Customer Reviews

Reason 3 Overdrive! (Reason 3 Overdrive!: Expert Quick Tips)

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After trying Cubase, and a few other music programs, I decided to try Reasons (2.5). First thing I noticed was the almost retro-style controls, drum machine (Redrum) etc, and I fell in love. Pretty soon I could not get enough info about Reasons, and all the things that it could do. Scouring the web for info, I even went as far as joining numerous Reasons User groups. I bought a few books which turned my head around.

Then low and behold Propellerheads decides to make a 3.0 version. Ok, so now I think, Propellerheads is going to put out a super-duper new and inproved Reasons. Which they did, but one thing that I like about the Propellerheads company, is that they don't take away something just to do that and say that you don't need it! YOU HEAR THAT APPLE COMPUTER, YOU MIGHT WANT TO TAKE SOME IDEAS FROM PROPELLERHEADS!! Every module thats been in Reasons 1.0 is still in the 3.0. plus more!! Sorry to go off on a tangent!! Anyway now I want to get some books on all the new features and this book showed up months before it was released!! I pre-ordered it knowing the reputation of Thompson Course Technolgy. I have Reasons "Ignite" and "Power" in that order. The 3rd book in that series is Reason 3 Overdrive. Its not for the feint of heart and people under doctor supervision!! There's are lots and lots of things to try and different ideas that you would not think that Reasons can do.

One of my favorites is "Turntablist" (pages 49-50) & Super Turnablist (pages 202-203).

Don't get me wrong, I'm a little too old (51 y/o) to be scratching with the best of them, but it is a cool idea just in case you need it for composition purposes!!! The book is a no nonsense book that takes you through the paces and even tells you what Reasons can't do and even has ways to get around it. To wrap this up, I would strongly suggest that if you are a new Reasons user and with no prior knowledge, to buy "Ignite" if you have some knowledge then "Power" but if you are bold & daring enough, then Overdrive is the best one for you!!

This book contains a wealth of great tips and examples for using Reason's devices in new and unexpected ways. The book attempts to be a quick reference work, and is organized around the various parts of the Reason program (e.g., "Sequencer", "Lesser Effects Tricks", etc.). As a quick reference, however, it doesn't quite fit the bill, as it's much too specialized. A reader is better off skimming through the entire book, and then returning to it when a particular track suggests the use of one of the author's ideas.

The real problem here, however, is the writing and editing. While the tips in a work like this should be advanced, there's no reason for the language to be difficult as well. The author occasionally fails to connect the dots, and you'll find yourself reading and rereading a few sentences to try to figure out what he's talking about. Fortunately, usually one can tease out what he means from context, but it's still frustrating. At least equal blame must be laid upon the editor, however, who seems to have limited him- or herself to correcting spelling and punctuation. Reason 3 Power! (the "intermediate" level book in this series) was much better written and edited, and consequently much easier to follow. It's unfortunate that the same care wasn't taken here because the ideas presented certainly deserve it.