KeyboardMag: Propellerhead Reason 6
When I haven’t used Reason for a while, I start to forget how very much I like it. The synths and presets are great, and the beautiful user interface practically begs you to go further by adding your own creative sound design. Using the Dr. OctoRex and Kong modules, it’s practically impossible not to lay down compelling beats. The sequencer makes it easy to record alternate takes, rearrange the song sections, and add layers of automation. The main mixer (formerly found in Record) adds a level of complexity to patching, but once you get familiar with it, you’ll wonder how you ever got along without it. The three new modules may seem at first to be no more than minor additions, but they’re packed with features, and each of them opens up some unexpected sonic possibilities. I can’t help feeling Propellerhead is missing out by not making Reason host third-party VST plug-ins, but while that’s a limitation, it’s not a deal-breaker. Once you get your hands on Reason, you’ll never look back—except when you hit the Tab key to look at the back panel, of course!
