Reason
Reason Studios' rack-based music production software, used as a standalone DAW or as a plugin inside another DAW.
- Starting price
- $299
- Free trial
- 7-day free trial of Reason+; Reason Rack Free plugin with 15 devices, no expiration
- Output
- Recorded, sequenced and mixed music, exported as a mix or as individual stems including effects and tempo track
Overview
Reason is music production software from Reason Studios, built around a virtual Rack of instruments, effects and MIDI Players that are wired together like hardware. It runs as a standalone DAW on Windows and macOS, and the same Rack loads as a plugin inside other DAWs. It is sold as a one-time licence or as the Reason+ subscription, which always includes the latest version and adds sounds, mastering and distribution services.
Our take
Pick Reason if your sound design happens by patching devices together and you want that same rack available inside the DAW you already mix in. If you mainly track and edit long multitrack recordings, a linear DAW built around recording is the better fit instead. Choose the subscription rather than the licence only if you will use the release services it bundles; for writing and producing alone, paying once covers the job.
Key Facts
| Category | |
|---|---|
| Starting price | $299 Reason 14 one-time licence, DAW and plugin, with point updates. Reason Rack 14 (plugin only) $199. Upgrades $99 and $79. Reason+ and Reason Rack are also sold as monthly or annual subscriptions. |
| Free trial | 7-day free trial of Reason+; Reason Rack Free plugin with 15 devices, no expiration |
| Output | Recorded, sequenced and mixed music, exported as a mix or as individual stems including effects and tempo track |
| Hosting | Desktop app for Windows 10 or later and macOS 11 or later; the Rack also runs as a VST3, AU or AAX plugin |
Screenshots
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Features
- What it does
- Music production software for sequencing, recording, sound design and mixing, built around a modular Rack of instruments, effects and MIDI Players, used as a standalone DAW or as a plugin
- Multitrack or two-track
- Multitrack, with unlimited audio recording and instrument channels, Track Folders, Blocks for song structure and Comp Edit for building one take from several
- Noise removal and repair
- Reason+ includes AI audio restoration through Reason Hub for removing noise and artifacts from vocals; the DAW adds Vocal Edit for pitch, timing and articulation
- Mastering and loudness
- Rack devices include MClass Maximizer, MClass Compressor, MClass Equalizer, MClass Stereo Imager and a Master Bus Compressor; Reason+ adds unlimited AI mastering
- Formats and resolution
- Imports all major file formats from WAV and AIFF to MP3 with real-time sample rate and bit depth conversion; exports separate mixer channels as individual stems
- Where it runs
- Standalone DAW for Windows and macOS hosting VST3 and VST2 plug-ins and Rack Extensions; the Rack runs as a VST3, AU or AAX plugin in other DAWs, with Ableton Link and MIDI clock sync
- Licence and pricing model
- One-time licence for Reason 14 ($299, DAW and plugin) or Reason Rack 14 ($199, plugin only) with point updates, or the Reason+ and Reason Rack subscriptions, monthly or annual, with the latest version always included
- Also included
- More than 30,000 patches, loops and samples; Reason+ adds all 93 Rack devices, weekly Sound Packs, AI stem separation, AI mastering, unlimited distribution by LANDR and partner plug-ins
- API
- No developer API or scripting is documented in the Reason 14 manual. Hardware control runs through Remote, a mapping protocol that maps the knobs, faders and buttons of supported keyboards and control surfaces to device parameters automatically, with Remote Override for custom mappings; Rack Extension devices come from Reason Studios and third-party developers
Integrations
- LANDR
- Ableton Link
- Ableton Live
- FL Studio
- Logic Pro
- Pro Tools
Deployment and Support
- Deployment
-
- On-premise
- Onboarding
-
- Documentation and knowledge base
- Video tutorials
Pros and Cons
Strengths
- The Rack plays inside other DAWs as a VST3, AU or AAX plugin
- Point updates are included with a one-time licence
- More than 30,000 patches, loops and samples are included
- Every sampler device can record live input directly
Limitations
- No Linux version
- The one-time licences include 68 of the 93 Rack devices; the rest need a subscription
- AI mastering, stem separation and distribution come only with Reason+
Pricing
-
Reason Rack Free
$0
Plugin with 15 devices for any compatible DAW. No trial, no expiration, no watermarks.
-
Reason Rack 14
$199
One-time purchase. Plugin only (VST3, AU, AAX), 68 Rack devices, point updates. Upgrade $79.
-
Reason 14
$299
One-time purchase. DAW and plugin, 68 Rack devices, point updates. Upgrade $99.
-
Reason Rack Plugin subscription
Not stated
Monthly or annual, with a 7-day free trial. Plugin only, all 93 Rack devices.
-
Reason+
Not stated
Monthly or annual, with a 7-day free trial. DAW and plugin, all 93 Rack devices, AI mastering, AI stem separation and distribution by LANDR.
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What users say
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