Using Reason Refills with Logic

Question

Level 1

17 points

Using Reason Refills with Logic

Dear Macers:

I am learning Logic (very slowly - perhaps I should have started with GarageBand!?). The Jam Packs that come with Logic contain strings, but no solo strings (Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass) pieces. I will be composing pieces and using solo strings, and perhaps building quartet-like arrangements. Reason has String (and Piano, Bass, Abby Road Keyboards) refill sets that can, as I understand it, be shared with Logic.

A) Are these refills worth exploring in this way (sonically, financially)?
B) How do you do this, i.e., is there a conversion process? (a manual page citation would help too)
C) Are the better options, better products (e.g., East/West's "Gypsy" for a solo violin, etc)?

If I'm missing/ommiting something, please feel free to clue me in.

Thanks!!

MacBook Pro 200GB HD 7200, Mac OS X (10.5.3), External Seagate 200GB HD 7200

Posted on Jun 5, 2008 10:21 AM

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Answer 1

logikal

Level 1

25 points

Jun 5, 2008 10:37 AM in response to erniesfo

Greetings Erniesfo,

Welcome to Logic. Now is probably the best time ever to get into Logic. The 10.5.3 OSX update and Logic 8.0.2 update really add stability to the system and usage overall.

As for the Reason refills, there is no way of using the refill alone without ReWire and Reason into Logic. There is no conversion process possible direct from within the refill. I have my own method of working with both applications (Logic and Reason) to get the most out of them, as well as my refills.

I start by creating a template within Logic with several ReWire channels active and ready. I also create a template for Reason with my effects and synths already loaded and wired for various uses (Reason mixer for Scream and RV7000 - Direct to Reason Hardware interface for use with Logic Effects).

Once I lay down what I want in either Reason or Logic's Sequencer, I render it to audio in Logic and quit Reason as soon as I get something I can work with. I usually do the same with power hungry plugins instead of freezing.

In the end, its all about how you prefer to work. And to get the most out of your refills, ReWire is the only and best way to do it. Think of Reason as a monster Synth plugin, quite possibly the best and complete synth plugin for the money.

Hope this helps

Cheers

LGK

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Answer 2

erniesfo Author

Level 1

17 points

Jun 5, 2008 1:07 PM in response to erniesfo

Thanks for the Info LGK. I will look up the template idea in the index. It sounds like you work with the refill (say a Violin) in Reason, import it into Logic, then save the audio in Logic. Does this save the parameters (microphone, efx) that you gave the refill in Reason? I know, lots of newbie questions.

Also, I forgot to add this question...

D) Can I store the Reason Refills and Orkester Disk files on an external Firewire drive and access them there in order to save space on my MacBook Pro HD? If so, is there a preferred method?

Thanks as always,

E

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Answer 3

Jun 7, 2008 2:38 PM in response to erniesfo

What LGK mentions is that he has Logic and Reason working simultaneously (this is known as ReWire), but to save CPU power, he eventually bounces it down to audio files. This offers the best of both worlds, you can work in Logic and Reason at the same time, in sync, but when you're ready with your reason stuff, you export it to logic-only so that your computer doesn't have to deal with all the extra processing power required by reason.
This means that once it's bounced you cannot change any of the original sound anymore (but you can save your settings in Reason so you can always get back to it).

And yes you can store Refills on an external hard drive, no problem with that.

About the refills you mentioned, the Propellerhead refills like Reason Drums 2, Reason Pianos, Abbey Road Keyboards, are all of excellent quality in my opinion, but they do require a certain know-how to use them to their full potential.

And my absolute favorite library for strings is VSL Opus one

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Answer 4

erniesfo Author

Level 1

17 points

Jul 15, 2008 11:41 AM in response to erniesfo

Thanks again for all the great help!!

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