Book Tips

Fast Guide to Propellerhead Reason

Reason in der Praxis

Analog Synthesis

Vintage Synthesizers

"Fast Guide to PROPELLERHEAD REASON" by Debbie Poyser and Derek Johnson

About the authors  Debbie Poyser and Derek Johnson are writers who have published many articles in "Sound On Sound“ and other magazines.  In the current issue (Jan 03) of "Sound On Sound“ you can read their Interview  with Ernst Nathorst-Böös and some other guys from the Props. First Thoughts In my opinion the title "Fast Guide“ is unlucky, because it is an understatement. People who consider buying this book by mailorder may think this is one of those light-weight books that tell you the basics about a program in one hour, mostly all the stuff you already found in the manual. But if you are in a bookshop, have Fast Guide to PROPELLERHEAD REASON in your hands, and leaf through it’s 400 pages you will recognize that this is a different book because it is really comprehensive. So what is written on the backside of the book is true: That this is an In-Depth Guide for Reason. This does not mean that it’s too "deep" for beginners, of course they will profit from this book too and by the time they finished reading it and tried the things described in it, they will be no beginners any more.

Here we go...

So the first thing that is explained is of course the installation and the correct setup of Reason. You get to know what kind of hardware you need to run Reason and how to setup Midi for Windows, MAC OMS and OSX.

When you have setup Reason and it is running you can turn to the next chapter, the quickstart tutorials. This is for the impatient people (like me) who must try out everything before reading too much once the program is running. 

And if those impatient people had some problems with the operation of Reason, they should now read the chapter about basic Reason operations like loading and saving a song, the difference between a normal and a selfcontained song, what can be done with the rack devices, where to stick those cables,  what Refills are needed for and much more.

A nice feature is that throughout the whole book you can find small boxes with tips.

And finally, on page 58 (!) we start with the stuff we all really waited for. One intensive chapter for every Reason device:

The Remixer

Here you are told what all these tiny knobs and faders are for. You learn the difference between insert and send effects, how automatic cable connections work and when you should not use them. And just in case you don’t know what a chained submixer is, this is explained here too.

The Subtractor

As many people already know, the Subtractor is my Precious One, so I read this chapter most carefully. I still remember the first time I sat in front of the Subtractor, thinking "Now what am I supposed to do now with all those different knobs ?“  Get familiar with everything with a small tutorial in which you learn to create a bass sound.

There’s a small info box telling you that this is not an in-depth exploration of Subtractors theory, analogue synthesis. But everything you need to know is explained.

Next comes a tutorial, where you can make your own drum sounds.  Okay, you might say, this is what I have the Redrum for, but it is my opinion that self-made drumsounds have their special charm.

My favourite tutorial is in this chapter too. Here you can read how you can create a Roland TB 303 sound. (Think I have to write faster to get ready and try this 
out !!)

And after reading the Subtractor chapter you will know how to create rich, phatt sounds by using a patch layering technique.

The Redrum

Again the first you learn here is the use of all the buttons. You will be guided through the process of setting up a drum pattern in a tutorial.  Also explained is my favourite Redrum technique, the "Copy Pattern to Track“ function. This allows to edit a drumtrack in the sequencer to make it sound more "human“.

When you have succeeded in setting up one or more drumsounds in the Subtractor chapter, then it is now time to try it out by letting Redrum trigger up to 10 Subtractors.

As in every other chapter, the backside of this device with the setting up of all that cable-spaghetti is also described in detail.

NN19

The original Reason sampler is the topic of the next chapter. Here you can read about mapping, automapping, keyzones and keymap templates.

Dr:rex

Again this is not a chapter full of theory only, Debbie and Derek take you by your hands and show you how to use Dr:rex in a tutorial. Afterwards in a guided tour all the features of Dr:rex are explained. They don’t forget the rear panel (of D:rex!) and show you how the Dr:rex loops are used in the sequencer.

Malström

The first tip in this chapter is about something that I also realized when I made my first experiments with Malström: Certain filter settings can produce resonances that can could possibly hurt your speakers and your ears. So it is advised to use a compressor on Malströms output.

After taking this precaution you can try out the guided tour where you get familiar with all the aspects of graintable synthesis. Again you are presented a programming example so that you can turn the knobs while reading. Also covered is the use of Malström as a signal processor for other devices.

NNXT

In principle the NNXT is the same as the NN19, but it offers much more possibilities of controlling the samples. All those extended (NNXT)  possibilities are explained of course and after you have finished the chapter you will know how to create a layered patch, how to make velocity-crossfade layers and how sample looping in NNXT works. The most valuable content of this chapter are the guidelines about setting loop points so that the samples don’t click or bump. And on two pages you will find some new ideas what you can do with the NNXT that are not in the manual.

Matrix

This friend of all laptop Reason users is called  "secret weapon of Reason“ here. I could not have it formulated that better. You get the usual guided tour in this chapter and learn about chaining patterns in various ways. Then it’s "TAB“ time again, switch to the rear panel of Matrix and try some auto-panning, a faked sync’d LFO or arpeggios.  Also included is the "Playing the Matrix with a midi-keyboard“ technique that is described on the Tips and Tricks page of this website. They even have expanded that a little further !

Rebirth Input

People who own Reason’s predecessor and use it together with Reason will be pleased that there’s a chapter about the Rebirth Input Machine (RIM) too.

Effects

Last not least there’s a huge chapter about effets. On 40 pages, individual aspects of the different effects are covered.

Sequencer

This chapter explains the basics of a sequencer and in detail all the options you need to know when using the Reason sequencer.

From the letters I got the last months I know that many people miss a tempo-changing feature in Reason. For these people the last paragraph in the sequencer chapter called  "Faking Tempo Changes“ will be most interesting.

Automation And Remote Control

A Reason song without automation is like a dinner without spices, so if you want to give you songs more substance, read this !

And the rest...

There’s a a chapter how to use Reason with other software. Connect Reason to Cubase VST, Nuendo or SX or Emagic Logic, Motu Digital Performer or Cakewalk Sonar.  Debbie and Derek even explain how to use Reason with non-Rewire programs like Pro Tools LE via Hubis Loopback device.

At the end of the book you also get 20 fast Reason tips, a fast guide to CV/Gate routings and a listing of the best websites around Reason, audio and recording

Conclusion:

This book really got me !! I had to explain my wife why I interrupted the reading of the Stephen King book she gave me for Christmas. My first fear when I heard about a new Reason book was that it would be another kind of manual. But this book offers much more. It really stimulates you to experiment with Reason.

Beginners will habe no problems because everything you need to know is explained in detail with numerous black and white illustrations  But the users who already have some Reason knowledge are not forgotten either. There is so much new inside that needs to be tried out. 

The book is if course written for the new Reason V.2, but it is even valuable for users that still use the V.1. After you read that Malström chapter, I am sure, your wish to upgrade will arise ;-)

There are only two words for me to say: Deeply Recommended !

Debbie Poyser and Derek Johnson, Fast Guide to PROPELLERHEAD REASON, 408 pages, ISBN 187 077 5813, £ 22,95

If I could wet your mouth now, here is where you can order it: PC-Publishing

A German manual is available for Reason ! 

You can download it at the Propellerheads website.

"Reason in der Praxis" was written by Thomas Alker, has 214 pages and costs DM 39.

There is a Germany translation of this article here I thought it would be fair to let the people who don't understand German know, what they are missing. ;-) And who knows, perhaps some foreign publisher is interested to translate this book sometime. The Book begins with the Installation and Configuration of Reason, with a small troubleshooting section. Then the whole concept of Reason is explained, followed by a detailed description of the Reason rack, front and behind, including the concept of the virtual cables. Two detailed chapters cover the Sequencer and how to work with it.  Then it's time to introduce the various Reason modules: Subtractor, NN19 sampler, Dr.Rex, Matrix and Redrum. Following these are the mixer and the different effects. Next you learn something about Automation and Remote Control. If you ever tried to connect Cubase with Reason, you know how tricky this can be, the chapter about Rewire should give you some relief.If you are finished with these chapters, you have reached 2/3 of the book. Everything that follows now can't be found in the Reason manual. My most favourite chapter is the Tips section. Okay, I admit that it is my favourite because you can find two tips from this website there too... ;-)

If you plan to use Reason on a Notebook, you get some advice too. And if you are not satisfied with the amount of sounds of the NN19, you are introduced to some sampling CDs.

In the chapter "Cult and Community" you find interviews with Ernst Nathorst Böös of the Propellerheads and some people of the Reason Community. In the last chapter you can find some last-minute infos about the Reason 1.0.1 update and the Refill packer. And for all those people who have not yet discovered Reason websites on the Internet, there is the appendix with various Reason links.

If you are not a Reason owner yet, don't despair ! On the CD that comes with the book is the new Reason Demo 1.0.1. so that you can have a try at once. You also can find the Cubase 5 demo there, this is your last chance to get this, as Steinberg already has removed that from their Website.

Other stuff from the CD are:

Rebirth and Recycle demos,
Reason song files with the examples from the tips section,
shareware programs: Arp-X8, Midi Translator and Mouse Keyboard
some demo sampling sounds

And now the final question: Can I recommend the book ? The answer is YES ! Especially if you are a Reason beginner and you have some difficulties with the English manual. The book is written in an easy understandable style and good value for money !

Thomas Alker, Reason in der Praxis, 214 pages with CD, DM 39, ISBN 3-932275-22-5

"Reason in der Praxis" wurde geschrieben von Thomas Alker, es hat 214 Seiten und kostet DM 39.

Das Buch beginnt mit der Installation und Konfiguration von Reason, inclusive einem Problemlösungsteil. Danach wird das Konzept von Reason erklärt, gefolgt von einer ausführlichen Beschreibung des Reason Racks, Vorder- und Rückseite, inclusive einer Beschreibung der virtuellen Kabel. Zwei detaillierte Kapitel behandeln den Sequencer und wie man damit arbeitet.

Danach ist es Zeit, die verschiedenen Reason-Module vorzustellen: Subtractor, NN19 sampler, Dr.Rex, Matrix and Redrum.  Anschließend werden der Mixer und die verschiedenen Effekte behandelt, es folgen die Themen Automation und Remote Control.

Jeder, der irgendwann schonmal versucht hat, Cubase mit Reason zu verbinden, weiß wie schwierig sich das gestalten kann. Das Kapitel über Rewire kann hier mehr Licht ins Dunkel bringen. Nachdem man diese Kapitel gelesen hat, ist 2/3 des Buchs erreicht. Alles was jetzt folgt, kann man nicht in der Reason Anleitung finden.

Mein Lieblingskapitel ist "Die besten Tips rund um Reason". Okay, ich gebe zu, das liegt daran, daß zwei der Tips von dieser Website sind.. ;-)  Wer plant, Reason auf einem Notebook einzusetzen, bekommt dafür ebenfalls Tips. Und falls einem die Sampler Sounds von Reason nicht reichen, werden einige Sampling CDs vorgestellt.

Im Kapitel "Kult und Community" finden sich Interviews mit Ernst Nathorst Böös von den Propellerheads und einiger Leute der Reason Community. Im letzen Kapitel findet man schließlich noch einige allerneueste Informationen über das Reason 1.0.1 Update und den Refill Packer.

Und für alle, die die zahlreichen Reason Websites im Internet noch nicht entdeckt haben, befinden sich im Anhang zahlreiche Links.

Falls man noch kein Reason Besitzer ist, kein Grund zur Verzweiflung ! Auf der beigelegten CD befindet sich das neueste Reason Demo 1.0.1, so daß man sofort loslegen kann. Auch das Demo von Cubase 5 ist auf der CD, vielleicht die letzte Gelegenheit, es zu bekommen, da es auf der Steinberg Website schon nicht mehr zu finden ist..

Außerdem ist auf der CD noch enthalten:

Demos von Rebirth und Recycle
Reason Song Dateien mit den Beispielen aus dem Tip- Kapitel
Shareware Programme: Arp-X8, Midi Translator and Mouse Keyboard
einige Samplingsounds-Beispiele

Und nun die alles entscheidende Frage: Kann ich diese Buch empfehlen ? Die Antwort ist JA ! Besonders der Reason-Anfänger, der sich nicht mit der englischsprachigen Anleitung anfreunden kann, sollte unbedingt zugreifen. Das Buch ist leichtverständlich und wirklich sein Geld wert !

Thomas Alker, Reason in der Praxis, 214 Seiten mit CD, DM 39, ISBN 3-932275-22-5

Analog Synthesis : The Newbie Guide to Synthesizers and Sound Design.  by Reinhard Schmitz   $ 23,96

Analoge Klangsynthese Das Einsteigerbuch zu Synthesizern und Soundprogrammierung   DM 39,80

Vintage Synthesizers by Marc Vail  $ 22.36

This was my first book about synthesizers. It is something like a history book. Each chapter deals with another old synthesizer company, some were more successful, some less. On 333 large pages with many photos, (mostly with long-haired guys in front of cupboard-large equipment with cable-spaghetti ;-) ) you can read stories about the beginnings of electronic music. Read about the rise and fall of Moog Music, about Wendy Carlos and her "Switched-On Bach" project, about a company called ARP, about Keith Emerson and his moog, about the Mellotron in Led Zeppelin's "Rain Song" and many other entertaining stuff. So if you are interested in the backgrounds and history of electronic music, this book is highly recommended !!