Reason in Hip Hop / Rap

[ill Factor]

Just curious to see what the Hip hop/ Rap community is rocking for sequencing.. I Myself have switch from my MPc2000XL to PropellerHEad's REASON software about 3 years ago. Iam loving the switch. just wondering if anyone out there is using it and how do they feel about it.

ill Factor

www.illfactormusic.com

[BigAl]

Reason is cool and that Rex player is tight. What I like about Reason is that you can put beats together really fast with effects and all. Then fill in your beat beats with that Rex player is like icing on the cake.

Here is a trick. For stereo, put left on one channel and right on another channel channel (L & R on seperate channel): pan hard L and hard R. It sounds even better to me. Try it.

[beatzz]

u can't emulates the mpc's swing in reaon, that's a major downer for me....

sure u can have mpc swing templates, but i dont like the process because i like having differeent swing settings on differenct tracks, and i find the interface for swing not as "immediate as the mpc"

note: i don't own an mpc, but i have tried one and liked the interface much better, even though reason is pretty easy to learn as well.

[PhonoquO]

i used to use reason when i first started, mainly making dance tracks. After trying cubase and vsti's and vst effects, i realized that the reason audio engine is wack. Everything sounds muffled or constricted out of reason. I started rewiring it to cubase for a while, but grew tired of all the extra work to get a good sound that i could get right away in cubase. Reason is a great sketching tool, but doesn't cut it for me to get my hip hop bangin and pro soundin.

peace

[ill Factor]

I hear what your saying about the fidelity of reason.... it does have a blan quality of sound to it like no characteristics to it. I for one try routing the ouputs of reason to an outboard pre amp then back to the DAW... but yea i have been using for a bit done some major work with it as well like on the Ginuwine album i used reason but iam growing bored of the quailty of sound....i really love the mehtod of working on it thought but iam kinda stuck so i might stick with Cubase SX and Kontak (NI)

-ill Factor

[XHipHop]

Right now i'm on a Reason high. I got a bunch of sonic refills and started programing a lot of my own patches and I love making tracks in conjunction with Logic.

Hmm...maybe I should release a custom refill with my patches.

[ill Factor]

Yea the hard pan drum splitting is a good idea... BUt i found a good way to bypass the muffel reason algorythym. I bus the hardware outputs to my outborad mixer.. and pretty Soon my Dangerous 2Bus.. but anyways try routing the outputs into outboard gear to beef up the sound..

I am although ganna start leaning towards Kontak and cubase

-ill Factor
www.illfactormusic.com

[BigAl]

Originally Posted by ill Factor

but anyways try routing the outputs into outboard gear to beef up the sound..

-ill Factor
www.illfactormusic.com

Oh Yeah...You know how it's done.
Cubase and Kontakt is Heaven. That's all you need and nothing else.

Man I got a shit load of reason refills. (I dont even think I put reason on this computer) I may check into them again. I always hated the sound of the engine though

In comparison to the MPC4k (There is no comparison) soundwise.

I'm a drum machine man, though I stopped using the 2000xl/3000 because I needed better integration with the computer. (I was beginning to do everything ITB)

Now that I have the 4k linked up, I feel like I'm still staying ITB but with the convenience of an MPC

[Smitty Boy]

I use Reason because that's all I really know. I had an MPC 2000XL, but it was to slow for me. I use Reason with Logic 7.1 via ReWire. I have ready-made templates, so I knock out beats much faster. Reason does sound muffled by itself, but I never use it by itself. Without Logic, I wouldn't even use Reason. In my studio, they go hand and hand.

[aintnosunshine]

berkleemusic.com has a 'Producing Hip Hop with Reason' class. Anybody got the scoop on it?

[ozzborn]

Originally Posted by XHipHop

Right now i'm on a Reason high. I got a bunch of sonic refills and started programing a lot of my own patches and I love making tracks in conjunction with Logic.

Hmm...maybe I should release a custom refill with my patches.

i have alot of refills and over 100 sample cds, let me know if you want to trade.

theconceptonline@yahoo.com

[I play in a ban]

I just use BFD for drums, trilogy for bass, Triton, various soft synths and sample my own instruments (guitar mainly).

Programmed in Sonar 5 Piano Roll....gets the job done

[Tibbon]

Originally Posted by aintnosunshine

berkleemusic.com has a 'Producing Hip Hop with Reason' class. Anybody got the scoop on it?

From what I have seen, almost all of Berklee's online classes right now are downright useless and watered down. They mean well, but they aren't there yet. I'd rather just take the classes at Berklee Truthfully, Berklee is probably just doing it to generate money, and to finally say that they have classes online. Maybe soon they will be there, but not yet.

I have seen and heard a few really good things come out of reason. I haven't been able to make anything come out of it that's decent. Maybe i'm treating it too much like "Real Hardware" and using all of the wrong (right?) techniques on it. It always sounds dull, undynamic, boring. Like a guitar with a plywood body and dead strings. Or the difference between an Apogee and a Digi001 (using the 002 myself at the moment, but you gotta deal with budgets at times).

I'm just feeling that software stuff like this isn't quite there yet. It will be, and probably sooner than we think. Most of the built in softsynths in Logic Pro are REALLY good. I'm still mixed on the drum machine, but then again i'm not sure if I expect it to really compete with high end drum machines, for the interface or the sound. I find it REALLY hard to make a decent soundbank quickly in it (Logic's drummachine). And they never come through in the mix the way I want. The FM7 is a great example of a Softsynth done perfectly. It's bigger, more routable, better sounding AND a better interface than the original DX7. It does a few things 'technically wrong', but so be it. It works.

I personally stay away from reason like the plague. Buy an 808, 909, Joemox, Machinedrum, or Vermouna, and put it with an MPC and you have so much more soundscape wise.

Then again, I also hate tritons.

[BigAl]

Originally Posted by Tibbon

Then again, I also hate tritons.

People made big $$$ with the Triton, but it seems like it was only me that thought the Triton sux. I thought the converter was wacked in it or something. I never liked it, but that just me though. I quest I'm not alone.

[ill Factor]

Yea i agree i never was hooked on the triton even when i owned the triton rack mount...wasnt digging it much...

[illynoise]

Originally Posted by Smitty Boy

I use Reason because that's all I really know. I had an MPC 2000XL, but it was to slow for me. I use Reason with Logic 7.1 via ReWire. I have ready-made templates, so I knock out beats much faster. Reason does sound muffled by itself, but I never use it by itself. Without Logic, I wouldn't even use Reason. In my studio, they go hand and hand.

what can reason do that logic doesn't?

BaseJase
Illynoise

[XHipHop]

Originally Posted by illynoise

what can reason do that logic doesn't?

BaseJase
Illynoise

I use reason the same way. To answer your question, nothing. But what can a Roland synth do that a Korg synth doesn't? Different strokes for different folks. You use what you like and what sounds inspire you.

[illynoise]

Originally Posted by XHipHop

I use reason the same way. To answer your question, nothing. But what can a Roland synth do that a Korg synth doesn't? Different strokes for different folks. You use what you like and what sounds inspire you.

I'm saying, why use something that basically you don't have to, Logic does everything, their ain't no comparison. I've used reason, and it's a good program, but it's like using cubase on one computer and syncing it to another with Logic. Why? You can't tell me that reason can bang out beats better than logic either, Logic is pretty fast.

BaseJase
Illynoise

[Smitty Boy]

Originally Posted by illynoise

I'm saying, why use something that basically you don't have to, Logic does everything, their ain't no comparison. I've used reason, and it's a good program, but it's like using cubase on one computer and syncing it to another with Logic. Why? You can't tell me that reason can bang out beats better than logic either, Logic is pretty fast.

BaseJase
Illynoise

I guess it depends on the person.

[XHipHop]

Originally Posted by illynoise

I'm saying, why use something that basically you don't have to, Logic does everything, their ain't no comparison. I've used reason, and it's a good program, but it's like using cubase on one computer and syncing it to another with Logic. Why? You can't tell me that reason can bang out beats better than logic either, Logic is pretty fast.

BaseJase
Illynoise

I just happen to like the sounds I have in reason so I need to access them somehow.

People spend $1500 for a synth with 128 mb of stock sounds...i probably have about 8gb in logic right now and i spent about $500 total. It has become a great tone module for me.

[Maddstone]

Yeah, I agree, different strokes for diff folks.Sometimes a setup thats quicker and much more efficient doesnt inspire another using a slow roundabout setup.Its all in what u want and like.

Btw, J.Rotem's been using Reason too.Also, peeps around the way use whatever they like to make their music.Many ppl have realized the limitations of one, and then integrated it with another.Btw, there's this production team called Bulldozer Studio's specializing ina variety of musical aspects, but their bread and butter is electronica and killer drum 'n Bass.Like that Dilinger DnB.They use Nuendo and a host of wonderful vst's.They also used to use Reason, but found it restrictive.Btw, these are peeps that did everything the developers did, and then took it a step further. thumbsup

[STARSKI]

RIGHT NOW IM USING REASON AS A SAMPLER AND SOUND MODULE, I CHOP ALL MY SAMPLES IN RECYCLE AND USE THEM IN THE NNXT SAMPLER ON REASON. I ALSO USE SOME OF THE REASON SOUNDS AND REFILLS, WHEN TRACKING INTO PROTOOLS I GO OUT OF MY CONVERTORS AND PUT THE SOUNDS INTO MY NEVE PRES AND POSSIBLY SOME OUTBOARD GEAR. I SAMPLE INTO IT THRU MY UA 2192 SO I AM FEELING LIKE THE SAMPLES SOUND COOL. ONE PROBLEM I DO HAVE IS THE LATENCY IN REASON IS MORE THAN MY MPC SOUNDS AND SYNTHS SO I ALWAYS HAVE TO SLIDE MY REASON SOUNDS BACKWARDS TO LINE THEM UP, MAKES IT KIND OF A PAIN IN THE ASS BUT ITS STILL PRETTY CONVENIENT TO USE THE SAMPLER COMPARED TO MY S3000XL. I USUALLY CHOP HUGE SAMPLES INTO LIKE 20-40 PIECES SO ITS PRETTY CONVENIENT TO USE RECYLCE. ANYWAYS THATS MY SETUP. OH AND I SEQUENCE IN MPC 60 TO ME THE BEST FEELING SEQUENCER THERE IS.

[JHOOKS]

in my humble mind, i think that the mpc has the best timing, not to mention i love the way you can hold the tempo botton down and trigger the hell out of you high hats! i switch to reason, after using a mpc2xl for years, but now im kind of sick of the quality and of the weak timing in reason. i started to use nuendo for making beats, but even there i run into timing issues, maybe because i have a tascam 1884 interface which i think use's alot of power to run(latency issues)? what im going to do is buy a mpc1000 and use it soley for drum seq'sing and use nuendo for recording the other intruments. i think that'll be the best of both words! sync me up baby!!!!

[Tibbon]

Originally Posted by illynoise

what can reason do that logic doesn't?

BaseJase
Illynoise

I think it should be the other way around. Logic is FAR more powerful than Reason can ever hope to be.

Just a few things off the top of my head

1) Custom Midi environments/Custom Environments in general
2) Surround Mixing
3) Better external instrument integration
4) More open sound processing options (AU's, more sample libraries, etc...)
5) Video support
6) SMPTE support

[PhonoquO]

If anyone is feeling recycle, then u should definitely check out Phatmatik Pro, the dopest sample chopper ever, murks the mpc as well.

[Angus_FX]

A lot of people are loving this for the beats side of hip hop sequencing:-
http://www.fxpansion.com/product-guru-main.php

Download the demo & take it for a spin!

Best,
Angus.

[themaestro]

i started out producing on an mpc60II then moved up thru the mp series and ran thru all the korg and roland boards. i ended up on the motif es7 and started messing around in reason. honestly, i dont like to sequence my drums on anything BUT reason now. I use to love the motif for my drums because i could load in all of my samples and spread them out across the board, but reason takes the cake now! i have a folder set up with all of my drums and fx and i use them thru the redrum or the nnxt. i still use the motif es for the majority of my keyboard sounds, but reason has definitely refined my production style

[con?one]

my primary sequencing set up is an MPC3000 (or 2000xl) a Fantom XR and an E-Mu e4 platinum.

[biziness]

reasons is tight as hell but the sound is so thin as compared to the mpc. it is alot ewasier to put your ideas down though. i just think that drums in reasons don't cut it. you've got to do so much work to the drums whenever you run them through reasons that it's easier to use the mpc for the drums and the reasons as a synth module