Reason 3 for Windows & Macintosh (Visual QuickStart Guide) (Paperback)

by Joe Lyford (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Combining pristine sound quality with a comfortably retro-styled virtual rack (including a polyphonic synthesizer, mixing console, sampler, and drum machine), Reason has won legions of fans since its introduction. Now, everyone is singing its praises -- from bands like Nine Inch Nails and Prodigy to video producers. Here to show you why is the first Visual QuickStart Guide on the topic. Using simple step-by-step instructions and loads of visual aids, this friendly volume promises to have you up and running quickly -- using all of Reason's instruments, loops, effects, mixing capabilities, and drum kits. You'll also find complete coverage of Reason's essential features: from its extensive racks and sound banks to its lifelike, rear-rack cabling, as well as its effects, automation, integration with other audio programs, and more.

About the Author

Joe Lyford is a composer and sound designer with 11 years experience working on sound effects, music, gaming, and cinematic scores. He has six years experience working with Propellerheads' software, first with ReBirth 1.0 in 1997 and with every version of Reason that followed. He started working on video games in 1993 and made the transition from a journalist and live performing guitarist to a digital composer. After leaving Midway last year he's completed two game projects: "Enter the Matrix" by Shiny Entertainment, and the upcoming Marvel Comics Daredevil game for the PlayStation 2.

Product Details

• Paperback: 408 pages
• Publisher: Peachpit Press (May 27, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0321269179
• ISBN-13: 978-0321269171
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #614,641 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Einstein would have loved this book..., January 8, 2006

By	D. Gold "Davey Boy" (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius -- and a lot of courage -- to move in the opposite direction (Albert Einstein)." This book makes the complex seem really simple. I'd recommend this book for a couple of reasons: 1) finally, a book that EXPLAINS the knobs and faders in layman's terms!; 2) it doesn't read like a typical book, in that the author makes minimal use of text and relies heavily on graphics (a picture IS worth 1,000 words); 3) the graphics are optimally labeled/captioned; 4) it follows a logical progression, rarely introducing you to concepts that are overwhelming without having first provided the fundamental building blocks/context behind them; 5) It is a great reference to keep next to you on your computer desk, even after you've mastered the basics and played with it at an intermediate level (re-readable); and 6) it is written in such a way that I embrace it, rather than loathe it, and it simply inspires me to sit down with the program and jump the hurdles like an Olympic gold-medalist. The only thing I wish this book had is a Glossary. But I can live without that. I'd highly recommend this book to Reason 3.0 users at a beginner to intermediate level. Please feel free to disagree with my opinion; let us compare opinions, invite a few more points of view, and debate, like the humans we are.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My opinion between this book compared to the Ignite book, December 5, 2005

By	G. Lambert "Mr Negative" (Franklin, VA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

If your new to Reason and looking to get a good book that will help you get up to speed and fast then this is the book. I bought the Reason Ignite book first and wish that I had bought this one first. Where the Ignite book shows you by "click here to do this" and stops at that,this book goes more into what each knob does. The chapter on building your own synth sounds was excellent. The visual quickstart guides have always been great books and I higly recommend this book.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not really what i needed but........, March 19, 2006

By	Brandon M "something witty and thought provok... (Omaha, NE USA) - See all my reviews

The book is great, but for the newest of the newest users of reason. Also, it is of utmost importance to have some sort of midi controlling device in your posession before buying this book, as the book references the useage of your "assumed" midi controller. So, if you dont have one, you will find yourself skipping several large sections of the text.

Other then that, its a good book. I would however, highly recommend Reason Power, instead of this one if you have a basic knowledge of Reason. As Reason Power not only gives you the basics of the equipment, but it also delvs into the program a bit more with tutorials and exercises.