Do you still use the SSL mixer?

[FrankJaeger]

What I mean is do you still use it in its entirety to mix a song?
With me, for instance, I notice that I only use the send fx section for reverb and delays (or any effect I want to apply to more than one track), and handle everything else (eq, compression, creative fx) in the insert section. I almost never touch the channel strip compressor anymore and since I finally have the GQ-7, the ssl eq seems obsolete.

What about you guys?

[stillifegaijin]

Yes. Every song. I love the mixer.

[huggermugger]

Minimally. Volume, pan, width, sometimes sends, not much else. Things like EQ and dynamics go right into the signal path of the device. I like a more modular approach.

[tomusurp]

Yes I use every part of the SSL. It’s just insanely effective for workflow. Only thing I wish is that the spectrum eq had more db slopes in the LP and HP filters. And if it also had dynamic eq function on top of that would be godly, but for those times TDR Nova does the job well

[antic604]

Yes! Together with Rack and Sequencer, Main Mixer is integral part of makes Reason ...Reason

When I need filtering, EQ or compression / gate, I'll typically reach for the Main Mixer first and only if it's not suitable / not enough for the job, I'll use something else. In principle, I seem to use Main Mixer's EQ for broad strokes, musical tone shaping & mixing; and in-rack EQs for surgical sound design.

Obviously gain section, pan/width and sends I use all the time, too.

I really miss Inserts section from R6-11 though! It was a very unfortunate (and IMO completely avoidable) decision for Reason to cut it out, because it gave us ability to control parameters of many tracks from one & the same place. Probably not relevant to many, but for "laptop peasants" like me it cut the work & confusion tremendously

[Ottostrom]

When I need filtering, EQ or compression / gate, I'll typically reach for the Main Mixer first and only if it's not suitable / not enough for the job, I'll use something else. In principle, I seem to use Main Mixer's EQ for broad strokes, musical tone shaping & mixing; and in-rack EQs for surgical sound design.

This is how I use it as well! Switching the order so the EQ is last in the chain and then using it for broader final adjustments when balancing the mix.

[miyaru]

Yes, I use the SSL mixer everytime I mix in Reason. In a blink of the eye I see what is going on, and it keeps setups simple and tidy……

[luckygreen]

...
I really miss Inserts section from R6-11 though! It was a very unfortunate (and IMO completely avoidable) decision for Reason to cut it out, because it gave us ability to control parameters of many tracks from one & the same place. Probably not relevant to many, but for "laptop peasants" like me it cut the work & confusion tremendously

True. Strange decision to cut that feature out. If they wanted to make the Reason 12 mixer less cluttered, why not make it optional? Feels like a step backwards.

[antic604]

...
I really miss Inserts section from R6-11 though! It was a very unfortunate (and IMO completely avoidable) decision for Reason to cut it out, because it gave us ability to control parameters of many tracks from one & the same place. Probably not relevant to many, but for "laptop peasants" like me it cut the work & confusion tremendously

True. Strange decision to cut that feature out. If they wanted to make the Reason 12 mixer less cluttered, why not make it optional? Feels like a step backwards.

That wasn't the reason they cut it out.

Channel insert slots were for all intents & purposes Combinators, with the default 4 knobs + 4 buttons combo & those controls were directly copied in the Mixer. In v12, where that was no longer the case and you can put multiple Combinators in insert slot, that direct connection was lost.

What I'd do if I was a developer, I'd keep that Inserts section in the Main Mixer and allow the users to map whatever controls in the Channel to be mapped to 4 knobs + 4 buttons, otherwise they'd be inactive / grayed out.

I think they've run out of time and simply cut it out.

[crimsonwarlock]

I really miss Inserts section from R6-11 though! It was a very unfortunate (and IMO completely avoidable) decision for Reason to cut it out...

True. Strange decision to cut that feature out. If they wanted to make the Reason 12 mixer less cluttered, why not make it optional? Feels like a step backwards.

This has been explained by RS when they introduced combinator 2.

The 'old' insert section was basically an integrated combinator (hence the four knobs and four buttons, like the old combinator). With the introduction of the new combinator 2, they also implemented the insert section being capable of loading combinators (which wasn't possible before). And because you cannot load combinators inside combinators, the insert section lost the integrated combinator functionality. From an implementation perspective, this makes perfect sense.

I also miss the old insert section, but if I had to choose between that and the option to load combinators into the insert section, my vote would be for the new setting. I have loads of combinators that are specifically for mixing duties.

[antic604]

This has been explained by RS when they introduced combinator 2.

I know.

And I gave a potential way to circumvent this right above your post

We could've had the cake and eat it too.

[crimsonwarlock]

This has been explained by RS when they introduced combinator 2.

I know. And I gave a potential way to circumvent this right above your post

You beat me to the explanation while I was typing mine

Your potential way to circumvent is based on the idea that such choices are technically simple. They never are

[crimsonwarlock]

To answer the question of this topic, a look at my studio says it all

[antic604]

Your potential way to circumvent is based on the idea that such choices are technically simple. They never are

I'm not saying it's simple, but the tech is already sort of there, i.e. Combi v2 can map to any parameter in contained devices. By the same token Main Mixer's insert section could be granted access to any parameter of devices sitting on a channel - native Reason devices, REs, parameters exposed from VSTs to Combinators.

I mean they could still do it, if they wanted.

I mean the Main Mixer could use some more love - theme support, adjustable filter slopes, different EQ & compressor styles (SSL, Neve, API, etc. and VCA, FET, Optical, Tube, etc.), ability to pin the Mixer to the side of the screen (for laptop peasants like myself)...

[antic604]

To answer the question of this topic, a look at my studio says it all

For all we know you've Photoshopped that photo and in actuality there's Netflix on that top screen

[crimsonwarlock]

For all we know you've Photoshopped that photo and in actuality there's Netflix on that top screen

That top screen is, in fact, a 4K TV screen, so indeed I do also watch Netflix on it sometimes

No need to photoshop anything though, it is also connected to my DAW

[FrankJaeger]

Yes I use every part of the SSL. It’s just insanely effective for workflow. Only thing I wish is that the spectrum eq had more db slopes in the LP and HP filters. And if it also had dynamic eq function on top of that would be godly, but for those times TDR Nova does the job well

I STRONGLY agree about the poles for the HP/LP filters. Being able to adjust the drop-off would be highly appreciated. I also like how fast you can switch between instruments with the drop down menu on the eq. The GQ7 still takes the win for me though because of its feature set.

[selig]

To answer the question of this topic, a look at my studio says it all

You have what has to be my second favorite Reason based music production studio!!!

[FrankJaeger]

To answer the question of this topic, a look at my studio says it all

That's a sweet setup you've got there.. Mine is considerably more humble so I'm a little green with envy.

[DaveyG]

I no longer mix in Reason. Reasons is a plugin. I render everything to audio and mix in Studio One, mostly with built-ins and a bit of FabFilter.

[crimsonwarlock]

You have what has to be my second favorite Reason based music production studio!!!

Thanks Giles, yours is also pretty sweet

That's a sweet setup you've got there.. Mine is considerably more humble so I'm a little green with envy.

And it took me just 40 years to get to this

[luckygreen]

...
The 'old' insert section was basically an integrated combinator (hence the four knobs and four buttons, like the old combinator). With the introduction of the new combinator 2, they also implemented the insert section being capable of loading combinators (which wasn't possible before). And because you cannot load combinators inside combinators, the insert section lost the integrated combinator functionality. From an implementation perspective, this makes perfect sense...

Got it.

... What I'd do if I was a developer, I'd keep that Inserts section in the Main Mixer and allow the users to map whatever controls in the Channel to be mapped to 4 knobs + 4 buttons, otherwise they'd be inactive / grayed out. ..

Yes!

...Your potential way to circumvent is based on the idea that such choices are technically simple. They never are

So they probably weighted up cost (time to develop and test) and benefit (how many users would use a feature like the one antic604 explained) and came up with doing it like we have it now with Reason 12.

So I can see why it is what it is, but still, I would favor a better solution.

[crimsonwarlock]

So they probably weighted up cost (time to develop and test) and benefit...

It is more likely they weighted up available resources (RS is a rather small outfit, developer-wise) against the backlog of feature requests, the requests for new instruments and FX, and the ongoing effort of making 12 even better than it already is.

As I said, the 'old' insert section had features I liked, but never used at a level of absolute need. The possibility to load combinators in the new setup, however, has become a pretty important part of my workflow. Now, that is a cost-benefit analysis; it cost us the insert section controls to get the benefit of the insertable combinators. That is a win in my book.

[luckygreen]

.. Now, that is a cost-benefit analysis; it cost us the insert section controls to get the benefit of the insertable combinators. That is a win in my book.

I see. My next step in getting more used to Reason and it's keyboard shortcuts and such is to do some small old-fashioned projects that involves only using the 14:2 und 6:2 anyway.

[crimsonwarlock]

My next step in getting more used to Reason and it's keyboard shortcuts and such is to do some small old-fashioned projects that involves only using the 14:2 und 6:2 anyway.

The way I work, I absolutely NEED the SSL mixer, as I make heavy use of buses and parallel processing channels. I have buses with parallel channels to create a certain sound, that together go into yet another bus for final level mixing.