quote:

Originally posted by EddieZilker It's likely the cheapest, easiest means for someone to be able to teach themselves the craft and, while certainly not a replacement for tutorial instruction, it basically wraps almost every concept there is to know in music production into a convenient, user-friendly package.

Yes, its great as for limited, all-in-one, collection of instruments and effects, with a sequencer, out. But cheap?

Just look what I put. Podium, Reaper, EnergyXT are much cheaper AND they have better audio handling. And for effects, there is better freeware out there. U liked RV7000 reverb sound? U like mclass processing? I didnt. Knowing some algorithmic reverbs that are free are sounding better and knowing about free impulse respone for free convolution reverbs.

So with one of these sequencers, you will have like 350€ left for additional stuff, as Reason costs around 400€ and you would just pay 50€ for the sequencers I put. I dont wanna start here what synths you could get for that.

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Originally posted by Coyke Yes, its great as for limited, all-in-one, collection of instruments and effects, with a sequencer, out. But cheap? Just look what I put. Podium, Reaper, EnergyXT are much cheaper AND they have better audio handling. And for effects, there is better freeware out there. U liked RV7000 reverb sound? U like mclass processing? I didnt. Knowing some algorithmic reverbs that are free are sounding better and knowing about free impulse respone for free convolution reverbs. So with one of these sequencers, you will have like 350€ left. I dont wanna start here what synths you could get for that.

The free stuff, like pirated warez, comes with very limited support.

Reaper, and the Cockos plug-ins (I used them extensively with Project 5) might actually be a good recommendation, though. Still - not as simple as Reason, but really, if one applies themselves, that shouldn't be a factor.

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Now with extra singles!
my old stuff, not quite up to snuff - but I still dig it - UPDATED 9/23/2012

I have to agree with one thing. When you start, quality isnt that much of an issue as when you develope and get more experience and you are actually able to hear some differences, like with compressors.

Reaplugs come to mind, as they also avaible for anyone else with a host that is able to run vst and they are good.

And about support issues. I know a lot of freeware developers who are permanently bringing updates and also, did you know what happend to Kjaerhus Audio who was developing commercial plugins? He just disappeard and the URL expired, without any information that this is going to happen. Not even now after like 6 months, developer was up to giving any statement to that. What I wanna say, this can happen to any software, any time, not only freeware. And now there are customers out there, who paid for the stuff and have problems. Maybe his business went down of warez users, who knows.

From all the points that are important to me - Reason isnt cheap and not good for a "have a look", compared to the money you pay for it, if you can get the same / better results, maybe with more work, with something else for free and cheaper and 2nd, I never would say to anyone "just download the crack."

Would you recommend to anyone to start smoking, if you smoke yourself? No, you wouldnt because you know it aint right.

Just my 2 cents

I think that a person starting out has no idea what she/he might like and using cracked copies can give the person an idea of which direction they want to go. Buy it if you like it but I really don't recommend on a whim spending 500$ on something you might not ever use. I guess i'm not pandering to some kids naivety. And i'm also not a hypocrite.

Actually , to be fair, I did buy my first version of cubase. VST 32 and all my synths were hardware. So I suppose i did buy everything but I still would of had the option to try things out before hand. And I amassed a 20 000 debt. So I suppose I am on the person saving money side. But when I went to school and sold my synths and relied on all software, it was all cracks. Big deal.

quote:

Originally posted by Coyke Trust me, been using it for like 8 years only. Switched to another host in the beginning of this year. Its like black / white to me. I think if you are really into this, dont waste your time with Reason.

I switched to Ableton and Cubase after a year of using Reason and had no problems at all. I made a loop in an hour.

But I'm still mostly using Reason because I find its sequencer the best for writing ideas down really fast.

quote:

Originally posted by Saint John Well I'm a DJ, and I've always wanted to produce. The only thing though, is I don't know that much about music theory and all that jazz. I used to play a little piano when I was in high school, but nothing really special. Will I be heavily handicapped for not having much musical history, what should I do if I want to start to produce and what not.

I use Reaper, Reason and Ableton live.

I use Reaper to record audio, audio editing, rewire host and plug-ins (vst)(wave ssl).

I use Reason as my main writing tool and for 80% of my sounds! I love the redrum instrument in Reason to do all my drum beats.

Ableton live I use for stems / audio loops I get or make to make a quick song.
Also use it to dj some times or make mashups.

For some good drums sounds google FREE ROLAND TR-909 TR-808 samples!

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Trance Addict 4 LIFE!

quote:

Dr.DRE "It's not the equipment....it's the muthaf@#%r running it"

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Originally posted by Pagan-za Fighting online is like winning the special Olympics. Even if you win, you're still retarded.

instead of downloading faulty cracks of Reason id go and download Reaper (www.repear.fm), a "free" and very functional daw with MUCH better possibilities than Reason, though with abit limited included instruments. get some free VSTs (like Synth1) to fill in whats missing in Reaper (mostly a synth) and play around with it. Reaper is alot more like the other big daws (Cubase, Logic, Sonar) compared to Reason which is like on its own.

I would not recomend Reason for anyone to start with eventhough its a great app with great included instruments, u sort of stay very closed minded in it and have not a clue whats going on in the real world as it doesnt support plugins, hardware, midi-out, audio-in or none of that shit. It might get u pretty far but as soon ur feeling it limits you need to start on rock bottom again in a new environment totally different to what u are used to in Reason, no mather what daw u end up with. Reaper is much better that way, and also its sound is great.

Reason is an additional tool, not a complete setup imo. Ive learned that now, after being closed minded since 2003, when I first got Reason. It was a great ride but now I have to start on bottom again in a totaly new way of working because ive addapted to the way stuff works in Reason which is nothing like other stuff works. Poor writing I know.

edit: i think its about time Propellerhead release their instruments as VSTs because they are totally great and I want them inside Logic without using the stupid rewire-technology. Its the actual daw/sequencer/rack in Reason i dont like anymore, the separate instruments are awesome (Thor, Malstroem, Subtractor, Redrum, Scream).

Last edited by Zak McKracken on Aug-29-2010 at 18:56

I can't see any problem with starting out with reason, it has everything you'll need, it's what i started with.. Yes i can understand people's points as i have now moved on to live and ditched reason, but it was an easy switch to make, wasn't like starting all over again, it was taking the next step if you like..
I found using and learning the subtractor a big help when it came to using vst synths for the first time.. I had a good idea of how to use them and what did what, where i feel if i started the otherway round i would have been switching from one vst to the other without gaining any knowledge on how to use them.. I suppose what im trying to say is reason forces you to learn as your restricted with its own tools, a good thing imo!!

Download a cracked copy, if you like it, buy it!!(or not, it's up to you)

my opinions are always biased by my own experience so u might be right. it was just how i look at it. Reason was great for me to start with, but i should have switched earlier.

I personally found Reason extremely confusing as I started with Cubase but I always had a more traditional sense of how a studio worked and cubase made more sense as I had synths and external effects. I tried reason just to see what the fuss was about and it was just confusing but I can see how it would be great for someone to learn on as it restricts what you can do which is really important when you are learning. Otherwise you will just start collecting every single vst on the planet never getting anywhere.

quote:

Originally posted by Mad for Brad I personally found Reason extremely confusing as I started with Cubase but I always had a more traditional sense of how a studio worked and cubase made more sense as I had synths and external effects. I tried reason just to see what the fuss was about and it was just confusing but I can see how it would be great for someone to learn on as it restricts what you can do which is really important when you are learning. Otherwise you will just start collecting every single vst on the planet never getting anywhere.

I agree wholeheartedly, and less is more!

hi there Sinnica, long time