Which of the Reason 11 Versions is right for you? Everyone loves options until it comes time to chose, then you’re on the spot and have to decide. We aim to take away some of the stress by providing you with some solid information and the odd opinion.
We take a run through the available options and try to figure out what niche each of them caters to. We’ve thrown in a comparison chart so you can see at a glance what each option ships with. The information came from the Reason Studios website and was accurate at the time of writing. Ok then, let’s go!
NOTE: At the time of writing…
When this was written Reason 11 was the most recent version. As Reason 12 is now the current version, this page is now a historical document.
Which Reason 11 Versions For Which Reason Users:
In the main accordions below, we have comparison tables. The tables show at a glance, which versions get which features. If you already have a DAW, we’ve included an accordion filled with the Reason Rack features a little farther down.
Core Features
| Core | Intro
10 | St’d
10 | Suite
10 |
|---|
| Rack Plugin | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instruments | 11 | 17 | 28 |
| Effects | 11 | 29 | 31 |
| Players | 3 | 4 | 7 |
| Utilities | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Total devices | 33 | 57 | 73 |
| Audio/MIDI tracks | 16 | No Limit | No Limit |
| Sounds & samples | 3GB | 11GB | 24GB |
Instruments
| Inst’s | Intro
11 | St’d
17 | Suite
28 |
|---|
| Europa | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Thor | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Monotone | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Subtractor | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Kong | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rytmic | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Redrum | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Dr. Octo Rex | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| NN-XT | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| NN-19 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| ID8 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| MIDI Out Device | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Grain | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Malström | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Radical Piano | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Klang | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Pangea | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Humana | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Scenic | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Complex-1 | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Parsec | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Umpf Club | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Umpf Retro | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Electric Bass | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Drum Kits | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Proc’ Pianos | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Radical Keys | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Layers | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Layers Waves | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
Effects
| Effects | Intro
11 | St’d
29 | Suite
31 |
|---|
| Audiomatic | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Scream 4 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| RV7000 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Softube Bass | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Softube GTR | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| MC Compressor | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| MC EQ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| MC Stereo Imager | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| MC Maximzer | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| DDL-1 Delay | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| CF-101 Chorus | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Sweeper | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Quartet | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| MB Compressor | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Channel Dynamics | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Channel EQ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| The Echo | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Pulveriser | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alligator | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Synchronous | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Vocoder | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neptune | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| PH-90 Phaser | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| RV-7 Reverb | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| D-11 Foldback | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| UN-16 Unison | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| PEQ-2 | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| COMP-01 | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Polar | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Rotor | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
MIDI FX Players
| Players | Intro
10 | St’d
10 | Suite
10 |
|---|
| Combinator | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Pulsar | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Matrix | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| APG-8 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mixer 14:2 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mixer 6:2 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Spider Audio | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Spider CV | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mix Channel | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Audio Track | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
The Reason Rack As A Plugin:
If you already have a DAW that you’re comfortable with, then none of the above information will matter. Because, if it ain’t broke then don’t fix it! So, if you won’t go to Reason, why not make Reason come to you. With the plugin. you can do just that.
The Reason Rack In Your DAW
The Reason Rack Plugin, as the name implies, is the Reason Rack in plugin format. It comes with all of the devices available to Reason users, the Reason Browser, a ton of loops/sounds/samples… and, you can flip the rack around and get access to the back of the rack. Awesome!.
Essentially, it’s Reason without the sequencer. The Reason SSL mixer is available, but it is in plugin format within the Reason Rack Plugin.
At A Glance:
- The Reason Rack is available as VST3/AU.
- An AAX version for Pro Tools is coming May 5, 2020.
- It comes with all its devices, creative sound design, modular routing and a huge library of loops, sounds and samples.
- For those that want to, you even have access to a fully functional back of the rack. Not compulsory.
- Drag MIDI clips directly from Redrum, Dr. OctoRex etc to your sequencer.
In terms of value for money, you won’t find a plugin anywhere that offers so much bang for the buck. You won’t even come close. If you have a DAW and a desire to make music and you don’t have the Reason Rack, as Ray Winston might say,’ave a word, sort it out…
The Reasons, In A Nutshell:
Which Version?
Reason Intro:
The Intro version of Reason is the ‘has just enough of everything’ version. You get 16 Audio/MIDI tracks to realise your idea and a collection of instruments, effects, and loops/samples to help facilitate it.
Pick Me!
Reason Full:
With the Full version, things just got more serious. Gone are the MIDI/Audio track limitations & in come a whole lot of extra effects & instruments, not to mention a huge upgrade in the number of samples/sounds.
Pick Me!
Reason Suite:
It’s all here and it’s all available to use in your music as you see fit! All instruments, all effects, all players, and all of the loop content –all 24 GB of it. So if money is not an object and Reason is where you want to be, this is your version.
Pick Me!
In Conclusion:
If you still haven’t decided, why not play with the demo for a month and see how you get on. You can also browse the Reason Studios website, where you will find videos and lots of information.
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