Reason (software)
Template:Short description Template:Infobox software
Reason is a digital audio workstation and audio plug-in<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> developed by the Swedish company Reason Studios (formerly known as Propellerhead Software) for macOS and Windows. The first version was released in 2000.
Background
Propellerhead Software was founded in 1994 by Ernst Nathorst-Böös, Pelle Jubel and Marcus Zetterquist and launched with ReCycle. They became popular in 1996 after releasing the ReBirth RB-338, described by MusicRadar in February 2011 as "one of the most important virtual instruments in the history of electronic music". By the late 1990s, advancements in technology meant that it became feasible for home users to build their own virtual studios from software, and so in 1999, Propellerhead ended development on ReBirth to work on Reason.<ref name=":0"/>
Release history
Reason was first released in November 2000. MusicRadar described it in 2011 as "broadly similar to the likes of Logic and Cubase, but" with its "user interface mimick[ing] a rack full of equipment, allowing instruments, effects and mixers to be linked together in order to create a complete production setup".<ref name=":0"/> Subsequent versions came out in September 2002, 2005, September 2007,<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref> August 2010,<ref name="reason5review">Template:Cite web</ref> September 2011,<ref name="youtube">Template:Cite web</ref> April 2013,<ref name="musictech">Template:Cite web</ref> September 2014,<ref name="synthtopia">Template:Cite web</ref> June 2016,<ref name="factmag">Template:Cite web</ref> October 2017,<ref name="soundbytes">Template:Cite web</ref> September 2019,<ref name="Gearnews Reason 11">Template:Cite web</ref> September 2021,<ref name="macprovideo">Template:Cite web</ref> and June 2024.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Early versions of the program lacked the ability to record audio, and in September 2009, Propellerhead released Record to work alongside Reason;<ref name="cdm">Template:Cite web</ref> Record was later merged into Reason 6.<ref name="soundonsound">Template:Cite web</ref> The success of the program prompted Propellerhead to rebrand itself as Reason Studios in August 2019.<ref name="gearnews">Template:Cite web</ref>
Reviewing Reason 12, MusicRadar questioned how useful Reason 11 users would find it, but noted that it looked "the best it has in years",<ref name="musicradarreview">Template:Cite web</ref> while Musictech.com described it as a "brilliant buy" for producers looking for a new digital audio workstation.<ref name="musictech2">Template:Cite web</ref> Pcmag.com noted that "existing fans [...] should take a close look", though criticised its user interface, saying that it had "aged considerably" compared to its competition.<ref name="pcmag">Template:Cite web</ref>
Notable users
Template:Excessive examples Template:Famous The following producers and musical acts have at some point used Reason:
- Beastie Boys<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref>
- MGMT<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Toro Y Moi<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- The Prodigy<ref name="prodigy">Template:Cite web</ref>
- Michael Oakley<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- LCD Soundsystem<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- Flying Lotus<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Tyler, the Creator<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- J. Cole<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Future Islands<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Sir Mix-a-Lot<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- The Knife<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Owl City<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- BT<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- Stromae<ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref>
- DJ Khalil,<ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref> DJ and producer for e.g. Kanye West, Drake and Eminem
- Symbolyc One,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> producer for e.g. Beyoncé, Kanye West and Eminem
- Nascent,<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> producer for e.g. Chance the Rapper, Kanye West and SZA
- DJ Toomp<ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref>
- DJ Pierre<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- DJ Mustard<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Skrillex<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Hans Zimmer<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Ian Kirkpatrick,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> producer for e.g. Selena Gomez and Dua Lipa
- Kool Kojak,<ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref> producer for e.g. Flo Rida and Nicki Minaj
- Mike & Keys,<ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref> producers for e.g. Nipsey Hussle and Eminem
- BlaqNMild,<ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref> producer for e.g. Drake and Beyoncé
- Cool & Dre,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> producers for e.g. Lil Wayne, Jay-Z and Beyoncé
- Nana Rogues,<ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref> producer for e.g. Drake, Zara Larsson and Stormzy
- Key Wane,<ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref> producer for e.g. Drake, Beyoncé and Big Sean
- Larry Klein,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> producer for e.g. Herbie Hancock and Joni Mitchell
- Illmind,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> producer for e.g. Nicki Minaj, Ludacris and 50 Cent
- Kshmr,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> DJ and producer
- A Guy Called Gerald<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Digital Mystikz<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Goddard.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Todd Rundgren<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Jlin<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Shigeto<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Dan Deacon<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- ConcernedApe,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> maker of Stardew Valley
- The Flaming Lips<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Niki & the Dove<ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref>
- Serj Tankian of System of a Down<ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref>
- Rostam of Vampire Weekend<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Claude VonStroke<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Com Truise<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Mark Nevers,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> producer for e.g. Lambchop and Bonnie "Prince" Billy
- The Dust Brothers,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> producers for e.g. Beastie Boys and Beck
Much of The Prodigy's Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned was made using the program.<ref name="prodigy" /> MGMT has said "pretty much everything" on their debut album Oracular Spectacular was made using built-in Reason synths.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Video game creator ConcernedApe has stated that "the entire Stardew Valley soundtrack was made using Reason."<ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref>
Kshmr produced "Like a G6" by Far East Movement as well as "Tsunami" by DVBBS using the program.<ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref><ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref>