Reason 8.3: Top 5 New Features

At time of writing the newest update to Reason (version 8.3) was in public beta testing and could be downloaded by anyone to run in demo mode. As well as some tasty new features, a bunch of bugs have also been fixed. Now Reason 8.3 has been released! Here's what's new…

1. Refreshed Reverb

The venerable RV7000 reverb unit is one of Reason's staple effect modules. In 8.3 it gets a significant upgrade that's initially hard to spot. Apart from a slight colour change and a new button it looks much the same. In fact, it is now a convolution reverb! You can load your own impulse responses or sample them in directly to the module, and the Props will be supplying some of their own impulses as well. Convolution reverbs let you use real spaces and are much more flexible than regular models that might just feature presets like “hall” or “room”. So look forward to more realistic reverb effects in future. 

2. More Accessible Browsing

Browsing just got more accessible in Reason 8.3.

The new Browser introduced in Reason 8 makes finding and loading patches and samples much easier. In Reason 8.3 the Browser also becomes available in the detached Rack window as well as the main window, where it's always been. This is in response to requests from users who separate the Rack off and previously had to go back to the main window in order to browse their libraries. In 8.3 you can do this from either window. 

3. Quick Zoom

It may sound like a small addition, but the new zoom features can make navigating your projects a lot easier.

Zooming around the sequencer timeline in Reason hasn't always been as easy as it could be. Now there's a shortcut: by using the Z key you can zoom to a selection and back out again without having to use the zoom sliders. Although this might sound like a small (and arguably overdue) development it will really save a lot of people a lot of time in everyday situations. 

4. Set MIDI Focus from the Rack

In Reason 8.3 you can now direct MIDI from your input device to a Rack module from the Rack window.

Until now, setting MIDI input to any given device meant going to the Sequencer, locating the device and clicking on it in order to be able to play it from your keyboard. The Props know that some people spend a lot of time in the Rack and so you can now direct MIDI from your input device to a Rack module from the Rack window, which will be a great timesaver for anyone who has found the old way of doing things a little long-winded. 

5. Adjust Static Value in Arrange Mode

If you spend lots of time working with automation, this new feature in Reason 8.3 will make you happy.

When you open an automation clip for editing in Arrange mode, the static value for the parameter is now available in the track list. This means you don't have to go to Edit mode to adjust this. Admittedly this is quite a small change, but if you spend a lot of time working with automation it's going to be a welcome one!

Learn the ins and outs of Reason 8 in these video courses at AskVideo.