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gating keys off of kick drum with reason

S

sonic assassin

Nov 8, 2008
3,455
34
cincinnati
#1
my new band is strictly a 1 guitar band. i refuse to let another in. i plan to replace that role with keys. hoping to limit myself and open new possibilities at the same time. most of the parts can be done on keys to fake a guitar when needed.

the trouble really comes with breakdowns. theres no way that a key player is going to hit all those staccato notes through a breakdown. my plan is to run my subkick on the kick drum, through an interface and into reason, where it will be the key input for a gate. set the hold for a half a second and a decent release and no one will know its not guitar.

trouble is.. i dont know a damn thing about reason and id like to find out if this is even possible before i try it. i have the equipment necessary if the software will allow it.

this might get moved to live sound, but as reason is more software, i figured id ask here first

advice? suggestions? tech advice? perhaps a simpler route? all welcome. thanks
 
#6
seamonkey said:
It's too much fun not to play the guitar on keyboards:
Invalid Link Removed
Click to expand...

interesting. but its hardcore. i just need a heavily gated, heavily syncopated distorted square or saw wave working off the kick drum during breakdowns. everything else (counter melodies, pads, vocoder sounds) will be pianos and strings and normal synth work.

it comes up because the guitar has to play a very guitar-like 2 handed tap part over the breakdown. it would be nice to be able to thicken up the rhythm section with gated keys than let it just be bass and drums. one hand of keys for that, another for playing a pad and/or triggering bass drops.
 
#8
Hellbastard said:
Look for a tutorial on how to sidechain on Reason. Then use either a compressor or gate to duck the signal using the BD input.
Click to expand...

so i found this video

YouTube - 52 Reason / Record Tips - Week 43: The Side-Chain Compression Effect

which effectively uses a sidechain compressor to make a synth pump with a kick drum, which is the same effect im looking for. takes a little routing, but thats entirely doable

now the more complicated half. can one run a signal into reason and use it to trigger the synth? they are using a programmed drum track they are playing back. i want to use an outside signal and trigger in real time.

sorry for all the nooby questions. i REALLY suck with reason. im a logic guy, but the key player isnt.
 
#10
Using Reason you have to connect the Synth to a compressor/gate input and the compressor output to a mixer channel. Then connect the drum trigger input to the compressor sidechain input, finally adjust the level to achieve the effect you want.

It Look something like this:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

The Audio input 1 would be the Keyboard and input 2 would be the Drum Trigger
 
#13
Reason does not record, or let audio into the program, at all.. other than samples of course. Thats why Reason Record was made, so you'll be needing that or one of the other DAW's for a start!

However, any DAW that can accept incoming audio will do the job of course...

A few things to consider...

Its a big shift but play the tracks to a click so the trigger can be a signal internal to reason?

Maybe try something other than the subkick for the trigger, might end up getting messy with the bass' sub triggering the gate etc? I think some dynamic inside the kick would be a cleaner gate.

Maybe get a super cheap hardware gate? That'll avoid lugging around a laptop and interface just for the gate fx.
To be honest, I'd just get the key player to play a suitable alternative on the keys rather than try and mimic guitar, but I do have a major aversion to trying to make one instrument sound like another...
 
#14
Charling said:
Reason does not record, or let audio into the program, at all.. other than samples of course. Thats why Reason Record was made, so you'll be needing that or one of the other DAW's for a start!
...
Click to expand...

Reason does not record, but it does let audio into the program. I just posted a way to do that with Reason.

I agree with you in not being an optimal solution and that with any other DAW it would be simpler to set a sidechain, though.
 
#15
Another option is to use Thor for the "guitar" sound. Connect the 'Gate Out' of Redrum to the 'Gate' on Thor. If that is too hard of a gate, you can alternatively connect it to the amp level for a less sensitive gate. Or connect it to a CV input and set up something in the Modulation Matrix.
 
#17
marchisgonebass said:
if your not deadset on using reason, then i would give ableton live a try.
Click to expand...

Charling said:
Its a big shift but play the tracks to a click so the trigger can be a signal internal to reason?

Maybe try something other than the subkick for the trigger, might end up getting messy with the bass' sub triggering the gate etc? I think some dynamic inside the kick would be a cleaner gate.

Maybe get a super cheap hardware gate? That'll avoid lugging around a laptop and interface just for the gate fx.
To be honest, I'd just get the key player to play a suitable alternative on the keys rather than try and mimic guitar, but I do have a major aversion to trying to make one instrument sound like another...
Click to expand...

well the keyboardist already runs reason. just trying to get this done with the equipment we already have, if possible

click track is never going to happen. i dont want to be that sterile live.

i figured a subkick would get less interference from other drums. there are other mics laying around if it doesnt work.

in a recording, this is easy to wire up and program. live, i need to use keys as a utility instrument.
 
#20
Hellbastard said:
Reason does not record, but it does let audio into the program. I just posted a way to do that with Reason.

I agree with you in not being an optimal solution and that with any other DAW it would be simpler to set a sidechain, though.
Click to expand...

I see! Didn't check the screeny above properly, I still only have reason 3 (I think) and that was pre-'record' days so the hardware interface only had outs on it.

In that case, no need to rewire or anything else, reason will do the trick so give it a go I guess!
 

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