The big news of yesterday was the release of Reason 6 by Propellerheads in Sweden. I've been a Reason user since version 2. Reasons is a DAW (digital audio workstation) - ie. instruments, effects and sequencer. Up until version 5 it was solely for inbuilt software instruments, but also featured and increasingly sophisticated set of audio effects. Reason contains instruments, samplers, drum machines, a pattern sequencer and arpeggiator, audio effects and mastering tools, and a very impressive mixer.
One of the neat (and scary) aspects was the rack, you could see front and back of the virtual rack of instruments and effects and reroute cables to your heart's content.
While its mainly be used by me for fun, I have from time to time created audio for video segments (such as here) or use in alt.worship. In an ideal world I'd do more of this. I've also messed around with how to create 'live' ambient soundtracks for worship, with triggered samples and open-tuned guitar.
With version 5, the Propheads created Record, a standalone audio recorder within which Reason could also function, finally allowing the recording of 'live' audio. Now in version 6 they've brought the two together and added some new stuff as well. They've also made a 'lite' version called 'Reason Essentials' and produced a very funky looking hardware audio interface.
New features include:
64 bit processing, time stretch and audio transpose
Pulveriser - crunchy compression, dirty distortion, a multimode filter and flexible modulation
Echo - an advanced stereo echo bringing together the brilliance of modern delays with the organic sounds of analog circuitry and old-school tape machines
Alligator - a three band pattern-based gate effect that turns bland pads into rhythmic textures
Neptune - pitch correction and voice synth device
Line 6 guitar and bass amps
Plus an expanded soundbank with thousands of new patches and loops.
You might say that some of those things are just a catch-up with the competition, but I'd have to say that overall its a very sweet package. And existing owners of version 5 were given a 'pay what you like' upgrade.
now off to play...
