For the fourth assignment in Music 120, we were asked to create a soundscape using Reason’s software synthesis methods. Basically, you feed this program called Reason some MIDI input from a keyboard, and it uses that to trigger different sounds and syntheses. You can adjust all the different oscillator settings and tone and frequency modulation to get the sound you desire. So, here’s a link to the mp3 of my final project and the .rns Reason file:

Assignment 4 – Soundscape.mp3
Assignment 4 – Soundscape.rns

To get used to Reason, I created two “trial” mixes, both of which are very short. The first one was drum and bass with a drone in the background, just to get a feel for this stuff:

Assignment 4 – Practice 1.mp3
Assignment 4 – Practice 1.rns

The second is more elaborate, with very choppy staccatto drums, randomly sounding synth bassline, chimes across the top to act as a lead, and various synthesized effects that ring in and out:

Assignment 4 – Practice 2.mp3
Assignment 4 – Practice 2.rns

If there’s something cool about Reason, it’s that once you define your software synth instrument, you can overdub yourself over and over again. If you’re not good with keyboards, like me, just record the bass drum, then add a snare where you like it, then add cymbals, then add something else!

One Response to “Music 120: Assignment 4”

1. Gray Doubt says:

   12/20/2005 at 2:03 pm

   Hello, there. I stumbled across your page and checked out your Reason creations. Your Assignment 4 – Practice 2.mp3 file contains 4 notes that I’ve
   “ripped off” and dabbled with. You can find the result here. The file is called Run. I’ve never had the pleasure of studying music, but I think I’d like to at some point in time. And eventually I should probably get a keyboard or some other MIDI input device. Pointing and clicking with the mouse gets old fast.

   Reply