Ableton Live vs Reason

You can add curves to automation. Additionally, Ableton lets users duplicate certain automations quickly.

The Ableton DAW offers a great sampling experience, which can be approached in many different ways. Audio can be directly chopped, quantized, warped, and even chopped into MIDI clips. Ableton's built in sampler also allows clean pitching along with useful loop functions.

Ableton's session view gives a much quicker, more flexible way of experimenting with ideas than a typical linear interface. In session view, each instrument part is a separate entity that can be mixed and matched with other parts without having to rearrange anything. Any and every effect is consolidated into one clean looking interface.

It allows users to experiment with effects and other manipulations very quickly. Because of this, Ableton is known as one of the most creative DAWs out there.

While all DAWs are capable of playing music live, Ableton Live is the most DJ friendly DAW out there as it allows mixing and mashing various MIDI or audio clips together in real-time while still making sure that they're in sync.

Ableton's new EQ includes an integrated spectrum analyzer so users can see exactly which frequencies need to be adjusted. Additionally, this EQ cuts by 48 db. Up until Ableton Live 9, the EQ only cut by 12 db.

The browser lets users choose from live Sets, tracks, clips, devices, presets, samples, etc. There is also an auto-play function for audio clips that enables users to browse samples quickly. The search function is also handy, but only for clips that are labeled appropriately.

Starting with Live 9, users can see session and arrangement views at the same time with dual monitor support.

15 software instruments, 55 audio effects and 17 midi effects.

With Max for Live, users can create custom synthesizers, audio effects, sequencers, samplers, and more. Max for Live is a feature that is available starting with Live 9 Suite.

After some training this daw can be used for doing anything. There are basically no limits.

Not everyone realizes this, but anything can be done in multiple ways in Live. Multiple ways of playing samples, multiple ways of slicing samples, multiple ways of sequencing MIDI, etc.

Not only can the time stretching can be done in real-time, there are about a dozen of TC/E algorithms to choose from.

Skeuomorphism is described as retaining antiquated aesthetic features on an updated version of a device. For DAWs, this happens when an interface is littered with analog nobs, wires, and other things that are reminiscent of older technology. While this can be considered a stylistic choice for some DAWs, it tends to block progress towards better practices in music production.

Many MIDI controllers have been developed for the exclusive purpose of being used with Ableton. Some popular Live controllers include Push, APC40, and Launchpad.

The amount of well-versed tutorials and guides online can help you master Live in a few hours. Secret tips and tricks are also widespread. Forums are filled to the brim with support for any issue you can think of.

Maybe not on certain systems, but when used in an normal system it's very stable.

VST3s now run smoothly in Ableton 10.1 and up. However, be careful when loading in CPU-heavy plugins.

In Live V10, you can trigger MIDI notes without having to do so from the start.

You can make your own skin/themes online and use it in "preferences" tab!

Audio to midi, scales on piano roll, etc.

With a simple plugin, Ableton allows the user to pick from a wide variety of scales when triggering notes.

You can easily warp audio with many different modes and resolutions, and change individual warp markers.

Synths, effects, and utilities can be modularly wired via audio and CV.

Reason may look intimidating at first, but it is just as easy to learn as any DAW, if not more so, yet has incredible depth once you delve deeper, with some options that are just not possible in other DAWs.

As of version 9.5, Reason now supports VSTs.

Very stable and fluid. Rarely crashes.

Reason's Audio Pitch Editor easily can hold its own to Melodyne Essentials. Makes editing vocals and other monophonic sound very easy.

You can go really deep into creating sound and routing. Find possibilities you cant do with any other DAW.

MIDI out is a new addition in Reason, allowing feedback to MIDI devices.

The multi fx are very nice. Great for transitions and complete sound management.

Reason's rack and mixer visually emulate real studio hardware through a skeuomorphic GUI/UX, allowing you to route audio cables and CV very intuitively. Hit "tab" on your computer keyboard, and you can see the rear of the rack, making routing very easy to understand.

Professionally produced tutorial videos often released by Propellerhead that show you how to use the software. Reason also has a thriving user base that offers video tutorials showing you how to do almost anything you need.

One of the best if not the best mixer on any daw.

Reason makes it easy to stretch audio or slice it up for glitchy sound effects. When audio is loaded, it is analyzed so slice markers can be placed at the beginning and end of each note. Slice markers appear when the audio sample is double clicked.

Is great for more ideas and creativity.

Can work with reason Rack in any Daw

Using clips makes it very easy to automate precisely.

Has one of the best and creative samplers among the DAWs and in the market. Like Mimic.

Great set of instruments and players and samplers included out of the box.

You can open and work multiple projects at the same time

Can display reason windows onn multiple screens

Mulitple high quality built in synthesisers, drum loops, samplers and effects with plenty of pre-built patches to explore plus the ability to create your own unique sounds.

REX files record effects and slices on top of the original file, and will play audio at the tempo of a project. REX files provide many uses and are a great addition to Reason.