Reason 4 and Akai MPD 24 Beginner Bundle

Akai MPD24 is the velocity sensitive pad controller for musicians and DJs working with sampled sounds. The MPD24 features 16 MPC-style velocity and pressure sensitive pads plus transport controls for interfacing with DAW/sequencing applications. With Akai's MPC 16 Levels and Full Level features for ultimate pad control, four selectable pad banks totaling 64 pads, six assignable faders and eight assignable, 360 degree knobs for transmitting MIDI Control Change data, the MPD24 provides unprecedented creative freedom for manipulating sampled material.

Propellerhead Reason 4 shows that it is possible to improve on an idea that completely revolutionized the way we make music on a computer. Reason 4 ups the ante by adding more devices and features that will inspire your creativity and streamline the process. Among the new enhancements are Thor, a synth that manages to pay homage to all synths that have come before while completely reinventing the synth at the same time; RPG-8, a rethinking of the arpeggiator from the ground up; and ReGroove, which adds a decidedly humanistic feeling to Reason 4's sequenced drums.

16 original MPC pads (velocity and pressure sensitive)

MPC's 16-Levels and Full Level features

2 switchable banks

Slider sending continuous controller data

MIDI and/or USB operation

Powered via USB cable (or optional AC adapter)

Setup utility software for Windows, Mac OS 9 and OS X

What's New of Propellerhead Reason 4 ?
One new feature that will quickly ease its way into your workflow is the new Tools Window, a floating window containing all your most frequently used tools. Using the Tools window, you can create new devices by choosing from a device palette, fine tune your sequencer data from the Tools pane, or set groove parameters using the groove pane. The device palette lets you drag-and-drop instruments and effects directly to the rack and place them just where you want them. The Tools pane contains all of Reason's sequencer editing tools, allowing for quick access to everything from Quantization to vector automation cleanup and legato adjustments.

The Combinator and NN-XT devices have both had minor revisions to make programming patches easier and more powerful. If you are not into making your own sounds, these changes may not mean much to you. The NN-XT has been given new features to edit multiple samples simultaneously, to chromatically auto-map samples and a new Group Mono function to let samples play polyphonically, but still be silenced by other samples in the same sample group. The Combinator now has a transpose function that transposes notes sent to a device. Other additions include performance data filters to stop certain types of data from being sent to a device, more flexible choice of Sources in the programmer and a function to automate the receive notes option, making it possible to switch between instruments in a Combinator patch.

Thor
Reason 4 boasts new instruments and tools to inspire your creativity and push sonic boundaries. Where other synths use one specific form of synthesis and one single filter, the Thor polysonic synthesizer features six different oscillator types and four unique filters, making Thor an unstoppable monster of a sound generator that utilizes synthesizer technology from the last 40 years. Six open filter and oscillator slots let you load up three different synth filters and three separate oscillators simultaneously, allowing you to dial in synth sounds that are completely new. An all-powerful modulation matrix gives you complete control over your signal flow, letting you modulate anything within Thor with anything within Thor. At the bottom of this synth sits an analog style step sequencer with more than one twist. Being every bit as modular as the rest of Thor's components, this step sequencer does more than just play melodies - use it as a modulation tool, trigger phrases from specific keys, create intense arpeggios, generate piercing percussion lines. With its unique selection of oscillator types and synth filters, the Thor polysonic synthesizer is a veritable synth museum. Thor may have one foot in history, but its sound is pure future.

RPG-8
Reason 4 ships with RPG-8, a brand new unit dedicated to the art of arpeggiation. With a wide range of on-panel controls and mode selectors, a pattern section for muting selected notes in an arpeggio and a large display showing values and positions, this device gives you full creative control over your arpeggios. Although very hands-on and user friendly, the RPG-8 boasts some very advanced features under the surface. Features that will change how you play Reason's instruments. The 'Single Note Repeat' function engages the arpeggiator only when two or more simultaneous notes are held down - letting you add sudden bursts of arpeggio to your melody lines. The 'Manual' mode will arpeggiate notes strictly in the order they were input, for realtime arpeggio control. The RPG-8 monophonic arpeggiator is a creative workhorse that can - and should - be used with all of Reason's sound sources; try arpeggiating your breakbeats, your orchestra samples, or your ReCycled vocals.

ReGroove
One of the most frequent complaints about sequenced music is that it doesn't have that human feel. The ReGroove mixer, Reason's own realtime groove management device, solves this problem. The ReGroove mixer in Reason 4 gives you more than just a set of sequencer swing parameters - this is a unique device dedicated to one thing: the groove. The ReGroove Mixer applies its timing magic non-destructively and in realtime, giving you freedom to adjust its settings - and fine-tune your groove - as your music is playing. And of course, Reason wouldn't be Reason without its huge Factory Sound Bank. The Sound Bank holds patches for all devices in Reason to help you get going instantly.

Reason
Reason is a full-featured music workstation that is only limited by your computer horsepower. You can literally stack instrument on top of instrument to create mind-blowing arrangements. Synthesizers, samplers, drum machine, ReCycle-based loop player, mixer, effects, pattern sequencer and more are all available to you, and load as many of each as your computer can handle. Reason is an infinitely expandable music workstation on a CD-ROM, complete with its own realtime sequencer. Reason is easily one of the most sought-after and used desktop musical environments available today.

16 MPC-style velocity and pressure sensitive pads

4 selectable pad banks for a total of 64 pads

6 assignable faders for transmitting MIDI Control Change data

8 assignable 360 degree knobs

Rewind, ff, stop, play and record buttons that transmit MMC (MIDI Machine Control) messages to DAW/Sequencing applications

Backlit, easy to read LCD display

MIDI and/or USB operation

USB powered (or powered via optional AC adaptor)

Included Editor Librarian software (Mac and PC)

Akai Sample library of classic drum machines (software included)

MPC 16 Levels and Full Level feature support

Propellerhead Reason 4 System Requirements:

Windows:
Windows XP or Vista
Processor: Intel P4 / AMD Athlon XP or better
Memory: 512 MB RAM minimum, 1 GB recommended
Screen resolution: 1024x768
2 GB free hard disk space
DVD drive
16-bit windows compatible audio card, preferably with
DirectX or ASIO drivers
Recommended: MIDI keyboard with built-in MIDI interface, or MIDI keyboard and MIDI interface

Mac OS:
Mac OS X 10.4 or later
Processor: G4 1GHz and up or Intel Mac
Memory: 512 MB RAM minimum, 1 GB recommended
Screen resolution: 1024x768
2 GB free hard disk space
DVD drive
Recommended: MIDI keyboard with built-in MIDI interface, or MIDI keyboard and MIDI interface