Reason 8.0: A Review For The Dub Community

REASON 8.0: A REVIEW FOR THE DUB COMMUNITY
STUDIO DUBROOM SOFTWARE AND SOUNDWARE REVIEW

 

 

WWW, October 16 2014 - It's been close to a decade since the launch of Reason 3.0 and the Dubroom's review of the then groundbreaking, ultra-flexible Dub-friendly music production software. We've promoted the software continually ever since it was established how it was possible to make Dub using just one program. Just recently, Reason 8.0 was released and arrived in the Dubroom not much later. We went in-depth again, from 3.0 straight to eight and came back with this review exclusively for the Dub Community.

Of course, we don't have to re-establish how it is possible to make DUB using Reason as a Stand-Alone Digital Audio Workstation (DAW). We did that when Reason 3.0 had arrived and changed the way to produce the music we all love to produce. It's obvious that Reason 8.0 enables you to do what version 3.0 offered, and it's obvious that we're a decade later into the research and development at the Scandinavian laboratories.

Just in case, though. Yes, you can make Dub not just using just a computer but using just one program. The name of that program is Reason, of which version 8.0 was released just two weeks prior to the publication of this review. 

In a way, this is not just a review of Reason 8.0, it's a review of ten years of development at Propellerhead and in the production of DUB Music using just a computer. In this decade, producing music with just a computer has become what it should be: commonly accepted. No longer is it considered to be avant-gardistic to side-step snobby studio owners with attitudes and reach your audience directly with computer-based productions. 

No longer are computer-based producers looked down upon, and Reason has played a huge part in this wonderful development.

It's October 2014. Welcome to a review of Reason 8.0, software that enables you to turn that idea in your head into sounds from your audience's speakers.

We're going to take a deep look into the many new features that have been added to Propellerhead's flag ship during the last decade. Sure, there are many new devices that look promising at first sight. After all, that's what we need in our studio. Brand new in Reason 8.0 is the updated browser, which needs to be examined too. Will it be quicker in this new way to find what you're looking for?

Questions, questions. 

Door locked, all projects put on hold for more than a week. Reason was the object of undivided attention as this review was written, Dubs created and put on You Tube along with other things like detailed screenshots taken. You can read all about this in this extensive, in-depth review of Reason 8.0 where all things DUB are considered and tried.

In fact, the review is so long that it's divided in different parts. However, it's possible to check out the full review on one long page as well. 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART ONE: INTRODUCTION CLICK TO READ
A review for the Dub community - A Dub engineer's perspective - The configuration - The installation process

PART TWO: FIRST STEPS CLICK TO READ
A first impression - A closer look - A first session

PART THREE: FEATURES CLICK TO READ
The mixing console - The rack -The devices - The sequencer - The browser - Two missing links - Rack extensions

PART FOUR: THE DEVICES CLICK TO READ
The effects - The instruments - The utilities

PART FIVE: CONCLUSION CLICK TO READ
The work-flow - A final Dub - Reason eight straight out...

REASON 8.0: A REVIEW FOR THE DUB COMMUNITY CLICK TO READ
Read the full review on one page

Willi Williams: "Smugg Records Are Pirates"

WILLI WILLIAMS: "SMUGG RECORDS ARE PIRATES"
DUBROOM (DUB) REGGAE NEWS AND VIEWS

WWW, October 3 1014 - In a very informative, but partly disturbing interview the Midnight Raver recently held with well known Reggae Singer Willi Williams, the Ammagideon Man was quoted about a release called "One Love". As the album was reviewed and promoted by the Dubroom, it was shocking to hear what the brethren had to say about this release. In short: it's pirated, don't buy!

Ask Bunny Wailer about the early Wailers Black Ark recordings you can find almost everywhere. Ask Scientist about his well-known Greensleeves Dub Series. Ask Willi Williams about "One Love. Not the concept, but the album. Released by UK-based Smugg Records. Who were so kind to send the Dubroom a promo copy years back when it was released. Which was subsequently reviewed and promoted from this very website.

This is what he has to say:

“The ONE LOVE record is a pirated record. These guys been releasing my records for years and no matter how you try to get to them to let them know that it is not legal they insist on doing it. I send plenty letters from my lawyers and every ‘ting but they are shady. Its a shadowy business but Smugg Records is one of the pirates, they just using that name to sell the records. Especially this new record was pirated by them at whoever is behind this Smugg Records. I even got to one of the guys one time and he was very shadowy and could not tell me how he got it because I have no agreement with them. You know I did some tracks way back with an individual named Steven King out of the UK – him have a label called Uptempo – I did a couple of tracks with him as producer and he went and took my tracks from these sessions along with some others and I suspect that is how they release these pirated records.”

source

The Book of life teaches us how "The Love For Money Is The Root Of All Evil". That's not the One Love Willi Williams sings about, that's not the definition of One Love over here in the Dubroom, either. That's the love for pounds, euros, dollars. The kind of love that brings people to make wars and kill millions.

Needless to say that from this place we offer our apologizes -without any objection- to Willi Williams for having promoted something that did not provide him with the daily bread that he works for so hard. 

Equally, we gladly extend this piece of information from Willi Williams aka The Messenger Man to everyone who considers buying or promoting the album. 

One Love (yes!),
Messian Dread (editor, dubroom.org)

CLICK HERE TO READ THE INTERVIEW

Dub Dynasty - Thundering Mantis (Dubroom Album Review)

DUB DYNASTY - THUNDERING MANTIS
DUBROOM ALBUM REVIEW

WWW, September 2014 - Digital download, vinyl, CD, or a combination: the formats vary, the source does not. That source being the UK DUB Twins Alpha and Omega with a brand new release on their Steppas Records label. Nine vocal tracks featuring a world wide group of singers alongside their DUB counterpart carrying the unmistakable Alpha and Omega sound.

Dub Dynasty is Alpha and Omega and Alpha Steppa: yes, the next generation. Son and nephew, to be exact. 

With that out of the way, let's talk about the music. Thundering is the right word for the floor-shaking bass sound that we're used to when it comes to AO productions. This double vinyl release doesn't lack any of it. The real interesting part of Thundering Mantis is the fact that not just do we have a whole range of vocalists ranging from a more meditative eastern style talk to heartical singing (Prince David), there is an equal amount of producers who lent some of their material to Alpha and Omega. 

It's Alpha and Omega, yes, and it's more.

With two vocals and two dubs featured on Radio Dubroom 2014 Chapter Eight, you can get an idea.

This is a musical release that's, well, kind of obligatory when you are into the more heavy side of Sound System DUB. Whether you're into digital download, CD or just plain vinyl for that bass sound the choice is yours. 

Whatever you do: support the independent DUB movement with your purchase, it's so much needed.

BUYING OPTIONS

   

READ REVIEW AT DUBROOM WEBSITE

Various Artists - United As One (Dubroom MP3 Album Review)

VARIOUS ARTISTS - UNITED AS ONE
DUBROOM MP3 ALBUM REVIEW

WWW, September 20 2014 - Something brewing in the Mediterranean: The Maltese Net Label Dub Key and it's Cyprus based Dubophonic counterpart joined strength with a solid and varied (DUB) Roots Reggae release as a result. Music with a message, music with a soul and general conscious vibes. Can't refuse this one. 

They've been anticipating this release with an excellent promo mix that could be download only a hundred times. That is, until the day of the actual album release and -not completely coincidental- the day of this review as well. Over here at the Dubroom we've anticipated with the inclusion of the very same promo mix in a podcast released yesterday and a determination to publish the first review of this more than excellent album for the online massive.

Why?

You've guessed it: this is not just another musical release. In fact, where the two Mediterranean Net Labels continually work on increasing their quantity and quality, this release drops the two heavyweights together with a musical explosion as result. Remember: when the music hits, you feel no pain but you do feel the positive vibes of this collaboration. "United As One" sets an example for this time, wherein we do no longer need to "kill soundboys" but rather say "One Love", especially in the Sound System culture with which both Dub Key and Dubophonic have their connections.

Both labels have singers and players of instruments, engineers and producers and they've been voicing, playing and mixing each other's work. The album that came out on this September 20 2014 carries 16 mixes of four riddims. Vocals and Dubs follow each other as each riddim is presented in a truly different form. Truly sixteen different tracks, that you really want to play from the top to the very last drop. Unless you're a (online) selector in which case you will find that the track will be very fit for a different sequence in your own DJ set. 

This is niceness, this is a must download. The only problem you face is this: from which website are you going to download it? From DUB KEY or DUBOPHONIC? 

You'll sort it out.

READ MORE

Crucial Alphonso - Visionary Creation (MP3 Album Review)

CRUCIAL ALPHONSO - VISIONARY CREATION
DUBROOM MP3 ALBUM REVIEW

WWW, September 2014 - True Original Sound System Style: six titles all with two versions. Pumping steppers riddims, some played by the mighty King Earthquake (UK) and all created in Crucial Alphonso's Belgian Studio. When you like your digital, when you like your steppers, when you need your bass, just download this free release by that Maltese DUB KEY Net Label.

Crucial Alphonso grew up with Reggae. His father a Reggae DJ, his own voicing at Sound Systems and ability to create his own electronic devices, it was only a matter of time before he would start releasing his own production. As said, as done. Twelve outstanding pieces of digital niceness that yuou can play soft but preferable loud with a lot of bass.  

READ REVIEW, GET THE MUSIC AND MORE

Ondubground And Jahko Lion - Chapter One EP (Dubroom MP3 Review)

ONDUBGROUND AND JAHKO LION - CHAPTER ONE (EP)
DUBROOM MP3 ALBUM REVIEW

WWW, September 2014 - French (DUB) Reggae band OnDubGround with five tracks featuring Jamaican singer Jahko Lion. Both showing their versatility as Jahko rides laid-back, Ire riddims and heavy steppers with the same ease as they are played into the multitrack recorder.

In the abundance of water, the fool is thirsty. Someone said it sometime and it could very well be said about anyone looking for conscious (DUB) Reggae and not knowing about the enormous wealth of music from the online Net Labels. Thanks to the Internet, the world wide Roots Massive connects and produces collaborations that were only available for the industrial and commercial boys and girls. 

READ REVIEW, GET THE MUSIC AND MORE

Digital Dignity: Half a Gigabyte of High Quality Free Licensed (DUB) Reggae Samples In a New Studio Dubroom Feature

DIGITAL DIGNITY: HALF A GIGABYTE OF FREE LICENSED HI-Q (DUB) REGGAE SAMPLES AND LOOPS IN A NEW STUDIO FEATURE
STUDIO DUBROOM NEWS

WWW, September 2014 - Attention (DUB) Reggae producers and other visitors/users of Studio Dubroom: a brand new feature in the studio will provide you with over 560 Mb of free, legal, fully licensed high quality (DUB) Reggae Samples and Loops. We're talking drums, bass, guitars, horns, vocals, Dub effects and everything else you can think of in the field of the production of (DUB) Reggae Music.

It's called "Digital Dignity" and for a reason. There are too many online (DUB) Reggae artists that make use of jingles, loops and samples from well known or lesser known albums. For non-commercial productions that's quite a common practice but it will not lead you as a producer to the ability to release your music commercially. It's a common practice, but it doesn't really do anything else but make people think of the original.

Yes, it is better to get some dignity in your productions by getting some dignity for yourself: over half a gig of that material is waiting for you in our brand new Loopmasters (DUB) Reggae portal.

So what did we do and what can you do?

First, we've gathered all thirty (DUB) Reggae products that come with a demo file from the Sample Boutique and -second- created a page for each release. From that page you can directly download the Demo file attached to the product. You'll have to be registered and logged in to the Loop Masters website, but since that is a free thing and can even provide you with more goodies, registration at Loop Masters will not hurt you at all.

We are talking about samples and loops by Ariwa studio, Jesse "Dubmatix" King, the heavyweight champions at Drum Drops, and a lot more. A large part has authentic vocal loops and samples, but you can find some nice horns and other material.

Read the introduction page and start downloading. When you have a reasonable fast Internet connection, about 15 minutes of your time will deliver you a very valuable addition to your Sound library.

This is not a collaboration between Loop Masters and the Dubroom, this is the sole decision of the Dubroom and it is done out of a genuine appreciation with the good quality, service and prices at the Sample Boutique. 

CLICK HERE VISIT THE PORTAL

 

Various Artists - Strictly Analog Dub (Dubroom MP3 Album Review)

VARIOUS ARTISTS - STRICTLY ANALOG DUB
DUBROOM MP3 ALBUM REVIEW

WWW, September 2014 - It comes with the puristic title "Strictly Analog Dub", but Dutch Net Label Dubbhism does not deliver that with this otherwise very interesting and enjoyable free Net Album. No, this is not the first negative music review in the Dubroom. Confused? Read On.

You got purists -some would say fetishists- of all kinds. Reggae purists, Dub purists, Analogue purists, Digital purist, Vinyl purists, ah, well you get the idea. The kind of purism that's brought forward in this really nice album is the analogue purity. That is to say, analogue recording and effects purity. Not all tracks are Dub, not all tracks are Reggae, not all tracks are played with analogue equipment. Unless you would call a drum computer and other obviously sequenced stuff analogue. Like these folks.

READ REVIEW, GET THE MUSIC AND MORE