The Future of Reason DAW

[GluhovProd]

Please forgive me for such a catchy title, but I'm wondering what the community thinks about this in connection with the current updates in other DAWs.

Reason is my main and favorite DAW, in the last few years I have been working only in it. But looking at the updates, functionality, convenience of many functions, and prices offered by other market participants, it seems that our beloved Reason will never catch up with the current level of competitors.

What do you think about it?

[WaxTrax]

I still love the workflow, and Reason gets me to making meaningful sounds faster than any other DAW I have worked with.

My wishlist is:

- Better / more flexible MIDI in and out. Use case: working with other/standalone software on the same host without having to use fancy workarounds like loopbacks.

- Clip launching support like Ableton and Logic Pro. Instead of working with the sequencer, I would love to be able to trigger loops, MIDI clips, and Player devices while keeping everything synchronized. Use case: I do a lot of generative music where the point isn't necessarily any specific direction, but the freedom to try out different combinations of sounds. In the case of working with a generative Player device such as Bassline Generator, it would be amazing to be able to trigger the Run button from a clip launcher style rack device, and have it remain in sync with anything else triggered by the clip launcher.

Honestly, if I had both of these (especially the second one), I would have no Reason to look outside Reason for my music creation needs.

[RobC]

I don't think it should fail, because it's still the most hands-on DAW, where you can easily hide it, when things get too busy or complicated.

Nothing is as easy as Combinator. If they would add scripting to it, it would be king.

Hell, the RRP should maybe focus a bit more on Combinator. So that it rather feels like a Combinator plugin/VST/etc.
And of course, allowing at least 1-2 levels of Combinator inside Combinator.

So yeah, I think, there's still potential. I would rather focus on what the competition DOESN'T have yet. What makes Reason unique, faster, and more transparent.

The main problem with Reason is, that the world of musicians and engineers doesn't SEE its potential.

[kitekrazy]

Many DAWs were ahead of Pro Tools in just about everything.
Most DAWs have their fanboys to keep things afloat.
I think some users would prefer to have the DAW worked on instead of creating more instruments.
Reason is in the dark ages on some things.
That' new browser is terrible. Most users complain when a browser is changed in any DAW. People who develop and change things for change sake probably don't use a DAW. Familiarity is more about workflow. Live's browser sucks too,

[Marc64]

Every daw has it's strenght and weakness. The BIG! strong side of reason is that you can use another daw of choice and stil use reason as vst. It don't think any another daw has that ?

[jam-s]

Every daw has it's strenght and weakness. The BIG! strong side of reason is that you can use another daw of choice and stil use reason as vst. It don't think any another daw has that ?

Ehem, FL wants to have word with you.

[chimp_spanner]

I will say, that having gone of a bit of a journey from using Reason exclusively for YEARS, to bouncing around between Cubase, Live and more recently Logic, I really miss a lot about Reason. Things that I think we maybe take for granted. And maybe some things that are both a blessing and a curse. Put it this way, I've had an equal number of "this is easier in Reason" moments as I have "thank God I moved to Logic" moments. And it really just reaffirms my belief that with a handful of things (arranger folders, midi note chase, audio pitch envelopes and some tools/options to help manage track/device ordering and organisation) I could absolutely work in Reason forever. Hell I'm back in it now because I got frustrated with Logic tonight.

What is it they say about grass being greener...

[gullum]

Please forgive me for such a catchy title, but I'm wondering what the community thinks about this in connection with the current updates in other DAWs.

Reason is my main and favorite DAW, in the last few years I have been working only in it. But looking at the updates, functionality, convenience of many functions, and prices offered by other market participants, it seems that our beloved Reason will never catch up with the current level of competitors.

What do you think about it?

can you do all that you need in Reason if the answer is yes then other software are irrelevant
I've used Reason only since Reason and Rekord were merged into 1.

[Benedict]

I also agree that if you use Reason then why does it matter what trivial tattles were tacked onto ProFruit or CakeBase??

Commit to your workspace and when things come up, work out your own solutions so that your results are unique.

[Chi-Individual]

I also agree that if you use Reason then why does it matter what trivial tattles were tacked onto ProFruit or CakeBase??

What about Logband, Reapwig or Studio Live?

[Benedict]

I also agree that if you use Reason then why does it matter what trivial tattles were tacked onto ProFruit or CakeBase??

What about Logband, Reapwig or Studio Live?

Nah they are rubbish, might as well use Abledumb. It is all about Garbageband & Cockwig. CockTools used to be good but they got taken over by Studio Fruit who have no credibility at all after that Proic BitOne Cube AudaBeats AcidBridge schermozzel that put all their users in traction.
LOL

[Loque]

What about Logband, Reapwig or Studio Live?

Nah they are rubbish, might as well use Abledumb. It is all about Garbageband & Cockwig. CockTools used to be good but they got taken over by Studio Fruit who have no credibility at all after that Proic BitOne Cube AudaBeats AcidBridge schermozzel that put all their users in traction.
LOL

Which of those DAWs have the best and unique sound? I am especially looking for that warm punchy and beefy analog sound. Which of those DAWs are used by famous musicians like Lady Giga, Madomma, Michele Jackson, Bouncy or The Beatless?

[popnapp]

My two cents are two things:
1) Yesterday I saw a longer video about updates in Cubase 14.
And I kept thinking to myself: interesting, but isn't that new Drum instrument a lot like Kong and Drum Sequencer in Reason? And the Cubase "modulators", isn't that the Reason way to connect Pulsar to other things? But okay, half of the new features in Cubase 14 I don't see in Reason.

2) Yesterday I saw an old western movie ("Chuka" with Rod Taylor from 1967) and I thought to myself: they shoot a lot. And there is a scene, where the accuracy of one rifle is discussed. And the hero is not very keen on using rifles but relies more on his pistols. But given that their lives might depend on it, they seem to be very uninterested in the manufactorer of the guns, what advantages and features they have over other models. They just draw their weapon and shoot and hope to get the lady and survive.

Even if Reason would be the most expensive software with many features missing in comparison. No way a westerner like me would start to cry about it. Because, as I told the ladies, it's not about the shiny gun, it's about to draw first and shoot the bad guy, damn it. I want to make a good song (one day) and so I am wondering: what am I doing here, writing this? Just fire up your DAW (whatever that is) and start thinking about the music.

My two cents. You asked for it ... not. Thank you

[RobBarnett]

I will say, that having gone of a bit of a journey from using Reason exclusively for YEARS, to bouncing around between Cubase, Live and more recently Logic, I really miss a lot about Reason. Things that I think we maybe take for granted. And maybe some things that are both a blessing and a curse. Put it this way, I've had an equal number of "this is easier in Reason" moments as I have "thank God I moved to Logic" moments. And it really just reaffirms my belief that with a handful of things (arranger folders, midi note chase, audio pitch envelopes and some tools/options to help manage track/device ordering and organisation) I could absolutely work in Reason forever. Hell I'm back in it now because I got frustrated with Logic tonight.

What is it they say about grass being greener...

Yes this (plus VST Midi and MPE) , please listen RS

[kitekrazy]

Every daw has it's strenght and weakness. The BIG! strong side of reason is that you can use another daw of choice and stil use reason as vst. It don't think any another daw has that ?

Ehem, FL wants to have word with you.

Some DAWs still have Rewire.

[kitekrazy]

My two cents are two things:
1) Yesterday I saw a longer video about updates in Cubase 14.
And I kept thinking to myself: interesting, but isn't that new Drum instrument a lot like Kong and Drum Sequencer in Reason? And the Cubase "modulators", isn't that the Reason way to connect Pulsar to other things? But okay, half of the new features in Cubase 14 I don't see in Reason.

2) Yesterday I saw an old western movie ("Chuka" with Rod Taylor from 1967) and I thought to myself: they shoot a lot. And there is a scene, where the accuracy of one rifle is discussed. And the hero is not very keen on using rifles but relies more on his pistols. But given that their lives might depend on it, they seem to be very uninterested in the manufactorer of the guns, what advantages and features they have over other models. They just draw their weapon and shoot and hope to get the lady and survive.

Even if Reason would be the most expensive software with many features missing in comparison. No way a westerner like me would start to cry about it. Because, as I told the ladies, it's not about the shiny gun, it's about to draw first and shoot the bad guy, damn it. I want to make a good song (one day) and so I am wondering: what am I doing here, writing this? Just fire up your DAW (whatever that is) and start thinking about the music.

My two cents. You asked for it ... not. Thank you

Some DAWs are trying to move the electronic producers to their product. The traditional user hates that. In other forums the Studio One users were not impressed with the new version.

Licensing is always a bug deal for me. As some developers change their business model something like Reaper seems more appealing. It's just a DAW and no adding instruments to entice you to upgrade. When companies get taken over the last thing they look at is the product only the spreadsheet.

[SoundObjects]

I have other DAWs with way more featurs than Reason but often go back
to RS anyway.

I think many DAWs has become monsters because of way to many features.
If you constantly are going to menu dive to find one specific feature
it's not very workflow friendly.
It can also be a pain with to many keybord shortcuts or mouse cliks.
Whats more - DAW complexity often add more probability for bugs.

I think one reason to this could be all that company competition.

One of RS forces is it's simplicity and stability.
And then it also one of the best looking DAWs.

Hope not RS will be to much infected by competition from other DAW companies
and still keep it simple and stable with a few but effective featurs.

[gribbly]

I remain all in on Reason. It has strengths and weaknesses, just like any other DAW. The truth is pretty much every DAW is more than capable these days, you're really choosing between 10% of functionality.

I do have some gripes about the sequencer, but it's easily "good enough" for me and I'd rather focus on addressing deficiencies with my own musical skills that learn a new DAW. I don't think the new browser in 13 is great, but I prefer it to the old one.

I think any serious deficiencies of Reason can be worked around pretty easily:

• Since Reason opened up to VSTs, you have access to most stuff you could possibly want.

• And if sequencer workflow is really the blocker, you can use Reason as a plug in.

I was initially not interested in using VSTs - I always thought of them as potentially unstable, and the stability of Reason is very appealing to me. When I'm making music I don't want to deal with any crashing or weirdness. It has to "just work".

But I've been using some VST3s and they seem super stable (fingers crossed) and it is opening my eyes to some updates. E.g., I've been using Reason Drum Kits since it was a Refill, and I loved when it got made into an instrument. And it remains great. But I recently invested in Toontrack's Superior Drummer 3 and it really is a level beyond RDK. Especially in something I care a lot about (detailed hi-hat articulation). The UI is really complex and amazing, and the integration into Reason 13 has been rock solid so far.

RDK is still awesome, but there are definitely some things outside the Reason ecosystem that are even better.

But I still think of Reason as home, and have no plans to change that.

[tomusurp]

I own 3 DAW's. Reason Embryos, Flower Studio, and Log Builders. 70% of the music I make is still in Reason Embryos Valhalla Mod

[mcatalao]

Well, if there's no future in reason daw then it is settled. But tbh I've seen these gloom and doom posts in the last 3 versions (10, 11 and 12) and we're still here and reason daw is still here.

That being said reason I've been at a strange place wkth reason and 2 years ago i bought cubase because i thought fhere were a bunch of stuff it had that i needed. Turns out 2 years have passes and reason is still the daw I use for everything.

I think the 2 most important reasons i didn't go to cubase are that using it with the rrp is simply a mess. And the other is that i have invested money and time to have a great remote device setup controlling every step of my production work with reason and redoing that with cubase is showing quite hard (the first step where i should be able to connect the 3 bcf2000 and bcr2000 togeter hass been seemingly difficult in cubase and it is the base of the whole process). So a mess to work with the rrp and very limited control with my stuff. I didnt give up yet but it's a drag.

So the stuff i nag about has very low weight against losing a full working and effective workflow.

That being said the stuff I'd like to see in reason's daw (instead of just moving thigs around):
- Auto punch in/out
- Sequencer Folder tracks
- retrospective recording
- Track Freezing with real device disabling (bounce in place is not a complete freese and cerates an additional sequencer track mess)

Auto punch in should be easy to implement as the base is already there. The rest is more nasty as it can mess with the core of the sequencer, and its relation to the rack, devices and so on.

But again these 4 things probably most daws have had yaers ago have 0 weight agains the full immersive workflow i have now with reason.

[Mattvank]

I´m satisfied with Reason(12) I use each device so far i can. As standalone or Rack. Third Party developers also did a well job in 2024.

I also would give the Combinators 2 more love but i would need more ,,time safer´´ options. It is fun to work with but it is a lot of time i must spend for the right one.
No idea how but i could imagine to scroll through layouts like wavetables in a menu. As Background or as knobbed option(based on the connexion from the devices.)

[Ottostrom]

That being said the stuff I'd like to see in reason's daw (instead of just moving thigs around):
- Auto punch in/out
- Sequencer Folder tracks
- retrospective recording
- Track Freezing with real device disabling (bounce in place is not a complete freese and cerates an additional sequencer track mess)

These four things plus midi chase and I would be satisfied.

[gbuck]

I own 3 DAW's. Reason Embryos, Flower Studio, and Log Builders. 70% of the music I make is still in Reason Embryos Valhalla Mod

I did a google search for 3 DAW's ( Reason Embryos, Flower Studio, and Log Builders) and came up with babies, flowers and log homes. Am I being punked?

[Chi-Individual]

I own 3 DAW's. Reason Embryos, Flower Studio, and Log Builders. 70% of the music I make is still in Reason Embryos Valhalla Mod

I did a google search for 3 DAW's ( Reason Embryos, Flower Studio, and Log Builders) and came up with babies, flowers and log homes. Am I being punked?

He meant to say he owns Logband, Reapwig and Studio Live.

[KGB]

I have other DAWs with way more featurs than Reason but often go back
to RS anyway.

I think many DAWs has become monsters because of way to many features.
If you constantly are going to menu dive to find one specific feature
it's not very workflow friendly.
It can also be a pain with to many keybord shortcuts or mouse cliks.
Whats more - DAW complexity often add more probability for bugs.

I think one reason to this could be all that company competition.

One of RS forces is it's simplicity and stability.
And then it also one of the best looking DAWs.

Hope not RS will be to much infected by competition from other DAW companies
and still keep it simple and stable with a few but effective featurs.

I would say the same. Reason is lacking a few more features imo but I don’t want it to become bloatware.