SubTractor Analog Synthesizer

Propellerhead Reason features the SubTractor Analog Synthesizer; a software synthesizer based on subtractive synthesis: the two oscillators generate a "raw" waveform (e.g. a sine wave or sawtooth wave), then passed through audio filters to alter the final result.

Apart from the 2 main oscillators, the SubTractor also contains a noise generator, high-pass filter, low-pass filter, band-pass filter and notch filter possibilities, 2 LFOs and several ADSR envelopes. The SubTractor can only produce monaural sounds. Interestingly, the subtractor is the only device in Reason whereby the user is able to loosen and remove the four outside screws.

Enhance Your Reason Tracks With Stereo Separation

One great way to add another layer to your music is by adding subtle stereo separation. You do this by adding a tiny delay to either the right or left channel of a track. It's easy to set-up in Reason.

First start a new project. This should start you out with mastering suite and a mixer. Now create a sound unit, I'll use Redrum Drum Computer as an example, and create a DDL-1 Digital Delay Line.

Press Tab to flip the rack and get ready to rewire it for stereo separation. Now remove either the right or left input cable of the delay unit from the Redrum output and patch it directly into the proper mixer input. So, you should have either right or left output of Redrum going to the delay line then to the mixer, and the other output going directly into the mixer.

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Flip the rack back. On the Digital Delay Line select the little ms (milliseconds) button, this will allow you to change the time of the delay. First boost the delay time number to test the channel separation, try around 400. Now when you hit a note you will hear it first on one side then the delay on the other stereo side. As right then left or left then right, depending how you connected it. Once this is working just drop the delay time from 400 to a really quick delay time. Play around with a time of 10 to 40 ms, this should give you a great start to stereo separating your tracks.

Now you will have a Reason track where one side triggers slightly after the other which creates a layer of time and space. This works great on drums, especially hi-hats. Experiment within Reason as it is a deep program and good luck.

Propellerhead Reason REsource

Propellerhead Reason History

Reason 1.0 was released in November 2000. The program's design mimics a studio rack into which users can insert virtual devices such as instruments, effects processors and mixers. These modules can be controlled from Reason's built-in MIDI sequencer or from other sequencing applications such as Pro Tools, Logic, Cubase and GarageBand via Propellerhead's ReWire protocol.

As of version 3.0, modules available include two mixers, a subtractive synthesizer, a graintable synthesizer and four different kinds of sample players - one with a step sequencer designed for drums/percussion, two for tonal instruments, and a sliced loop playback device. Effects include distortion, reverb, chorus, a vocoder and mastering effects. The Combinator device, introduced in version 3.0, allows users to combine multiple modules into one. Another device connects Reason to Propellerhead's (now discontinued) ReBirth.

One of the most striking aspects of Reason's interface comes into play with the Toggle Rack command, which flips the rack around to display the devices from the rear. Here the user can route virtual audio and control cables from one piece of equipment to another in an almost unlimited number of ways. This cable layout enables the creation of complex effects chains and allows devices to modulate one another in creative ways.

Unlike many other audio applications, Reason cannot record audio tracks or be expanded with third-party plug-ins. Some users complain about these limitations; others argue that they can be easily surmounted by using Reason in tandem with another application that has these capabilities.

A stripped-down version of Reason known as Reason Adapted is packaged as bonus software with other audio software such as Pro Tools LE. It restricts the user to a limited number of devices.

The program's name was taken from software used by the lead character in Douglas Adams's novel Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency. Early in development it was known as Realizer (after the PPG Realizer). The English band The Prodigy has used Reason as a production tool, as has Andre 3000 (Outkast). It is required, along with a laptop computer and other music production equipment, of new students at the Berklee College of Music.

Reason Overview

Reason is a popular music software program developed by Swedish software developers Propellerhead Software.

It emulates a rack of hardware synthesizers, sample players, signal processors, sequencers and mixers. Reason can be used either as a complete virtual music studio, or as a collection of virtual instruments to be played live or used with other sequencing software.

Now with Reason 3.0 a personal computer has access to one of the most powerful recording interfaces. Propellerhead continues to break new ground in audio production with Reason.