REASON 5MUSIC PRODUCTIONONLINE COURSE INFORMATION PACK8 WEEKS MIDISCHOOL.COM

REASON 5MUSIC PRODUCTION ONLINE COURSE INFORMATION PACK

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form by any means - graphic, electronic or mechanical, including printing,photocopying, recording, taping or information storage and retrieval systems without the prior permission in writing from Manchester MIDI School. 2

INTRODUCTION

Welcome to online learning at Manchester MIDI School. Thanks for taking the time to download and look through this information pack.

It details what you can expect from enrolling on our 8 week Reason 5 music production online course.

My name is Tom Lonsborough - I’m the head of online learning at the school. I’ve put together this 8 week course which I’ve designed for people like myself: people that want as small a gap as possible between musical inspiration, and realising those musical ideas. Propellerhead’s Reason has a unique approach to making music with it’s realistic looking rack, and it’s uncomplicated sequencer which will have you writing tunes in no time at all.

Reason is a great tool for both beginners and seasoned producers alike. It’s easy to use: a relatively stripped back menu system compared with some other DAWs on the market means you’re not spending hours trying to decipher when you should be spending that time creating. For the advanced user, Reason has some great tools for sound design that you won’t find in other DAWs, such as the awesome Thor synthesiser.

In addition to all the course material I have prepared, I’ll look forward to helping students whenever they need help, with any aspect of the software, hardware, or music production in general.

Don’t hesitate to give me a shout, any time. My email address is:tom@midischool.com.

First of all, for those of you who are not familiar with Propellerhead’s Reason software, let’s answer a few questions......

▶ What is Reason? ▶ What to expect from enrolling on this course ▶ How the course is delivered ▶ How much time you’ll need ▶ Supporting resources that come with the course ▶ Kit you’ll need for the course ▶ Details about our online learning site ▶ A breakdown, chapter by chapter, of the course material

JUMP STRAIGHT TO:

Tom Lonsborough - Head of Online Learning at the MIDI School

REASON 5MUSIC PRODUCTION ONLINE COURSE INFORMATION PACK

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form by any means - graphic, electronic or mechanical, including printing,photocopying, recording, taping or information storage and retrieval systems without the prior permission in writing from Manchester MIDI School.

What is Reason?Reason is a piece of music production software, which, in general terms, allows the creation and sequencing of music.

What sort of things can you achieve with the software?Reason can be used in a number of different ways: as a stand alone music production tool to create original music and remixes etc, as a performance tool where multiple MIDI controllers/keyboards can be locked to different Reason-based virtual instruments, or you can use it in conjunction with other software to make one ‘super DAW’ via the Rewire technology.

How is it different to other pieces of sequencing software on the market?The Reason rack is a much more graphical way of adding instruments and effects/processors to your song. You can take a look around the back of the rack and either take note of the connections Reason will automatically make for you, or make your own virtual connections easily - a great way to get your head around the flow of signals in a hardware studio.

System requirements for running the software:Reason runs on Mac or PC. Generally speaking a minimum of 1 GB of RAM and a decent sized hard disk for storing Reason songs and audio samples should be sufficient, although please check the Propellerhead website for exact system requirements.

Is Reason 5 on its own sufficient to start making music?It comes with everything you need to produce and mixdown a full piece of music including instruments, effects and processors, mixers, samples and patches. Should you need to extend your sonic library, you can do so using downloadable add-ons called ‘Refills’, and by connecting Reason up to other DAWs via Rewire.

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The Reason Rack - a unique way of adding instruments and effects to your song

REASON 5MUSIC PRODUCTION ONLINE COURSE INFORMATION PACK

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form by any means - graphic, electronic or mechanical, including printing,photocopying, recording, taping or information storage and retrieval systems without the prior permission in writing from Manchester MIDI School.

WHAT YOU CAN HOPE TO EXPECT FROM ENROLLING ON OUR REASON COURSE...

Our 8 week Reason 5 music production course, has 2 main aims:- To give the student a full working knowledge of Reason 5- To equip the student with general transferable music production skills

The course is taken from a beginner level upwards, no prior knowledge of mu-sic production, Reason, or even music theory is required. The course builds over 8 weeks covering intermediate and advanced techniques during the lat-ter part all of which is detailed over the next few pages.

It is aimed at people who want to get making music as quickly as possible: the course is designed to get students making noise first, then asks questions later about the more complex aspects of production and performance.

How is the course delivered?The course is principally video based. Each week, a new set of video tutorials are made available to the student, to stream via our online learning site,(the previous week’s tutorials remain unlocked as the course progresses).

Each video introduces techniques to practice, and with each week comes a set of leaning outcomes/objectives to check off, and tasks to complete, before moving on to the next week’s material. Subsequent weeks will build on the knowledge gained from previous weeks.

How much time should I spend on the course?Each week, there will be between 1 and 2 hours of video tutorials to watch. How much time you spend practising the techniques we show you is up to

you, however we would recommend a minimum of 2 hours practice per week on top of the video tutorial time. The more time you spend above andbeyond this, the more you will get from the course, and the more confident you will be using Reason.

What learning resources come with the course?There is supporting material to download in the form of written notes, which can be added to with your own personalised notes taken during video playback and downloaded in the format of a branded PDF at the touch of a button.

Included in the learning resources are a load of royalty free audio samples from Loopmasters to get your sample library started, and also a carefully selected pack of samples from our tutor which can be loaded into a selection of Reason’s instruments.

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High-quality audio loops are available fromLoopmasters, and special files called ‘Refills’ extend Reason’s sonic capabilities

REASON 5MUSIC PRODUCTION ONLINE COURSE INFORMATION PACK

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form by any means - graphic, electronic or mechanical, including printing,photocopying, recording, taping or information storage and retrieval systems without the prior permission in writing from Manchester MIDI School.

2. Headphones/speakersIn short, some way of hearing the output of Reason from your computer. Your computer might have built in speakers in which case speakers/headphones are not absolutely necessary.

Advanced optional extras talked about during this course (contact Tom with any questions):1. Audio interfaceA piece of hardware which allows multiple audio inputs and outputs to and from your computer. It will allow you to record audio signals from external sources, such as your voice or an instrument. You will need one of these to effectively make use of the sampling functionality of Reason 5.2. If you wish to sample, you will need something like a microphone and XLR lead, or an instrument with a line output and a jack-jack lead.

In the resources you will also find a selection of Reason Refills. These are special files containing extra instrument patches, samples and demo songs which you can access through Reason to extend your sonic capabilities. Extra Refills are available online from a number of sources, meaning you’re never going to run out of sounds or ideas!

We’ve included Reason song templates geared towards making specific genres of music. Each template has musical ideas to experiment with and accompanying notes detailing how to attain the sound of your chosen genre.

Finally, there are MIDI files included to get you started making some noise with Reason’s virtual instruments- ideal for those not yet confident playing the keyboard or programming.

What equipment will you need to complete the course?Fundamentally, you will need a computer running Reason. It doesn’t matter which version you are using, however if you are using a slightly older version of Reason than Reason 5, you might be lacking some minor functionality demonstrated during the course, (for example, Dr OctoRex is a slight update of the Dr Rex from previous versions). The core principles of the software remain the same however, regardless of the version you are using.

Optional extras used during this course:1. A MIDI controller/MIDI keyboard.Although this is an optional extra, we’d really recommend getting yourself one, because the software really comes into its own when you take remote control of it using a control surface. The mouse is only so much fun! The act of programming note Clips is much more tactile with a keyboard, although you can also enter notes with your computers keyboard if you need to. Examples of MIDI controllers - a recommended optional extra for the course

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REASON 5MUSIC PRODUCTION ONLINE COURSE INFORMATION PACK

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form by any means - graphic, electronic or mechanical, including printing,photocopying, recording, taping or information storage and retrieval systems without the prior permission in writing from Manchester MIDI School.

WHAT CAN BE EXPECTED FROM OUR ONLINE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT?

The ethos behind our online tuition is to provide accredited teaching to people who live too far away from the MIDI School to attend a course in person. Our online learning environment is designed to make students feel like they are part of a two way interactive learning process - a feeling which can sometimes be absent from online learning.

When you enrol, you will become part of a class of students that will progress through our course at the same pace. You will be able to create yourself a personalised profile, sharing knowledge and tips with other students enrolled on the course through online chat, and forums.

You can also interact with your tutor, who will be online to chat and answer any questions at various times during the week. Should you miss these sessions, there will be an inbox you can send any questions to which will be regularly checked throughout the week.

There will also be opportunity to obtain feedback on several tasks we will ask you to submit at various stages of the course, and we are introducing the option of screen-sharing where you can interact with the tutor in real time to iron out any difficulties you might be having with your productions.

Who can I contact with any questions regarding the course before I enrol?You can contact the tutor Tom Lonsborough directly, at any time by e-mailing tom@midischool.com. This can be absolutely anything from how the online learning works, to stuff you might need for the course, to general advice about anything to do with Reason!

Screenshots taken from our online learning interface

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REASON 5MUSIC PRODUCTION ONLINE COURSE INFORMATION PACK

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form by any means - graphic, electronic or mechanical, including printing,photocopying, recording, taping or information storage and retrieval systems without the prior permission in writing from Manchester MIDI School.

Week 1 Reason 5 basics1.1 The Reason InterfaceA basic introduction to what you are looking at when you open the software.

1.2 Navigation of the InterfaceA look at all the different options for changing the layout of the rack and sequencer to suit you way of working, also how to find your way around a Reason song.

1.3 Setting up a Default SongHow to customise the default rack to suit your needs when you start a new project. Tips on how to manage where you store your Reason Songs.

1.4 Creating a DeviceHow to create Instrument devices using a couple of different methods, and an introduction to connection of devices to the mixer.

1.5 ReDrum BasicsHow to load both full patches and individual samples into Reason’s drum machine. Saving patches for future use. Creating drum patterns using the built in step sequencer.

1.6 Arranging PatternsOrganising drum patterns into an arrangement on the sequencer window via pattern select automation (both recording in real-time and drawing with the pencil tool). Editing pattern select automation, and the colouring of Clips.

Week 2 Creating and Editing MIDI2.1 Configuring your MIDI KeyboardAutomatic detection of your supported MIDI Keyboard, manual set up if your keyboard isn’t supported, and details on the ‘Master Keyboard’ function.

2.2 Drawing Note ClipsCreating note Clips with the pencil tool, and creating/editing their MIDI contents in edit mode. Navigation using the zoom tool, and basic copying techniques.

2.3 Playing your MIDI KeyboardPlaying in note Clips using your MIDI Keys. An extended look at MIDI editing skills, such as quantisation and the editing of velocities. Some extended features of the tool window are covered, also overdubbing and quantisation during recording.

2.4 Introducing SubTractorAn intro to the analogue modelling synth, SubTractor - a look at filters, envelopes, and assigning velocity to modulate synth parameters. Further MIDI editing skills are covered from the tool window.

2.5 Document Browse ListsHow to navigate round these sub-category lists, created when you load a Reason Song.

2.6 New Note Lanes and MIDI FilesHow to import pre-made MIDI files which can be used to trigger Reason’s instruments. The difference between Alt and Dub when we create new note lanes.

WHAT WILL YOU COVER DURING THE COURSE?

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REASON 5MUSIC PRODUCTION ONLINE COURSE INFORMATION PACK

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form by any means - graphic, electronic or mechanical, including printing,photocopying, recording, taping or information storage and retrieval systems without the prior permission in writing from Manchester MIDI School.

Week 3 Adding Effect Devices and Using Dr. OctoRex

3.1 Connecting Devices to SubTractorA look at how the on-screen piano keys function when you don’t have a MIDI Keyboard to hand. How to generate note patterns to trigger SubTractor using the RPG-8 Arpeggiator device.

3.2 Connecting Devices to SubTractor IIApplying some of Reason’s half-rack effect devices to SubTractor. A look at how these devices are connected up when we apply effects as inserts.

3.3 Adding Loops with Dr. OctoRexThe basic function of Dr. OctoRex, what a REX file is, how to load individual loops and patches, and how to edit the playback properties of slices of the REX files.

3.4 Dr. OctoRex part IIFurther editing of REX file playback, (Alt groups etc.), filtering, envelopes, and an introduction to LFO modulation.

Week 4 Auxiliary Effects and Advanced Routing

4.1 Auxiliary Effects and Manual RoutingThe difference between Inserts, and auxiliary send and return effects. How and when to apply an SAR effect (Delay and Reverb are covered). Some manual routing and chaining techniques for applying effects to separate out-puts on ReDrum and Dr. OctoRex.

4.2 The Drum PatternA short case study on writing a DubStep style drum pattern.

4.3 CompressionAn in depth study of this important dynamic range processing device, and the parameters on the MClass Compressor. A look at why and when you would compress a sound.

4.4 Sidechain CompressionShows you when and how to apply this popular production technique, and the routing necessary to make it work.

4.5 Generating Note PatternsGenerating synth lines by connecting the Matrix Pattern Generator to SubTractor

Far left: The Dr. OctoRex loop playerLeft: some of the non-instru-ment devices used in week 3 and 4

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REASON 5MUSIC PRODUCTION ONLINE COURSE INFORMATION PACK

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form by any means - graphic, electronic or mechanical, including printing,photocopying, recording, taping or information storage and retrieval systems without the prior permission in writing from Manchester MIDI School.

Week 5 Building Arrangements

5.1 Starting an ArrangementGetting ideas together in the instruments we’ve covered so far, and exporting those ideas on to the Sequencer. Tips on writing synth parts, tweaking synth parameters, and adding specific effects to get the desired result. Obtaining a 4 bar loop of ideas in the Sequencer. Writing drum fills.

5.2 AutomationEditing Performance Controller Automation, and creating Parameter Automation lanes, Automation Clips, and adding automation to these, to con-trol different parts of the instrument.

5.3 Developing your ArrangementA tutorial on developing the ideas that we started with, adding further instruments, saving your work, and automating mixer parameters.

5.4 Remote Control of ReasonTaking remote control of the software using your supported MIDI controller, using remote override edit mode to make your own MIDI mappings, then recording automation data in to the Sequencer. Benefits of recording automa-tion directly into the Note Clip.

5.5 Further Editing and “Blocks”Editing techniques, such as editing structure, masked events, splitting and joining Clips, converting pattern select automation, and extracting notes to lanes. Blocks are a new addition to Reason 5 which allow you to quickly build up an Arrangement from customised Blocks filled with Clip information.

Week 6 Grooves and Sound Design

6.1 The ReGroove MixerWhat is a groove? Controlling the Global Shuffle, and also loading individual grooves to individual groove channels then applying to note lanes. Adjusting groove parameters, slide and shuffle.

6.2 Where to use a GrooveA selection of case studies showing where you might consider applying grooves to a sound.

6.3 Further SynthesisWe finish off looking at SubTractor covering: Oscillators, assigning parameters to the Mod. wheel, further LFO work, and Portamento.

6.4 Thor part IA series of in-depth tutorials on the make-up and functionality of Thor, Reason’s powerful semi-modular synth. In this video, we look at the flow of signals, and the different types of oscillators/synthesis which can occur.

6.5 Thor part IIA look at the range of filters available, each of the envelopes and built in effects, then the powerful modulation bus routing. Last up we cover the step sequencer used for generating notes or modulation data.

6.6 Thor part IIIAdvice on picking apart the patches for Thor in the Reason Factory Sound Bank.

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The ReGroove mixer :covered during week 6 of the course

The controller panel of Thor - the Polysonic synthesiser

REASON 5MUSIC PRODUCTION ONLINE COURSE INFORMATION PACK

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form by any means - graphic, electronic or mechanical, including printing,photocopying, recording, taping or information storage and retrieval systems without the prior permission in writing from Manchester MIDI School.

Week 7 Samplers, Sampling, Malstrom and Kong

7.1 NN-19 Digital SamplerWhat is a Sampler? Loading samples, creating key zones, and setting root notes. Using NN-19 to create a realistic sounding piano patch.

7.2 NN-XT Advanced SamplerA look at the extra features on NN-XT. Creating layered sample patches, setting velocity zones for samples, and also fading between sample key zones. Looping samples to get interesting effects, and adding REX files to the device to build big sounding drum kits.

7.3 Sampling from and External SourceSetting up your audio interface hardware in the preferences to input audio signals to Reason correctly. A look at the devices which have the sample facility, before sampling a bass guitar then editing the resulting sample.Replacing the samples loaded into a ReDrum with live samples on the fly. Sample management in the Tool window.

7.4 Malstrom, the Graintable SynthA look at what Graintable synthesis actually is, then applying what we already know about synth parameters to this unique sounding instrument.

7.5 The Kong Drum DesignerA new addition to Reason 5, the Kong Drum Designer provides you with lots of new options for creating drum beats.

Week 8 Advanced Reason and Mixdown

8.1 Developing the Arrangement FurtherA video giving you ideas for developing your arrangement past the basic drum beat and bass/lead riffs.

8.2 The CombinatorGetting to grips with this powerful device. How to use it as an effects rack, as a layered instrument, and how to build/connect a combinator up from scratch.

8.3 EQA study of this important mixing tool, the parameters of a parametric EQ, and methods for cleaning up or augmenting a sound in some way.

8.4 Managing Audio Samples and ResourcesHow to self-contain a Reason song, when external samples are being used, and ways to reduce the strain on your available computing power, such as altering buffer sizes.

8.5 Spider Audio Merger/SplitterUsing this utility device to sub-group instruments.

8.6 MixdownWe mix down the track we’ve been building up over the past lessons to create a finished piece of music using the skills covered on automation, EQ, compression, delay and reverb. Basic mastering is also covered.

8.7 RewireA look at how to connect Reason up to other DAWs via Rewire, a the benefits of doing so.

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We take a look at the hardware interface a little closer in week 7