fortune on Rack Extensions — Propellerhead’s work around for using third party software instruments.
SO-SO SEQUENCER One thing that has not been addressed, however, is the sequencer. Heavily overhauled in version 4, it is, nonetheless, not the most streamlined sequencer on the market, and while regular users make it work, it can be annoying for newbies and people who like to dip their toe in from time to time. That’s not to say it doesn’t have things to recommend it (the Blocks system for quick arranging is excellent), but if Propellerhead want to win over the remaining doubters, they really need to sort this out. Reason 7 has many functional upgrades, but nothing as radical as version 6.5, which brought with it third party support. For the first time the Reason platform was opened up to external companies, making software instruments that featured in Reason’s RE (Rack Extension) format. However, for version 7 there is only one new free device, Audiomatic Retro Transformer, which is, essentially, a way of making any signal that is passed through it sound like it is being played via various mediums. These range from vintage classics such as vinyl, VHS and tape to future
retro mediums like radio and MP3, and downright odd environments like large factories and PVC pipes, each with controls for gain, strength and wet/dry, allowing producers to use the effects subtly or in extremes.
It would be easy to dismiss this effect as a tagged-on gimmick, but when put to use it is actually really fun and useful. And with so many third party developers coming on board to the RE format, DJ Mag can understand why Propellerhead aren’t trying to beat plug-in developers at their own game, instead focusing on their core platform.
On the surface, it’s fair to admit that Reason 7 doesn’t appear to be the most exciting update in the world, and cynics might suggest that it just adds features that are long overdue, but we think this misses the point. It is yet another evolution of what was already a formidable production
platform in its own right, and an amazing adjunct to any other, such as Logic, Live, Cubase or Pro Tools. Reason owners should upgrade right
away, and beginners or producers using another DAW ought to try it out.
djmag.com 087
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