Main

special offer!

Propellerhead Reason (Macintosh and Windows)

Reason has reached the next level. Stronger, swifter and smoother to work with, Reason 4 will alter the way you create your music. Reason's new devices and features will not only inspire you to produce great tracks, they will provide you with new ways of doing so. Learn More...

    • New from $129.95
  • Installment Plan:Call for 4 payments!
    • free ground shipping
Write a Review:

Overall User Ratings

Overall:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10

Individual User Ratings

Overall:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * . . . . 6 out of 10

Feature:
Now i hear people say..."no vst no audio". AND you know what im glad it does not. Reason 4 is great for making the instrumentals. Add vocals later. Version 4 has thor and listen if your not happy with the Combinator then you really need to watch a tutorial on how much you can do. Im here to tell you....Reason is a beast in features. Reason is like anything...if you want to really get the most out of it then really learn it......learn how to route differnt effects...learn how to use the combinator....learn how to sample in the NNXT.....learn every instrument. I dont want reason to have audio and vsts, i got cubase and protools freezing on me as it is....let me make the beat in reason ill use protools to add vocals. Features on reason 4 are great but you have to really learn Reason to fully appreciate it.

Quality:
Youll love it trust me

Value:
NO brainer its like this if you are new old or whatever to computer based procduction then reason would definetly be an invest well spent. You get as much music making as your cpu can take....from a software drum machine......3 synths ....samplers and all the effects a man could want. NOW im not saying redrum is better than battery..NO by no means is it. ANd im not saying Reason's samplers have any thing on some other software samplers.....But you get a GREAT QUALITY ALL IN ONE. AND think about this for a second .......when has the average person heard their favorite song and said hey he made that using reason not an mpc. NEVER so get the all in one that does not sacrafice on quality and that would be reason

Desirability:
yea youll want it try it

Sound:
It sounds like great. OK some factory sounds are better than others but hey if your making music you can make it sound great. But because you can do so much to the sound i will say that you can make it sound completly different....no matter what you do.

Ease of Use:
Well let me say this.........Its not like your other DAWs. Its not hard just uniquie. It was hard for me at first but once you get the flow you wonder why you ever thought it was hard.

Support:
NEVER needed it. I probably wont.

Overall:
Look at reason for what it is and thats a all in one virtual studio. Its all in how you use it.

Do You Agree? Was This Review Helpful to You?

yes

no

Overall:
* * * * . . . . . . 4 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * . . . . . 5 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * . . . . . 5 out of 10
I Want It:
* . . . . . . . . . 1 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * . . . 7 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * . . . . . . 4 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10

Feature:
It's the same old stuff with the exception of the ReGroove Mixer, Thor, and Arps. Basically though, Reasons days are numbered unless they get VST support. The Synths just aren't powerful enough for complex pads. FL Studio/Ableton have WAY more flexibility. There was a big uproar about no VST on the Reason forums. Oh, and NO AUDIO IN / MIDI OUT. C'mon Reason, get with the times.

Quality:
No VSTs= No Crashes (so they say). It is stable, but I'd rather have VST support.

Value:
For the Money, you could get more out of FL Studio or spend a little more and get Ableton, and then there's no limits.

Desirability:
After installing this, Thor is the only thing I've used. I have not made a single song in Reason 4. I just run the sound out to Ableton and either make samples or use Midi Out to Reason for some of my older bass/synth sounds. Interface is clunky, and cluttered.

Sound:
Reason only gets a 7 on sound because, even though sound quality is great, you can't record. How can you take any "Serious" DAW seriously without audio in?

Ease of Use:
Reason 3 is actually easier to use, the new clip based programming can be a hassle until you get used to it. ALL synths seem to open with a bank preloaded, no blank presets. Even ReDrum opens with a set loaded. LAME!

Support:
I've had friends contact Propellerhead before, they said it wasn't unpleasant.

Overall:
Get something else, then maybe Reason will listen to the masses and not the fanboys, they need VST, they need Audio in, they need MIDI OUT for Christ's Sake. I used to think reason was a serious DAW program, but they limit you, in everything. A serious audio guy would go somewhere else.

Do You Agree? Was This Review Helpful to You?

yes

no

Overall:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10

Feature:
TONS of effects, tons of soft snynths, an awesome drum machine, an arpegiator. Anything you can think of

Value:
Sure its expensive, but for what your getting it is WELL worth it.

Desirability:
It looks great too!

Sound:
I'm writing this review after about 2 months of use. There are an infinite number of sounds you can make with this.There are plenty of "standard" synth sounds, and you can tweak each one indefinitely.

Ease of Use:
Takes about a week at most to figure most things out. Its a bit overwhelming at first, but its really easy to grasp everything after some experimenting, and read the getting started manual!

Support:
Any questions I had I could find located on their website.

Overall:
I expect to use this program throughout my entire musical career. The possibilities with this are endless. I could not be happier with this purchase

Do You Agree? Was This Review Helpful to You?

yes

no

Overall:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10

Feature:
Tons of features. A bunch of synths plus that new Thor which kicks major a@@! The fx are incredible too.

Quality:
Quality is great. I mean, unless your computer blows up the quality should be unchanged.

Value:
Yes Yes YES! Great buy for the money! Its not the cheapest, but its worth it for what it has.

Desirability:
O, its sexy!

Sound:
The sounds in this thing are bloody incredible! Not only that but there are so many synths to choose from the possibilities are endless, literally. Each synth has tons of sounds and the quality of them are spectacular - not to mention you can tweak them and make them your own.

Ease of Use:
I own Ableton and Cubase as well, and although Reason doesnt accept VST, this is BY FAR the easiest program to use. I learned it in a week. It is so incredibly easy its shocking. Thats probably the reason i still use it over cubase and ableton.

Support:
I havent needed customer service yet, but the 'Help' feature is great. Not to mention the website which helps out a lot on certain questions.

Overall:
Reason 3 was bada@@, now Reason 4 is even more awesome! Even tho it sucks that Reason still hasnt incorporated VST acceptance, this program is still awesome!

Do You Agree? Was This Review Helpful to You?

yes

no

Overall:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10

Feature:
Reason is a one-stop-shop solution for music making. once you get a good midi controller, you never have to use anything else. With top-class synths and effects, and a beautiful sequencer, it almost seems too easy to make good music, even for people that aren't any good, like me. Especially with the addition of the Combinator device in version 3.0, even user-created instruments and effects are available for download en mass online.

Quality:
The interface is wonderful, I run it on mac and it has crashed on me twice, both after very long sessions, but they've recently addressed that in a patch (points for support too). Nothing is left out by the GUI.

Value:
For $400, this is a steal. You could buy a crappy hardware synth for that much.

Desirability:
I already own it, but if I didn't... I'd buy it all over again.

Sound:
The possibilities of sound creation with this program are literally infinite. When I got it, it was hard to get past the strictly techno feel, but once you learn your way around the program you can do anything.

Ease of Use:
This product is too easy to use. It can be intimidating at first, if you don't know anything about electronic music synthesis (like I didn't). When you look at comb filters, HP and LP filters, oscillators, waveforms, modulators, and you don't know what to do with them, its difficult. However, it doesn't take a long time to learn.

Support:
I've emailed them once about issues with installing without a disc drive, since my laptop's drive is shot. While they weren't able to help with the issue, they did respond within a day. I'm pleased.

Overall:
I'm thinking about getting Ableton Live also, to combine the power of sound of Reason with the live tweakability of... Live. Other than that, I can't think of anything else I'd ever need.

Do You Agree? Was This Review Helpful to You?

yes

no

Overall:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * . . . . . 5 out of 10

Feature:
theres so many features in reason that i have had it for about 6 months and still have not used everything!

Quality:
Reason has never ever crashed on me........so far. i think the quality is the best

Value:
definetly worth it!

Desirability:
the user inface looks very very professional. different bars are different colours so that is also attractive.

Sound:
i think the sound is great and very very realistic. the drums sound like drums and not fake.

Ease of Use:
the user interface is alright but it seems like its overloaded becuase thers so many features. after a while you get used to it and then you come to know that ITS WORTHIT!

Support:
havent needed support.

Overall:
i think reason is the best music software around and i will probably be using it until a better software comes out (which i doubt).

Do You Agree? Was This Review Helpful to You?

yes

no

Overall:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10

Sound:
Reason and I come a Long way.But what Reason never fails to do is to constantly Impress me.The new version delivers quality in all aspects of the word. Improve sound engines, have a lot to be heard .The new Polysonic Synth surpasses the sound quality of any stand alone synth in the market.Lets talk about the ReGroove Mixer,The new sequencer and its new vector based function,Just a few of the Great improvements in this new version of Reason.

Do You Agree? Was This Review Helpful to You?

yes

no

Overall:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10

Feature:
Reason 3.0 was great on it's own. But with the addition of the Thor and FINALLY a full functioning arpeggiator, the program has been given a new rebirth. I was just as excited to play around with this as the first time I played 3.0.

Value:
If it can closely emulate ten thousand dollars worth of synth gear with the ability to do more, and it's only four hundred dollars, then this is elementary.

Desirability:
It's a gearhead/nerds/music engineer's paradise. The appeal factor is infinite when you are invited to create an infinite possibilities. Once the learning curve is passed than it's just a matter of the user's limitation.

Sound:
I have an Access Virus TI, a Radias, and a Fantom X8, the sound quality of the instruments can come close. For four hundred dollars that can emulate more than ten thousand dollars worth of gear scores high points in my book. As with Reason 3.0 the sounds are lightning fast and doesn't give your computer a hard time every time you play a sound. I make my own patches so the additional synth module gives me more play space, it gives me not one, not two, but three oscillators which is pretty awesome for sound tweaking.

Ease of Use:
This part is where the program will slack a bit. A lot of programmers and newbies will have a hard time with the GUI even those with experience with other programs. Personally I think its great, smoother than 3.0 and MUCH easier to deal with than most programs. I haven't hit any snags since i started playing around with it.

Overall:
With basically an infinite possibility factor and easiness with the computer's resources, it can be used with any applications, be it live or in studio.

Do You Agree? Was This Review Helpful to You?

yes

no

Overall:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10

Feature:
The Combinator, MClass Master Suite Combi, the 17 differnt effect processors ( RV7000 Advanced Reverb, Scream for distortion, BV512 Digital vocoder, RV-7 Reverb, DDL-1 Digital delay line, D-11 Fold back distortion, ECF-42 Envolope Controlled filter, CF- 101 Chorus/flanger, PH-90 phaser, UN-16 Unision, COMP-01 Commpreser/limiter, PEQ-2 Two band Parametric EQ, Spider Audio Merger & spliter, Spider SC Merger & Spliter, Matrix pattern sequencer, RPG-8 Monophonic Arpeggiator, and ReBirth Input machine). Do I really need to say much more? I also give this a 10 without even thinking about it

Quality:
The thing that I love about this program the most is the quality. And the "Reason" Why I love the quality so much is because it has the best quality, and it never loses its quality. All you need is a MIDI controller and your good to go... ANOTHER 10!

Value:
I own it. You get more than what you pay for, thats for damn sure!

Desirability:
The visual part of reason is pretty cool. Propeller made it look just like the hardware world. Track sequencer looks pretty cool when you group all your MIDI notes together. Has a very good look to it. I GIVE IT A 10

Sound:
Reason has some of the best sounds Ive ever herd come from a software program and even better than some hardware synth keybords. Ive unsed a lot of keybord (it would take to long to name them all) synthesizer's and reason is just the best when it comes to sounds. You can open up a Subtractor synthesizer and sculpt your own sounds if your not happy enough with the thousands of sounds that it all ready comes standerdly equimpt with. Or even better yet you can open up a combinator and make a damn huge sound with muiltiple malastorm devices, subtractors, and NN-XT if you really want to get deep into it. Good sound quality. Great sounds. I give it a 10 without having to even think about it.

Ease of Use:
After a week of using this software, I knew how to use everything. Its the most simplest music production kit out there. I GIVE IT A 10

Support:
I have had to contact Propeller head a few times because of my computer (has nothing to do with the software itself, just me being stupid really) and it did take them a wile to get back at me. The least amount of time I have waited for an E-mail for this is a week. The long time I think has been almost 3 weeks. And when they do contact you, there not very understanding of your situation. They give you a solution and thats it. No, "Oh hey and by the way, I'm sorry that happend man, I hope that the answer I gave you was the answer you were looking for", type attitude. Witch sort of annoyes me, but w/e I guess. They have always given me the right advise. So I guess I cant complain to much. I give it and 8 because of there attitude and the wait...

Overall:
I will use Reason 3.0.4 (and futur updates to the software) until the day I drop. I may get pro tools and things like that to record volcals onto, but I will be using mainley reason until the day I drop. OVERALL, I GIVE IT A 9! BEST MUSICAL PRODUCTION PRODUCT OUT THERE!

Do You Agree? Was This Review Helpful to You?

yes

no

Overall:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10

Feature:
I just love the fact that I can have my entire sound library on my hard drive and not worry about spending thousands on keyboards to get sounds u need! I just eq the sounds to my desire! And also, I'm able to send reason files back and fourth to my engineer in japan via "Aim" to have the session mixed! KRAAZZYY!!

Quality:
IMO, this is the BEST!! PERIOD!!

Value:
With vocoders, unison machines, synth racks, mixers, Effect's racks, Mastering, Great sounds...This should've costed 50,000 dollars! LOL..

Desirability:
I Got it Baby!!

Sound:
The sounds are phenominal!! Alot of people give this product because of it's stock sounds when there are litterally HUNDREDS of refills out there that you can get to add to ur collection of sounds. That's where the fun begins!!

Ease of Use:
Dude, I really cant see how much more basic this program can get!! It's too easy!

Support:
It's a pretty easy program. whith that being said, they're able the answer questions!

Overall:
MAN, I WOULDNT BE CAUGHT DEAD WITHOUT REASON 3.0!! GOOD JOB PROPELLERHEAD! WHOEVER DOESNT OWN THIS PRODUCT, IS SLEEPING!! I'LL BE LOOKING FOWARD TO 4.0! WHOOOOOOOOOO!

Do You Agree? Was This Review Helpful to You?

yes

no

Overall:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * . . . . . 5 out of 10

Quality:
I can tell it took time to create this program, the quality is just amazing its way better than any other production programs i used in the past.

Value:
Its well worth the price,

Desirability:
This product is very sexy with all the colors. The sequencer is probably the most sexiest sequencer in the world

Sound:
I rated it ten because the sound alone in most of the patches are incredible, it fits my playing style. I'm a producer and the synth and string qualities are jaw dropping not to mention the drum kits.

Ease of Use:
Really easy to use, it deosn't take rocket science all you need is a MIDI controller either keyboard or drum pads and get on the go

Support:
I just bought it so i dont have any problems yet but im pretty sure the support is excellent

Overall:
I will use this product until reason 4 comes out I really love everything about it the patches, the drumkits, synths, and refills its just a great product all around

Do You Agree? Was This Review Helpful to You?

yes

no

Overall:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * *