Reason Tutorial: Designing Rhythmic Sounds – Step by Step Two

Hollin Jones concludes his step by step designed to help you build rhythmic devices in Reason…

13: In this example, we’ll start with a simple Subtractor patch and add rhythm using effects. Load a patch such as Synthol and add an instance of the Pulverizer to the synth, then load a preset such as Auto Pan Wah.

14: By working with the Tremor section of the Pulverizer, you can control the amount of modulation getting sent to the filter and volume sections using the Amount dials to either side of it.

15: Swap the Pulverizer for an instance of the Alligator and try a preset such as Percussagator. What’s happening here is that the signal is getting sent through three filter banks using a variable rhythm via a set of gates.

16: By selecting a new pattern in the area on the left, and also changing the resolution of the pattern, you can change the speed and character of the movement that’s being introduced to the signal. A Shuffle button helps to add a little soul.

17: For a more extreme effect, locate the dry signal feed area towards the bottom-right of the module and turn the dry amount down, or even off. This will leave you with just the wet, effected part of the sound, which has plenty of movement.

18: Finally, try adding an instance of the Echo to the chain. This should let you add some nice stereo delay. Select all the modules by holding the Shift key, then right-click and choose Combine to have them put into a Combi, which you can then save easily.