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Summary: The Secrets of Reason Laid Bare
Review: Reason is a software program for making music, typically (but not necessarily) with an electronic or techno style. The program features synthesizers, samplers, a drum machine, a loop player, a mixer, and a wide range of effects, and is the REAL THING -- lots of professionals use this software on a daily basis, and the quality of the sounds are excellent. This book is currently the only intermediate level book available on the program; Craig Anderton's "Getting Started" text is really more of a basic beginner's introduction. Johnson and Poyser's book is excellent. The chapters are well-written, cover all the features of the program, and contain lots of insightful comments. I've been using Reason now for almost two years, and working through the book really helped me to take my understanding of the subtleties of the program to a new level. You'd have to be one awesome power user to not get anything out of this work! Especially nice are the applications: after a discussion of how some component works, the authors then describe a little project in great detail so that you can actually use the technique to make some interesting sounds. These tips are a great addition to anyone's bag of tricks, and (in my opinion) are alone worth the price of the book. If you're just getting started with synths and computer music, you should bear two things in mind. First, there's a lot of technical information about how synths & samplers etc. work, and if you're not familiar with these concepts then you might find the whole subject of working in Reason a bit daunting. In other words, if you learn how to modulate your filter cutoff with an LFO, but you don't know what a filter cutoff is or what an LFO does, the information does you little good. The authors do try to discuss this, and since I already know this stuff it's hard for me to really determine how it works for a complete beginner, but it's just something to be aware of. The other caveat is that the book is very thorough, and while that makes it great as a reference you might find it difficult to see the forest for the trees, especially if you're just starting out. In summary: if you're completely new to making music on your computer and/or the technical world of synths and samplers, you might want to invest in the "Getting Started" guide by Craig Anderton just to get rolling. But if you're at all serious about developing your Reason chops, Johnson and Poyser are a must-have.
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Summary: Outstanding!
Review: Reason is an intuitive program whose interface mirrors much of the hardware that you'll find in a studio. Whether you have hands-on studio experience or have never loaded a music software program before, this book is the definitive guide to Reason. The book starts out with a clear introduction in the basics of sound synthesis, MIDI, latency, and other issues surrounding compuer-based music. By the end of the first hands-on chapter, you'll have confidently created your first sounds with Reason. Each chapter thoroughly goes through each device in Reason 2.0, describing the philosophy, abilities, and limits of each. Even Reason pros will likely find revelations, as the authors constantly find creative uses of Reason's control voltage (CV) modeling, as well as great ideas on how to create an arpeggiator, layer synth sounds in Subtractor, or work around Reason's lack of a feature for tempo changes. This book is suitable for Reason 1.0 and 2.5 as well. The authors point out the differences with 1.0 (and even point out how to get around them, like how to manually create a synched LFO in 1.0, a feature that was introduced in 2.0.) Even with the recent 2.5 update this book is still essential. The 2.5 update adds four new effects and an audio and CV linking/splitting component but does not replace or update any of the core devices in 2.0 that are thoroughly covered here. This is a clear and well-written guide that in a perfect world would come enclosed with every copy of Reason. If you're a Reason user, don't bother reading any more reviews. Just read this book.
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Summary: The essential user's manual for Reason
Review: Reason is an intuitive program whose interface mirrors much of the hardware that you'll find in a studio. Whether you have hands-on studio experience or have never loaded a music software program before, this book is the definitive guide to Reason. The book starts out with a clear introduction in the basics of sound synthesis, MIDI, latency, and other issues surrounding compuer-based music. By the end of the first hands-on chapter, you'll have confidently created your first sounds with Reason. Each chapter thoroughly goes through each device in Reason 2.0, describing the philosophy, abilities, and limits of each. Even Reason pros will likely find revelations, as the authors constantly find creative uses of Reason's control voltage (CV) modeling, as well as great ideas on how to create an arpeggiator, layer synth sounds in Subtractor, or work around Reason's lack of a feature for tempo changes. This book is suitable for Reason 1.0 and 2.5 as well. The authors point out the differences with 1.0 (and even point out how to get around them, like how to manually create a synched LFO in 1.0, a feature that was introduced in 2.0.) Even with the recent 2.5 update this book is still essential. The 2.5 update adds four new effects and an audio and CV linking/splitting component but does not replace or update any of the core devices in 2.0 that are thoroughly covered here. This is a clear and well-written guide that in a perfect world would come enclosed with every copy of Reason. If you're a Reason user, don't bother reading any more reviews. Just read this book.
Rating:
Summary: FAB
Review: This book contained a great amount of information. To use as reference or to learn from over all a great buy. It helped me along in using C.V. Gates ect. and offers lots of other great information. A must for any user of reason P.S. Any one that made comments to recording audio in to Reason ha ha ha Get Cubase or some other Program that will run rewire.
Think before the mouth opens. . . . know what I mean Mate Thank you to Derek Johnson & Debbie Poyser
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Summary: Very informative and fun to read!
Review: This book covers just about everything there is to know about Reason 2.0. It has many examples, screenshots, and it is easy and fun to read. The book is great for beginners, but not boring for advanced users, I think everyone can profit from this book. It is also an excellent reference for use when working (This is great since the Reason handbook is not available in printed form). I love the book and would recommend it to anyone who wants to get full usage of the reason program.
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Summary: If you want to learn Reason here is your chance
Review: This book starts with a quick tutorial of how to make a song in Reason using most of the devices. Then the authors thoroughly explain each device, knob, slider and then some......Providing tips and tricks along the way. I must say that the program is daunting once first opened but with the help of this book believe me that you will pick up the fundamentals of the program and be well on your way to producing music. If your serious about Reason and think that it is the best music software out there, then let Derek Johnson and Debbie Poyser be your guide through the world of Props and their beast Reason. Also to the last reviewer Mark Milne Reason does not record audio so it was left out of the book for a Reason :}
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Summary: ignore the comments about audio recording below
Review: this isn't a review as such, because i haven't read the book. but it seemed important to correct the review below, which states: "this book also fails where the manufacturer's user manual does, in AMAZINGLY omitting any information on how to record a HUMAN VOICE with the software! ... [it] fails (unbelieveable!) to discuss how one might hook up a microphone and sing, or add a real guitar, or bass guitar, or... What's wrong with you, Debbie and Derek???" nothing is wrong with Debbie or Derek. their book, like the Reason user manual, doesn't explain how to record audio with Reason because you CAN'T record audio with Reason -- that's not what the program does. if you want to record audio, try Pro Tools, Cubase, Logic, Sonar, or any other audio recording software. (the fact that the manual doesn't cover it should have been a clue. "unbelievable!" is right....) Criticizing this book for not including information on how to record vocals or guitar tracks is like criticizing a book on driving a car for not teaching you how to take off and land.
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Summary: ignore the comments about audio recording below
Review: this isn't a review as such, because i haven't read the book. but it seemed important to correct the review below, which states: "this book also fails where the manufacturer's user manual does, in AMAZINGLY omitting any information on how to record a HUMAN VOICE with the software! ... [it] fails (unbelieveable!) to discuss how one might hook up a microphone and sing, or add a real guitar, or bass guitar, or... What's wrong with you, Debbie and Derek???" nothing is wrong with Debbie or Derek. their book, like the Reason user manual, doesn't explain how to record audio with Reason because you CAN'T record audio with Reason -- that's not what the program does. if you want to record audio, try Pro Tools, Cubase, Logic, Sonar, or any other audio recording software. (the fact that the manual doesn't cover it should have been a clue. "unbelievable!" is right....) Criticizing this book for not including information on how to record vocals or guitar tracks is like criticizing a book on driving a car for not teaching you how to take off and land.
Rating: 
Summary: Works for me..
Review: This program only does certain things... it's mostly made for electronicly-based music. It IS possible to import organic sounds and mix it together but that is NOT its long suit. This book gave me some in-depth info that I couldn't get from the help menu, basics on synths and effect... had little tutorials on how to make crazy sounds. I recommend.
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Summary: Concerning the review above...
Review: You simply can't record vocals with Reason. Its a virtual effects and synths rack. If you want to add vocals or record audio such as your guitar you need a DAW such as Logic or Digital Performer...
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