Product Reviews

Having a top-specification recording studio inside a PC is a fairly new concept, but standards are already in place to allow different types of software to work together. An audio sequencer such as Cubase or Sonar provides the essential recording and mixing tools, which can be augmented with virtual synthesisers and effects in the form of VST or DirectX plug-ins.

Propellerhead has its own way of doing things. Reason is a closed system with a high-quality but non-expandable set of synthesisers. Its mixing facilities and effects are well specified but, again, they cannot be expanded. The sequencer used to record performances and arrange tracks offers only basic MIDI editing and no audio recording/editing facilities. As such, it's not possible to record or import live performances made with a microphone. However, Reason can run in tandem with another audio sequencer that supports ReWire (including Cubase and Sonar), so it acts as a plug-in. ReWire doesn't integrate the two programs as neatly as VST or DirectX plug-in technology, though.

Reason's unorthodox approach is offset by some of the best-sounding synthesisers available. Its analogue-style and granular synthesisers sound gutsy and powerful and the collection of samplers, which specialise in drum hits, drum loops and tuned instruments, come with classy, fresh sample libraries and plenty of sound-sculpting potential. The general-purpose sampler and its orchestral sound bank are highlights and they compare well to standalone programs that cost as much as the entire Reason

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package.

MULTIPLE CHOICE

Version 3 comes with a Combinator module. This provides a shell in which other modules can be layered and connected in just about any conceivable way. It's now possible to play two or more synthesiser modules at once from the same MIDI keyboard. The preset library shows how powerful the Combinator is and there is a stunning array of rich, exciting sounds. Reason already offered flexible signal routing with its virtual patch cords, but the Combinator makes it easier to get stuck into experimental sound design.

The other key update is the MClass Mastering Suite. This comprises EQ, compression, stereo width and limiting effects. These are great for processing finished mixes, and the EQ and compression modules in particular are handy for processing individual sounds.

There are so many synth modules to choose from, you can now browse the presets by sound type, regardless of which module created it. Best of all, simply clicking on a name loads the preset for instant auditioning. This eliminates the rigmarole of loading a module, browsing its presets, then deleting it to try a different module's presets. Another great timesaver is support for a wide range of MIDI controllers and keyboards. The software automatically recognised our Edirol keyboard and assigned functions without any effort. Reassigning controls to other functions is straightforward, too.

The MIDI sequencer is also straightforward. It's fine for most purposes and elegantly handles controller data for recording knob tweaks and mix automation. But niceties such as groove quantising are absent. Reason's main weakness is its inability to record audio alongside MIDI performances.

What Reason can do, it does brilliantly. It's inspiring and fun to use and we wish it was the only piece of software we needed to take a project from start to finish. For those writing purely electronic music, this may be the case. However, anyone who wants to add a live vocal or guitar part will also need a ReWire-compatible host program. But the quality and breadth of Reason's synthesisers mean it's still money well spent.