Propellerhead Reason

Propellerhead's Reason has been a staple in music production for years. Whether its used as its own DAW, or as a rewired slave into another, it has helped producers like Stromae, Timbaland, Mastadon, Snails, Father, DJ Kahlil, and Flying Lotus find success in their musical endeavors. Its visual aesthetic is reminiscent of vintage outboard gear, with every instrument, synth, or effect resembling rackmounted hardware. The signal chain is manipulated by dragging 1/4 inch cables from the back of one module to another. This "analog" approach to digital audio has a bit of a learning curve, but before long, everything will just seem intuitive. A major drawback is the limitations of Reason. It wasn't until recent versions(6+) that you could record and manipulate audio in reason. You were only allowed to use what came with reason, and the reason refills. Sampling was done through the insertion of audio files into samplers like their nnxt or Dr. Octo Rex. That being said, everything you could possibly need to get you started on music production is available in their included bundles. Whether its through Thor, Maelstrom, Subtractor, nn-19, nnxt, Redrum, Kong, or any of the other virtual instruments included, you will definitely find a way to be inspired to create.