Synth-wise, Ableton vs Reason?

[blazinaidan]

Yo, so I kinda just sorta realized that I havent looked at Ableton's built-in synths much at all. For some reason I just automatically assumed that Reason's synth's were better and always just recorded anything I wanted from Reason into Ableton. What do you all think?

[jrisreal]

i hear that reason has amazing built-in synths, but you can always get a good vst for ableton.

[lyons238]

i dont use ableton but id say reasons synths are better than abletons stock synths. and i believe reasons synths are just as good as any plug ins too...

thor is just insane...so many possibilities

malstrom is probably my favorite and its really good. i really love the sounds i can get out of it quite easily

and subtractor is nice n simple but still solid

honestly what other synths do you think you need. even funtcase in his masterclass said thor scares him and he sticks with malstrom usually because he likes and knows it best.

[nowaysj]

i dont use ableton but id say reasons synths are better than abletons stock synths. and i believe reasons synths are just as good as any plug ins too...

I don't know if you have the foundation to say either of these things.

Am not saying Reason's synths aren't usable.

[Disco Nutter]

I have a mate who can't live without Live's Oper8tor and so many people that vouch for Reason's synths, so I'd guess it's up to personal workflow. You can get amazing sounds out of both of them.

[jaydot]

I'd think that Reason's synths would be hard to top if I'm believing what I hear. You could always rewire Reason into Ableton and use both though?

[Dyssomnia]

You could always rewire Reason into Ableton and use both though?

Deadly combo!
For example, I got Redrum ReWired to VintageWarmer and other FX units!
Sounds decent!

[EDN]

They are different but both very capable, it depends which synths though.
You would find it difficult to do something like you can do on ableton's "tension" on reason.

However I personally like operator a lot because its extremely flexible, however I like subtractor because it's so easy to use. Analog is also really awesome sounding and has some excellent routing and modulation options.
The thing about the ableton synths is that they are a little less accesible (IMO) and you have to get your head around the way that ableton lays things out, but once your there it makes perfect logical sense.

[-[2]DAY_-]

combinator and CV/audio routing make Reason the winner imo. can't get the sound ur after from one of the synths, just build your own combi. After enough practice u find urself knowing exactly what to reach for.

[acid2]

combinator and CV/audio routing make Reason the winner imo. can't get the sound ur after from one of the synths, just build your own combi. After enough practice u find urself knowing exactly what to reach for.

FWIW, the Instrument Rack and Audio Effect Rack's get you the same result as Combinator does, the only thing you're lacking is the CV routing stuff. However, if you have Max for Live you can get close with things like the "LFO everything" plugin.

I haven't been hugely impressed with some of Live Suite's instruments - Analog is nice, though it almost always needs beefing up ex post facto. Operator is also a really fun instrument to program, you can get crazy sounds just drawing in some waveforms. Drum rack and Sampler/Simpler are top notch, I couldn't live without those. Some of the others though like Collider and Impulse hardly get any use from me.

If I had to choose Live Suite or Reason, it would definitely be Live Suite.

[nowaysj]

[panleft]

I used Reasonn 3 for about two years before switching to Ableton Live 8.

Can honestly say that I only really used the subtractor - it's very user friendly and I feel I completely know what every button down and how to get the sounds I wanted. The same can't be said for the malstrom..but thats prob just because of me. Thor wasn't until Reason 4, which I hear good things about, but have never used.

I use quite a lot of VST's now in Live. However, as many people appear to, I really like Operator. After watching to tutorial about how to make the 'Body Rocks' synth (also known as Wiley Bass to others..) I realised Operator's huge potential. And have sinced used it on various tracks for different bass's etc.

I could always Re-wire the Subtractor into Ableton..however I feel it's not as good as certain VST's I now have access to. So doesn't get used much.

Beyond just the synths, I recommend using Live for many many reasons. Ignore the pun.

[nowaysj]

I was going to until you pointed it out.

[DJ Crackle]

I've only had experience with Reason. Thor is fucking sick, I loved it. Subtractor was good too, for sure. I didn't use Malstrom too much.

Haven't tried operator yet, but it LOOKS really nice. Want to play with it for sure.