Over time I will posts some tips and tricks using the music production software - www.propellerheads.se Reason. Feel free to contribute. Many of these tips have been pinhed from the propellerheads forum.
One of the basic tricks to widen stereo-pseudo mono or stereo samples is ………. by inserting a Delay unit into one of the samples channels and adjust the delay in milliseconds anywhere from 10 to 60ms.
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Some of my own personal kick tricks:1. Use the Redrum to trigger an NN-19(s). This allows the beat making of the Redrum interface, but gives *way* more control over each sample. More importantly, it allows layering of samples. If I remember correctly, there was a set-up in the FSB for 1.0 that had a Redrum triggering a stack of Subtractors to make an analog drum kit.
2a. Layer different kicks into *one* kick sound. This can really help thicken the sound.
2b. Sometimes I like the attack of one kick, but not the ‘thump’ and the ‘thump’ of another kick, but not the attack. By using a combo of sample start controls, the ADSR envelop and layering I can get only the attack of one and only the thump of the other.
3. Use the Unison and/or Chorus fx units. These in conjunction with the ECF in LP mode can make some mean sounding kicks. If you want to get super freaky kick sounds, use the audio in on the Malstrom and use its different filter types.
4. If going the NN-19 or -XT route, use an HP filter with some modest resonance. This works well, especially if you are de-tuning/pitching-down kick samples. The filter will help alot to control the excessive ‘rumbliness’ and the resonance can add that little extra ‘-ump’ in the thump.
Hope this helped.
Thomas
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A quick tutorial that some of you might find interesting. I sussed this out at the weekend and its going to transform the way I play live sets. This technique allows you to have two Reason documents open at once and cut in tracks precisely at the selected BPM.
First download a MIDI clock program and run Reason as a slave synced via MIDI clock. I used this one - its OSX but there are windows ones out there:
http://www.grantedsw.com/midiclock/
To set it up, first launch the MIDI clock program, got to Prefs Advanced MIDI and set the MIDIclock prog as the master, press play on the MIDIclock program and then you can use the small button marked Play (located in the transport bar under the heading Focus) to switch your Reason documents on and off. It works like a radio button switch - switching one on simultaneously switches the other off. Try it
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Bring up a Sub, set Osc 1 to Saw, Osc 2 to PWM (just activate “-” Phase offset and set LFO2 to modulate Phase a little at a modest rate).-Open the filter fully for now.
-Tune Osc 1 -1 cent, Osc2 +1 cent
-Turn the mix knob fully right and activate Ring Mod
-Bring the BPM up to 140-ish, add a couple of DDL’s, program a screwy Matrix pattern (or just randomize one) and pitch-bend to your heart’s content.
-Try playing around with osc tuning, filter res/cutoff and pitch bend range for some fun effects.
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You can group pattern changes just like regular notes…So if you have 4 bars of pattern A1..just make a 4 bar group.
Do this for all your changes for both ReDrums then you can see the changes in the main sequencer view.I do this for arranging Matrix changes.
mikemidi-
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Automate the transpose knob in the dr. rex. Adds change of key to repetitive loops. Coupled with programming in the rex track this can provide enough variation for the track.
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