Modulate This! - News, Tips and Links for Electronic Musicians and Producers

Propellerhead Reason 4 Has Shipped

It's been quite a month for announcements. First Logic 8, then Sonar 7, then Halo 3 (off topic but great none the less), and now Reason 4!

You can buy the full version or upgrade today worldwide from your favorite retailer (here is a list), or from the PropShop on Propellerhead's site.

Try it yourself by grabbing a demo version from here: http://www.propellerheads.se/go/D94BEDC0.

They are also offering Propellerhead Upgrade Value Packs through their PropShop

• Small: Reason Drum Kits 2 and Abbey Road Keyboards
• Medium: Reason Drum Kits 2, Abbey Road Keyboards and ReCycle 2.1
• Large: Reason Drum Kits 2, Abbey Road Keyboards, ReCycle 2.1 and Reason Pianos

According to blurb on their news site, here is what's new.

"Believe it or not, this is largest update ever to Reason. Version 4 comes jam-packed with features for quickly creating better sounding music. The new version boasts Thor, a highly sophisticated, superior sounding synthesizer; the ReGroove mixer, a new way to adjust the rhythmic feel of tracks; RPG-8, a versatile arpeggiator; a completely rebuilt sequencer coupled with many other workflow enhancements that give you the control and power to make great sounding music faster and easier than ever."

Visit http://www.propellerheads.se/ and click the Reason link for more info and to see videos of Reason in action.

Propellerhead Reason 4 Sneak Peek & Call for Beta Testers

Propellerhead software has posted a sneak peek web tour of Reason 4 features. If you want to get your hands on it early, note that they are looking for beta testers.

Below is a a summary of new features which I should point out includes a re-design of their sequencer which now supports clips!

• Thor Polyphonic Synthesizer - "six different oscillator types and four unique filters. What does this give you? Simply the most powerful synth ever created; an unstoppable monster of a sound generator that utilizes synthesizer technology from the last 40 years." Sound samples are included on the site.
• RPG-8 Monophonic Arpeggiator - "a brand new unit dedicated to the art of arpeggiation...a wide range of on-panel controls and mode selectors, a pattern section for muting selected notes in an arpeggio and a large display showing values and positions, this device gives you full creative control over your arpeggios."
• ReGroove Mixer - "Want your music to sound less rigid, less programmed? Need your drums to move and groove as if played live by actual musicians? If you want your tracks to flow with that loose, yet tight feel, a regular shuffle control just doesn't cut it. That's why we created the ReGroove mixer, Reason's own realtime groove management device."
• Re-designed Sequencer - "With a whole new look, a ton of fresh features and a completely new way of handling sequencer data, the Reason sequencer has matured... A sequencer device or instrument now gets its own dedicated track, with separate lanes for note, performance and automation data, opting for a better overview and less clutter. All sequencer data - notes, automation, the works - is now housed in clips, musical building blocks that can be opened, sliced or moved. When a clip is moved to a new location, all its internal data follows right along with it, always ending up exactly where you intended it to. For safe, speedy sequencing."
• Localized and will be available in English, French, German or Japanese.

Checkout Propellerhead Software's YouTube Channel

Propellerhead software (makers of Reason and ReCycle) has a YouTube channel. The channel has some interesting videos of their software in use - http://www.youtube.com/PropellerheadSW .

Three New Free Propellerhead Reason Refills - RB-3-3, XSynth FX, CombiString Ensemble

Propellerhead has released three new FREE refills for reason:

• RB-303 ReFill by Peff
• XSynth FX by Michael Kastrup
• CombiString Ensemble & Ensemble Effect by Robert Sigmuntowski

Check them out at the Free Refilll section of the Propellerhead site.

Propellerhead Software Announces Worldwide Producer Conferences

The makers of Propellerhead Reason have announced a series of Producers Conferences taking place worldwide. These conferences offer a broad set of creative clinics and interactive classes for computer musicians conducted by "top artists and producers".

The schedule below was posted on http://www.propellerheads.se/procon/ and contains the lineup for the Los Angeles conference. Use this link as the other conferences get closer to check on lineups in your area.

April 21 - Los Angeles, USA

Confirmed lecturers and artists:

• Chris Petti - Rewire w/ Reason
• James Bernard - Cool tips and tricks (TBD)
• DJ Babu - Hip Hop Beat Making
• Peff - Modular Patching Tutorial
• Richard Devine [Sound Design / Business]
• Producer Review QA with Mocean Worker/Arabian Prince

May 2 - Copenhagen, Denmark Details TBA

May 7 - Guilford, UK Details TBA

May 8 - Manchester, UK Details TBA

May 10 - Ireland Site & details TBA

June 6 - Hamburg, Germany Details TBA

Propellerhead Preview - Thor semi-modular synthesizer

At Winter NAMM 2007, Propellerhead software showed a technology preview of a new synthesizer for Reason called Thor. This synthesizer will be available in an upcoming version of Reason. According to Propellerhead, "Thor is a semi-modular synthesizer built around exchangeable components such as oscillators and filters, and a very comprehensive modulation matrix."

Click here to learn more about this technology preview as well as hear some demo sounds.

Garritan Personal Orchestra instrument library will be available for Propellerhead Reason

Garritan has announced that a special light version of the Garritan Personal Orchestra instrument library will be available for the Propellerhead Reason.

According to Garritan  "The library is a Reason Refill sample based instrument library for all versions of Propellerhead's Reason, and includes over 180 instrument patches for the Garritan Personal Orchestra instrument library."

More details here...