Reason Quick Reference

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INTRODUCTION

This Reason Quick Reference will show you how to use Reason to create and save a simple track with a beat and a melody. Advanced sound production techniques will not be covered in this guide.

COMPOSING A TRACK

  1. Access Reason by selecting Start Menu > Reason

  2. After Reason loads, you need to Create a New Session.
    Go to the File Menu > New. This will create an new rack that has one device loaded into it, the “Midi In/Audio Out” Device.

  3. Next, you will want to Name/Save the Session.
    Go to the File Menu > Save as, then supply it with a name.

  4. The first component that you will want to add to the rack is the Mixer.
    Go to the Create Menu > Mixer 14:2

  5. Next, we’ll go over creating a basic synthesized drum track using the Redrum Drum Computer. Create Menu > Redrum Drum Computer

  6. First, load in the different drum tones that you would like to use. You can do this by either:

    7. Loading in an entire preloaded drum kit (Browse patch)
    Loading in individual tones (Browse sample)
    After you’ve loaded the patch (or sample), you can preview
    the tone by clicking the play button above each sample.

  7. Now, we will compose a beat.

    8. Select your tone.
    Select when it should hit.

    Click run to preview.

    Repeat to add more tones.

    To achieve desired sound, adjust:
    Resolution
    Dynamic

  8. Next, we’ll go over creating a basic synthesized melody using the Malstrom Graintable Synthesizer and the Matrix Pattern Sequencer

    Go to the Create Menu > Malstrom Graintable Synthesizer
    Go to the Create Menu > Matrix Pattern Sequence

    The following should appear in your rack:

    9. Adjust type of sound.
    Adjust elements.
    Adjust notes.
    Adjust gain of notes.
    Click run to preview.

  9. To hear both the drums and the melody together:

    10. Click run to preview.

  10. To Export your project to a wav file, do the following: Click File > Export Song as Audio File.
    Note: If you plan on importing this file to a multi-track session (see next page), it is best to keep the length of it short, then loop it within the mult-track program. To do this, you need to set the “E” tab (end marker) on the timeline to shortly after one or two loops.

    11. Set “E” tab.

  11. To Export your project to a wav file, do the following: Click File > Export Song as Audio File. First name the file, then select

    12. Select Sample Rate of 44100Hz
    Select Bit Depth of 16

This will save your project to a wave file which can then be imported by a multi-track editor (Protools, Sonar XL, Soundforge, etc). It is important to select a bit depth of 16 because your multitrack should also be at the same rate. 16-bit provides CD quality sound. You cannot import a 24-bit file into a 16-bit session or vice versa. Also, 24-bit uses an enormous amount of disk space compared to 16-bit, which will make saving more difficult and your project run slower.