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About Propellerhead Propellerhead Software is one of the world's leading makers of software musical instruments. It pioneered the concept of computer software synthesis, invented the concept of "ReCycling" sampled sound material and continues to raise the bar for quality, usability and new technology in software based music making. The company's two key software products are Reason and ReCycle. Both of these titles have won prestigious international awards and have thousands and thousands of users worldwide. Propellerhead software has developed several key technologies adopted by all the major players in the music software industry: ReWire, REX2 and Remote.Propellerhead Software is on a mission. They have their hearts and minds focused with laser precision on one single target: To provide musicians on this planet with the tools they need to make their musical dreams a reality. They are totally and completely committed to putting previously expensive audio hardware technology within the reach of every musician. Propellerhead Software was founded in 1994 by Ernst Nathorst-Böös, Marcus Zetterquist, and Peter Jubel with the development of their debut release, the sample loop editing software ReCycle" and REX technology. Marcus had conceived the idea of a small music production application for some time, but it wasn't until after the release of ReCycle 1.6 in the summer of 1996 that the techno micro composer ReBirth started taking shape. The concept was an all-in-one application for music creation that combined the technology of computer-based synthesis with the power of software-sequencing features for editing and automation. The key aspect of ReBirth was the graphic user interface. Software that simulated the sound of synthesizers or drum machines were already in use, but adding the visual cues of the classic TR-808 and TB-303 units made this program unique. Jubel fashioned graphic representations of the Roland devices between hammertone metal panels and wooden end-caps. Zetterquist coded the input-and-response system that enabled mouse clicks to depress buttons and twirl knobs. The images of key pads, numeric displays, flashing LED lamps, and old knobs evoked the feeling of using real vintage hardware. Since its introduction in 1997, ReBirth has influenced numerous companies to take advantage of contemporary technology by incorporating computer simulation into the latest generation of products. As soon as ReBirth version 2.0 was released in 1998, development began on "Project X," later revealed as the Virtual Studio software to succeed ReBirth. Due to the massive undertaking, Propellerhead dedicated their entire development resources to the endeavor, and didn't look back. A surge of interest followed Reason's introduction in 1999, and when the software was finally released, the popularity of the company skyrocketed. |
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About Reason
Reason is a virtual studio rack with all the tools and instruments you need to turn your ideas into music. Making music should be as easy as powering up a computer, loading up a powerful piece of music software, and getting down to business. And it is. Reason version 4 is a virtual studio rack with all the tools and instruments you need to turn your ideas into music. And it's more than just a set of excellent synths and effects. It's a complete music system. Step into the age of Reason. All-in-one wonder Synthesizers, samplers, drum machine, REX file loop player, professional mastering tools, mixer, vocoder, world class effects, pattern sequencer and more. As many of each as your computer can handle. Reason is an infinitely expandable all-in-one music production environment, complete with its own realtime sequencer. Although easy to learn and a breeze to use, Reason is an extremely flexible music system - a system that can be just as complex and advanced as you make it. With sophisticated tools such as the MClass mastering suite, the mighty Combinator device, or the all-powerful Thor synth, Reason will not just impress, but inspire you. Need more gear? No problem. Choose a synth, a drum machine, a loop player or any device from the Create menu, and it will instantly appear in your rack, logically patched into the signal chain. And because Reason is designed to go easy on your computer, you can repeat the process until you're more than happy. If you ever wished you had eleven samplers and ten compressors, Reason is definitely for you. And if you have created more machines than you have mixer channels, just create another mixer. The studio of your dreams is just a few mouse clicks away. Control your controls All controls work as their real life counterparts. Each unit in Reason's virtual rack is edited from its own on-screen front panel. All the sliders, knobs, buttons and functions are right in front of you, ready to be tweaked, turned and twisted in absolute real-time. And all your front panel actions - filter adjustments, pitch bending, gain riding or panning - can be recorded and automated in the Reason sequencer. Radical Routing A single keypress will turn Reason's rack around, and there you are, in patch cord heaven. Most audio connections are made automatically. When a new device is created, it appears immediately below the currently selected device, and Reason patches it into the system in the most logical way. Repatch by dragging the patch cord plug to the desired connector, or just make a pop-up menu choice. Most devices have one or more parameters controlled by Gate and/or CV. And all instrument devices have several Gate or CV output options. Combine this with easy, transparent patching, and you have connection power approaching that of a fully modular synth. |
