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Version 4 adds some new modules to the Reason rack

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Updates come and go these days, but few are able to generate the kind of excitement that surrounded the release of Reason 4. In the eyes of many, Reason practically invented the 'virtual studio' concept, and since the launch of the first version in 2000, it's become one of the most popular DAWs on the market.

ReGroove

But there's always room for improvement, and Reason 4 promises a complete overhaul and a raft of new features for Propellerhead's fanatical user base.

One of the most impressive additions is the ReGroove mixer. This is essentially a groove-quantise and shuffle-inducing hub, offering up to 32 independent channels of groove and shuffle control. Each of these is freely assignable to any track you like, whether it's a loop, drum machine part, keyboard riff or arpeggiator pattern. And for each, you can control the amount of shuffle or groove-quantise applied, completely non-destructively, using the mixer's faders and knobs.

But this function isn't much use without some great grooves, and Reason 4 has plenty of them (it's easy to add your own, too). There's a large selection that were obtained by extracting the grooves (including velocity) from classic funky tracks. A multitude of other styles are covered too, with plenty taken from bespoke loops recorded by some damn fine session drummers. Finally, the famous grooves of the highly coveted Akai MPC60 have been perfectly mapped as well.

Thor

While the ReGroove mixer is our new feature of choice, we're sure that many will be saying the same about Thor. Named after the Norse god of thunder, it's the answer to the prayers of those who knew in their hearts that Reason was previously lacking a heavyweight synthesizer.

In technical terms, we're looking at a synth with three oscillator modules, each of which can use one of six oscillator types (analogue, wavetable, phase mod, FM, multi and noise). Filtering is handled by up to three filter slots (each of which can be filled with a low-pass, variable state, comb or formant model).

Next up in Thor's semi-modular architecture are four envelopes, a shaper and two LFOs, and the whole thing is rounded off with chorus and delay modules, and a superb stepsequencer. And thanks to its semi-modular design, Thor offers endless modulation routing potential.

If you find all that confusing, it basically means that Thor can fire out a staggering range of sounds, emulating just about every type of synth you could wish for. Demonstrating this is a sizable collection of presets - they're perhaps not the most imaginative or groundbreaking ever devised, but among them you'll find tones that are close to just about every synth sound you can think of. Combine this with Thor's well laid out interface and you have one of the most educational and user-friendly synths around.

Aside from Thor, the only other new rack unit is the RPG-8 arpeggiator - but what an addition it is! It's a beauty, and enough to get anybody hooked on evolving melodic riffs, regardless of their musical proclivities.