Reason 8.0 In Dub (1): Action Rack Extension

REASON 8.0 IN DUB (1): ACTION RACK EXTENSION
STUDIO DUBROOM ON PROPELLERHEAD'S REASON

WWW, November 2014 - After the very well received review of Reason 8.0 especially for the DUB Community, the Dubroom continues to explore and review Propellerhead's flagship. In "Action Rack Extension", Messian Dread mixes eight audio tracks into a heavy DUB using all six FX outputs on Reason's console. A report in sight and sound.

The best way to explore Reason, obviously, is to create riddims and make a Dubs from them. This is exactly what has been going on these last weeks over here in the Dubroom. At a later stage, more about creating riddims with Reason. For now, just the report that creating riddims is a true joy and Reason has a positive role in the inspiration.

Reason runs in 64bit on a machine with 8 Gigs of RAM and Intel processors of the newest kind. The software was loaded with drum computers, sound modules, loop players and of course the Neptune voice synthesizer. As soon as Reason hit the ceiling, the riddim was rendered to hard disk in the form of eight multi-tracks or stems. Unfortunately these multi-tracks cannot be shared as that would go beyond the Dubroom's license, but the result can be witnessed in the form of a You Tube video you can watch later on in this report. 

In fact, making a DUB from an audio multi-track is the authentic and original way of making DUB. This is how the music came into existence, as the Jamaican studio bands played one riddim after the other into the multi-track recorder and the DUB engineer turned everything into that music we all love to play so much. This is exactly how the DUB for this report was made.

Reason was set up with eight audio channels, one for sound FX, and six console input channels for all six auxiliary outputs. Yes, six different effect devices are used in this particular set up. Their output goes to console input channels. Over here, we don't deal with returns but you can read about these things elsewhere in the studio. 

Next to different RV7000's for delays and reverbs, The Echo was put in there as well as two Audiomatic devices. The Audiomatic is a Rack Extension, Propellerhead Reason's very own plug-in format. It ships for free with Reason 8.0, just like the excellent bass amp responsible for the warm and deep bass sound in this mix. 

Another Rack Extension used is the T2 Phaser (review). You can download and use the device in your Reason rack for free for 30 days or decide to buy it. It's only about 15 euros and worth much more than that. In fact, for DUB created only with Reason the T2 is obligatory.

Rack extensions work like any other device you can load in Reason's rack. Connect them, make a sequencer track and start recording your automation. 

The T2 and the Audiomatic Rack extensions turn out to integrate fully in a DUB environment. The Echo on top of that gives that extra touch but at this time, the device is not fully tested so there is much more potential than the stuff you can hear in the mix created for this report.

After an initial sound check on the correctly connected set up, finally the DUB could be mixed. An exciting moment. This would show how much is true concerning Propellerhead's claims about workflow in Reason 8.0. Will there be hick-up's when the loop points are changed? Will everything be in sync in the first place? How about latency when you use the on-board soundcards with an ASIO4ALL driver? 

Everything went extremely smooth. Six different effects that take up their processing power, not to speak about the console itself and the eight different audio tracks can all be handled in virtual real-time. There's no experienceable latency, as the Reason sequencer records and plays the mixing automation.

The Dub? Check it out:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeP7oyIMImo

Both the Audiomatic and the T2 get their fair chance, especially in the second half of the mix when the two effects follow up on each other. The Audiomatic turns out to be crucial in deforming both the bass and the drums. Especially when combined with other effects (reverb), this little big thing can drive your mix to a next dimension. The T2 (reviewed here) is a very, very decent phaser that works excellently as well. 

The RV7000's and the manual delay do their thing. A ping-pong delay, a reverse reverb and a more or less standard hall effect for the RV7000 devices. The Echo is tweaked at a certain point showcasing some of it's potential, but there has to be some deeper exploring of the delay.

Even though not so much effort was put in the actual riddim, the result is a very reasonable Dub mix. Mixing the Dub is a true pleasure, and Reason's workflow plays a part in it, definitely. The technique behind the automation and everything is very high in quality and low in causing problems.

One Love,
Messian Dread

PATCHES (ZIP) - GET T2 PHASER - MORE DUBROOM REASON STUFF

 

The T2 Phaser Rack Extension (Studio Dubroom On Propellerhead's Reason)

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.

WEBSITE - PROPSHOP - MORE DUBROOM REASON STUFF

 

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