Reason 6

So maybe you’re still undecided about buying Reason 5.0. Given all the music production softwares out there, you want to get only the best for your money. In this post we list what we think are the top 5 features of Reason 5.0 that gives you an edge as a music composer and producer. These are all features which still apply to the new release of Reason 6.

1. Reason 5.0 Looks Great

Ok, some will tell you appearance doesn’t matter. But when you’re working for hours on end on your music production, your visual environment can give you the creative inspiration you need to just keep going. Reason is of course famous for its unique interface with lifelike buttons and flashing LED’s, as if you had the real instruments right on your computer screen. If you already have experience with real instruments then you can jump straight in. If this is your first time in music production, Reason 5.0 makes you feel that professional experience which you won’t find in other music making software. What you see on the screen it what you get, buttons work like buttons, cables like cables, etc. No hidden panels or configurations anything like that. And we always find the wobbling cables in the backside of the studio rack always a dose of realism and humour.

2. Reason 5.0 is Complete

Reason is also famous for the visual rack which you can connect and combine to suit your needs. It comes with all the hardware that you could possibly need, such as samplers, drum machines, compressors, mixer, analog synths, vocoder, EQ and effects. Some new features in Reason 5.0 include the Kong Drum Designer and the Dr. Octo Rex loop player. You can make a complete award-winning track just using the tools in Reason. And of course, Reason’s sound bank is famous for a massive library of samples, synths, drumkits, making sure that you definitely will find the exact sound that you’re looking for. Some people of course will be a little disappointed that they can’t use their expensive VST’s inside Reason, but all I know is if was just starting out on a fixed budget, and could only buy one software, then Reason 5.0 would be everything I need. Besides, VST’s will only hinder you from using the instruments and effects in Reason 5.0 to their fullest potential. It’s better to just master one virtual instrument and learn how to make a wide range of sounds with it, then have several different instruments which you’ve pigeon-holed into their narrow usage.

3. Reason 5.0 Gets the Job Done Fast

Reason users are surprised by how much they’re able to accomplish in a short amount of time with Reason. You can get started easily with just the basic instruments and sounds, or you can make your music as complex as you want it to be. It all boils down to the choice of instruments and effects which have been carefully modified, and which have been constantly improved with every version of Reason, for almost a whole decade. I actually prefer the basic set-up of just a drum machine, a synth, and then reverb, and then I’m good to go. But it’s possible to use all the instruments and effects all at once, say, for the most sophisticated kind of techno or electronic music. What I also like is how the whole set-up and environment fosters creativity. There’s something about the look and feel of the software that makes it easier to come up with great ideas. Of course that could just be me, but when I look at Sonar and Live I feel it’s too professional-looking. I need a piece of software that caters to the artist in me.

4. Reason 5.0 is Reliable

Reason is also very easy on your computer, in fact MusicRadar.com called it “one of the most CPU-light music applications” they’ve ever used. Because it’s instruments are self-contained and does away with third-party plug-ins, it’s one of the most stable audio programs out there. No long waiting times or hangs. Yes I know people have had mixed reactions to this because they want to use the VST’s and third-party plug-ins which they bought for hundreds of dollars, but often those VST’s only complicate the production process and slow down your computer. And the best VST’s really cost a lot. So you have to look at this from the stand-alone perspective. If I’m going to choose a stand-alone software, which would it be? Because the guys at Propellerhead have done their best to ensure compatibility and performance issues inside the software, you know the performance is always going to be optimal. Instead of worrying about whether or not you have enough memory in your PC, you can just focus on making music.

5. Reason 5.0 Refills and Record

If you’ll ever need them, the guys at Propellerhead keep coming up with more gread sound libraries, as their Refill collection shows. And not only by them, but they’ve graciously allowed third-party refills. Personally I’ve never needed to buy any refills, but maybe you’re looking for a particular sound that you want premade for you, such as in the reggae, ambient, or acoustic genre, then of course it’s always good to have this option available. Reason 5.0 also breaks new ground with the simultaneous release of Record. Record is, as the name implies, the new Propellerhead recording software, and it changes the landscape for Reason users in very positive way. Blocks style recording and the Neptune pitch adjuster make this a high-class contender in the music software business. Reason + Record together make for a very powerful combination, in fact they also sell it as a package for a good bargain.

Our conclusion: As it stands, Reason 5.0 is the most complete version of this great music making software yet. If you’ve never tried it before then maybe now’s the perfect time to do so. For those who have been faithful Reason users, what are you waiting for? Everything in Reason 4.0 only got much better in Reason 5.0. We give the software five stars.