subject: How To Correctly Use A Reason Refill Package [print this page] If you are like most aspiring musicians out there, you probably have done your research on finding a great computer, you've installed and setup Propellerheads Reason, and now would like to expand your library with new sounds. This is where reason refills come into play. Not only are these "refills" libraries packaged with a variety of sounds, but they also can be altered or manipulated into new sounds. Below is a brief overview on how to import and correctly use a refill in your reason project.
Decide On Which Refill To Use:
Before even purchasing a refill, you should figure out what exactly are you looking for? Are you just looking for drums, or maybe you are seeking an orchestral strings and bass? Find out what type of refill libraries your nearest music dealers offers that suits your needs. It is also wise to make sure the refill you desire works with the version of reason you are using. Some refills are made to run in the latest version, while others are compatible with much later versions.
How To Import Your Refills:
After you have your reason refills selected, you need to import it into Reason. There are a variety of ways to do this. One method is to use Reason's Refill Unpacker software to extract your sounds. Some refills contain drums, loops, rex files and midi files, so this software comes in handy to have everything organized, and you can choose from your liking.
The other method is to read what instruments the refill works within reason. Some patches/pre-sets are made to work with Reason's Malstorm or Thor synthesizers, while some loops may be better suited to run within the Dr. Rex sampler. Some sounds and patches are even interchangeable, meaning you can run them in either or instrument. This is where you can really play around, and find out what works for you.
Get Creative With Your Sounds:
There is no wrong or right way musically how you should use your new refill sounds after they are imported, the choice is yours. Maybe you want to import a dance 4 on the floor sample, and automate a few filter sweeps, or import that special brass sound into the NNXT instrument, and add some effects to it. You can even import or change multiple sounds, and create your own style music in seconds. Put your creativity to the test, and make sure you label and save your project and sounds properly in case you need to use them in the near future.
The whole point of using refills is to bring your creativity to life and have fun. Share the cool music you make with others, and see how they like it. Using a reason refill can really take your music production to a whole new level!
