Reason Studios (formerly known as Propellerhead Software) is a music software company, based in Stockholm, Sweden. Founded in 1994,[1] it develops the studio emulation digital audio workstation and audio plug-in[2] Reason.
Propellerhead Software was founded in 1994 by Ernst Nathorst-Bs, Marcus Zetterquist and Peter Jubel.[1] Their first release was ReCycle, a sample loop editor that could change the tempo of a loop without affecting the pitch. The export medium was Propellerhead's own REX format. ReCycle was launched in conjunction with Steinberg, who marketed it as a companion to Cubase, as it brought a simple way of gaining control over tempo and timing of audio loops.[3]
In 1997, Propellerhead released ReBirth RB-338, a step based, programmable sequencer which emulated classic Roland instruments commonly associated with techno: two TB-303 Bass Line synthesizers and a TR-808. A TR-909 drum machine was added in version 2.0. It was hailed as an affordable alternative to buying old, unreliable hardware devices. Roland Corporation requested that an acknowledgment be added to the ReBirth packaging and splash screen; the unofficial endorsement became a marketing boost for Propellerhead, and they have retained a close relationship with Roland ever since.[4]
ReWire was developed jointly between Propellerhead and Steinberg for use with their Cubase sequencer. Released in 1998, it provided a virtual audio and synchronization connection between Cubase and ReBirth. In January 1999 the protocol was opened for general use by third parties without any license fee,[5] to allow communication between different sequencers.
In May 2009, Propellerhead announced a new product, Record.[7] Designed for recording, arrangement and mixing, Record is made along the lines of Reason and continues the tradition of emulating hardware and the rack.
Record emulates a recording studio, with a mixing desk, a rack of virtual instruments and effects, and an audio sequencer (similar to traditional MIDI sequencing.) It is also made to work alongside Reason; if Record is installed on a computer with Reason on it, the modules from Reason will be usable inside of Record.[8]
Released 9 September 2009, Record has been praised for its stability, seamless integration with Reason, and sound quality,[9] and has received a number of awards, including Future Music's Platinum Award,[10] Computer Music Editor's Choice and Performance awards,[11] and the MusicTech Excellence award.[12]
In April 2010, Propellerhead released their first app for mobile platforms; a remake of their ReBirth RB-338 software for the Apple iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad. Developed together with Retronyms,[13] it's a 100% port of the original with added functionality for sharing song files with other iPhone users, zooming and panning.[14]
In July 2011, Propellerhead announced plans for Reason version 6 which includes all the features of Record 1.5. This allowed Propellerhead to discontinue Record and create two different versions of Reason.[15]
In March 2012, Propellerhead announced Rack Extensions and the Rack Extension store, a software architecture that will allow 3rd party developers to use their own instruments and effect devices inside of Reason. This technology was announced to appear alongside Reason 6.5 as a free update. Rack Extensions will be sold in an app store similar in a fashion in which Apple Inc. sells applications for the popular iOS platform. Hosted by Propellerhead Software, developers are free to use their own DSP and existing code to develop instruments and effects for use in Reason. When purchased, the Rack Extensions appear in Reason as a native Reason instrument or effect module and are privy to all of the features that Reason offers in its native instruments and effect devices.[16]
In November 2019, Reason studios announced their roadmap for 2020 which would include support for VST3 and native M1 support.[18] Various delays led to VST3 being introduced in December 2022.[19] Native M1/M2 support was added in version 12.6.
In May 2023, Reason Studios announced that they would discontinue support for support for the offline authorization used by Reason versions 1-11, requiring users of older versions to be connected to the internet for authorization.[20]
The name propellerhead comes from the pejorative term used to deprecate science fiction fans and other technophiles, who are stereotypically drawn wearing propeller beanies. The company is not related to the British electronic music duo Propellerheads.
From early on, Propellerhead used the Internet as both a marketing tool and as a method to communicate with their user base. An alpha version of ReBirth was made available for free download on the Propellerhead website in December 1996, and the company even searched the internet for active users of the TB-303 and sent them invitation emails to try the new software.[21]
The user forum has always been at the forefront of the Propellerhead community, with many employees checking them every day.[22] Allowing users to make requests and suggestions directly to the developers led to the first downloadable ReBirth update in 1997, and still today registered users of Propellerhead software can download updates and much additional content online. In November 2013, the forums were shut down indefinitely due to security concerns with the forum software. On 17 December, they were resurrected with 4 new forum categories: Beginner, Advanced User, Rack Extensions and Post Your Music.[23]
On 16 January 2014, Propellerhead Software announced that they will close down the 15-year-old Reason community forums, shifting online customer interaction to their general social media accounts instead.[23] The unofficial new forum, run by Reason users rather than by Propellerhead, is Reason Talk.[24] Though this is an independent forum, some Propellerhead employees have posted there and the forum hosted the official Reason beta test forum for Reason Version 9.
Reason is a digital audio workstation developed for macOS and Windows. The first version was released in 2000.[26] When launched Reason could run on average spec computers and was competitively priced.[citation needed] Reason simulates a recording studio with virtual cables and representations of a subtractive synthesizer, sampler and drum machine. It also has a REX file loop player, a pattern step sequencer and a multitude of effects units. Reason has the ability to create as many instances of each device (limited by compute power) and a simple sequencer for notes and device automation.
Reason and its antecedents have been widely used by producers and musicians in the hip-hop, electronica and indie music scenes from the 2000s onwards.[63] According to Computer Music it "changed the face of desktop music production".[64]
ReBirth RB-338 has been described by Sound On Sound as "one of the first software instruments to achieve widespread acceptance and even cult status"[65] and by Future Music as "one of the most important virtual instruments in the history of electronic music".[66]
Hello
i am trying a new setup with a digitakt and properllerhead reason. I want to use the digitakt and its sequencer to drive Reason machines. I also want to use each digitack output channel separately to apply effects to it. But when I look at the back of the plugin in reason there are only 7 outputs and the main one. In addition, the sound level of the outputs is lower than the main one and there is no more reverb and delay. Can you help me solve this problem?
thank you !!!
I want to use the digitakt and its sequencer to drive Reason machines. I also want to use each digitack output channel separately to apply effects to it. But when I look at the back of the plugin in reason there are only 7 outputs and the main one.
Let me shortly give some background information before we get this Malstrom tutorial started.
The Malstrom graintable synthesizer inside Propellerhead Reason was my workhorse from Reason version 2.5. The graintable synth uses its unique way of making sampled sound and sliced up. Because this technique is pretty complexed to make each slice sound perfect, Reason decided not to include a load sample feature for the Malstrom graintable synthesizer.
So the graintable is not analog, nor is it a sampler but has its unique features as shifting, changing the index, and different modulation types. Later in this tutorial, we'll get through these unique options.
The Malstrom comes, just like with the subtractor, with 2 oscillators. Where they oscillators inside the Malstrom can vary from analog shaped sounds like the saw wave, the square wave, the triangle wave, and the sinus wave. While there are other shapes to choose from like the voices, the orchestral sounds (like the vibraphone and the trumpet), the basses and the somewhat more complexed sounds like the FM, the Cords, the Arppegios and the TB303 sounds. This means we could use the Malstrom graintable synthesizer for any sound, percussion either sound effect as we see fit.
The easiest way to explain what the Malstrom graintable synthesizer can do is by using analog sounds and explain the features from there. Since it will become a little bit harder to use most other oscillator types that are inside the Malstrom to actually create something decent from this synthesizer. Default, when adding a Maltrm to the rack, it shows a sine inside of both Oscillator A and Oscillator B. With having Oscillator A enabled and Oscillator B disabled. To use the second Oscillator just click the button next to it where it says OSC B. When clicking on it, the light will turn off.. and thus Oscillator B is being used as well.
Each oscillator can be controlled by using the default amplitude settings, the Attack, the Sustain, the Decay and the Release (also known as ADSR). Additionally, there are the controls for index, motion, shift, octave, semi, cent.
The motion in the Malstrom controls the way how fast the sound will go through all the different slices inside of the oscillator. Using lesser motion, you will create this really harmonic tone with all the different oscillator types. With some types (for instance the FM series) this is the preferred method to create these harmonic tones. While with analogue settings, like the saw and square, you can spice the sound up by just adding a little bit of motion.
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