Reason 7 announced w/ MIDI Out

[Bud Weiser]

http://www.propellerheads.se/products/reason/new/

Well, now I see SCOPE 5.1, Reason 7 and Bidule (VST host) alone on my machine in future.
Seems to be the lowest CPU and RAM footprint combo for me and Win7 32Bit/ 4GB RAM.

Bud

[Sounddesigner]

http://www.propellerheads.se/products/reason/new/

Well, now I see SCOPE 5.1, Reason 7 and Bidule (VST host) alone on my machine in future.
Seems to be the lowest CPU and RAM footprint combo for me and XP 32Bit/ 4GB RAM.

Bud

Well what a surprise. I ahould've known it was comming (MIDI out).

I don't think Reason is as cpu effixient as it use to be with the latest 6.5 version. When someone did a vst VS Reason rack extension cpu usage comparison test using the same 3rd party plugins that run on both platforms, they found Reason to be VERY cpu inefficient in comparison (4x as much in some cases, iirc this was stated to be due to fitting into the architecture- routing, crash proofing sandbox, iirc). As Reason gets bigger and more bloated like all other DAW's it starts to lose its advantages it seems. More functionality usually has a price.

I still have version 3.5 of Reason and use it as a scratch pad. For older versions the cpu usage, stability and lay-out/workflow are definitly top-notch compared to other Native DAW's in many ways IMV. It's a good chance i would upgrade to version 7 if Propellerheads had not gone to the dongle system. I still like to keep a eye on Reason's development since Reason was definitly one of my first loves.

[Bud Weiser]

Well what a surprise. I ahould've known it was comming (MIDI out).

I don't think Reason is as cpu effixient as it use to be with the latest 6.5 version. When someone did a vst VS Reason rack extension cpu usage comparison test using the same 3rd party plugins that run on both platforms, they found Reason to be VERY cpu inefficient in comparison (4x as much in some cases, iirc this was stated to be due to fitting into the architecture- routing, crash proofing sandbox, iirc). As Reason gets bigger and more bloated like all other DAW's it starts to lose its advantages it seems. More functionality usually has a price.

Well, I don´t use rack extensions at all so it makes a difference to me.
For me,- Reason delivers enough good sounds from the factory library already and there are some excellent refill freebies covering the rest.
I´m using only 2 commercial refills,- Bitley´s Fairlight Platinum and O8 which are both a steal.

I´m also NI Komplete 7 user and plan to host that,- mainly Kontakt, in Bidule.
Bidule needs almost no CPU and RAM compared to Studio One Pro 2.5 and Cubendo.
I need only Reasons audio tracks, MIDI tracks and devices,- just like a recorder w/ some additions,- there is all the other stuff from SCOPE 5.1,- you know ...

I still have version 3.5 of Reason and use it as a scratch pad. For older versions the cpu usage, stability and lay-out/workflow are definitly top-notch compared to other Native DAW's in many ways IMV. It's a good chance i would upgrade to version 7 if Propellerheads had not gone to the dongle system. I still like to keep a eye on Reason's development since Reason was definitly one of my first loves.

I still have the Reason 4 version as an alternative,- but even I hate dongles too,- the Reason dongle is the most user friendly device I ever had and compared to eLicencer and iLok.
It doesn´t bother me much.

It´s not only the MIDI Out making Reason v7 interesting,- there´s also CV out from Reason devices over MIDI controlling external devices or maybe SCOPE Modular,- at least when SCOPE 6 will be out w/ better MIDI control.
Reason mixer will now offer buss-tracks which seem to be ideal sharing Reason FX and act as busses to SCOPE ASIO source.

I edited my post above because R7 wants at least Win 7 now,- but the combo as described above will be a RAM saver for me because I stay w/ 32Bits until SCOPE 6 will be out.

Bud

[dante]

Will the MIDI out allow sending to stand alone Kontakt though... or still need some intermediary like MIDIOX or Bidule ?

I would still need Cubase for its audio editing (vari-audio) and Kontakt hosting (Toontracks, Jaco bass, Neo Suitcase etc) unless the Reason audio editing was much improved and the MIDI-out could go to Kontakt instruments - and then all go to Scope for mixing.

Presumably if you set up 24 track ASIO source in Scope, you would be able to map the first 16 from Reason and the last 8 from Kontakt ?

[garyb]

Presumably if you set up 24 track ASIO source in Scope, you would be able to map the first 16 from Reason and the last 8 from Kontakt ?

doubt it. no multiclient ASIO drivers....

it's be better to host everything in Bidule if you just needed the instruments for live, or your favorite sequencer if you were constructing music/songs...

[dante]

This is not the same as Cubase trying to send to 2 different audio systems (Scope PCI and Scope XITE) - eg (one app to two audio systems) but rather an inverse scenario (two apps to one audio system).

I know Reason can already do his (map selectively to some of the Scope ports but not all) then its only a matter of whether Kontakt could also map selectively to others not used by Reason.

Anyway easy to test.

[Bud Weiser]

Will the MIDI out allow sending to stand alone Kontakt though... or still need some intermediary like MIDIOX or Bidule ?

I visited the Phead user Forum after I´ve read the announcement.
The MIDI is been discussed over there.
Someone answered Reason will transmit MIDI to other apps because they designed the MIDI rack device that way.
It will also transmit CV-Out from Reason devices over MIDI (as controllers ?) via that device.
That could become very interesting w/ SCOPE 6 and Copperlan and in regards of Modular III / IV and BC Modular.

VSTi hosting in Bidule seems to be the best for me,- Bidule´s system requirements are very low.

A S|C multiclient ASIO driver would be ice on the cake though ...

Bud

[dante]

CV-Out over MIDI - isn't that an oxymoron ?

For example I thought the idea behind Silentways was to use an audio signal instead of MIDI - due to its much higher resolution (smoothness) ?

Mind you, I don't know much about the Reason CV implementation (resolution) but seems to me converting it to MIDI will loose that smooth resolution (unless its 24 bit like the new upcoming BCM stuff).

Anyway, I like the idea that Reason MIDI Out should address in-the-box apps as well as physical MIDI out.

[Bud Weiser]

CV-Out over MIDI - isn't that an oxymoron ?

For example I thought the idea behind Silentways was to use an audio signal instead of MIDI - due to its much higher resolution (smoothness) ?

Mind you, I don't know much about the Reason CV implementation (resolution) but seems to me converting it to MIDI will loose that smooth resolution (unless its 24 bit like the new upcoming BCM stuff).

BCM MIDI controller resolution is 14Bits IIRC ...

Yes,- I wondered about the "CV over MIDI" thingy too,- so I don´t know.
I never used any Silentway or similar solutions in real world and I know that requires a DA converter w/ special hardware specs.
No idea what "CV" in Reason really is because inside Reason it works like a modulation signal or such.
Maybe it was MIDI always but called CV, who knows ... ?

Anyway, I like the idea that Reason MIDI Out should address in-the-box apps as well as physical MIDI out.

Yes,- and when Reason devices create their, probably pseudo, CV signals and I get ´em out over MIDI,- that´s better than nothing.
Whatever it will be, it will go to external hardware as well as to other software apps and plugins on the same machine,- like the MIDI itself will do.

We´ll see when it´s been released and got his 1st service update v7.01
Could be in may or june and I won´t upgrade before, but read what the users say who need the latest and greatest already yesterday.

Bud

[dante]

woops - yes 14 not 24 bits.

I'll just buy it when it comes out. I've never had any issue getting Reason releases first up, they're always stable. What countries would May / June qualify as 'summer' in ?

[Bud Weiser]

I'll just buy it when it comes out. I've never had any issue getting Reason releases first up, they're always stable.

That changed a bit when 6.5 came out introducing REs.
They needed 3 bug fixes for the 1st time in Reason history.
That´s why v6.5.3 exists.

Now we get MIDI Out for the 1st time ...

What countries would May / June qualify as 'summer' in ?

For sure not mine,- it´s over here already,- see the dates in the pics ...

mini-DSCI0026.JPG

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Man,- I´m sooooooo pi##ed !!!
I was sitting in the sun for 2 days and than this ... keeps like that ´til easter they say ...

Bud

[hubird]

same here, my bike's gear got frozen again after those two 19C days, and I always end a journey in the light gear of the three...

[dante]

We had a record 10 straight days of temperatures in the 30's here, now it's pissing down with rain on the verge of our holiday to sunny Hawaii with rainy forecasts there for the next week....

[dawman]

I am really happy for Reason users.
Sounds like a great little package, but I am still somewhat amazed that in 2013 the bonus for users is the 1984 standard of MIDI Out......
Well it's great to know you've finally had the old standard applied.

[Bud Weiser]

I am really happy for Reason users.
Sounds like a great little package, but I am still somewhat amazed that in 2013 the bonus for users is the 1984 standard of MIDI Out......
Well it's great to know you've finally had the old standard applied.

Reason was always a closed system,- MIDI In > Audio Out, some kind of instruments/FX rack w/ a more or less rudimentary MIDI sequencer.
Rewire was and is for connection to other hosts.
Now there´s MIDI Out, but not 1984 standard ...

1984 standard is 1 port / 16 channels

I always liked Reason, it being the most stable native application running cross-platform, PC and Mac.

Bud

[dante]

Well, y'all, see here, Reason's heritage line was kinda Rebirthed from a 909 and 808 sim - basically a softsynth, but solid yeah coz it was a closed system so it worked that the props grew it before opening it up. Kept it stable. & I'm totally believable coz every hawker on the street here that asks where r we from, I tell 'em Alabama in accent and they believe me, even if the convo extends a few sentences