Ableton Forum

Just upgraded yesterday to live 7... and I just love it: the only thing I played with so far is the new compressor... what a little beast. First time I really start understanding what it all can do! (sorry.. but never really got the old one!).

But my question is: I want another synth, just to spend some dosh: but analog would cost me 129€, full reason uprgade only €99. Reason comes with a packload of samples and with thor, but hate the whole rewire: ruins my workflow.

Analog: I read it is a little growling monster, love the fact that it integrates so nicely.

-> what would you guys do? I do not a new reason pack, since the old one still does the trick for me, but find analog on the costly side (knowing what I can get for €99!!).

Thanks!

I'd go for Reason 4. Thor is a great synth, and there are other nice additions. I don't see the big deal with rewire. With external instruments, it is even easier. Do your MIDI work within Live 7 and use the instruments of Reason via the Combinator.

mmm. that is indeed a way of making it easier... tempting. But I am normally of the idea less is more, because getting lost in tweaking and screwing around and not getting a single bar done... too tempting to try new stuff!!

I'm not a reason user at all but all I can say is even if analog looks limited at the first approach the synth hide some good things in his belly.

There is a couple of parameters i've overlooked at the first approach but once you manage it well it comes to life.

The synth sounds so well, just keep in mind it's an analog synth emulation and not a multi-capabilities synth like thor.

For what it is, I find analog an excellent instrument, once mounted in racks with some fx it can becomes a pretty solid sonic monster.

it's up to you.

-B

Too many good things around.... not easy to have some cash to spend these days...

You can use Reason as if it was a VST instrument. You just need two tracks in Live. One for MIDI and one for audio. In the MIDI track just assign the track to whatever Reason instrument you want and in the audio track rewire it to hear the sound. I love the quality of the classical instruments in Reason. Buy the Reason upgrade.

That is what I was doing, it just annoying that you have two lanes... but that is just sheer a minor annoyance...

think I bite the props bullet...

AOnline wrote:That is what I was doing, it just annoying that you have two lanes... but that is just sheer a minor annoyance...

Not any more. External instrument devices work for rewire instruments as well as hardware.

Hmmm, well i was in the same boat, do i go for reason 4 upgrade or for analogue....i went for analogue, was dissapointed at first, but after a few hours of detuning the bass and mucking about i realised its the closest i've ever heard to a big fat wobbly yummy analogue bass. cant do half the things Thor can do, but what it does, it does very very well.

andydes wrote:Not any more. External instrument devices work for rewire instruments as well as hardware.

This alone has made the workflow with Reason so much easier. You can have an external instrument device for each synth you are using in Reason and then mix it within live rather than have to switch over to Reason to mix your Reason synths. No need for that extra audio track just for Reason's output anymore.

I'd vote Reason 4.

I would go with the Reason 4 upgrade too. Thor is capable of a huge range of sounds. Plus with Live 7 its easier to integrate into Live by using the external instrument utility under the midi effects section of Lives device browser. By using this you only have to open up one midi track and then drag in the utility, after you've done this route your audio and midi from reason through it and your done. You can also save it as a preset for less trouble the next time.

mmm.... did not even have a look at the external instrument section yet... but will play with Reason tonight to see how it works. Can feel that reason is going to be thee one!!

Thanks for all your help, the external instrument feature sounds like being the decisive factor!

You could always get Zebra instead. Or Vaz modular.

Either are better than Thor and Analog in my opinion.

to be the devils advocate - if you upgraded yesterday, you could spend a bit more and phone Ableton to ask if you can change your upgrade to a Suite uppgrade - more toys to play with...

Or spend nothing and just use your already endless possibilities

Or buy Sylenth

....

Just played around with the external instrument module, what a joy!!! Really handy, makes this rewire stuff so much easier.