What features are REALLY necessary for Reason 11

[owlymane]

Yeah I mean I think given the slightly rocky road to getting to a good place (in terms of performance and overall stability), overcomplicating things with scaling algorithms and mucking with the GUIs of VSTs would just be asking for trouble. I mean a VST has to look how it looks. If it's twice the width of the rack there's absolutely no way to squeeze it into it without either scrolling, or just scaling down. And some of us already struggle a bit with text/control size

Let's just say if they find a way to do this, they'd be the official kings of UI Design for DAWs no cap

I do kinda get you on the uniqueness thing - I like using Reason for that exact...reason But at the same time, I don't think most other DAWs look/work the same way because they're unoriginal. It's just a design that works well. Even Reason's design is fundamentally the same when you're in the sequencer. All that's really different is that you have to go somewhere else to make changes to the front/back of the rack.

I think for the sequencer taking the best from other DAWs and implementing them in Reason is actually something they SHOULD do. The sequencer is far behind compared to other daws. definitely the weakest part of the DAW imo. But when it comes to instrument stacking and visual design, they are upfront in the game. I'm slightly OCD so keeping things in columns and organized is exactly the type of inspiration I need! All of this to say I strongly believe they can visually showcase instruments much better than pop-ups. This is their fundamental difference with other DAWs.

For now I just try to keep my projects as organised as I can right from the start. Colour coding things as I go and making sure the orders all match up in the three views, using spacer racks and separate columns to divide things up into smaller chunks that are easier on the eyes. I'm certainly getting work done with it. Like...a LOT of work haha.

I'm really happy to read that because for me also project organization is as fun as production

[mon]

Native video support, hardware accelerated GUI (preferably resizable), snapshots, option to detach audio files in tracks from the project file.

[stratatonic]

For fun I took the opportunity to go through this thread... ...It's quite the long list of really necessary things. Pretty sure I can't promise we'll get all this done in Reason 11.

• Improved performance10.3
• Combinator with more knobs and modulation
• Text input for values
• 4K display
• Work areas side by side
• Grouping tracks
• Multi clip edit10.2
• Track freeze
• Select vertical slice
• Keyboard shortcuts
• Display VSTs in rack
• Spectrum before/after EQ
• Samples in project folder
• Customizing reset patch
• Change coloring of tracks
• Automatically returning playing cursor10.2
• MIDI chase
• Automation curves
• Bypass in VST window
• OctoRex support for wav

• Loops playing in sync in browser

• Default patch for native/VST plug-ins
• Double click knob to reset
• Unlimited track resizing/zooming
• Faster GUI refresh rate
• Browser navigation via keyboard
• Convert clips to block
• Empty block
• New modules in mixer
• Updated mastering tools
• Europa loads more samples10.1
• Parametric EQ device
• Improved cabling interface
• Group/hide channels
• Ghost clips (editing one edits all copies)
• Analyze audio clips (peak, average etc.)
• Update ReGroove mixer
• Keycommands for grid resolution
• Markers
• Live trigger of blocks
• More skins/themes
• Resizeable GUI
• Control multiple faders in mixer10.2
• Infinite send/returns
• Updated Redrum
• Updated Kong
• Updated Matrix
• Focus edit view (view only device and associated tracks/channels)
• Copy/paste in combinator
• Auto-connect new mix channels to outputs
• Mixer compressor and EQ as devices
• DSP usage statistics
• Post-fader inserts
• Polyphonic aftertouch/pitch bend
• Track folders
• MIDI editor improvements11
• Eurorack/modular environment

• VST MIDI support

• Export as MP3

• Put content on external drive

• Punch in/out

• MIDI loop recording

• Mixer snapshots
• Lyrics window
• Always-on recording
• Dynamic snap to grid10.2
• Slice edit threshold control
• More outputs for VST device
• New chorus/flanger
• Multiband compressor
• ReCycle in Reason
• Real-time audio slicing
• Improved remote support with more targets
• Muting individual notes
• Version handling for projects

• Comp mode for MIDI

• Better timestretch
• Apple Loops support
• Root key / chord track
• Gesture support
• Foldable and key maps in MIDI sequencer
• Video support
• Preview MIDI with sleected device
• ReBirth devices
• Crossfades
• Context sensitive multi-tool
• VST3 support
• Hide mixer channels
• Custom keyboard shortcuts
• Zooming in the rack
• VST support in ReWire mode
• View one rack/device group per track
• Better sampler
• Pop-up editor for rack devices, á la VST window
• MIDI data converter
• DJ functionality
• Better organization of plug-ins

For Fun, I highlighted in bold, those features that were followed through on for 10.x and 11.

I see, that you guys added, on your own, in 10.2, with no help from users:
New +Add Device and +Add Track buttons in rack and sequencer


All in all, a pretty solid effort for 2019, I'd say...
Better than 2018, that's for sure.

[Jon Barton]

I do post production for video. I used REiwe inside Pro tools and this worked fine prior to the update Reason 10. I would love to go back to being able to watch the video I am composing for, so I would like the ability to import video. and Rewire back into pro tools without losing the reason sequencer.

[Busta US]

Does Propellerhead even read these suggestions?

Yes, we read most things.

For fun I took the opportunity to go through this thread and list all things that are, in your opinion, REALLY necessary for Reason 11. It's quite the long list of really necessary things. Pretty sure I can't promise we'll get all this done in Reason 11.

• Improved performance
• Combinator with more knobs and modulation
• Text input for values
• 4K display
• Work areas side by side
• Grouping tracks
• Multi clip edit
• Track freeze
• Select vertical slice
• Keyboard shortcuts
• Display VSTs in rack
• Spectrum before/after EQ
• Samples in project folder
• Customizing reset patch
• Change coloring of tracks
• Automatically returning playing cursor
• MIDI chase
• Automation curves
• Bypass in VST window
• OctoRex support for wav
• Loops playing in sync in browser
• Default patch for native/VST plug-ins
• Double click knob to reset
• Unlimited track resizing/zooming
• Faster GUI refresh rate
• Browser navigation via keyboard
• Convert clips to block
• Empty block
• New modules in mixer
• Updated mastering tools
• Europa loads more samples
• Parametric EQ device
• Improved cabling interface
• Group/hide channels
• Ghost clips (editing one edits all copies)
• Analyze audio clips (peak, average etc.)
• Update ReGroove mixer
• Keycommands for grid resolution
• Markers
• Live trigger of blocks
• More skins/themes
• Resizeable GUI
• Control multiple faders in mixer
• Infinite send/returns
• Updated Redrum
• Updated Kong
• Updated Matrix
• Focus edit view (view only device and associated tracks/channels)
• Copy/paste in combinator
• Auto-connect new mix channels to outputs
• Mixer compressor and EQ as devices
• DSP usage statistics
• Post-fader inserts
• Polyphonic aftertouch/pitch bend
• Track folders
• MIDI editor improvements
• Eurorack/modular environment
• VST MIDI support
• Mixer snapshots
• Lyrics window
• Export as MP3
• Put content on external drive
• Punch in/out
• Always-on recording
• MIDI loop recording
• Dynamic snap to grid
• Slice edit threshold control
• More outputs for VST device
• New chorus/flanger
• Multiband compressor
• ReCycle in Reason
• Real-time audio slicing
• Improved remote support with more targets
• Muting individual notes
• Version handling for projects
• Comp mode for MIDI
• Better timestretch
• Apple Loops support
• Root key / chord track
• Gesture support
• Foldable and key maps in MIDI sequencer
• Video support
• Preview MIDI with sleected device
• ReBirth devices
• Crossfades
• Context sensitive multi-tool
• VST3 support
• Hide mixer channels
• Custom keyboard shortcuts
• Zooming in the rack
• VST support in ReWire mode
• View one rack/device group per track
• Better sampler
• Pop-up editor for rack devices, á la VST window
• MIDI data converter
• DJ functionality
• Better organization of plug-ins

Is this sort of a roadmap of what's to come in future versions of Reason? I can see some features on the list have been added to R11. If all of the above-mentioned features will be added Reason would be undoubtedly on par with the greatest DAWs on the market if not better!

[dezma]

Is this sort of a roadmap of what's to come in future versions of Reason? I can see some features on the list have been added to R11. If all of the above-mentioned features will be added Reason would be undoubtedly on par with the greatest DAWs on the market if not better!

It's a list of what users would like to be added. Given the current pace of sequencer improvements, the list might outlive us all.

[Rising Night Wave]

- Auto Save File function. This should be mandatory.

[dezma]

- Auto Save File function. This should be mandatory.

Agreed, been requesting this for years and this is in my top5 of reasons to have switched to another DAW.

[Rising Night Wave]

I got used to clicking CTRL+S keys every 30 seconds so I never loose my work. Hehe.
Better this than to lose precious work. You never know.

[Busta US]

- Auto Save File function. This should be mandatory.

Agreed, been requesting this for years and this is in my top5 of reasons to have switched to another DAW.

Does Auto-Save mean the project will save by itslef every X minutes? I don't think that's a great idea especially for my case as I experiment a lot and then re-open the project to undo all the "mess" I've done..

But for the project to save upon crash that'd be amazing

[dezma]

I got used to clicking CTRL+S keys every 30 seconds so I never loose my work. Hehe.
Better this than to lose precious work. You never know.

It's another entry in the endless workaround list.

Besides being awkward and counterproductive during midi input / synth tweaking there's another big disadvantage: you'll lose undo.

[dezma]

Agreed, been requesting this for years and this is in my top5 of reasons to have switched to another DAW.

Does Auto-Save mean the project will save by itslef every X minutes? I don't think that's a great idea especially for my case as I experiment a lot and then re-open the project to undo all the "mess" I've done..

But for the project to save upon crash that'd be amazing

Not necessarily.. I like how Studio one has implemented it. You set the autosave interval, and it will save to a separate "history" folder. So if you decide not to save your file, you'll have undone all your changes and your "main" file will remain unchanged.

[Busta US]

Does Auto-Save mean the project will save by itslef every X minutes? I don't think that's a great idea especially for my case as I experiment a lot and then re-open the project to undo all the "mess" I've done..

But for the project to save upon crash that'd be amazing

Not necessarily.. I like how Studio one has implemented it. You set the autosave interval, and it will save to a separate "history" folder. So if you decide not to save your file, you'll have undone all your changes and your "main" file will remain unchanged.

Who would say no to that! Great idea!

[Heater]

I’m not upgrading until the have track freeze. It’s ridiculous that they don’t have it.

[aeox]

-Add option that can be turned off/on for more realistic emulation of the ssl mixer. Drive, nonlinearities, etc. No noise option

-More easily accessible "Insert Pre" and "Input Gain" from the mix channel in the rack, those are 2 things that I think a lot of people very frequently switch over to the mixer for.

-Track folders, if possible!

Can't think of anything else. Wait.. is there a shortcut to create parallel channel? Couldn't find it in manual.

[aeox]

Yes, we read most things.

For fun I took the opportunity to go through this thread and list all things that are, in your opinion, REALLY necessary for Reason 11. It's quite the long list of really necessary things. Pretty sure I can't promise we'll get all this done in Reason 11.

• Improved performance
• Combinator with more knobs and modulation
• Text input for values
• 4K display
• Work areas side by side
• Grouping tracks
• Multi clip edit
• Track freeze
• Select vertical slice
• Keyboard shortcuts
• Display VSTs in rack
• Spectrum before/after EQ
• Samples in project folder
• Customizing reset patch
• Change coloring of tracks
• Automatically returning playing cursor
• MIDI chase
• Automation curves
• Bypass in VST window
• OctoRex support for wav
• Loops playing in sync in browser
• Default patch for native/VST plug-ins
• Double click knob to reset
• Unlimited track resizing/zooming
• Faster GUI refresh rate
• Browser navigation via keyboard
• Convert clips to block
• Empty block
• New modules in mixer
• Updated mastering tools
• Europa loads more samples
• Parametric EQ device
• Improved cabling interface
• Group/hide channels
• Ghost clips (editing one edits all copies)
• Analyze audio clips (peak, average etc.)
• Update ReGroove mixer
• Keycommands for grid resolution
• Markers
• Live trigger of blocks
• More skins/themes
• Resizeable GUI
• Control multiple faders in mixer
• Infinite send/returns
• Updated Redrum
• Updated Kong
• Updated Matrix
• Focus edit view (view only device and associated tracks/channels)
• Copy/paste in combinator
• Auto-connect new mix channels to outputs
• Mixer compressor and EQ as devices
• DSP usage statistics
• Post-fader inserts
• Polyphonic aftertouch/pitch bend
• Track folders
• MIDI editor improvements
• Eurorack/modular environment
• VST MIDI support
• Mixer snapshots
• Lyrics window
• Export as MP3
• Put content on external drive
• Punch in/out
• Always-on recording
• MIDI loop recording
• Dynamic snap to grid
• Slice edit threshold control
• More outputs for VST device
• New chorus/flanger
• Multiband compressor
• ReCycle in Reason
• Real-time audio slicing
• Improved remote support with more targets
• Muting individual notes
• Version handling for projects
• Comp mode for MIDI
• Better timestretch
• Apple Loops support
• Root key / chord track
• Gesture support
• Foldable and key maps in MIDI sequencer
• Video support
• Preview MIDI with sleected device
• ReBirth devices
• Crossfades
• Context sensitive multi-tool
• VST3 support
• Hide mixer channels
• Custom keyboard shortcuts
• Zooming in the rack
• VST support in ReWire mode
• View one rack/device group per track
• Better sampler
• Pop-up editor for rack devices, á la VST window
• MIDI data converter
• DJ functionality
• Better organization of plug-ins

Is this sort of a roadmap of what's to come in future versions of Reason? I can see some features on the list have been added to R11. If all of the above-mentioned features will be added Reason would be undoubtedly on par with the greatest DAWs on the market if not better!

Some things would be nice but I apprieciate what Reason is, and actually do think it's the greatest DAW on the market. It is it's own thing, ya know?

With that said.. they can definitely add features that make sense and fit their design philosophy. Most of the requested features here aren't that important TO ME. I'm sure I'd use a lot of them if they were there, but the positives heavily outweigh any negatives.

[ljekio]

• Update ReGroove mixer

Really necessary this point.

ReGroove channels can't be global (very useful feature for stock and re sequencers what global shuffle users, and for applying groove quantize to quantization menu).
Another point is drawing grid for lanes with active regroove channel's patch.
Also, ReGroove channels can't use drag'n'drop presets.

[jlgrimes]

• Update ReGroove mixer

Really necessary this point.

ReGroove channels can't be global (very useful feature for stock and re sequencers what global shuffle users, and for applying groove quantize to quantization menu).
Another point is drawing grid for lanes with active regroove channel's patch.
Also, ReGroove channels can't use drag'n'drop presets.

I agree. Also Regroove patches are only for 16th notes. 8th note Regroove patches would be nice as well. Also a general graphics update would be nice.

[Busta US]

Is this sort of a roadmap of what's to come in future versions of Reason? I can see some features on the list have been added to R11. If all of the above-mentioned features will be added Reason would be undoubtedly on par with the greatest DAWs on the market if not better!

Some things would be nice but I apprieciate what Reason is, and actually do think it's the greatest DAW on the market. It is it's own thing, ya know?

With that said.. they can definitely add features that make sense and fit their design philosophy. Most of the requested features here aren't that important TO ME. I'm sure I'd use a lot of them if they were there, but the positives heavily outweigh any negatives.

I know what you mean For me for example all I need is a brush tool and key command for grid resolution. But as you said I'm sure there are many features in this list that I still don't know they can improve my workflow.

[ksniod]

A small feature request but I need an option to get rid of the bar at the top of vst windows (the big one which says Open Automation Remote...) I haven't found a way to do it, and it's annoying with big vst which can't be resized... like Addictive Drums or others

[makke]

Midi chase, please Mattias!

[groggy1]

There are a bunch of things I’d like (like folder organization, track freeze)

About the only thing that kills me in the sequencer is the inability to quantize note-ends to the grid. Ie highlite a whole section of notes and quantize all their end times to grid in one go.

Overall, reason is a dream

[Boombastix]

It is perhaps not easy to prioritize such a long list of nice features. And not sure what a user voting would render as results since you cannot control each voters experience and knowledge and may get a bunch of random results based on who actually participates. But the list made me think, what is stopping me from starting a track, or arranging, or finishing without some very cumbersome workarounds.
Reason FULL

1. Freeze tracks - when things crackle up badly, you're basically stuck. You have to bounce and delete the plugins. Not finished composing/arranging? Tough luck, you have to try to bring back that old plugin stack and midi that was deleted. This is the #1 killer for actually finishing songs. A freeze track feature allows me to keep working and easily go back and do midi changes.

2. VST midi out. There are many very good VST midi generators, and no RE equivalent. But there is no real easy way of using them, even if you put them inside a VST host it becomes extremely cumbersome to get the midi from there into the Reason sequencer. This limits my options starting up composing a song as well continuing.

3. Midi punch in/out. Half way through a song you want to make slightly alternative keys or bass lines. You leave a 4 bar space between two existing midi clips. After recording it you have now possibly notes inside the old clips (before and after), and the start /end points of the old adjacent clips are changed based on where you hit the record button. Plus having to take one hand off the keyboard just as your about to record is a sure-way to mess up the playing. A punch in/out based on marker positions is the way to go. Even better if we also can loop and comp record midi cause usually the 2nd or 3rd take is the one that gets good. The way it is now is I have to go in and clean up the existing midi clips before and after, then my playing wasn't that great in that one and only take (had to hit record remember), so I then have to sit and fix bad notes or timing in what i played and I did not capture any feel, I can quantize, but to get the feel back I have to sit and nudge almost every midi note - very cumbersome.

4. Midi editing. Get the best of the F8 window into the sequencer, and add features a'la FL and Cubase. Skew and tilt midi parameters, strum and humanize selection and so on, quantize end point.

Rack PLUGIN
1 VST midi out. The holy grail missing in the plugin, nuff said... (obviously need to host the VST too)

[demt]

tis going to b quite an experience possibly doubling the size of the manual so im going to ask 4 a chopped version that doesnt have so many essential? options praps 1/2 the sizer of the manual and its got to b properly done not just a copy of reason lite i loath 2 mutch to remember

[gullum]

It is perhaps not easy to prioritize such a long list of nice features. And not sure what a user voting would render as results since you cannot control each voters experience and knowledge and may get a bunch of random results based on who actually participates. But the list made me think, what is stopping me from starting a track, or arranging, or finishing without some very cumbersome workarounds.
Reason FULL

1. Freeze tracks - when things crackle up badly, you're basically stuck. You have to bounce and delete the plugins. Not finished composing/arranging? Tough luck, you have to try to bring back that old plugin stack and midi that was deleted. This is the #1 killer for actually finishing songs. A freeze track feature allows me to keep working and easily go back and do midi changes.

2. VST midi out. There are many very good VST midi generators, and no RE equivalent. But there is no real easy way of using them, even if you put them inside a VST host it becomes extremely cumbersome to get the midi from there into the Reason sequencer. This limits my options starting up composing a song as well continuing.

3. Midi punch in/out. Half way through a song you want to make slightly alternative keys or bass lines. You leave a 4 bar space between two existing midi clips. After recording it you have now possibly notes inside the old clips (before and after), and the start /end points of the old adjacent clips are changed based on where you hit the record button. Plus having to take one hand off the keyboard just as your about to record is a sure-way to mess up the playing. A punch in/out based on marker positions is the way to go. Even better if we also can loop and comp record midi cause usually the 2nd or 3rd take is the one that gets good. The way it is now is I have to go in and clean up the existing midi clips before and after, then my playing wasn't that great in that one and only take (had to hit record remember), so I then have to sit and fix bad notes or timing in what i played and I did not capture any feel, I can quantize, but to get the feel back I have to sit and nudge almost every midi note - very cumbersome.

4. Midi editing. Get the best of the F8 window into the sequencer, and add features a'la FL and Cubase. Skew and tilt midi parameters, strum and humanize selection and so on, quantize end point.

Rack PLUGIN
1 VST midi out. The holy grail missing in the plugin, nuff said... (obviously need to host the VST too)

just to prove your statement about user voting
I do not need any of the requests you have made in the post