The fastest way to new basslines just got faster and newer. With more source basslines, fresh patches, and several handy new workflow features for even more control over your low-end groove, there’s never been a better time to bring the bass!

Reason Studios analysed hundreds of real-world basslines, reverse engineering them to understand what makes them work so well. Users are now able to dial in independent patterns for both on-beat notes and off-beat syncopations to create pounding, funky, or laid-back basslines — and everything in between.

New In v1.1.0

• 60+ new device patches and Combinator patches
• 64 new source basslines in a new Bank B
• Select between Bank A or B independently for the on-beat and off-beat notes
• You can now Shift the timing of the bassline +/- 32 steps
• 12 new variator shapes for more variation
• Transposing a tied note now transposes all notes tied to it
• Added a pitch line in the note display to help visualise the pitch
• Added a CV input for transposing the bassline
• Added a CV input for shifting the bassline
• Hold [Shift] when dragging horizontally in the note display to restrict the pitch
• Hold [Shift] for greater precision when selecting source phrases in the diamond display

View the new features of Bassline Generator 1.1 in action in this video.

Output Inc. and Reason Studios have partnered together to create the Arcade & Reason+ Bundle, a complete package of instruments, effects and samples for music creators. This package pairs two exciting plugin collections for music makers. “We are thrilled to partner with Reason to create our first-ever bundle of this kind, allowing music makers even easier access to the tools they need to get creative in the studio,“ says Gregg Lehrman, CEO at Output Inc. 

Music creators have been using Output Arcade and Reason+ individually to help generate musical ideas but now Output and Reason Studios have teamed up to pair these two powerful plugins together. This offers access to hundreds of easy to use instruments within the one package.

“Both Reason+ and Arcade have the same goal: helping music producers to focus on their creativity and ideation. The pairing of Reason’s virtual studio rack of innovative synthesizers, drum machines, players and audio effects with Arcade’s inspiration machine of samples and playable instruments is the complete creative bundle for music producers,” says Niklas Agevik, CEO at Reason Studios.

Both the Reason Rack Plugin and Arcade support all plugin formats (VST/AU/AAX) and can be used in any DAW, whether it be Ableton Live, Pro Tools, Logic Pro, FL Studio or any other major DAW. The bundle includes two annual subscriptions — one to Reason+ and one to Arcade. The package costs $249 per year which is a saving of 17% if both were purchased separately. Users can grab this deal for just $149 for the first year up until 14th July. Highlighting the launch, Output and Reason Studios will be hosting a livestream event on the Reason Studios YouTube channel on July 5 at 10am PDT with artist and producer Yana Mahal.

BV-X Multimode Vocoder is a new creative take on a classic effect that gives you more control over traditional vocoder parameters. The new features in the BV-X make it capable of vintage robot voices, but also fresh dynamic vocoder sounds, lush backing vocals, radical vocal effects, and bubbling synth textures.

With two distinct vocoder modes, Vintage and Modern, BV-X covers everything from classic vocoder sounds to realistic vocal harmonies, to sounds not heard from a vocoder before. The built-in wavetable synth can get you to classic vocoder sounds, but goes further to offer 20 wavetables and a harmonic mixer for even more tonal variation. Users can then add effects with 8-voice unison, six effects tailored towards more creative vocal processing, and a lush reverb. The BV-X also comes with more than 150 vocoder and vocal processing patches to help you get started.

“BV-X is called a Multimode Vocoder for a reason,” says Mattias Häggström Gerdt. “For quick usage as a vocal effect Auto Play is perfect. You can even snap the tracking to a scale and play in-key vocal harmonies on your keyboard. For more traditional vocoding, simply turn off Auto Play and play the notes you want. If you have a favourite synth already, you can use External Mode to connect any external signal as the carrier—from within Reason or anywhere in your setup.”

BV-X comes bundled with the new Reason+ package, the music making service which includes 75+ instruments, devices and effects, weekly Sound Packs, and constantly updated music making software. To mark the launch, Reason Studios are giving users the chance to try it with their ‘3 months of Reason+ for $3’ offer after entering the code ‘333’ at checkout.

The plugin is available for VST/AU/AAX formats.

Reason is my first-choice DAW and production tool so I have to admit to my world being shaken by the news that Reason will now be increasingly marketed as a plug-in for other DAWs. 

It feels like a demotion to me. I get it. But it’s like an admission of defeat in my book. 

It’s a little like (another Swedish innovator) IKEA spending 25 years trying to convince people to move to Sweden, speak Swedish, eat reindeer jerky and buy its flat-packed furniture because it’s all just so amazing. Then realising that maybe not enough people are going to move to Sweden, so they’d better open IKEA up in big cities and allow others to enjoy the flat pack furniture without relocating to Scandinavia… hold on… that’s actually a really good idea!

Anyway, if being an Ableton Live plug-in helps to ensure Reason’s longevity then, reluctantly, I’m in favour. I’m not saying Reason will shut down support or evolution of its DAW but you have to assume that most of its R&D energy will be spent elsewhere.

What’s more, I guess it’s simply another step in Reason’s evolution. Firstly, there was the Rack Extension revelation (Reason was no longer a close ecosystem, other developers could contribute effects and instruments), then along came VST compatibility (opening up Reason further to something akin to other DAWs), and now Ableton, Cubase etc users can add Reason to their armoury. 

That’s not the big Reason 12 announcement, but it’s a bit of background.

THE REASON PITCH

So why would Reason interest you? Personally, I’ve always loved the workflow. It’s a musician’s and music producer’s playground. It’s not a recording engineer’s wheelhouse, necessarily, or a music editor’s workroom, but I instantly fell in love with the creativity of Reason — there’s nothing else quite like it. The rack and the flexible routing is superb.

If you work in Ableton, for example, does Reason represent good value? Yes, outstanding value. The Reason synths are, on the whole, exceptional, and some of the creative manipulation tools are amazing.