I much prefer Reason to Ableton, but I really wish Reason did MIDI loop recording better

[eiresurfer]

I have the cheap intro version of Ableton, but I've never really gone beyond the messing about stage with it - it's never really clicked with me, I find it's not as fun as Reason, and a lot of it just feels too much like work. Obviously loads of people love it, and that's fine. However, one thing I really like about it is how it records Midi loops. When you are recording a loop, and you reach the end, it doesn't just let the last midi note play beyond the loop, it records it into the start of the loop. I love this. Also, I actually prefer how it creates a new midi loop each time, so you can record multiple midi parts and pick the best one in the midi clip section. Reason is great, but recording MIDI loops just isn't as good as in Ableton.

[DaveyG]

Someone will post the crappy workaround for this in Reason. The workaround does work but it's a bit, um, crappy.
They should rework MIDI recording to match the way audio recording works where you get multiple takes and can comp them together.
But they probably won't!

[PhillipOrdonez]

Even better is how it records anything you play via midi without you ever hitting the record button. 🤯

[Popey]

Even better is how it records anything you play via midi without you ever hitting the record button. 🤯

Yeah retrospective record is great for people like me who have no musical training. Just jam away and keep the bits you like for further editing.

[stm.mitchell]

Even better is how it records anything you play via midi without you ever hitting the record button. 🤯

Yeah retrospective record is great for people like me who have no musical training. Just jam away and keep the bits you like for further editing.

https://monkeyc.audio/pages/rewind does retrospective recording of audio and midi. Runs as a plugin, or standalone. I just keep it on the master channel in Reason.

[crimsonwarlock]

https://monkeyc.audio/pages/rewind does retrospective recording of audio and midi. Runs as a plugin, or standalone. I just keep it on the master channel in Reason.

Wow, that looks really nice. I was just about to buy it, watched a few videos on their website, heard it needs iLock...... aaaand I'm out.

[sycon]

Wow, that looks really nice. I was just about to buy it, watched a few videos on their website, heard it needs iLock...... aaaand I'm out.

This one doesn't require iLok:
https://www.birdsthings.com/midi-cap

[djsmex]

I prefer reason to ableton but now as live 12 has screen reader support and reason 12 doesn't with no signs of any screen reader support in reason 13, looks like I'll be using live 12 more than reason.

[jlgrimes]

if you would have posted this 15 years ago I would have disagreed but Ableton has made tons of small to big improvements over the years regarding their workflow.

I wish Reason would focus more on the small improvements as well.

[djsmex]

I did do a little prototype web app, to work with reason and added a few tools like setting song markers and loop markers. It would be possible to add the midi loop recording hack and possibly retrospective midi recording. However, these features should be built into reason instead of having to use third party hacks like my web app.

[Arpeg]

"I actually prefer how it creates a new midi loop each time, so you can record multiple midi parts and pick the best one in the midi clip section. Reason is great, but recording MIDI loops just isn't as good as in Ableton".

Midi - Pattern Mutator, no? : https://www.reasonstudios.com/shop/rack ... n-mutator/

[Pepin]

Wow, that looks really nice. I was just about to buy it, watched a few videos on their website, heard it needs iLock...... aaaand I'm out.

This one doesn't require iLok:
https://www.birdsthings.com/midi-cap

Thanks for sharing this. It works really well!
I've added it to the piano Combinator I keep in my template.
For anyone wondering, it's a silent VST instrument that records any MIDI input (up to 1 hour). You can select and drag MIDI from within it directly into Reason's sequencer.

[huggermugger]

Already have retrospective recording, aka MIDI Capture, in Logic. It even records when Logic is stopped.