The Reason Q&A Thread

[mr. lizard]

Good tips here

[r3pulse]

big up for this

Welcome to the forum

After the 'Cack Fiasco', perhaps it was time to be useful again?

Credit goes to £10 Bag anyway for mentioning the idea.

thanks for the welcome. Cack fiasco lol?

[futures_untold]

Cack fiasco lol?

It all started here ---> http://dubstepforum.com/viewtopic.php?t ... light=cack

Continued here ---> http://dubstepforum.com/viewtopic.php?t ... c&start=20

And ended here ---> http://dubstepforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=86835&start=0

Generally, my sentiment towards 'midrange cack' isn't great...

DON'T DO IT KIDS!

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Keeping this thread on topic, check out http://www.Peff.com for lots of Reason greatness!

[bennyc]

Sticky?.... pls?

[futures_untold]

I doubt there is a need to sticky this, although it may be added to the production bible along with the other DAW Q&A threads.

For those of you that haven't already grabbed them, there are plenty of Reason patches available from here ---> http://dubstepforum.com/viewtopic.php?t ... sc&start=0

[dnab]

A few great tutorials for DnB and dubstep production --> http://www.youtube.com/user/loki1200

[yellowhighlighter]

cool thread. i'm just getting started in reason so this has been helpful.

one question that i'm hoping somebody here could help me with. is there any way to have the arpeggiator in conjunction with the matrix, ie. use the matrix to trigger arpeggiations.

[futures_untold]

cool thread. i'm just getting started in reason so this has been helpful.

one question that i'm hoping somebody here could help me with. is there any way to have the arpeggiator in conjunction with the matrix, ie. use the matrix to trigger arpeggiations.

I'm unsure what CV inputs are on the back of the Arp, but you could definately use a CV spider/Splitter to combine the CV signal being sent.

Peff has written a dual matrix arpeggiator tutorial, I'll try to dig it out when have time.

[futures_untold]

cool thread. i'm just getting started in reason so this has been helpful.

one question that i'm hoping somebody here could help me with. is there any way to have the arpeggiator in conjunction with the matrix, ie. use the matrix to trigger arpeggiations.

Another possibility may be using the arp within a combinator. You could tie the arp controls to the combi controls, and use the matrix to control the combi as that definately has CV inputs.

[mr. lizard]

Can someone please explain to me how they would go about making a really "phat" sounding bass.

I can making decent noises but I feel they are lacking a certain something.

(I realised this when I loaded up one of your combi patches Futures Untold)

At the moment, I will put 1 or maybe 2 Subtractors in a Combinator, and maybe add a Skream distortion unit and finally will add an Equaliser.

Maybe using a compressor? but I'm not sure what knobs I should be tweaking on it.

Any help is appreciated

Cheers

[futures_untold]

Building bass patches in reason is really easy if you understand the underlying theory of how each synth works. Which knobs and parameters to modulate vary according to the synthesis method employed by the synth. When you understand how each synth generates its sound, you can more effectively experiment with tweaking its controls to make bass patches.

Different techniques can be used to achieve a wide range of results. 'Wobble' can be created via the amplitude (volume) control, pitch controls and filters. It can also be created with different synthesis methods, ie Frequency Modulation, wavetable index scanning and oscillator phase etc. While most synths offer volume and pitch controls, many synths only offer extra controls based upon the synthesis method.

It may take a while, but read up as much as you can about each of the synths in Reason. (The manual is a good place to start). They all have similarities, but the methods used to generate the sound differ greatly, and effect the available controls for tweaking.

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Subtractor is easy to figure out, its synthesis type is even mentioned in the name. It is a virtual analogue synth that uses filters to 'subtract' from (shape) the sound. Less obvious parameters include the FM/ring modulation options, and the pulse width modulation controls. Phase distortion can also be created by modulating the phase controls.

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The Malstrom uses a hybrid synthesis method based on wavetables and granular synthesis. The motion knob controls the speed that the wavetable is scanned, the index slider sets the initial point in the wavetable that playback starts from, and the shift control changes the formant of the wavetable.

Other useful options on the Malstrom include the waveshaper, and the comb filters. Waveshaping can add anything from subtle warmth to full on screeching distortion. Comb filters when modulated slightly can create a fuller sound. When used with extreme resonance settings, they create a metalic ringing sound, similar to some reverbs.

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The Thor has different synthesis types available in the oscillator section, as well as multiple filter types and a simple waveshaper. Choosing which controls to modulate depends on what sound you wish to achieve.

• The virtual analogue oscillator functions much like the subtractor, ie you'll need to use the filters to shape the sound.
  
  The FM oscillator functions by using one oscillator to modulate others. The more oscillators available, the more complex the sounds become that can be achieved.
  
  The phase distortion oscillator works by changing the phase position of one oscillator compared to the other. This create phase distortion surprisingly enough!
  
  The wavetable oscillator works by storing segments of sampled waveforms in a line. You can scan through the segments using the index controls.
  
  The Multioscillator create clones of the initial oscillator, thus giving a phatter sound.
  
  The noise oscillator only creates noise, so probably isn't that useful for creating bass patches.

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Apart from the actual oscillator controls, filters can be modulated and effects used to create movement/tone shaping.

Stacking multiple synths inside a Combinator means the raw sound produced by the oscillators becomes phatter or more complex. Using different synthesis types in one bass patch can create interesting results, but similarly, some of the best basses only use one or two oscillators and a filter.

There are no hard and fast rules, just spend the time experimenting. Search for other bass patches and copy what you see. Eventually it all clicks in place and you'll be able to make any bass sound you want in a matter of minutes..!!

[futures_untold]

Sorry, I didn't answer your initial question.

Use the cent/detune controls of two oscillators to create a phatter sound. Other options include using the aformentioned comb filter to create chorussing, using an actual chorus and using subtle distortion.

[r3pulse]

The Gain Structure thread............whats 1db in Reason mixer terms?

[Ongelegen]

The Gain Structure thread............whats 1db in Reason mixer terms?

use the mclass maximizer and just turn its limiter off

[futures_untold]

How is hi-pass filtering done in Reason?

1> The easiest way is to use the MClass Stereo Imager. Pass your audio through the stereo imager and activate the 'solo hiband' button. Use the cross over frequency as your filter cut-off control.

Another way is to pass your audio through filter 3 on Thor. Setting it up is a pain in the arse, but if you put Thor in a Combinator, you can then recall the configuration by saving the Combi patch.

The MClass EQ has a highshelf filter, but it doesn't sweep through the entire frequency spectrum...

Finally, you could use the Vocoder as a graphic eq.

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How do I automate FX in Reason??

Right click on the effect you want to automate, then from the 'Create' submenu choose 'Sequencer track for 'device''. Now you can right click on any of the effects units parameters and choses 'Edit Automation' to draw custome automation envelopes for that control....!

Some devices automatically create their own sequencer track when you insert the device into the rack, others don't. To automatically create a new sequencer track for a device that doesn't usually have one, hold down Alt at the exact moment you click on the device you want to create.
Doing this for a device that normally creates a sequencer track means it won't automatically have a sequencer track.

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Another really useful keyboard modifier is to hold down Alt when you click on the little triangle that minimises the rack devices. For example, say we have a combinator with loads of devices, some of them open and some of them minimised, Alt-clicking the minimise triangle will open them all up, Alt-clicking again will minimise them all...

[-dubson-]

How is hi-pass filtering done in Reason?

1> The easiest way is to use the MClass Stereo Imager. Pass your audio through the stereo imager and activate the 'solo hiband' button. Use the cross over frequency as your filter cut-off control.

Another way is to pass your audio through filter 3 on Thor. Setting it up is a pain in the arse, but if you put Thor in a Combinator, you can then recall the configuration by saving the Combi patch.

The MClass EQ has a highshelf filter, but it doesn't sweep through the entire frequency spectrum...

Finally, you could use the Vocoder as a graphic eq.

-------------------------------------------------------------

How do I automate FX in Reason??

Right click on the effect you want to automate, then from the 'Create' submenu choose 'Sequencer track for 'device''. Now you can right click on any of the effects units parameters and choses 'Edit Automation' to draw custome automation envelopes for that control....!

Some devices automatically create their own sequencer track when you insert the device into the rack, others don't. To automatically create a new sequencer track for a device that doesn't usually have one, hold down Alt at the exact moment you click on the device you want to create.
Doing this for a device that normally creates a sequencer track means it won't automatically have a sequencer track.

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Another really useful keyboard modifier is to hold down Alt when you click on the little triangle that minimises the rack devices. For example, say we have a combinator with loads of devices, some of them open and some of them minimised, Alt-clicking the minimise triangle will open them all up, Alt-clicking again will minimise them all...

cheers matey

[2nd chance]

Seems like a noob question, but is there an lfo retrigger on any of the synths?

[scooterjack]

Seems like a noob question, but is there an lfo retrigger on any of the synths?

yes

[futures_untold]

Is there an lfo retrigger on any of the synths?

Malstroms Mod A and Mod B both retrigger everytime a new midi signal is recieved. I always use the Malstrom as my LFO source due directly to this feature. The Mod A and Mod B waveshapes are also more interesting and varied than those found on either Subtractor or Thor.

Flip the rack around and wire up the Mod A or Mod B outputs into the cv input of whichever control you which to modulate. If the control you wish to modulate doesn't have its own cv input, connect Malstroms Mod output to one of the inputs on the Combinator before assigning the combinator control to modulate which ever control you had in mind.