Advanced Polar Techniques - Propellerhead

I've brought a few Rack Extensions since the Reason 6.5 update, but one that didn't make it into my collection was Propellerhead's own Polar pitch shifter device. It's not that it isn't very good (because it is), it's more because I felt that I didn't really need a dedicated pitch shifter in my Reason rack. However, I did end up trying out the demo version of it when it first came out, and I can remember being pretty impressed with what it was capable of.

Anyway, Propellerhead has recently uploaded a new video (below) to their YouTube channel that shows off some of the more advanced and creative ways that polar can be used in your productions. It's got me wanting to try it out again but sadly my 30 day trial period ended quite a while ago. I might actually end up picking up a copy of this device in the future, but saying that there are still a few Rack Extension devices that I want to check out first.



Polar is available in the Propellerhead Rack Extension shop for € 55.00

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Free Polysix RE presets (pt.2)

The Korg Polysix RE is pretty much my new go-to synth in Reason. I've been playing around with it for sometime now and I've put together a small preset pack to share with you guys. I've used these patches in a few tunes already so I hope you lot can find a bit of use out of them.

The pack contains 36 polysix Rack Extension presets and 3 combinator patches.

Get the free Polysix preset pack HERE (.RAR)

NOTE: You will need ether Propellerheads Reason (6.5) or Reason Essentials (1.5) and the RE version of Polysix to use these. These will NOT work with the VST version of Polysix.

This isn't the first set of presets that I've uploaded to Voltage-controlled. I uploaded a set of 7 combinator files a few months back when the Polysix RE was first released. Here's a link.

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Tips for using send effects - Reason Sound Design - Propellerhead's Reason

Here's another one for Reason users. This tutorial from the guys over at Propellerhead software shows some basic routing tips for setting up send effects in the Reason rack.

More info on Reason: http://www.propellerheads.se/products/reason/

"In this Reason Sound Design video Mattias shows you a couple of ways you can use the sends and returns in Reason and do a bit more than meets the eye! Do quick and easy parallel processing, make your mixes cleaner and open up new creative possibilities with these tips."

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Getting Started with the Pulsar Dual LFO - Propellerhead Software

Once again Propellerhead has provided us with another awesome tutorial video. It focuses of the new Pulsar LFO tool that's avalible in the new Propellerhead store. The video takes you through some of the basics of what pulsar can do, such as using it as a basic LFO to control other Reason instruments and even using it to build a basic modular synthesizer within the reason rack. As we've come to expect from the guys over at propellerhead software, the video is really easy to follow and actually quite humorous in some parts (That's if you enjoy cheesy synth jokes, which you should).



"NOTE: Reason 6.5 and Reason Essentials 1.5 users can and get Pulsar from the Rack Extension Shop for FREE until October 1st, 2012! Reason 6.5 and Reason Essentials 1.5 are free upgrades for Reason 6 and Reason Essentials 1 users and special upgrade pricing is available for users of earlier Reason versions.

Pulsar in the Rack Extension Shop:
http://shop.propellerheads.se/product/pulsar/

Also featured, the Synapse Audio AF-4 Filter:
http://shop.propellerheads.se/product/synapse-af-4-analog-filter/

The Pulsar Dual LFO, new as a Rack Extension in the Propellerhead Shop, is a flexible little powerhouse utility with tons of routing potential. Even though Pulsar is capable of some wild tricks, it also is one of the best places to start learning about modular synthesis and LFOs.

We put together this introductory look at how to use LFOs to spice up your existing sounds and how to get Pulsar making some sounds of its own."

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Pulsar LFO tool Reason Rack Extension

I'm glad to see the good folks over at Propellerhead showing a bit of humor in this advert for the new Pulsar Rack Extension.

Pulsar is a dual LFO/Monosynth module that's currently avalible in the Propellerhead shop as a free download. If you're a reason 6.5 or Reason Esentials 1.5 user then head over and grab it while it's still free.

"For more information: http://shop.propellerheads.se/product/pulsar/

Pulsar LGM-1 is a dual channel modulation powerhouse for the Reason rack. We call it an LFO—but it's also a powerful little synth in its own right. For tweakers, Pulsar makes every single thing in the rack a little bit better. For back-of-the-rackophobes it comes with patches containing everything from lush evolving pads to the grittiest of wobble basses.

When the rate is turned up, Pulsar transforms from low frequency oscillator to high powered synth with plenty of character. The LFO waveforms when combined with lag and shuffle bring tons of tones."

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How to download, install and buy Propellerhead Rack Extensions

Propellerhead have uploaded a video to show users how to download, install and buy Rack Extensions for use in the Reason rack.

It's pretty simple but if you're unsure then check out the embedded YouTube video below.

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Reason 6.5 and Essentials 1.5 update goes live

The updates for propellerhead Reason and Reason Essentials have gone live. This includes access to the new propellerhead store and the new Rack Extension technology. If you already own Reason 6.0 or Reason Essentials 1.0 then the update is completely free.

At the moment there's only a few Rack Extensions in the store but be sure to quickly grab Pulsar (Free until Oct 1st) and Softube Saturation Knob (Free until Aug 14th).

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Audio Realism reveal ABL2 (TB-303 clone) Rack Extension

Finally, I've wanted a TB-303 module in my reason rack for years. Audio Reaslism have answered that prayer by transforming their popular ABL2 303 clone into a Rack Extension for the up and coming Reason 6.5 update.

That's all well and good, but I think that the classic TB303 style sequencer is what gives the VST version of ABL2 its charm. With that iconic sequencer missing from the Rack Extension version I'm still on the fence whether or not it's going to make its way into my reason rack. If the sequencer was included with CV note out and maybe a copy pattern to grid option (like the existing Matrix Pattern Sequencer has) then the ABL2 would make it into my rack without question.

Hopefully the pricing of this rack extension will reflect the missing features. The VST version is currently priced at €95 (Approx. £77) which to me is a hell of a lot of money for what essentially is a two oscillator (one voice) monosynth with extremely limited functionality. It's hard to estimate how much Audio Realism will charge for the Rack Extension version of ABL2 seeing as the iOS version (Technobox) is priced at just £2.99 and the full VST version is roughly around £77. I suppose a reasonable price for the Rack Extension would be about £15-20 but we'll have to wait to know the actual price of the thing for sure.

There's no word yet on what routing options that will be available around the back of the Rack. It would be interesting to find some of the more advanced modular possibilities that are present in Audio Realism's ABL pro synth but to be honest I'm not expecting anything major. Maybe a few ins for controlling the basics (like filter control). However, Audio Realism did mention on their Facebook page that they had been controlling it with the Matrix Pattern Sequencer so it's safe to say that it will have the basic Gate/CV sequencer inputs.

All in all it looks the part, and of course the synth engine will be the same as the VST version (Which to me is the best softwear 303 clone that I've come across). It all comes down to the price and what features live around the back of the rack.

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First look at the BitSpeak Rack Extension for Reason

Here's a video from Sonic Charge showing of their BitSpeak Rack Extension that will be available in Reason 6.5 and Reason Essentials 1.5.

This looks really cool, I've used the VST version of BitSpeak before but I have to say the CV controls make it look awesome and open up lots of new possibilities. I've got to say this is going to be one of the first extensions that I'm going to be getting when the update gets here.

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Huge news from Propellerhead Software – Rack Extensions & Figure iOS app

I’m a huge fan of propellerhead software and how they go about creating and designing their products. I’ve been a user of Reason for years and It’s helped me create some of my best music to date.

Yesterday the guys over at Propellerhead held a press conference and announced Rack Extensions (Re) for their Reason software and a brand new iOS app called Figure.

Rack Extensions simply looks awesome. For years people have wanted the option to use their favourite VST plugins in the Reason rack, but to be honest there wasn’t really a practical method to incorporate these plugins in such a way that works well in the Reason interface.

Rack Extensions provides a pretty cool way of getting around this problem. Reason is inviting companies to design (or re-design) their plugins in a way that will work seamlessly with the Reason platform both in look and functionality.

Propellerhead are making these Rack Extensions available to download from a dedicated store. This makes Reason the first music creation application that allows its users to actually buy and download instruments, tools and effects straight from the application (much like the Apple AppStore).

Propellerhead already have a quite a few big name developers on board and developing with the Rack Extensions platform. Companies that are building for the Reason rack include: SoftTube, GForce, Sonic Charge, Korg, U-He, Peff and Sugar Bytes. These are just the tip of the iceberg as there are also other developers working on extensions that have yet to be revealed.

This is very exciting news from Propellerhead software and I can’t wait to try out some of the Rack Extensions in my music. The Reason rack is expanding and opening up to cool new features, the possibilities could be endless.

Rack Extensions will be available in Q2 and will be a free update for current Reason 6 and Reason essentials users.

Figure was Also revealed at the press conference yesterday. Figure is a brand new iOS app from Propellerheads.

Figure isn’t really that mobile version Reason that people wanted but it’s still pretty cool. It’s based on the Reason engine after all.

Imagine having a Thor and Kong on your phone. Figure was designed with practicality in mind, it’s not a complete studio for you to work with but it does provide you with a quick and easy way for you to get some ideas down and have a little fun in your down time.

Figure will be available soon in the AppStore for 69p ($1).

Here's the full video from the Propellerhead press conference.

I’ll be doing a more in depth review of Figure when it hits the AppStore. I’ll also be writing a bit more about Rack Extensions when I get my hands on the update.

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