You’re all entitled to your opinions, obviously, but advising a total beginner to go out and buy a MOOG Voyager and a Virus is just plain stupid.

Likewise, telling him to go out and get a copy of Reaper and a load of free plugins is just inviting him to spend precious music-making hours scouring the internet for MORE plugins [more, more MORE!!] and then trying to work out why his mouse keeps freezing and his audio glitches. If he spent enough time on the internet he could end up with 50 synths to learn instead of three and everyone knows that the more synths you have, the better your music sounds. Right?

Reason is an excellent learning tool precisely because it is a closed system. I have been using it since version 1 and I can’t recall it EVER crashing on me. All I ever do with it is make music. I don’t spend hours trying to work out why X plugin won’t work with Y plugin or why X synth glitches when I open Y window. It just works.

It contains synths, samplers, sequencers [linear, step and pattern] fx units of every basic type and it doesn’t place its own pointless complexity between you and the musical idea in your head. As a system it is comprehensive yet learnable.

Please go back and read the original post at the beginning of this thread. He didn’t ask for people to list random pieces of equipment or dredge up the old software/hardware debate - he asked what would be a good setup to learn on.

Cloudwalker - 17 November 2009 06:49 AM

Ott - 17 November 2009 05:00 AM

90% of my tunes are written in Reason.

Bollocks. 
Ain’t buyin’ that statement…

Well, ok.

But it’s true.

Ott - 17 November 2009 04:10 PM

You’re all entitled to your opinions, obviously, but advising a total beginner to go out and buy a MOOG Voyager and a Virus is just plain stupid.

Likewise, telling him to go out and get a copy of Reaper and a load of free plugins is just inviting him to spend precious music-making hours scouring the internet for MORE plugins [more, more MORE!!] and then trying to work out why his mouse keeps freezing and his audio glitches. If he spent enough time on the internet he could end up with 50 synths to learn instead of three and everyone knows that the more synths you have, the better your music sounds. Right?

Reason is an excellent learning tool precisely because it is a closed system. I have been using it since version 1 and I can’t recall it EVER crashing on me. All I ever do with it is make music. I don’t spend hours trying to work out why X plugin won’t work with Y plugin or why X synth glitches when I open Y window. It just works.

It contains synths, samplers, sequencers [linear, step and pattern] fx units of every basic type and it doesn’t place its own pointless complexity between you and the musical idea in your head. As a system it is comprehensive yet learnable.

Please go back and read the original post at the beginning of this thread. He didn’t ask for people to list random pieces of equipment or dredge up the old software/hardware debate - he asked what would be a good setup to learn on.

10000% true. Same exact reasons I love REASON… it has everything you need and doesn’t crash and doesn’t get in the way of your ideas by slowing you down. It has the fastest work flow I’ve ever encountered.

Well if it’s good enough for Ott then it’s worth at least checking out so I’m getting the demo from propellerheads now to check it out.

Ott - 17 November 2009 04:11 PM

Cloudwalker - 17 November 2009 06:49 AM

Ott - 17 November 2009 05:00 AM

90% of my tunes are written in Reason.

Bollocks. 
Ain’t buyin’ that statement…

Well, ok.

But it’s true.

With no audio recording capability? No plugin support?
Why would you have the sexy percussion and analog synth setup if you couldn’t use it?
Besides, I hear those synth presets in your songs.
(Atmosphere in particular)

Are you implying that you start composing in reason and rewire/export elsewhere?
Because THATS a different story…

And no, more is not better with plugins.
I would never suggest anyone run out and download download download.
Pick a couple tools and learn to use them to their fullest potential.

Cloudwalker - 17 November 2009 05:46 PM

Why would you have the sexy percussion and analog synth setup if you couldn’t use it?

I said ‘written in Reason’ not ‘produced exclusively in Reason’.

I would go for:

Mac - most powerful you can afford
Logic Pro
Top audio interface (firewire) you don’t need many inputs, but go for quality
Some nice VSTs

... and off you go!

Right, I gathered that much. But 90%?
More than 60% of most of your tracks is “live content”.
I guess I’m wondering how you do it all.
Never would expected reason was “90%” of your repertoire…

Perhaps it’s best not to spill the beans…

Cloudwalker - 17 November 2009 06:30 PM

Right, I gathered that much. But 90%?
More than 60% of most of your tracks is “live content”.

We appear to have our wires crossed here so let me phrase it differently for you.

90% of my tracks started out life in Reason. That is to say, out of ten tracks, nine will have been started in Reason.

This thread makes me think that we should make a twisted forum community track.

Has anyone thought about that? I’m not sure it would be the easiest thing, but could be a lot a fun.

Any ideas? I know some of the basics in reason and can play the guitar / bass okay..

Just something basic that could leave room for anyone’s imagination really.

Ott - 17 November 2009 07:15 PM

Cloudwalker - 17 November 2009 06:30 PM

Right, I gathered that much. But 90%?
More than 60% of most of your tracks is “live content”.

We appear to have our wires crossed here so let me phrase it differently for you.

90% of my tracks started out life in Reason. That is to say, out of ten tracks, nine will have been started in Reason.

Aaaah. Okay, that makes sense now. Sorry for the misunderstanding.
I imagine Reason is the perfect tool for jotting down ideas quickly and fluently.

Silly internet discussions…sometimes hard to know what people are referring to.

This thread makes me think that we should make a twisted forum community track.

Tried this once (on a different forum), It didn’t work out so well.
People got lazy, took too long, or contributed “badly”.
Still…it could be fun… 

I don’t think there is anything easier than Ableton Live. U can try for yourself Ableton, Reaper and Reason…  see which makes u more comfortable

psilogod - 17 November 2009 12:31 PM

did you know Komplete 6 is only $500 new now?

I bought Komplete 5 + Kore 2 for $1000…right before the update came out. *sigh*

$500 is a pretty great price for what they’re giving you.

Yeah I did see that but i’m afraid that a sub woofer is the next thing on my wish list. put all my dubstep tunes on hold til then haha

——-
And as far as great free plug ins goo

automat synth, camel crusher by camel audio, frohmage LP filter by ohm force and the whole lot of TAL plug ins are top choice for me

In my case, before I got any programs, sound cards, monitors and a midi keyboard I watched my mates for about 4-5 months before. I watched how they built tracks and how they did the simple things like put in an instrument. How they loaded samples etc. All the easy things that we take for granted. I then felt comfortable trying it myself. Later on I would go on to change my program but if I hadn’t had that chance to watch them maybe I would of not be making any music. It’s all well and good that we suggest programs etc but you need to find one that you are comfortable with. Try the demos out from Ableton, Reason, Cubase(If they have a demo) and FL Studio. Play around to see which one fits you. Don’t put the burden on yourself of trying to make a track, well you generally can’t save with the demos anyway. Just try out how to do the basics and then make a choice.

Isn’t there anything like some sort of a music producing for dummies or maybe some sort of music reference on electronic stuff everyone knows about but forgot to mention???  Some sort of music bible perhaps???  Don’t wanna go and ask silly questions all the time like what’s a VST and stuff..