Mac OS X

Any computer that runs Mac OS X version 10.1 or later. A MIDI interface and a MIDI keyboard (or similar).

Mac OS 9

Power Macintosh with 604, 604e, G3 or G4 processor or better (see the note below). 166 MHz or faster. 128 Megabytes of RAM. CD-ROM drive. Mac OS 9.0.4 or later. 256 color monitor (or better), 800x600 or larger. A MIDI interface and a MIDI keyboard (or similar). OMS 2.x or later (included). Reason takes advantage of the Altivec (Velocity Engine) instructions used in the Macintosh G4 processors, which enhance performance. Please observe that Virtual Memory must be deactivated under Mac OS 9.x. With Virtual Memory activated, it will not be possible to run Reason at all!

Windows

Intel Pentium 2 or better. 233 MHz or faster. 64 Megabytes of RAM. CD-ROM drive. Windows 98, ME, 2000 or XP (or later). 256 color monitor (or better), 800x600 or larger. A 16 bit Windows compatible audio card, preferably with an ASIO or DirectX driver. Microsoft DirectX (only if the card supports it). A MIDI interface and a MIDI keyboard (or similar).

About the Audio Hardware

The audio hardware is the computer equipment that converts the digital signals from Reason to analog audio signals (for connection to an amplifier, headphones, or similar). This equipment could be a standard stereo sound card, the built-in audio hardware on a Macintosh or some more advanced audio card with several inputs and outputs, digital connectors, etc. Regardless of which, you need to make sure the hardware and its drivers are properly installed:
If you are using the built-in audio hardware of the Macintosh
In this case you dont need to make any extra settings. Just connect the audio output to your listening equipment (speakers, mixer, headphones or similar) and make sure your Mac plays audio properly, e.g. by testing the alert sounds in the Sound control panel (or the Monitors and Sound control panel, depending on the Mac OS version).
If you are using other audio hardware
You may want to use other audio hardware with Reason (e.g. an audio card with multiple outputs, digital connections, etc.). For this to be possible, the audio hardware must be compatible with the ASIO standard. That is, it must have an ASIO driver, a piece of software that allows Reason to communicate with the card. 1. Make sure you have the latest drivers for the audio hardware! Please check the manufacturers web site for the latest versions. 2. Install the audio hardware and its low level drivers as described in its documentation. 3. Connect the stereo outputs of your audio hardware to your listening equipment (speakers, mixer, headphones or similar). For info about how to use multiple outputs (i.e. more than a stereo output), see the electronic documentation. For now, we stick to standard stereo connections. 4. If possible, test that audio plays back OK with the audio hardware. With some audio hardware, a test application is supplied for this purpose. 5. Locate the ASIO driver for the hardware. After installing Reason, you will need to copy this into Reasons ASIO driver folder (see page 10).

Under Windows no special installation procedure is required, just install the MIDI interface and its drivers as described in the documentation that came with the hardware.

MIDI Connections

Connect a MIDI cable from the MIDI Out on your MIDI keyboard (or other MIDI controller) to a MIDI In on your MIDI interface. This is sufficient to be able to play and record notes and controllers in Reason from the MIDI keyboard. If you have a MIDI interface with more than one input, it is possible to make more advanced MIDI connections - this is described in the electronic documentation.
Mac OS note: Please observe that there are two separate installers - one for Mac OS 9 and one for Mac OS X. Please make sure that you use the correct one.
3. Follow the instructions on screen.
About Installing the Sound Banks
Upgrading vs. New Installations
If you are upgrading from a previous version, please note the following: D Our recommendation is that you uninstall the previous version before installing the new one. Under Windows, please use the Uninstall feature. Under Mac OS, just drag the program files to the Trash. Uninstalling will ensure that there is no confusion between versions and that shortcuts and aliases point to the right files etc. However. D If you install the new version into the same folder as the previous version, the old version will automatically be overwritten. The installer is designed to replace older versions gracefully, but it assumes you are then installing into the same folder. In either case, you will need to redo your Preference settings. D Installing into a new folder. This will preserve your older files and you may be able to run the older version of the program if required. However, Start menu items, aliases and shortcuts will point to the newer version.
During installation, you will be asked whether you want to install the Reason Factory Sound Bank and the Orkester Sound Bank, or not. These each consist of one big file, containing a large number of patches, samples and loops, serving as your main supply of sounds (much like the sound ROM in a synthesizer). D If you choose not to install the Factory Sound Bank, you will need to insert the Factory Sound Bank CD into the CD-drive each time you run the program. D You may choose not to install the Orkester Sound Bank. Unlike the Factory Sound Bank, this does not mean you have to insert the Orkester CD into the CD-drive each time you run the program. It merely means that you will have to do so each time you want to use a patch or other sound from it. Installing on hard disk is the recommended option, since you will most likely be using the sound banks a lot and access is quicker from the hard disk than from the CD-ROM drive. You may chose not to install and instead access the files from CD if you are short on hard disk space, if you are running Reason temporarily on another computer, etc. The drawback is that you will have to swap CDs when you want to browse for patches etc. Even if you dont install any of the sound banks when you install Reason, you can do this at a later stage if you like: simply copy the file Factory Sound Bank.rfl and/or the file Orkester.rfl from the respective Sound Bank CD to the Reason program folder.

Launching the Program

Now, the Reason files have been installed in a folder on your hard disk. Under Windows, all Reason related items have also been added to the Start menu and possibly you will have a Reason shortcut on the Desktop. 1. Check for any ReadMe files in the Reason folder or on the Start menu, and open and read these. ReadMe files may contain important last minute information that didnt make it into this manual. 2. If you are using Mac OS 9 with audio hardware for which there is an ASIO driver, copy the ASIO driver into the folder ASIO Drivers within the Reason program folder. This makes the ASIO driver available to Reason. 3. Launch the program by double clicking the Reason icon (or by selecting the Reason item from the Start menu). 4. Insert the Orkester CD in your CD-ROM drive. Regardless of whether you chose to install it on your hard disk or not, this CD will be requested for verification the very first time you start Reason. 5. Next, you will be asked to insert the Factory Sound Bank CD in your CD-ROM drive. Again, this is required the very first time you launch Reason, regardless of whether you have chosen to install the sound bank on your hard disk or not. 6. Fill in the authorization form that appears. Your license number can be found on the product authorization card included in the package. At this point a dialog appears, asking you whether you want to register your copy of the program at the Propellerhead web site. Registering gives you immediate access to various benefits such as free, extra sounds for Reason!
You must have a working Internet connection to be able to register on-line.
D If you click the Register Now button, your Internet browser will launch and take you to the registration page on the Propellerhead web site. Follow the instructions on the web page. After finishing the registration, click the Continue button in the installation dialog. D If you dont want to register at this point, click the Later button. You can register at any time by selecting Product Registration from the Contact menu (Mac) or Help menu (Windows) in Reason (or by going to www.propellerhead.se/register). This completes the installation! Before you can use the program, you need to make some settings - this is described in the next chapter.

D Setting Up

About this Chapter
This chapter describes the settings you need to make before you can start using Reason. These are necessary in order to get any sounds from the program and to be able to play and control Reason via MIDI.

D To select a custom default song, click the Folder icon to the right and browse to the desired Reason song. The name of the selected song will then be displayed in the text box.

D Quick Tutorial

This chapter is a quick introduction to the basics in Reason, laid out as step-bystep tutorials. At the end of the chapter you will also find a guided tour, describing the different areas and devices in the program.
9. Near the top of the rack is a mixer device - make sure this is visible. You may need to scroll the view using the vertical scrollbar to the right in the rack (or the scroll wheel on your mouse, if it is equipped with one).
Before you proceed with the tutorials, you should have connected your equipment and made settings for audio and MIDI as described in the previous chapters.

The scrollbar.

Playing a Song
1. If you havent launched Reason yet, do so. 2. Pull down the File menu and select Open. The Song Browser dialog appears. 3. Navigate to the Reason program folder. 4. Open the Demo Songs folder and select the song Tutorial Song.rns. 5. Click Open. The document window for the song is displayed on screen. This consists of a virtual rack with devices (this song contains four instrument devices and two effects), a sequencer section and a transport panel. 6. Click the play button on the transport panel (at the bottom of the window). Playback starts. If everything is properly connected, you should now hear Reason play!
The stop button. The play button.

The Mixer.

If you look at the mixer, you will see that each mixer channel has a tape strip next to the volume fader. If a device is connected to a mixer channel, the tape strip is labeled with the device name. In this song, there are only four instrument devices, so only the four first mixer channels are labeled.
10. Click the play button to start playback. 11. While the song is playing, click and drag the faders to adjust the level of each instrument device. 12. Try changing the pan setting (stereo position) of a channel, by clicking the pan knob above the fader and dragging up or down. Dragging up will turn the knob clockwise; dragging down will turn it counterclockwise.

7. Click the stop button to stop playback when youve heard enough. Now, try out some real-time mixing: 8. Click the stop button again. This moves the song position to the start of the song, allowing you to play the song from the beginning again.

QUICK TUTORIAL

You may also want to add some effects to the music. In this song, there are two effect devices connected: a delay and a chorus/flanger. These are connected as send effects from the mixer, allowing you to specify how much of each mixer channel signal should be sent to each effect. 13. Raise the Aux send level knobs at the top of a mixer channel. Send 1 is connected to the delay, while send 2 goes to the chorus/flanger.

Creating a new song

In this tutorial we will start with an empty rack, to let you add your own devices from scratch. 1. If you like, close the current song by selecting Close from the File menu. You can have several song documents open in Reason at the same time, but each song uses some memory and computing power, so its good practice to close songs you dont need. 2. Pull down the File menu and select Open.

The Aux sends.

3. Navigate to the Reason program folder and open the Template Songs folder. 4. Select the file Empty Rack.rns and click Open. A song document window appears. This consists of an (almost) empty rack and there are no tracks in the sequencer.
Finally, lets try tweaking some controls on an actual instrument device, to change the sound. In this example we will use the Subtractor synthesizer device, but all devices have parameters that can be adjusted on the device panels in the same way. Unless you have a very large screen, the Subtractor device isnt visible right now. You could use the scrollbar to scroll the rack down, but heres a quicker way: 14. In the sequencer area (above the transport panel), click on the name Subtractor in the track list to the left. The rack is automatically scrolled to bring the Subtractor device into view. 15. Try adjusting some parameters while the song is playing. You may for example want to tweak the Filter 1 Freq slider, to change the brightness of the synth bass sound.
Normally when you create a new song, you would select New from the File menu. This command opens the default song (see page 93). The built-in default song contains a few devices, but if you have set things up so that the default song is Empty Rack.rns, you can just select New from the File menu, and ignore step 1 - 4 above. See page 93 for instructions on setting up the default song.
5. Pull down the Create menu and select Mixer 14:2. A mixer device is created in the rack.
The reason why you should start with a mixer device, is that all subsequent devices you add will then automatically be connected to a mixer channel.
6. Pull down the Create menu and select Subtractor Analog Synth, and then Redrum Drum Computer. You have now added two instrument devices to the rack. If you look in the sequencer, you will note that two tracks have automatically been added, one for the synthesizer and one for the drum machine. That concludes the first tutorial! Now, lets move on to creating a Reason song from scratch.

Now you could try playing the Subtractor synth live (provided you have a MIDI keyboard or similar hooked up): 7. In the sequencer, click in the In column for the synthesizer track (to the left of the name), so that a MIDI connector symbol is shown. This symbol indicates that incoming MIDI is routed to the track. And since the track is connected to the Subtractor device, any notes you play on your MIDI keyboard will be sent to the synth.
10. Click the Find All ReFills button at the top of the dialog.
A ReFill is a kind of component package for Reason which can contain patches, sounds, demo songs, etc. Clicking the Find All ReFills button tells the browser to display all available ReFills.
MIDI routed to the Subtractor track.
8. Try playing your MIDI keyboard. What you hear now is the default Init sound of the Subtractor, which may not be so inspiring. You could start tweaking the parameters to create a sound of your own, or you could select one of the included synth patches (and tweak this to your liking): 9. Click the folder button on the Subtractor panel. This opens the Patch Browser dialog.
11. In the browser file display, double click on Reason Factory Sound Bank. This is one huge ReFill containing a large number of patches and samples that are included with Reason when you purchase it. 12. Double click the folder Subtractor Patches. This contains a number of folders with different sound categories. 13. Open one of the folders, select a patch and click Open. The settings in the patch are applied and the patch name is shown in the display. D Once you have selected a patch this way, you can step between the patches in the same folder, by clicking the up and down arrow buttons next to the patch display. Alternatively, you can right-click in the patch name display to bring up a context menu with all the patches in the folder.
Its possible to play the drum machine device via MIDI in the same way, but lets try creating a pattern with the built-in pattern sequencer instead: 14. Click the folder button in the lower left corner of the Redrum panel. This opens the patch browser for the drum machine, allowing you to select a Redrum patch (a drum kit). Note that there are folder buttons for each drum sound channel too - these let you add drum samples one by one and create your own drum kits.

Load Sample buttons

When you have selected a patch, you will note that a sample file name is displayed at the top of each drum sound channel in the drum machine. There may also be different parameter settings for the different drum sounds - all these settings are part of a Redrum patch.

Multi Mode Selectors

Some parameters allow you to select one of several modes. There are two different graphical representations of this in Reason:
D By clicking in the actual alphanumeric display and dragging up or down with the mouse button pressed. This allows you to make coarse adjustments very quickly.
This type of multi mode selector consists of a button with the different modes listed above. You can either click the button to step through the modes or click directly on one of the modes to select it. The currently selected mode is indicated by a lit LED.
This type of control is also used for some parameters that are not purely numerical (e.g. reverb algorithms and synth oscillator waveforms).
This type of multi mode selector is a switch with more than two settings. To change mode, click and drag the switch, or click directly at the desired switch position (just as when adjusting a slider).
The position values on the transport panel can also be edited by double clicking and typing a new position.

Tool Tips

If you position the pointer over a parameter on a device panel and wait a moment, a tool tip will appear. This displays the name of the parameter and its current value. This helps you fine-tune settings, set several parameters to the same value, etc.

Device Context Menus

If you click somewhere on a device in the rack (but not on a control), the context menu will contain the following items: Cut, Copy, Paste and Delete Device items, allowing you to rearrange and manage the devices in the rack. A Go To submenu, listing all devices connected to the current device. Selecting a device from the Go To submenu scrolls the rack to bring that device into view. A duplicate of the Create menu, allowing you to create new devices. If the device is pattern-based, there will be various pattern functions (Cut/ Copy/Paste, Clear, Shift, Randomize, etc). These affect the currently selected pattern in the device. If the device uses Patches, there will be functions for managing Patches. Depending on the device there may also be various device-specific functions available. For example, the drum machine device has functions for manipulating the pattern for the selected drum sound only, etc.
You can turn off these tool tips by deactivating the option Show Parameter Value Tool Tip on the Preferences-General page.

Parameter Context Menus

If you click on an automatable control (a synth parameter knob, a fader, etc), the context menu will contain the following items: Functions for clearing and editing the recorded automation data for the control. Functions for associating computer keyboard commands and/or MIDI messages to the parameter (allowing you to remote control parameters from a MIDI device or the computer keyboard).

Exporting audio

Reason can export audio, i.e. mix down the song or a section of the song as an audio file (see page 94 for details). When you do this, you will be asked to specify a resolution (16 or 24 bit) and sample rate (1196 kHz) for the file.

Playing back

Reason handles all internal audio processing in 32-bit floating point resolution. However, the resolution of the output audio is determined by the audio hardware. That is, if you have a 24-bit audio card, Reason will create audio in 24-bit resolution, and if you have a 16-bit audio card, audio will be in 16-bit resolution. The playback sample rate can be specified in the Preferences-Audio dialog (accessed from the Reason menu or Edit menu depending on whether you are running Mac OS X or not):
If you plan to open the exported file in another application, you should select a format that is supported by the application. If youre uncertain, 16 bit/44.1 kHz is a safe bet.

Importing audio

When loading samples or ReCycle files into the samplers, the drum machine device or the loop player, Reason supports files of a large number of sample rates and resolutions. You can use files of different formats in the same device - one drum sound can be an 8-bit sample, the next a 16-bit sample, etc.
Note that the available options on this pop-up menu depend on which sample rates are supported by the audio hardware. Most standard sound cards support 44.1 kHz and various lower sample rates, in which case you should select 44.1 kHz for best audio quality.

About Audio Levels

When playing back in Reason, you should keep an eye on the Audio Out Clipping indicator on the transport panel. If this lights up, the audio level is too high, resulting in clipping (digital distortion).
The indicator will stay lit for a short moment, to make it easier to spot.

Master Tune

By default, Reason plays back a middle A at 440 Hz, which is the standard tuning in most instruments. However, if you are playing Reason together with other instruments, you may want to adjust the tuning: 1. Pull down the Edit menu (or Reason menu, under Mac OS X) and select Preferences. 2. Use the pop-up menu at the top of the Preferences dialog to select the Audio page.
D To remedy this, lower the master level on the mixer (or other device) that is connected to the Hardware Interface, until Audio Out Clipping doesnt light up on playback.
3. Adjust the global tuning with the Master Tune control. If you like, you can adjust this during playback. Note that this affects the tuning of all sound sources in Reason, including the drum machine and loop player.

Audio connectors

Dragging a cable to make a connection can be aborted by pressing [Esc] while keeping the mouse button pressed. To give a better overview of the connections, the cables have different colors. Connections to or from effect devices are different shades of green, other audio connections are different shades of red and CV connections are different shades of yellow.

CV connectors

When the back is shown, you can still navigate in the rack by scrolling, by using the computer keyboard, etc. (see page 48).
These cables are green, indicating effect device connections.

Disconnecting Devices

Again, there are two ways to disconnect devices: D Click on one end of the cable, drag it away from the jack and drop it anywhere away from a jack. or D Click on one of the connectors and select Disconnect from the context menu that appears.
This cable is yellow, indicating a CV connection.
These cables are red, indicating connections between instruments and mixer devices.
D You can change an existing connection in the same way, by clicking on one end of the cable and dragging it to another connector.
Hiding and Showing Cables
You can choose whether you want the patch cables to be visible or not, by activating or deactivating the Show Cables item on the Options menu. When the cables are hidden, connectors in use are indicated by a colored dot:

Using pop-up menus

1. Click (or right-click) on a connector. A pop-up menu appears, listing all devices in the rack. 2. Move the pointer to the desired device (the device to which you want to create a connection). A submenu appears, listing all suitable input/output connections. For example, if you clicked on an audio output on a device, the hierarchical submenus will list all audio inputs in all other devices.

Checking Connections

You can check to which device a jack is connected. This is especially useful if the patch cables are hidden, but it is also practical if you have a lot of cables or if the two devices are far from each other in the rack: D Position the pointer over a connector and wait a moment. A tool tip appears, showing the device and connector in the other end.

The Snap value pop-up.

The Snap to Grid function (from now on called Snap) restricts movement to specific positions. This is especially useful when you are editing in the sequencer (moving material, creating events, etc), but it will also affect the result of moving the song position in the ruler. To set up and activate Snap, proceed as follows: 1. Pull down the Snap pop-up menu and select a value. If you select Bar, you will only be able to move the song position to the beginning of bars. The other options restrict movement to the corresponding note values. 2. Activate Snap by clicking the button next to the pop-up menu.
In this example, Snap is activated and set to quarter notes. This means you can move the song position to exact quarter note positions only.

Using the Loop

In loop mode, the sequencer will repeat a section over and over again, during playback or recording. You specify the section to be looped by setting the left and right locator: D Set the left locator (the start of the loop) by dragging the L marker in the ruler. Or, you can hold down [Option] (Mac) or [Ctrl] (Windows) and click in the ruler. D Set the right locator (the end of the loop) by dragging the R marker in the ruler. Or, you can hold down [Command] (Mac) or [Alt] (Windows) and click in the ruler.

Mute and Solo

To mute a track means to silence it, so that no data is sent from the track during playback. This can be very useful when you are trying out different versions of an arrangement, for bringing elements in and out of the mix during playback, etc. D To mute (silence) a track, click in the M column in the track list. The notes and events on the muted track will not be heard on playback.
Note that Snap applies when moving the locators in the ruler, just as with the song position.
A red cross indicates a muted track.
Both locator positions can also be adjusted numerically on the transport panel.
To unmute the track, click in the M column again. Several tracks can be muted at the same time. D You can also solo a track, by holding down [Option] (Mac) / [Alt] (Windows) and clicking in the M column. This mutes all other (unsoloed) tracks.
D To activate the loop, click the Loop On/Off button so that it lights up, or use the corresponding key command. On a Mac this is [/], under Windows its [], both on the numeric keypad. When you play back in loop mode, and the song position reaches the right locator, it will immediately jump back to the left locator. This way, the area between the locators will be repeated continuously.
Here, the track Redrum 1 is soloed (indicated by a red frame).
To turn off the solo function for the track, [Option]/[Alt]-click in the M column again. Several tracks can be soloed at the same time.

On the device panels, missing samples are indicated with an asterisk (*) before the file names:
Clicking Cancel will abort the operation, i.e. the song or patch will not be opened.

D Working with Patches

What are Patches?
A Reason patch contains settings for a specific device. As explained in the chapter The Browser, patches can either be separate files on your hard disk or files embedded in a ReFill.

Selecting a Patch

To select a patch for a device, use one of the following methods: D Click the folder button in the Patch section on the device panel.
Seven device types use patches:
D Subtractor & Malstrm synth patches contain all settings on the device panel. Selecting a patch brings up a new sound, just like when selecting programs or patches on a hardware synthesizer. D NN19 & NNXT sampler patches contain information about which samples are used and their settings (key mapping, tuning, etc.), plus the parameter settings on the device panel. It is important to note that the sampler patch doesnt contain the actual samples - only information about which sample files are used. D Redrum drum computer patches contain a complete drum kit, that is, information about which drum samples are used, together with the parameter settings for each drum sound. Again, the actual samples are not included in the patch, only file references. Also note that Redrum patches are separated from Redrum patterns - selecting a new patch will not affect the patterns in the device. D Scream 4 and RV7000 effect patches contain all settings on the respective device panel. Selecting a patch brings up a new sound, just like when selecting programs or patches on a hardware effect device.
Note: On the panels of the Redrum, NN19 and NNXT devices, there are also other folder buttons, used for loading samples. Make sure you click on the button in the Patch section (next to the patch name display)!
D Select the Browse Patches item on the Edit menu or device context menu. Note that the Edit menu reflects which device is selected - in other words, you must select the device for the corresponding Browse Patches item to appear on the Edit menu. In both cases, the Browser dialog appears, allowing you to locate and select the patch, on the hard disk or within a ReFill. See page 80 for details about the Browser. D Once you have selected a patch, you can step between all the patches in the same folder by using the arrow buttons on the device panel.

Patches do not include information about any routing done on the back of the device.

WORKING WITH PATCHES

D If you click on the patch name display on the device panel, a pop-up menu will appear, listing all patches in the current folder. This allows you to quickly select another patch in the same folder, without having to step through each one in turn.

Saving Patches

Saving device settings in a song
When you save a Reason song, all settings for all devices are automatically included in the song file - there is no need to save the patches separately.
Its important to realize that its the actual settings that are saved in the Song - not references to patches on disk. The next time you open the song, all devices will be set as they were when you saved (regardless of whether you have removed or edited any patches on disk).
Saving device settings as patches on disk
Even though the device settings are stored in the song, you may want to save any settings you have made for a device as a separate patch file. This allows you to use the patch in other songs, and lets you try out other patches in your song without risking to lose your sound. 1. Click the floppy disk button on the device panel.
When you select a patch, the devices parameters will be set according to the values stored in the patch, and the name of the patch will be shown in the patch name display. As with any change you make, this operation can be undone (see page 39).
Any parameter adjustments you make on the device panel after selecting a patch will not affect the actual patch file (for this you need to save the patch - see below).
If referenced samples are missing
As described above, patches for the Redrum, NN19 and NNXT contain references to samples. Just like patches, samples can be independent files on the hard disk or elements within a ReFill. However, if sample files have been moved or renamed after a patch was saved, the sample file references in the patch will not be accurate. If this is the case when you select a patch, the program will tell you so. You can then choose to either manually locate the missing files, to have the program search for them in the database and ReFills or to proceed with missing sounds. For details, see page 81.
You can also select a device and use the Export Patch command on the File menu.
2. In the file dialog that appears, specify a location and name for the patch file and click Save. D Under Windows, the different types of patch files have different file extensions. These are.zyp (Subtractor patch files),.xwv (Malstrm patch files).smp (NN-19 patch files),.sxt (NN-XT patch files) and.drp (Redrum patch files). Under Windows, file extensions are automatically added by Reason when you save. Under MacOS, you can choose to automatically add extensions by activating the Add Extension to File Name checkbox in the save dialog (this is not required, but may be a good idea if you want the saved files to be usable under Windows).

Whats New
Whats New manual by Ludvig Carlson
The information in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on the part of Propellerhead Software AB. The software described herein is subject to a License Agreement and may not be copied to any other media expect as specifically allowed in the License Agreement. No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced or otherwise transmitted or recorded, for any purpose, without prior written permission by Propellerhead Software AB. 2007 Propellerhead Software and its licensors. All specifications subject to change without notice. Reason is a trademark of Propellerhead Software. All other commercial symbols are protected trademarks and trade names of their respective holders. All rights reserved.

Welcome!

This document introduces the new features in Reason 4. For detailed descriptions, please refer to the Operation Manual. If you are a new Reason user, be sure to check the Getting Started manual, as this contains setup instructions and tutorials to help you get going.

New Sequencer

Tracks, lanes and clips
In Reason 4, a rack device can have one sequencer track only (or no track at all). However, each track can have a number of lanes - note lanes (if the device supports notes), parameter automation lanes (one for each parameter) and a pattern lane (Redrum and Matrix only). For instrument devices, you can add note lanes freely for alternative takes, etc.

WHATS NEW

All notes and automation data live in containers called clips. Clips are created automatically when you record, or manually by drawing in Arrange mode. You build and arrange your songs by moving, copying, deleting or masking (resizing) clips. To view and edit the data in a clip, you need to open it - double click the clip, or select it and press Return.
An open note clip (left) and an open automation clip (right). Automation clips can be opened for editing directly in Arrange mode, for quick adjustments.

Automation

Automation is now vector-based - it is stored as automation points connected by linear segments. You edit automation by drawing, moving and deleting points, in Edit mode or Arrange mode. Each automated parameter has a static value - this is the value of the parameter wherever there is no automation clip.
The static value is indicated by the thin line on either side of the clip.
In Edit mode, you can view and edit the static value to the left of the automation lane.
Performance controllers are automation that is recorded together with the notes, inside the note clip. This way you can move and edit your note clips and always include the performance data.
A performance controller lane in an open note clip.
By default, this is how mod wheel, pitch bend or aftertouch data are stored, but you can choose to record or draw any type of automation as performance controllers. You're no longer required to enter Edit mode to draw or edit pattern automation (for Redrum or Matrix). Pattern automation is done by drawing pattern clips in Arrange mode. To change which pattern is played by a clip, just click on it and select a pattern from a pop-up menu. Where there are no pattern clips, the automated pattern device won't play anything.
Tempo and Time Signature Automation
Tempo and time signature changes can now be automated, by using the Transport track at the top of the track list. Tempo automation works just like other automation, with tempo clips and automation points that can be drawn or recorded. Time signature automation works much like pattern automation.

New tools and functions

The Razor tool allows you to split clips or cut out ranges across several tracks. There are also functions for joining, muting, cropping, coloring and naming clips. The right part of the toolbar now contains the Inspector. This shows the properties of selected clips, notes etc. as numerical values. You can e.g. edit the note velocity or clip length numerically. The new Tool window contains a number of functions for editing and manipulating notes. Apart from Quantize (now with a Random setting), there are new or updated transpose, velocity, length and legato functions. These functions affect selected notes, or all notes inside selected clips, for quick editing in Arrange mode.

ReGroove Mixer

The ReGroove Mixer lets you shuffle, slide and apply grooves to your sequencer notes, changing the timing, velocity and note lengths in real time. What's more, you can apply different grooves to different note lanes, with up to 32 groove channels available at the same time.

ReGroove Channel selectors
DIfferent lanes on a drum track, using different grooves. This way you can really fine-tune the feel and groove of your beats.
The Factory Sound Bank contains a number of useful ReGroove patches, but you can also easily extract grooves from recorded note clips or REX files and save your own ReGroove patches.
Thor Polysonic Synthesizer
Thor is an advanced semimodular synthesizer capable of producing virtually any synth sound you want, ranging from huge, warm, analog-sounding leads and pads to sharp FM or Wavetable-based textures. The Factory Sound Bank is chock-full of Thor patches, including hundreds of Signature Patches, created by renowned artists and sound designers. Heres a brief description of what makes Thor thunder: There are three oscillator slots, in which you can insert any of six different oscillator types.
There are also three filter slots (one of which is global and affects all voices). Choose between four different filters with a variety of options.
Four envelopes, a Shaper and two LFOs are available for modulation. Two of the envelopes can be looped, serving as extra LFOs - and the LFO speeds can be taken into audio range, for use as extra oscillators! A built.-in chorus and delay provide some extra sonic tricks. And all parameters can be modulated. While the basic signal path is pre-patched in Thor, you can do wild signal routings and modulations using the Modulation routing section. Use audio to modulate a CV signal or vice versa - Thors modulation capabilities are virtually limitless.
A built-in step sequencer can be used for playing notes or as an extra modulation source.
Plenty of audio and CV connections let you use Thors filters, envelopes and effects. to process the sound, or use external sources to modulate Thor parameters.
RPG-8 Monophonic Arpeggiator
The RPG-8 Arpeggiator generates rhythmic note patterns (arpeggios) from notes or chords, in a variety of modes, in sync with the song tempo or free-running. It connects to instrument devices using CV and Gate (much like the Matrix) and is monophonic, controlling one voice in the instrument device. In addition to standard arpeggiator features, the RPG-8 is equipped with a 16 step pattern editor for creating rhythmic variations. It also has a number of CV connections, allowing for modulation of arpeggiator functions from other devices. When the arpeggio function is turned off, the RPG-8 works as a MIDI to CV converter, allowing you to modulate any parameter with e.g. note velocity or pitch. You can render arpeggio notes to track, for further editing and manipulation.

The Device palette

The Device tab in the floating Tool window provides a new way to create devices in the rack. Drag device icons to the desired position in the rack or double click an icon to insert it below the currently selected device.
Other additions and changes

Transport functions

Precount
The Pre switch in the Click section on the Transport panel gives you one bar of count-in when you record. This setting is independent from the Click on/off setting.

Position displays

Positions are now shown with higher accuracy, as bars-beats-1/16ths-ticks. There are 240 ticks per 1/ 16th note (960 ppq). However, the internal resolution is much higher - an indicator shows if a position or length value contains fractions of ticks with an option to round down to nearest tick. The song position is also shown in time format (hours, minutes, seconds and ms). Just like the regular song position, the time position display is editable.
Recording and transport functions
The New Overdub and New Alternative Take functions are used during recording. They add a new note lane for recording, with or without muting the previous lane. Pressing Record now starts recording immediately. Pressing Stop several times will move the song position to the previous playback start position, and then to the start of the song.

Combinator changes

You can now transpose instrument devices inside Combis freely. The Combi programmer also contains news such as free source selection, performance controllers as sources and individual device filters for mod wheel, pitch bend, etc.

NN-XT changes

When the Group Mono function is activated for a group, zones in the same group will be mutually exclusive - except when playing the same note. Useful for having a polyphonic open hihat sample that will still be cut off by the closed hihat. Other changes affect how you work with the NN-XT: you can edit sample settings for multiple zones at the same time, and perform chromatic auto-mapping of samples (useful e.g. when creating drum kits).

Other devices

All instrument devices have CV inputs for mod wheel and pitch bend (used by the RPG-8). The Hardware Interface has an updated, cleaner design.

Usability Changes

Reason is now localized to German, French and Japanese. Under Windows, you change language settings in the Preferences dialog; under Mac OS X, the language follows the setting in the operating system. Furthermore, text fields such as tape strips or patch name displays now use local fonts, and can show any character set. By default, the last selected track will always have Master Keyboard Input (indicated by a keyboard icon and a frame around the device icon in the track list).
However, you can select Separated Mode in the preferences if you like - then MKI is independent of the track selection as in Reason 3. When youre routing cables using pop-up menus, there is now an indication of which jacks are already in use. Also, devices inside Combis are shown on submenus, making routing clearer and easier. Numerical value fields such as the position displays on the transport bar (or inspector) now use a single control (spinner) to the right. To change the value of a segment (e.g. the beats position only), click that segment to select it and then use the spinner. You can also click and drag, or double click and type. Reason now has support for unmodified key commands (e.g. M for Mute Selected Clips, the QWERTY keys for direct selection of tools or S for toggling Snap on/off). There has also been an overhaul of the entire key commands list, to make them more useful and logical. Reason now comes on a DVD, including the program installation and all sound banks and demo material.