May 29, 2012
Our Hypocrisy Knows No Limits...
by Chris Randall
Sorry for the lengthy pause, but we've been working long days since Thursday when we received the Propellerheads Rack Extension SDK. Since we're under a fairly detailed NDA, I can't really go in to all the trials and tribulations involved in making a Rack Extension; suffice to say that while the DSP part of things copies more or less straight across from our existing plugs, the GUI part is another matter entirely. It bears exactly zero resemblance to anything we've thus far experienced in The Land Of Plug-ins. If a plug-in dev doesn't have someone on staff that has a fairly extensive knowledge of 3D modeling software and how assets from that software are utilized, that plug-in dev is gonna be pretty much out of luck when it comes to Rack Extensions.
With that caveat out of the way, we're just about to send in our first Rack Extension, which is Rough Rider. Here's a screenshot of Rough Rider in a Reason rack:
As you can see, instead of the "hidden" mix control (the bypass switch on the front panel of the Rough Rider VST and AU is actually a knob, as far as automation goes, if you weren't aware) we've broken that out to a proper mix knob, as Reason doesn't really have time for that sort of hidden tomfoolery. Here's a screenshot of the back of the unit:
There is a CV output for gain reduction, just in case you want to use Rough Rider's envelope to drive something else. To answer the obvious questions:
1. No, this will most assuredly not be free. We haven't quite settled on a price yet, but it won't be expensive.
2. We are going to wait and see if this does any numbers before making other products for Rack Extensions. We won't be porting anything else directly, as the environment is simply too different. In the event, we will be making similar products that utilize the same basic DSP.
3. No you can't beta-test. Don't even think of asking me.
4. I don't care if you don't like the GUI. It was extremely difficult to make, and I just don't want to hear it right now. Conversely, if you _do_ like it, now's the time to tell me. Har har har.
With that caveat out of the way, we're just about to send in our first Rack Extension, which is Rough Rider. Here's a screenshot of Rough Rider in a Reason rack:
As you can see, instead of the "hidden" mix control (the bypass switch on the front panel of the Rough Rider VST and AU is actually a knob, as far as automation goes, if you weren't aware) we've broken that out to a proper mix knob, as Reason doesn't really have time for that sort of hidden tomfoolery. Here's a screenshot of the back of the unit:
There is a CV output for gain reduction, just in case you want to use Rough Rider's envelope to drive something else. To answer the obvious questions:
1. No, this will most assuredly not be free. We haven't quite settled on a price yet, but it won't be expensive.
2. We are going to wait and see if this does any numbers before making other products for Rack Extensions. We won't be porting anything else directly, as the environment is simply too different. In the event, we will be making similar products that utilize the same basic DSP.
3. No you can't beta-test. Don't even think of asking me.
4. I don't care if you don't like the GUI. It was extremely difficult to make, and I just don't want to hear it right now. Conversely, if you _do_ like it, now's the time to tell me. Har har har.
47 comments:
I like the GUI well enough. I find Reason to be a test to see how long one can stare at very small controls, so I like that you've opted for less-small controls. I can see where it might not have enough light/shadow effects for Reason users, though, they seem to really like that sort of thing.
Looks very nice. I love the knobs, a slight nod to the clear-skirt 1176 knobs but something new.
Dumb question, any presets? I'm not familiar with Reason's preset UI.
Dumb question, any presets? I'm not familiar with Reason's preset UI.
I'm super excited to see this! So thanks for being hypocrites I guess?
My unsolicited advice as a longtime Reason user is to consider adding CV ins for everything you can. That will probably stop some of the complaints you would likely get.
But again, thanks for doing this. Your stuff is really the only reason I have a DAW at all.
My unsolicited advice as a longtime Reason user is to consider adding CV ins for everything you can. That will probably stop some of the complaints you would likely get.
But again, thanks for doing this. Your stuff is really the only reason I have a DAW at all.
Reason uses non-standard plugin formats so anything built for Reason only works in Reason, right? Is it also an app store model where they take 30% of your gross?
@darklordjames: It's not even really a plug-in, as such. And yes, it is also an app store model similar to Apple's.
@Tim: We'll get there. We had almost no time for this.
-CR
@Tim: We'll get there. We had almost no time for this.
-CR
After your tweets a couple weeks ago, I figured you had written off this platform entirely. Nice to see that is not the case. Fucking hypocrites...
I hope this test is a success so that I might one day see Replicant in the Reason rack. Rewiring out to Live to use Replicant is cool, but having it in the ReRack would be preferable. Good luck.
I hope this test is a success so that I might one day see Replicant in the Reason rack. Rewiring out to Live to use Replicant is cool, but having it in the ReRack would be preferable. Good luck.
No worries, obviously there are other ways to get CV to those knobs! Anyway, are you allowed to say why the rush all of a sudden?
i don't care how it looks, so much, but that GUI looks very late '90's. I didn't really know anyone still used Reason either, so....
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