Reason 6.....worth it?

[3rd Degree]

Reason 6 is a pretty big change from Reason 5, it depends on the user if they like it or not. Being a Reason user since 2.0, one major change in workflow is the new mixer. It was in Record and actually turned me off of Record. Though it is really great and works well, you really have to get used to it. It's really challenging to not use the new mixer, one thing that isn't common in Reason. Usually they add things and let you move on to the new stuff as you please. The SSL mixer is not the case. Sure, you don't have to use it but it is actually more challenging, IMO, to not use it. So, it took me a few weeks to learn and I still wish I could "bypass" it, or it had some function to not use it like a "classic mode" or something.


On the flip side, you get basically a full DAW, minus full midi integration. Only midi in still, no midi out functionality. The effects are now fully comprehensive to where most people would likely not need to rewire for anything (not that I did that before but many do). If you learn the new effects, and old, you can do damn near everything in Reason.

I would just go for it, it gave me some headaches learning the new stuff but now that I am comfortable, it doesn't bug me. I still don't think it is as intuitive as it should be but that is Propellerhead for you. Right now, Reason 6 is all I use, outside of Recycle, the live sampling isn't comprehensive enough for how much I chop.

[skoolafish]

Originally Posted by sameal

from what version?

i love the alligator. the pulverizer is just a lame distortion box that honestly, the scream 4 still works better in my opinion. the integration is great.


however it only made sense to me to upgrade at the name your own price rate, because going from 5 to 6 is an update, not a full version. they did SOME integration and gave you really only one useful device. sure, they gave a butt load of new presets, but who cares honest, there presets.

they totally ignored the most important things. group channels, midi out and recycle integration. stuff people have been screaming about here, and at there own forum.

i agree with every single point you made here..except i got the upgrade free

[KevWest]

Originally Posted by 3rd Degree

Reason 6 is a pretty big change from Reason 5, it depends on the user if they like it or not. Being a Reason user since 2.0, one major change in workflow is the new mixer. It was in Record and actually turned me off of Record. Though it is really great and works well, you really have to get used to it. It's really challenging to not use the new mixer, one thing that isn't common in Reason. Usually they add things and let you move on to the new stuff as you please. The SSL mixer is not the case. Sure, you don't have to use it but it is actually more challenging, IMO, to not use it. So, it took me a few weeks to learn and I still wish I could "bypass" it, or it had some function to not use it like a "classic mode" or something.


On the flip side, you get basically a full DAW, minus full midi integration. Only midi in still, no midi out functionality. The effects are now fully comprehensive to where most people would likely not need to rewire for anything (not that I did that before but many do). If you learn the new effects, and old, you can do damn near everything in Reason.

I would just go for it, it gave me some headaches learning the new stuff but now that I am comfortable, it doesn't bug me. I still don't think it is as intuitive as it should be but that is Propellerhead for you. Right now, Reason 6 is all I use, outside of Recycle, the live sampling isn't comprehensive enough for how much I chop.

u could just route the 16:2 mixer to the main outs bypassing the master section entirely. Then when u create new instruments they will automatically route to the old mixer create your template and you are good to go just like always.

[tsutek]

Just demoed reason 6 today.. I have to say I'm very impressed!

I was a reason fanboy up until version 2.5.. Which was when I started to feel the Reason environment as too restricting in terms of sound quality. Hadn't been following the improvements in the program until now..

The new mixer / channelstrips are a superb improvement over the old mixer paradigm. Add to that the regroove engine, Thor (4 audio ins for FM etc!!), Kong with all that drum synthesis goodness.. Just beautiful! And the stuff that I can pull off without killing my modest c2d cpu is just over the top! The upgrade price is pretty sweet too.. I'm pretty sure I gotta get back on board

[BigAl10]

All I can say is that I am still using Reason 4! FTW!

[3rd Degree]

Originally Posted by KevWest

u could just route the 16:2 mixer to the main outs bypassing the master section entirely. Then when u create new instruments they will automatically route to the old mixer create your template and you are good to go just like always.

Yeah, I didn't think of routing it like that. The new mixer doesn't bug me any more but it was a quick thing to adapt to when I first started using Reason 6. I actually avoided using Record because of the mixer. I use all the sends and EQ's, even on the old mixer so it was a challenge to learn, though better, was kind of thrown in your face if you had used the program. I didn't think of routing it that way, though I am glad I made myself get comfortable with the new setup, sometimes I still wish it just had a "classic" mode for simpler projects.

[poshook]

longtime Logic user here. I am very impressed by Reason 6. Great workflow, stability and sound.

[nlduhon]

Originally Posted by BigAl10

All I can say is that I am still using Reason 4! FTW!

Reason 6 sound quality is miles beyond version 5 and below. Get with 6 mane.

[evilpeezy]

I wear I tried every single thing possible to like reason. Just was way to complicated for a software beat making program. FL is much easier to me then this program. I hear good things coming out of it tho. I'll stick to hardware, but I would love to atleast learn the program

[miscend]

Originally Posted by evilpeezy

I wear I tried every single thing possible to like reason. Just was way to complicated for a software beat making program. FL is much easier to me then this program. I hear good things coming out of it tho. I'll stick to hardware, but I would love to atleast learn the program

Really. So what do you think of Logic, Reaper or Cubase?

[Sampire]

ok so I officially upgraded.

and guess what? I made a beat AND laid vocals down ALL UP IN THAT MOTHERF***ER!!!

and I'm going to stay in said motherf***er, mix that sh*t down and I AIN'T LEAVING!!

one stop shop plz. Thanks

I'm not seeing many new patches like I expected...

For some REASON though, all of the old patches just seem to sound better.....unless I'm imagining that.

I was really hoping for a bunch of new patches and especially new Kong kits.......I love Kong.....so fun

[KevWest]

Originally Posted by evilpeezy

I wear I tried every single thing possible to like reason. Just was way to complicated for a software beat making program. FL is much easier to me then this program. I hear good things coming out of it tho. I'll stick to hardware, but I would love to atleast learn the program

Never got how someone can use hardware and not get Reason. Reason works like hardware or if u want to keep it simple its create a device load a patch and start playing lol

Originally Posted by Sampire

ok so I officially upgraded.

and guess what? I made a beat AND laid vocals down ALL UP IN THAT MOTHERF***ER!!!

and I'm going to stay in said motherf***er, mix that sh*t down and I AIN'T LEAVING!!

one stop shop plz. Thanks

I'm not seeing many new patches like I expected...

For some REASON though, all of the old patches just seem to sound better.....unless I'm imagining that.

I was really hoping for a bunch of new patches and especially new Kong kits.......I love Kong.....so fun

The new mixer does sound better and it shows on your old patches. Also they added over 3000 new sounds. Here is a list. Propellerhead - Reason - Sounds
I have also created a refill with 3 Kong Kits 2 Redrum Kits and a few combinators and NNXTs for free download. Download it at KevWestbeats.com under the sounds tab

[Sampire]

peezy,

I can't lie man, when I first tried to get into Reason years ago, I took one look and hated it, had no sweet clue where to even start lol I cam from Fruity Loops which is much more intuitive/ easy to figure out / get started.

Kev,

NICE!! good looking out. You have been bookmarked

So has anybody tried producing, mixing/mastering an entire track start to finish in Reason 6, vocals and all?

EDIT: Kev, the links to the refills on your page are broken

[KevWest]

I have done some hooks over beats in Reason 6 using neptune. I have also done a few remixes but for me no full songs in Reason. Most ofthe time i work with artists who send vocal stems back and forth via dropbox. Also try the refills again in a couple hours. I upgraded my computer and forgot to reinstall drop box so the links have been restored but they will take time to come back all the way.

[Sampire]

Sweet. Will do.

edit: Can anybody tell me why the compressor on the SSL mixer on individual tracks seems to have 0 effect at all? I have it enabled...

[KevWest]

I don't have that problem with the individual compressors. I prefer the Mclass ones though

[bigcohoona]

Just ordered 6... can't wait to tweak!

[RonGherkins]

Originally Posted by KevWest

Never got how someone can use hardware and not get Reason. Reason works like hardware or if u want to keep it simple its create a device load a patch and start playing lol

I'm personally on the exact opposite side of the fence. I never understood why anyone would want to work ITB with the workflow of hardware. It's not really faster once you're itb.

For me, the two biggest strengths of hardware are tactile control, and sound. Reason has no tactile control, and cetainly isn't blowing me away with sound more than other daws (using that term lightly since reason isn't quite a daw imo). It certainly can't do what hardware does in some areas.

I'm a reason 4 and 5 owner, I learned reason (along with a lot of other programs) in school, and I used to produce exclusively in reason so I hope I don't sound like I have my head up my ass because I disagree. I may never have stopped using reason (though I still would have moved on to other programs) had they not pretty much butchered their existing user base for the last two releases AND had that incredibly short sighted (and short lived) record/reason fiasco. Wanting to charge people extra to do what EVERY DAW SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO, and then finally realizing their mistake epically late. I've never had such abysmal customer service in my entire life either, and I have native instruments products.


And then there are the hilarious delayed apologies from the CEO that show a complete lack of business savvy and forethought time after time.

[spiderman]

Originally Posted by nlduhon

Reason 6 sound quality is miles beyond version 5 and below. Get with 6 mane.

Hope that's true b/c the sound quality of Reason 5 was a steaming pile of poop.

[KevWest]

Originally Posted by RonGherkins

I'm personally on the exact opposite side of the fence. I never understood why anyone would want to work ITB with the workflow of hardware. It's not really faster once you're itb.

For me, the two biggest strengths of hardware are tactile control, and sound. Reason has no tactile control, and cetainly isn't blowing me away with sound more than other daws (using that term lightly since reason isn't quite a daw imo). It certainly can't do what hardware does in some areas.

I'm a reason 4 and 5 owner, I learned reason (along with a lot of other programs) in school, and I used to produce exclusively in reason so I hope I don't sound like I have my head up my ass because I disagree. I may never have stopped using reason (though I still would have moved on to other programs) had they not pretty much butchered their existing user base for the last two releases AND had that incredibly short sighted (and short lived) record/reason fiasco. Wanting to charge people extra to do what EVERY DAW SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO, and then finally realizing their mistake epically late. I've never had such abysmal customer service in my entire life either, and I have native instruments products.


And then there are the hilarious delayed apologies from the CEO that show a complete lack of business savvy and forethought time after time.

I hear you on some of these things and not others. One thing Im not following is how the CEO apology was super late? There was an issue that happened at midnight Friday their time and they released an apology about it first thing Monday morning when they found out what was wrong. Sounds pretty quick to me. And they weren't charging you more for Record they offered it as a Reason upgrade if you wanted it with Reason for Record owners that came with a copy of the most recent version of Reason in the box. I also have used both hardware and software and I find hardware more fun to use and I find software to be faster to use. I am not sure that one is better than the other. I make drum kits in Kong a lot faster than I did on my EPS classic, S3000, or Mpc2000. But my Mpc was more fun to use than the others.

[RonGherkins]

Yeah maybe reason 5 is what I was thinking about with the CEO. Reason is great for drums too, and sound design. Whatever works for you right ?

[KevWest]

What happened with Reason 5? I didn't hear anything about that. 5 is by far my favorite Reason update.

[BarbieDoll]

There is a good in-depth review of Reason 6 here-

Propellerhead Reason 6 Review : Reason Tips the Scales - Audiofanzine

[RonGherkins]

They never should have had record be a separate product (yeah, they finally fixed it), and recycle should have been integrated into 5. So many mistakes along the way.

I don't even want to upgrade even though I may go back to making some drums in reason.

Clip Safe is an exclusive feature of Reason and Reason Essentials, but it should be added to many other DAWs. It provides a parallel recording facility, which means that while you're recording an audio source, Reason creates a second recording with less gain. All this is done automatically and invisibly, you just have to click on the Balance button.

Once the recording is done, some small red markers indicate where the audio has clipped during the take. If it ever happens, either click on the CS button or select Clip Safe in the context menu so the overloaded samples are replaced by the alternate recording while their level is automatically adjusted to match the level of your original recording. The only thing you have to know is that this process requires two channels, thus you can record only one instrument at a time.

Hats off Propellerhead!

That's cool if you make a mistake, but really, who can't set levels right to account for that stuff.

Also I hate the lack of drag and drop, always have.

[KevWest]

Originally Posted by RonGherkins

They never should have had record be a separate product (yeah, they finally fixed it), and recycle should have been integrated into 5. So many mistakes along the way.

I don't even want to upgrade even though I may go back to making some drums in reason.


That's cool if you make a mistake, but really, who can't set levels right to account for that stuff.

Also I hate the lack of drag and drop, always have.

The more I think about it and think about how Props do things the more I realize that what they were trying to do was branch out to other kinds of users. They are still branching out to those guys but by putting it all under the Reason umbrella that most people have heard of it gives people a sense of security since to many Reason is a proven product which imo is good at what it does but may not be the best at everything.

[3rd Degree]

Originally Posted by KevWest

The more I think about it and think about how Props do things the more I realize that what they were trying to do was branch out to other kinds of users. They are still branching out to those guys but by putting it all under the Reason umbrella that most people have heard of it gives people a sense of security since to many Reason is a proven product which imo is good at what it does but may not be the best at everything.

Yeah, Record was a stand alone program meant for....recording. It was basically their attempt at a DAW. It just so happened that they decided to not alienate their current users so they allowed Reason to work inside of the program. I am guess that they found very few people used Record without Reason so they just kind of combined them into 6.


Also, Record only cost $15 more (if I remember correctly) than it cost to update from 4 to 5 (and included a free upgrade to Reason 5). Most of us were pretty happy to get essentially a free program. Then if you owned both, Reason 6 was a "pay what you want update" so most of us paid $1. So we all got essentially a free upgrade. I am just saying nobody got ripped off by the Record/Reason thing.


I do agree that Reason should have a Recycle like program inside of it though.

[cal1]

is it worth it? let me work it!

[Sampire]

put your thing down flip it and reverse it? sure, why not

[KevWest]

Originally Posted by 3rd Degree

Yeah, Record was a stand alone program meant for....recording. It was basically their attempt at a DAW. It just so happened that they decided to not alienate their current users so they allowed Reason to work inside of the program. I am guess that they found very few people used Record without Reason so they just kind of combined them into 6.


Also, Record only cost $15 more (if I remember correctly) than it cost to update from 4 to 5 (and included a free upgrade to Reason 5). Most of us were pretty happy to get essentially a free program. Then if you owned both, Reason 6 was a "pay what you want update" so most of us paid $1. So we all got essentially a free upgrade. I am just saying nobody got ripped off by the Record/Reason thing.


I do agree that Reason should have a Recycle like program inside of it though.

I am waiting to see Recycle intergration. I got my Reason 5 upgrade for free too because I bought Record 1.0 which came with Reason 5 and 1.5 updates for free then paid $1 for Reason 6. They did good with me. I even went out and bought balance last month and had i not already upgraded to r6 they would have given me that free too.

[dconerocks]

Originally Posted by syntheticrhyme

I think the upgrade is worth it. You can spend days fiddling with the new effects

hey whats up,where can i get the upgrade for reason,i have 5 now but would love to try 6 new features.