THE T2 PHASER RACK EXTENSION STUDIO DUBROOM ON PROPELLERHEAD'S
REASON
WWW, November 2014 - The in-program phaser
in Reason is not the DAW's strongest feature. This very fact has been picked up
by "That Music Company": they developed a very fine phaser which can
be yours for the price of about 15 euros. Presenting the T2 Phaser Rack
Extension!
Rack Extensions. It's Propellerhead's name for
the Reason internal plug-in format. You get a few when you purchase Reason, you
can download one or two for free but the bulk can be discovered by visiting the
"Prop Shop".
For a DUB engineer, browsing the Rack
Extensions can be, well, time-consuming. After all, most are aimed at the
production of EDM ("Electronic Dance Music") and will not really add
much to the standard effects and instruments in Reason.
Not
so with the T2 Phaser (see picture, click to enlarge). It's the second device
created by the small Rack Extension developer "That Music Company",
based in San Jose (California, USA) and it truly is an extension to your rack.
First thing that stands out is the price. For
about 15 euros, the T2 is yours. That's fifteen euros to de facto replace
Reason's standard phaser because as soon as you run the T2 in your set up you'll
hear the power in the thing.
It basically has three main sections:
Overdrive, Phaser and HPF (Hi-Pass Filter). Overdrive and HPF will add vibes to
the main sound the Phaser section produces. You can set waveforms and on top of
that, different steps. Pan effects belong to the possibilities too, you can even
trigger the T2 by midi notes.
Got Reason? Get the T2. It's that simple. Just
download the phaser, you will have thirty days to discover the fully functional
device before you will undoubtedly decide to have it permanently in your effect
collection.
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"
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.”
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)
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
Not
so with the T2 Phaser (see picture, click to enlarge). It's the second device
created by the small Rack Extension developer "That Music Company",
based in San Jose (California, USA) and it truly is an extension to your rack.
