Finding a set of sounds that work well together can be difficult. In Reason, it can be a laborious effort to create a combination of instruments, record some MIDI on each and then play them back. In this tutorial, we’ll look at a trick you can use in Reason to allow you to hear playback from multiple Combinators in real-time from your MIDI controller.
Audiotuts+ Author - Eric Shafer
Posts by Eric Shafer
How to Audition Reason Combinator Combinations with Your Keyboard
Feb 16th in Arrangement by Eric Shafer10 Ways to Enhance Performance In Reason
Feb 5th in Recording by Eric ShaferIn this article, we’re going to look at ten things you can do to help maximize the performance of Reason, fix various annoying issues, and avoid CPU strain during heaving automation and interaction with other DAWs.
Your Guide to Getting Started with Synthesis in Reason
Jan 29th in Sound Design by Eric ShaferA synthesizer is an electronic instrument that reproduces a variety of sounds by generating and combining signals of different frequencies and waveforms. Propellerhead’s Reason features various forms of synthesis, and it’s often difficult for the user to decide which synthesizer to use.
In this tutorial, we’re going to explore the art and the science of synthesis, as well as discuss how Reason’s synthesizers can be used, and in which situations you should use them.
The Combinator—Reason’s Deadliest Weapon
Jan 21st in Production by Eric ShaferReason’s Combinator is a very interesting tool. It is all too tempting for new Reason users to use the Combinator as simply another instrument in which to load patches. In reality, the Combinator is far more than that, and has the ability to be the most powerful tool available to you in Reason. You may be a bit skeptical, but in this tutorial, I’m going to prove to you that the Combinator is truly Reason’s deadliest weapon.
How to Remake Soul Survivor by Young Jeezy and Akon
Dec 20th in Production by Eric ShaferWhen rapper Young Jeezy went into the studio with Akon to create “Soul Survivor,” the concept behind the song was a dark one. Most evident in the music video (based on the Roc-A-Fella film “Paid In Full”), the song is essentially a story about life on the streets.
Thus, when Tha Bizness and DJ Toomp handled production for the song, they needed to create an instrumental that would live up to that feeling. In this tutorial, we’re going to break down just what made the song feel so dark, and also what sort of elements went into creating a #4 Billboard Hot 100 song.
West Coast? East Coast? Hip-Hop Explained
Dec 14th in Articles by Eric ShaferIn the realm of popular music, perhaps no genre has been as popular in recent years as hip-hop. However, hip-hop is hardly a new phenomenon, so in this article, we’re going to take an in-depth look at its history and try to make sense of it all.
How to Recreate Lil’ Wayne’s Lollipop in Reason 4
Nov 21st in Production by Eric ShaferIn 2008, perhaps no song has dominated the charts more than Lil’ Wayne’s Lollipop. Produced by Jim Jonsin, Lollipop is a prime example of how a hit song does not have to be complex; instead, it is a perfect blend of simplicity and catchiness.
In this tutorial, we will look at how to go about recreating this track in Reason 4, and also what helped make it such a successful song.
How to Create and Dominate Hip-Hop Drums
Nov 7th in Production by Eric ShaferOne of the most important aspects in hip-hop and popular music is the drumbeat. What makes it sound so big? The drum patterns appear so simple, so why are they so hard to create? Well, in this tutorial, we’re going to break down the fundamental elements of a hip-hop beat.
The Making of “How We Do” by The Game
Sep 12th in Production by Eric ShaferIn this tutorial, we’re going to learn how to recreate the beat, bass and melody from How We Do by The Game featuring 50 Cent and produced by the illustrious Dr Dre. If you’re a fan of hip-hop and hip-hop music production, you’ll be a fan of this tutorial.
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How to Sample Your Favorite Songs Using Reason and ReCycle
Aug 18th in Production by Eric ShaferHave you ever been listening to a song and realized “Hey, I’ve heard part of this before!”. What you discovered is called “sampling”, a process by which part of a song, or a sound, is captured and played back to create a new song.
In this tutorial I will show you what you need in order to begin sampling, and some of the techniques the professionals use. Lastly, I will walk you through the creation of a famous Billboard Hot 100 song. We’ll be using Reason and ReCycle for this one, but the principles could be adapted to any DAW.







