The Bass Geek

The folks at Propellerheads recently lifted the “veil of silence” on beta testing for their new Record software, so now’s as good a time as any to talk about my experience with the software. The creators seem intent on pointing out that it’s not traditional digital audio workstation software, and to some extent, they’re correct. The software records audio through a mockup of an SSL console, but it doesn’t accept external VST, AU, or other plug-ins like Logic, Cakewalk or Pro Tools. I don’t think I’d necessarily want to use it to record multiple audio tracks of a large band with a drum kit, multiple guitars, a horn section, and the like (although it probably should handle it). If I was doing work like that, I’d probably be sending it off for others to work with, and they’d want a Pro Tools project. I’d also be a professional audio engineer, and I’m not that at all. What it does offer is a stable, reliable audio recording experience for those who already use Reason and want to record audio in conjunction with that soft synth sequencer.

I used Record to alter some bass tracks I’d already recorded for another project as well as an original track with audio recorded specifically for that file. Everything hummed along well, and being able to integrate Reason’s effects with live audio tracks was a great experience. The Line 6 amps included with Record were also pretty good, although I get the feeling the amp models were limited in the beta software. I’d expect the full version to have more options. Otherwise, the audio routing worked just as you’d expect Reason to function, and I was able to get tracks up and running quite quickly.

Record is targeted squarely at individual music-makers who want to work in live audio with their Reason tracks, and those tracks will probably stay in the box until they’re sent off for mastering. Using Reason and Record is an insular experience simply because of the proprietary nature of the software and the lack of plug-in support. It’s a solid musical experience, though, and it’s one I can see myself using quite a bit in the future. It’s not Pro Tools or Logic, but it’s a solid option for audio recording and creating tracks that sound bigger than the individual creating them.

EDIT: You’ll also need a big monitor. Record uses several different windows (mixer, rack, etc.), and a wide screen is necessary to see everything effectively. Small laptops need not apply.