I got Propellerhead Record a couple weeks ago, and I was looking forward to it quite a bit. A recording solution from the people who made the awesome, easy-to-use, stable, and incredibly fun Reason? All I could say was "what took you so long?"
This won't be too in-depth, but I wanted to give a couple flags of clarification for folks out there considering buying Record as a stand-alone recording package (without Reason or any other Rewired software tools).
1) Record has no MIDI-out capability. That means, unlike all the other major sequencing-recording packages out there, using just Record alone, you will have no way to sequence, control, synchronize with any hardware equipment via MIDI. Got an old Yamaha Motif or Access Virus module you'd like to sequence with MIDI and then record the output into Record? Well, you can't do it unless you use some other software (Sonar, Cubase, etc) to do the actual sequencing and then synchronize that software with Record using Rewire (Rewire is a protocol that lets both Reason and Record communicate/synchronize with other recording and sequencing software, like Sonar or Cubase). Have to admit...had I realized this before I bought it, I might have held off on purchasing Record. I never thought to ask because I just assumed it would be a feature.
2) Unless you already have Reason or buy the Record/Reason package, your options for MIDI sequencing soft synths with Record will only be the ID-8 sample based synth that's included with it. It's not bad, but if that's ALL you have for soft synth access, it's fairly limited. And like Reason, Record won't let you use any other plug-in soft synths.
So, what are your options to best use Record?
* Buy it with Reason. The arsenal of great quality soft synths, effects, and tools at your disposal are too valuable to pass up and perfectly complement Record. And Reason so perfectly integrates with and complements Record (no "Rewire" required for them to "talk"), that Record almost seems handicapped without it. I already owned Reason, so currently this is the option I'll use the most. It's easy and covers most of what I want to do.
* Learn how to play your hardware keyboards/synths so well you don't need to sequence them (the same option guitarists have had to live with). I'm a mediocre keyboard player...some days my timing is great and I do very little MIDI manipulation of sequenced tracks...other days I stay sane by being able to edit bad note events and quantizing. As well, I have some old "no-MIDI" analog synths, so I'm used to having to play (with no sequencing option) occasionally while recording. Were I a better player I'll admit, the no-MIDI-out issue with Record would be much LESS of an issue.
* Use it with another software sequencer using Rewire. I had already planned on doing this somewhat because Record doesn't handle video, and I do the occasional soundtrack for video projects I throw together. My Reason has been Rewired to Sonar on quite a few occasions and has worked nicely. Additionally, I have a couple of really nice hardware synths that I use a lot when I compose/record. In order to get them sequenced and more easily recorded, I'll likely end up Rewiring Sonar to Record.
So lastly, you're wondering, "with all the required workarounds, is it even worth buying Record?"
If you're new to computer based recording, not too heavily invested in any other recording packages, and you don't have any hardware synths you like to sequence, then Record with Reason is a no-brainer and a big yes. It's a nice, professional sounding, easy-to-use and easy-on-the-CPU package that provides most of what you could want for home recording and music production. But, if you do a lot of video, or rely extensively on MIDI control of music hardware then unfortunately you'll still need other software to provide that capability and you might as well consider going with another recording/sequencing package.
Yep, it's true. Without MIDI-out, other Rewired software and Reason, Record is really just a nice, very easy-to-use, PC-based version of an old recording studio. What you mostly get out of it is what you can manually record into it (and manipulate digitally). Record clips of sound, music, vox into it, edit, add effects, mix and voila! Finished songs!
As for me, for now I'll likely keep using all three...Reason, Sonar, and now Record, and then I'll throw a BIG party when Record incorporates MIDI-out. Based on discussions at Propellerhead forums it's a definite possibility they're already working on the feature. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Because of the required workarounds, for me I can't give it a 5-star rating. But given all the other strengths and the capability Rewire gives it, it's a VERY solid 4.
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Propellerhead Record Software Recording Studio for Musicians.
