Propellerhead Record and my setup...good mesh?

[3rd Degree]

I had the beta of record but I didn't have much time to actually learn how to use it, I just messed around. It was visually hard for me to understand very quickly but so is Reason and that is my main tool these days. It seemed like it was a fair amount worse than reason interms of having to remember where things are visually, etc.

I have a few goals here. I currently own Protools M-Powered 7.1 which I love for mixing and ease of setting up my I/O easily to record hardware samplers but I don't like much more about the program. I also found it to be buggy for a long time until I found that I could only use both my m-audio sounds cards with a weird driver setup (one needs to have the newest driver and the other needs the second newest driver or it will crash unexpectedly). Lastly, I don't want to be limited to M-Audio or Digi-Design hardware so I have never really become all that reliant on PT.

Some of my goals:
A better mixing platform. I have become happy with my in Reason. I find when I do take the time to rewire to PT, I get slightly better results but it is tedious to setup. I like how simple PT is. It looks like Record has a much more powerful mixer and I don't have to have racks and racks of things spread out all over Reason. My least favorite part is if my compression needs some tweeking on say my drums and I have to find that particular compressor. I want something a bit more "friendly" than this. I want something a bit more powerful in general. I am guessing the records mixer will be a source of headaches at first and then slowly become a powerful tool.

I would also like a more streamlined approach to using both hardware and software together (software being reason). If I am on my MPC, I have to have reason open and track into protools so I rewire. It just doesn't work for me and I tend to just avoid it. Fuctionally, it is fine, it is just a pain to navagate and takes up time.

I want something I can use as a DAW but I don't need it be totally comprehensive. My studio is basically a scratch pad for vocals. Nothing recorded here will be a final recording so it isn't an issue if many tracks are hard to deal with. I just want something quick and easy.

Basically, I am looking to do all that is stated above (which I know the program can do) with better flexibility than reason and protools combined, or reason on it's own. It is a cheap program but I am also hesitant to move on to something new as if I am happy enough, I don't want to spend alot of time learning.

I would like to hear peoples personal experiences with this and where it works well and lacks. Again, I have messed around with the beta but didn't get as deep as I wanted due to time constraints.

[KevWest]

I personally wouldn't bother using Record at this stage with any hardware instruments. I don't think Props has any intention on adding midi out or any real midi functionality with external sources. Maybe in Record 2.0 I'm waiting and hoping to see.

[3rd Degree]

Originally Posted by xabiton

I personally wouldn't bother using Record at this stage with any hardware instruments. I don't think Props has any intention on adding midi out or any real midi functionality with external sources. Maybe in Record 2.0 I'm waiting and hoping to see.

Yeah, I just figured that out a few hours ago. I don't get how they can claim it as such an extensive program, or even a recording program without this feature. It does suck too because I went out to GC and found that configuring your I/O on the fly is very easy and quick. It really does everything well, just no midi tracks. Propellerhead just pisses me off like that sometimes.

[CRACKPIPE]

Originally Posted by Mr.Cheese

The thing is though, that this program is in 16 bit.

Reason's 32 bit floating, bruh.

[3rd Degree]

Well, I have been using reason for about 8 years now I think (since 2.0) and am very familiar with Reason. I just want an easier way to incorporate my hardware with my software. Right now, I use one or the other, and software most of the time. You can check my myspace and see that I have a good hold on reason (all the songs up right now were made on reason), I just want a simpler solution than what I have without switching to a program besides reason. I guess that isn't going to happen with Record, I just can't believe Propellerhead overlooked this step again.

[sameal]

I LOOOOOOVVVVEE reason. only i hate version 4's edit window. still can't get into it. tried and tried. im staying with 3. call me scared.

i think your gonna face a big pain in the ass with any daw and trying to wire reason into it. cubase for example is like a rubix cube.

i would like to get some feedback on record as well. im curious myself. but the lack of midi is VERY disappointing.

[3rd Degree]

Originally Posted by Mr.Cheese

I'm guessing you would rather just work 100% in Reason without having to deal with Pro tools then?

Not work 100% in Reason/Record. I just want to be able to use Reason as a master, and that isn't possible but could be with a midi out. It seems small but it simplifies things GREATLY.

[CRACKPIPE]

Originally Posted by Mr.Cheese

Really? Since when? I always thought it was 16.

Since always.

From the manual:

Reason uses 32-bit floating point arithmetic for all internal audio operations which ensures the highest possible resolution throughout the signal chain.
The program supports 16, 20, and 24 bit audio output.
The program supports sampling frequencies from 22kHz to 96kHz.

[Assault]

Originally Posted by sameal

I LOOOOOOVVVVEE reason. only i hate version 4's edit window. still can't get into it. tried and tried. im staying with 3. call me scared.

i think your gonna face a big pain in the ass with any daw and trying to wire reason into it. cubase for example is like a rubix cube.

i would like to get some feedback on record as well. im curious myself. but the lack of midi is VERY disappointing.

I hated version 4 edit window but forced myself to use it....complained and complained and now I'm used to it and actually find it a bit more productive and prefer it over the old system. You should give it a chance, it will grow on you.


As far as record goes.....its just reason with the ability to record and edit audio files. Not much more.

I rewire reason into Ableton Live everytime I use it. Its as simple as opening ableton then reason and then changing the input of a channel in ableton to the corresponding reason rewire channel. Done.

Ableton is nice and simple which helps alot with workflow. Only thing I find lacking in ableton is the lack of sysex support. I think this is mainly due to the fact they have made it so easy to map any midi cc to any parameter in ableton. I'm sure other people will have other issues with Ableton but I love it.

[Big Jinx]

Originally Posted by Mr.Cheese

Oh, I definitely feel you bro, and considering pro tools le and m-powered only allow 32 mono or 16 stereo audio tracks, it's kind of a bummer

Protools 8 allows 48 tracks stereo/mono

[KevWest]

Originally Posted by talontsiawd

Yeah, I just figured that out a few hours ago. I don't get how they can claim it as such an extensive program, or even a recording program without this feature. It does suck too because I went out to GC and found that configuring your I/O on the fly is very easy and quick. It really does everything well, just no midi tracks. Propellerhead just pisses me off like that sometimes.

I think they were trying to target a new audience and failed miserably. They took a chance and it failed. They should have just called Record Reason 5. I think they realize this now and are marketing it as such for the most part but they still are trying to tell people how useful Record is standalone. Its just most of us don't believe them

[KevWest]

Originally Posted by sameal

I LOOOOOOVVVVEE reason. only i hate version 4's edit window. still can't get into it. tried and tried. im staying with 3. call me scared.

i think your gonna face a big pain in the ass with any daw and trying to wire reason into it. cubase for example is like a rubix cube.

i would like to get some feedback on record as well. im curious myself. but the lack of midi is VERY disappointing.

You can use midi in record its just not having midi out is what sucks. Record is basically just an add on for Reason. So everything you did before in Reason is still possible in Record

[Illmo]

Originally Posted by KevWest

I think they were trying to target a new audience and failed miserably. They took a chance and it failed. They should have just called Record Reason 5. I think they realize this now and are marketing it as such for the most part but they still are trying to tell people how useful Record is standalone. Its just most of us don't believe them

SO Record failed because YOU say so?As a Record user/owner , I can say that it is sick, and does what its supposed to do. Its not supposed to be a PT replacement, it is designed to get quality audio recordings easily and quickly. And as far as record being and "add on for Reason", thats BS too, because anyone who owns both Record and reason will tell you that they way they work with Record is not the same way they worked with Reason.Record has a much better work flow to it....period.BTW, as a mixing platform, I think Record is the best out, even though it doesnt support eternal/cpu heavy plugins.

[krusty]

Originally Posted by CRACKPIPE

Reason's 32 bit floating, bruh.

Yes, but I believe he is confusing the actual program with the refills. Some of the refill sounds are indeed 16 bit, while others are 24. Nothing wrong with the 16, but some will argue for hours on other forums about Reason's "bad sound quality", mostly due to a bias against the 16 bit refills.

[KevWest]

Originally Posted by Illmo

SO Record failed because YOU say so?As a Record user/owner , I can say that it is sick, and does what its supposed to do. Its not supposed to be a PT replacement, it is designed to get quality audio recordings easily and quickly. And as far as record being and "add on for Reason", thats BS too, because anyone who owns both Record and reason will tell you that they way they work with Record is not the same way they worked with Reason.Record has a much better work flow to it....period.BTW, as a mixing platform, I think Record is the best out, even though it doesnt support eternal/cpu heavy plugins.

Cool. Im glad you have an opinion that I guess makes mine irrelevant. After beta testing Record for months I decided not to buy it because at the end of the day for those of us with DAWs Record isn't offering much that the DAW doesn't already bring to the table. Its great as a Reason add on. I never used Record in a different way than I use Reason because Record is Reason they just added new features like any other Reason update. Hell Props were sending emails out like 2 months ago about how Record is the ultimate Reason upgrade. They don't know wtf to do with this thing because people aren't buying it because its a crippled daw.

[3rd Degree]

Originally Posted by KevWest

its a crippled daw.

This is the truth. I went into the store with every intention of buying it. I had beta tested it so I knew that there were some things I liked, some I didn't. But it is just really a reason add on for me. Sure, you can record, even use it stand alone, but for someone like me, it doesn't work.

I love reason and it still is probably a decent upgrade for me. But, I am just perplexed that it lacks basic daw features. This really could have expanded my world and work flow. It is kind of like the Machine which could have done alot for me with a few things differently. Something like a midi out is not a small deal when you have a daw. It is a deal breaker, no question. I will stand by this and I am glad someone agrees. I will continue to use my hardware alone and my software alone until somone comes up with a good comprimise. I refuse to rewire because it really doesn't help me work quickly. I spend 6-10 hours on a beat already, not that I really have to but I do. I won't spend another 2 trying to force things when they don't mesh well. This should have been simple, I am disappointed.

[KevWest]

Originally Posted by talontsiawd

This is the truth. I went into the store with every intention of buying it. I had beta tested it so I knew that there were some things I liked, some I didn't. But it is just really a reason add on for me. Sure, you can record, even use it stand alone, but for someone like me, it doesn't work.

I love reason and it still is probably a decent upgrade for me. But, I am just perplexed that it lacks basic daw features. This really could have expanded my world and work flow. It is kind of like the Machine which could have done alot for me with a few things differently. Something like a midi out is not a small deal when you have a daw. It is a deal breaker, no question. I will stand by this and I am glad someone agrees. I will continue to use my hardware alone and my software alone until somone comes up with a good comprimise. I refuse to rewire because it really doesn't help me work quickly. I spend 6-10 hours on a beat already, not that I really have to but I do. I won't spend another 2 trying to force things when they don't mesh well. This should have been simple, I am disappointed.

Wow 6 to 10 hours on 1 beat? I cant imagine it. I might spend 2 hours on 1 beat and thats if I am having troubles

[sameal]

yeah, i found myself wondering what record was actually gonna do better for me then my d.a.w. im thinking if anything, my d.a.w. would probably accomplish things better.

[3rd Degree]

Originally Posted by KevWest

Wow 6 to 10 hours on 1 beat? I cant imagine it. I might spend 2 hours on 1 beat and thats if I am having troubles

Well, it only takes me about 30 min to make 90% of the beat assuming I have the sample already. It then takes me another30 min to 2 hours to add all the little stuff that nobody will really notice. I also am including the time it takes me to find a sample, listen to it 4-10 times before I record and decide what I want to do with it. Then mixing takes awhile too.

[sameal]

it usually takes me a few hours to smooth out the drum beats in my music too. make them flow right. get the background synths and things in there.

[KevWest]

Originally Posted by talontsiawd

Well, it only takes me about 30 min to make 90% of the beat assuming I have the sample already. It then takes me another30 min to 2 hours to add all the little stuff that nobody will really notice. I also am including the time it takes me to find a sample, listen to it 4-10 times before I record and decide what I want to do with it. Then mixing takes awhile too.

oh ok you take that whole time looking for samples and count it against you. I am more so listening to music and when I find something dope that I want to sample I just sample it and make the beat. Im actually bad about listening to a song hearing a dope loop and saying ill loop this later and forgetting about it

[Illmo]

Originally Posted by KevWest

oh ok you take that whole time looking for samples and count it against you. I am more so listening to music and when I find something dope that I want to sample I just sample it and make the beat. Im actually bad about listening to a song hearing a dope loop and saying ill loop this later and forgetting about it

Eureka!This is where we differ in our music creation....My production consists of REAL instruments(I sample too, but live guitar and drums are the shit).So for me, its not just an "add on" for reason, its an all in one production suite. Prior to Record, I had to rewire to PT or cubase, which is a pain in the ass. Now I can do a whole song, start to finish, in one program, quickly.