Reason 8.0 In Dub (3): Delayerings and Reverberations

REASON 8.0 IN DUB (3): DELAYERINGS AND REVERBERATIONS
STUDIO DUBROOM ON PROPELLERHEAD'S REASON

WWW, November 2014 - Reverb and delay: the two basic effects for a Dub mix. In this third chapter of REASON 8.0 IN DUB, both effects are subject to a deeper reviewing in word, sound and sight. Another original Reggae riddim was created, rendered to eight audio tracks and imported into a multi-track DUB set up in Reason. A report.

Before we'll take a look at some of the delay and reverb devices and -more important- see and hear them in action, a few words about creating a riddim in Reason. Reason 8.0's new browser is a tremendous help during this process. Where it's rather obvious how the quality of the work-flow had dramatically improved since Reason 3.0, this browser in itself contributes significantly to it. Picking sounds for your sampler or drum computer goes very quick, especially when you use the drag-and-drop possibilities.

Love it or hate it: the Neptune Voice Synthesizer does it's work quite well. Just load a few vocal samples and make sure they're fit in the rhythm.

After this, make a little midi harmony in the Neptune's sequencer channel (see picture right, click to enlarge), make sure the vocals feed the Neptune and you have your very own harmony vocals 21th century style.

Another thing worth mentioning here are the two amps created by Softube that ship with Reason 8.0.

When you want to use real guitar sounds next to the real bass guitar sounds, both the guitar amp and the bass amp do a wonderful job. The wah-wah guitar you'll hear in the mix has a significant better sound when run through the amp and so does the bass.

Creating a riddim is as easy as your inspiration will let you fill in the blank sequencer. It does take computer power, though. Even running the DAW in 64 bit modus with full 8 gigabytes available will not let you set up a complete Dub environment while using all the instruments. Rendering your riddim to audio tracks solves that problem and will bring you directly in the situation wherein Dub is actually made: after all, it's a remixing technique of multi-track recordings or "stems".

For this series, a special multi-track Dub environment was created in Reason. Unfortunately it's not possible to make the stems available for download because of license limitations, but when you take a look at the Dubroom's tutorial on making Dub with computers or at the graphic right (click to enlarge), you'll get the idea. This is the principal according to which the Dub environment is set up. 

Since Reason's console has eight auxiliary outputs, you'll have the possibility to connect six effects. Route the output of the effect devices to a channel input and you can layer effect over effects. This is exactly what's going to be done quite heavily in the Dub that was made for this report. 

Now, let's take a closer look at the effects themselves.

• Aux-Out 1: DDL-1 Delay -> PEQ-2 EQ
• Aux-Out 2: RV-7000 Ping-Pong Delay
• Aux-Out 3: THE ECHO with a Dubroom preset
• Aux-Out 4: RV-7000 Reverb and/or Synapse DR-1 Reverb
• Aux-Out 5: Echobode Rack Extension (random preset)
• Aux-Out 6: T2 Phaser (Dubroom preset)
• Aux-Out 7: Audiomatic (Psych preset)
• Aux-out 8: RV-7000 Reverse Reverb

In the Dub mix, you'll hear both reverb devices or just the DR-1. At the console, the two channels at the far right feed the devices. There is quite a difference to be heard when you hear both reverb devices, as both devices come back into the console in the same channel. To achieve this set up, use was made of the FREE Audio merger and splitter Rack Extensions by Blamsoft.

You'll hear a little bit from the Echobode Rack Extension. This is a frequency shifter and delay device that at this point is yet to be reviewed deeper. THE ECHO is taken to a deeper level as well. Of course, the manual delay (aux 1, more info here) and the RV-7000 with a Dubroom Ping Pong delay preset are featured.

The T2 Phaser (available for around 15 euro at the propshop) does some crucial things to the drums. A Dubroom preset is used for it. This is a heartically recommended Rack Extension. Just listen to what it does with the drums!

Nuff read. Look and listen:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejPoce6sON8

The signals feeds like the Ping Pong delay, which at it's turn feeds THE ECHO. That's just one layering of effects used in this mix. There's a lot more going on, all possible because of the way everything is routed. Tweaking the EQ on the reverb channel is quite effective, but that was already made clear in the previous dub mixes.

It's not easy to create Dub effects in the lower frequencies (read: bass line), but both the DR-1 and the RV-7000 showed to be perfectly able to deal with the deeper realms. They sound nice together as well. 

To conclude, a word about the Echobode. The first audible patch was taken and the thing tweaked just a little bit, without being hindered by any knowledge of the device itself. This in itself showed a potential that most certainly will be looked at more in-depth.

For now: 

One Love,
Messian Dread

LINKS
DUB MIX (MP3) - GUITAR AMP PATCH - BASS AMP PATCH - PHASER PATCH - GET T2 PHASER - GET T2 PHASER - GET SYNAPSE DR-1 - GET FREE MERGER - GET FREE SPLITTER - MORE DUBROOM REASON STUFF

 

Reason 8.0 In Dub (2): The Echo And Synapse Wetness

REASON 8.0 IN DUB (2): THE ECHO AND SYNAPSE WETNESS
STUDIO DUBROOM ON PROPELLERHEAD'S REASON

WWW, November 2014 - For this second part of REASON 8.0 IN DUB, Messian Dread created another original riddim and took a thirty-day trial of the Synapse DR-1 Reverb Rack Extension. He also tweaked THE ECHO in what became yet another fat Dub created only with Propellerhead's Reason 8.0. Another report from the studio.

Reason's RV-7000 Advanced Reverb does more than a decent job, especially when you consider it's the standard reverb in a 450 Euro DAW. It has been used by many producers whose choice was the RV-7000. Still, it turns out the blue device doesn't do everything and that's exactly where the DR-1 comes into focus. Taking a thirty-day trial for the 35 Euro Reverb device is free, and it turned out to be a very interesting choice.

Another thing that really needed a deeper review is THE ECHO, Propellerhead's very own "Advanced Delay". To see it live in action during a Dub mix is obviously the best way to discover some of it's features and that's exactly what can be done in this report.

Yet a third thing is the bass. As it turned out, feeding the AUDIOMATIC with the "Psyche" preset, which at it's turn feeds the DR-1 produced a wonderful effect on the bass. 

Before the Dub could be mixed, again from eight different audio tracks or stems, the riddim had to be made. Drums, percussion, bass, organ, piano, guitars, horns and vocals. Once again, the NEPTUNE Voice Synthesizer was applied to create some kind of effect on the vocals just because of the vibe it gives. For the vocals, just a few phrases were used. Once again, the bass amp was used for the bassline and two different guitar amps for the two different guitars. The horns went through DR Octorex's own filter before it was rendered to an audio track.

Here you are: enjoy another Dub of Infotainment:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82jjIb8VdEc

When you would like to compare the DR-1 with the RV-7000, download the MP3 files. The two mixes are identical, the only difference is the reverb device.

One Love,
Messian Dread

DUB MIX (DR-1) - DUB MIX (RV-7000) - GET SYNAPSE DR-1 - MORE DUBROOM REASON STUFF

 

Reason 8.0 In Dub (1): Action Rack Extension

REASON 8.0 IN DUB (1): ACTION RACK EXTENSION
STUDIO DUBROOM ON PROPELLERHEAD'S REASON

WWW, November 2014 - After the very well received review of Reason 8.0 especially for the DUB Community, the Dubroom continues to explore and review Propellerhead's flagship. In "Action Rack Extension", Messian Dread mixes eight audio tracks into a heavy DUB using all six FX outputs on Reason's console. A report in sight and sound.

The best way to explore Reason, obviously, is to create riddims and make a Dubs from them. This is exactly what has been going on these last weeks over here in the Dubroom. At a later stage, more about creating riddims with Reason. For now, just the report that creating riddims is a true joy and Reason has a positive role in the inspiration.

Reason runs in 64bit on a machine with 8 Gigs of RAM and Intel processors of the newest kind. The software was loaded with drum computers, sound modules, loop players and of course the Neptune voice synthesizer. As soon as Reason hit the ceiling, the riddim was rendered to hard disk in the form of eight multi-tracks or stems. Unfortunately these multi-tracks cannot be shared as that would go beyond the Dubroom's license, but the result can be witnessed in the form of a You Tube video you can watch later on in this report. 

In fact, making a DUB from an audio multi-track is the authentic and original way of making DUB. This is how the music came into existence, as the Jamaican studio bands played one riddim after the other into the multi-track recorder and the DUB engineer turned everything into that music we all love to play so much. This is exactly how the DUB for this report was made.

Reason was set up with eight audio channels, one for sound FX, and six console input channels for all six auxiliary outputs. Yes, six different effect devices are used in this particular set up. Their output goes to console input channels. Over here, we don't deal with returns but you can read about these things elsewhere in the studio. 

Next to different RV7000's for delays and reverbs, The Echo was put in there as well as two Audiomatic devices. The Audiomatic is a Rack Extension, Propellerhead Reason's very own plug-in format. It ships for free with Reason 8.0, just like the excellent bass amp responsible for the warm and deep bass sound in this mix. 

Another Rack Extension used is the T2 Phaser (review). You can download and use the device in your Reason rack for free for 30 days or decide to buy it. It's only about 15 euros and worth much more than that. In fact, for DUB created only with Reason the T2 is obligatory.

Rack extensions work like any other device you can load in Reason's rack. Connect them, make a sequencer track and start recording your automation. 

The T2 and the Audiomatic Rack extensions turn out to integrate fully in a DUB environment. The Echo on top of that gives that extra touch but at this time, the device is not fully tested so there is much more potential than the stuff you can hear in the mix created for this report.

After an initial sound check on the correctly connected set up, finally the DUB could be mixed. An exciting moment. This would show how much is true concerning Propellerhead's claims about workflow in Reason 8.0. Will there be hick-up's when the loop points are changed? Will everything be in sync in the first place? How about latency when you use the on-board soundcards with an ASIO4ALL driver? 

Everything went extremely smooth. Six different effects that take up their processing power, not to speak about the console itself and the eight different audio tracks can all be handled in virtual real-time. There's no experienceable latency, as the Reason sequencer records and plays the mixing automation.

The Dub? Check it out:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeP7oyIMImo

Both the Audiomatic and the T2 get their fair chance, especially in the second half of the mix when the two effects follow up on each other. The Audiomatic turns out to be crucial in deforming both the bass and the drums. Especially when combined with other effects (reverb), this little big thing can drive your mix to a next dimension. The T2 (reviewed here) is a very, very decent phaser that works excellently as well. 

The RV7000's and the manual delay do their thing. A ping-pong delay, a reverse reverb and a more or less standard hall effect for the RV7000 devices. The Echo is tweaked at a certain point showcasing some of it's potential, but there has to be some deeper exploring of the delay.

Even though not so much effort was put in the actual riddim, the result is a very reasonable Dub mix. Mixing the Dub is a true pleasure, and Reason's workflow plays a part in it, definitely. The technique behind the automation and everything is very high in quality and low in causing problems.

One Love,
Messian Dread

PATCHES (ZIP) - GET T2 PHASER - MORE DUBROOM REASON STUFF

 

The T2 Phaser Rack Extension (Studio Dubroom On Propellerhead's Reason)

THE T2 PHASER RACK EXTENSION
STUDIO DUBROOM ON PROPELLERHEAD'S REASON

WWW, November 2014 - The in-program phaser in Reason is not the DAW's strongest feature. This very fact has been picked up by "That Music Company": they developed a very fine phaser which can be yours for the price of about 15 euros. Presenting the T2 Phaser Rack Extension!

Rack Extensions. It's Propellerhead's name for the Reason internal plug-in format. You get a few when you purchase Reason, you can download one or two for free but the bulk can be discovered by visiting the "Prop Shop".

For a DUB engineer, browsing the Rack Extensions can be, well, time-consuming. After all, most are aimed at the production of EDM ("Electronic Dance Music") and will not really add much to the standard effects and instruments in Reason.

Not so with the T2 Phaser (see picture, click to enlarge). It's the second device created by the small Rack Extension developer "That Music Company", based in San Jose (California, USA) and it truly is an extension to your rack.

First thing that stands out is the price. For about 15 euros, the T2 is yours. That's fifteen euros to de facto replace Reason's standard phaser because as soon as you run the T2 in your set up you'll hear the power in the thing.

It basically has three main sections: Overdrive, Phaser and HPF (Hi-Pass Filter). Overdrive and HPF will add vibes to the main sound the Phaser section produces. You can set waveforms and on top of that, different steps. Pan effects belong to the possibilities too, you can even trigger the T2 by midi notes.

Got Reason? Get the T2. It's that simple. Just download the phaser, you will have thirty days to discover the fully functional device before you will undoubtedly decide to have it permanently in your effect collection.

WEBSITE - PROPSHOP - MORE DUBROOM REASON STUFF

 

Reason 8.0: A Review For The Dub Community

REASON 8.0: A REVIEW FOR THE DUB COMMUNITY
STUDIO DUBROOM SOFTWARE AND SOUNDWARE REVIEW

 

 

WWW, October 16 2014 - It's been close to a decade since the launch of Reason 3.0 and the Dubroom's review of the then groundbreaking, ultra-flexible Dub-friendly music production software. We've promoted the software continually ever since it was established how it was possible to make Dub using just one program. Just recently, Reason 8.0 was released and arrived in the Dubroom not much later. We went in-depth again, from 3.0 straight to eight and came back with this review exclusively for the Dub Community.

Of course, we don't have to re-establish how it is possible to make DUB using Reason as a Stand-Alone Digital Audio Workstation (DAW). We did that when Reason 3.0 had arrived and changed the way to produce the music we all love to produce. It's obvious that Reason 8.0 enables you to do what version 3.0 offered, and it's obvious that we're a decade later into the research and development at the Scandinavian laboratories.

Just in case, though. Yes, you can make Dub not just using just a computer but using just one program. The name of that program is Reason, of which version 8.0 was released just two weeks prior to the publication of this review. 

In a way, this is not just a review of Reason 8.0, it's a review of ten years of development at Propellerhead and in the production of DUB Music using just a computer. In this decade, producing music with just a computer has become what it should be: commonly accepted. No longer is it considered to be avant-gardistic to side-step snobby studio owners with attitudes and reach your audience directly with computer-based productions. 

No longer are computer-based producers looked down upon, and Reason has played a huge part in this wonderful development.

It's October 2014. Welcome to a review of Reason 8.0, software that enables you to turn that idea in your head into sounds from your audience's speakers.

We're going to take a deep look into the many new features that have been added to Propellerhead's flag ship during the last decade. Sure, there are many new devices that look promising at first sight. After all, that's what we need in our studio. Brand new in Reason 8.0 is the updated browser, which needs to be examined too. Will it be quicker in this new way to find what you're looking for?

Questions, questions. 

Door locked, all projects put on hold for more than a week. Reason was the object of undivided attention as this review was written, Dubs created and put on You Tube along with other things like detailed screenshots taken. You can read all about this in this extensive, in-depth review of Reason 8.0 where all things DUB are considered and tried.

In fact, the review is so long that it's divided in different parts. However, it's possible to check out the full review on one long page as well. 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART ONE: INTRODUCTION CLICK TO READ
A review for the Dub community - A Dub engineer's perspective - The configuration - The installation process

PART TWO: FIRST STEPS CLICK TO READ
A first impression - A closer look - A first session

PART THREE: FEATURES CLICK TO READ
The mixing console - The rack -The devices - The sequencer - The browser - Two missing links - Rack extensions

PART FOUR: THE DEVICES CLICK TO READ
The effects - The instruments - The utilities

PART FIVE: CONCLUSION CLICK TO READ
The work-flow - A final Dub - Reason eight straight out...

REASON 8.0: A REVIEW FOR THE DUB COMMUNITY CLICK TO READ
Read the full review on one page

Digital Dignity: Half a Gigabyte of High Quality Free Licensed (DUB) Reggae Samples In a New Studio Dubroom Feature

DIGITAL DIGNITY: HALF A GIGABYTE OF FREE LICENSED HI-Q (DUB) REGGAE SAMPLES AND LOOPS IN A NEW STUDIO FEATURE
STUDIO DUBROOM NEWS

WWW, September 2014 - Attention (DUB) Reggae producers and other visitors/users of Studio Dubroom: a brand new feature in the studio will provide you with over 560 Mb of free, legal, fully licensed high quality (DUB) Reggae Samples and Loops. We're talking drums, bass, guitars, horns, vocals, Dub effects and everything else you can think of in the field of the production of (DUB) Reggae Music.

It's called "Digital Dignity" and for a reason. There are too many online (DUB) Reggae artists that make use of jingles, loops and samples from well known or lesser known albums. For non-commercial productions that's quite a common practice but it will not lead you as a producer to the ability to release your music commercially. It's a common practice, but it doesn't really do anything else but make people think of the original.

Yes, it is better to get some dignity in your productions by getting some dignity for yourself: over half a gig of that material is waiting for you in our brand new Loopmasters (DUB) Reggae portal.

So what did we do and what can you do?

First, we've gathered all thirty (DUB) Reggae products that come with a demo file from the Sample Boutique and -second- created a page for each release. From that page you can directly download the Demo file attached to the product. You'll have to be registered and logged in to the Loop Masters website, but since that is a free thing and can even provide you with more goodies, registration at Loop Masters will not hurt you at all.

We are talking about samples and loops by Ariwa studio, Jesse "Dubmatix" King, the heavyweight champions at Drum Drops, and a lot more. A large part has authentic vocal loops and samples, but you can find some nice horns and other material.

Read the introduction page and start downloading. When you have a reasonable fast Internet connection, about 15 minutes of your time will deliver you a very valuable addition to your Sound library.

This is not a collaboration between Loop Masters and the Dubroom, this is the sole decision of the Dubroom and it is done out of a genuine appreciation with the good quality, service and prices at the Sample Boutique. 

CLICK HERE VISIT THE PORTAL

 

Studio Dubroom Review: Don Goliath Presents Reggae & Dub Acapellas

DON GOLIATH PRESENTS REGGAE & DUB ACAPELLAS
STUDIO DUBROOM SOFTWARE AND SOUNDWARE REVIEW

WWW, August 2014 - Introducing what can easily be called the best line of Reggae Vocal Sample packs until this date: "Don Goliath Presents Reggae & Dub Acapellas". Obligated material for every self-respecting (online) Dub/Reggae producer in need for vocals, without apology and exaggeration. Yes, that's a description and not a slogan. And here is the proof and reasoning to back it up. 

When you go to the various websites where the online (DUB) Reggae artists/producers upload their material, it will not take too long before you stumble upon a tune that has one of these well known jingles from Mikey Dread's albums, or Prince Far I, or Jah Thomas. Just three, you know. But "everyone" knows them and even though non-commercial releases will usually not be objected, using such vocal samples is not really a sign of dignity.

Producing your own (DUB) Reggae and releasing it in a legal way: let's call it the Dignity Combination.

Sure, there were times when it was simply not possible for your average online Dub producer to obtain vocal material in a legal way and not get bankrupt. Even stronger, there simply was no vocal material available for use in your own productions until more recently, when DUB DROPS released their excellent "SOUND SYSTEM VOCALS" featuring Dennis Alcapone and Horseman. Three releases, all three reviewed in the Dubroom and used in the productions of the studio that is attached to this website. 

And now there is the line of Reggae & Dub Acapellas by Don Goliath.

Or, to be more specific, presented by Don Goliath, who also contributed vocally.

When you've never heard of Don Goliath, and you're looking at names like Horseman and Dennis Alcapone as an alternative option, you can make the enormous mistake of overlooking this line of Reggae Vocal sample releases. A mistake which can easily be overcome, though, by continuing to read this (first) review.

Let's carry on dropping names, just to make some points:

• Dillinger
• Trinity
• Kojak
• Lone Ranger
• U Roy
• Prince Jazzbo

All six names have, like Dennis Alcapone and Horseman, legendary status. U Roy can be considered the founding father of DJ-ing, not just in Reggae but in every style of music including Hip-Hop. Lone Ranger has been voicing for Studio One, the starting point of too many careers to mention. Dillinger had a world hit with "Cokane In My Brain", Trinity voiced the classic "Jesus Dread". Before Kojak chanted as a DJ, his got a name as part of the duo Kojak and Liza. Prince Jazzbo features on classic albums from Black Ark and has many essential productions on his own name. And that's just a little name dropping to set the tone.

The tone of Roots Reggae as authentic as authentic can be.

Yes, you've guessed it. Don Goliath's series has all six of these famous vocalists included. Among much more, that is.

Read on.

READ REVIEW, DOWNLOAD SOUNDS, GET LOOPS

Female Vocals Reviewed (Studio Dubroom Download Review For Producers)

FEMALE VOCALS REVIEWED
STUDIO DUBROOM DOWNLOAD

WWW, July 2014 - They have absolutely nothing to do with (DUB) Reggae as far as the online information gathered for this review has shown, but that doesn't really mean anything as far as (DUB) Reggae goes. A little cryptic perhaps, but nevertheless quite accurate when it comes to the three free female vocal packs reviewed in this article.

When King Tubby started to develop the Art of DUB, he started a technique that would be incorporated in just about every electronic musical genre you can think of, from Hip Hop to EDM. A few styles like Dubstep or Drum 'n' Bass even have Reggae phrases incorporated in their names. This mere fact alone completely justifies and explains why it could be interesting for your online (DUB) Reggae producer to browse a little bit through sample sites aimed at producers of EDM.

One aspect of Electronic Dance Music is the use of female vocals, very similar to the way vocals are used in Dub: lyrics, words, lines and adlibs drop in and out at strategic moments in the mix. This opens up a door of possibilities for the producer of DUB and even your non-DUB Reggae, because the availability of vocal packs for EDM producers is pretty wide.

For this review, we take a look at three different female vocal packs. The packs can be downloaded for free and they include a license for use in your productions, even commercial releases are possible. One nasty point: one of the packs can only be downloaded by registered members of Facebook but then you could get a friend who is registered at that website to do it for you.

First, there are two different packs containing the talented and skilled voice of UK based singer MANDY EDGE. They are available for free download at the SAMPLE RADAR website, you can find the first pack carrying 426 mB weight here, and the second one (237 mB) can be downloaded from this page. Then there is a free Vocal sample pack from UK based Dubstep Singer/Producer AIVA, which you can get after liking her on Facebook. That's just very unfortunate for those of us who do not have a Facebook account but then, again, you could ask someone who does. 

All three packs contain a really impressive set of vocal lines, phrases and adlibs. They also contain lines and phrases that you might not want to use: slackness is easy to extract but then, slackness is always an easy road. In the same time, slackness is such a  thing where a self-inflicted blind spot usually functions very well. In fact, such a blind spot in necessary for all conscious artists wherever they perform or produce so let's take-this-truth-to-be-self-evident.

The samples come with information about pitch and BPM included in the filenames and folders, some are dry and others come with effects. The effected samples can easily be incorporated in an already existing tracks you might have made, the influence of DUB is not just undeniable present, these are dubbed vocals. 

When used with care and respect for the singers, the way it should be done anywhere and everywhere, are -literary- priceless additions to your sound library. They can add an extra dimension to your track(s), and -depending on your creativity- that extra dimension does not have to be a "techno vibe" or something like that. 

Just listen to the following 30 seconds of so with a Dubroom riddim and two vocal lines from the Sample Radar packs:

DOWNLOAD MP3

That's just two lines out of really hundreds that you can pick and insert. Creative minds will probably hear their own riddim behind it. Or take this track featuring two lines taken from AIVA's pack (among other things described here):

DOWNLOAD MP3

You can even say that just these two lines give a very special and atmospheric elements to the riddim, even an identifiable element in the sense that the lines keep ringing in your head after the track is done.

Three excellent vocal packs, well, more than excellent. These are very talented and skilled singers that control their voice in an impressive way. When done respectfully, the samples can bring your riddim(s) further without dragging everything into slackness or other evidently cheap abuse of the female part of our human race. 

AIVA FACEBOOK PAGE - SAMPLE RADAR 1 -  SAMPLE RADAR 2

Rasta Vocal Samples Featuring Dan Man

RASTA VOCAL SAMPLES FEATURING DAN MAN
STUDIO DUBROOM SOFTWARE AND SOUNDWARE REVIEW

WWW, July 2014 - Voicing with one of the heaviest UK Sound Systems (Iration Steppas) is a heavyweight job. Almost as heavy as the bass going through the many speakers of the sound. You need to have the right voice, the right words and the right attitude. Dan Man has it all and some of this is captured in RASTA VOCAL SAMPLES.

First things first: do not just go by the names and here is why. When you check the reviews of Sound System Vocals Parts one, two and three, you will find out that the material featured in these packages are applicable in much more than "just" a Sound System or DJ live set. Since the Dubroom released several full lyrical tracks from the material, that's an easily establishable fact.

When you read "Rasta Vocal Samples", you do -unlike with the name of the previously mentioned products- expect more than material for a live Sound System or DJ-set and yet it takes a lot of work to get there. In other words, this is not your primary vocal package when you are looking for material to make full length Reggae tracks. There is simply not enough variation and material in general to construct a sensible lyrical track. Possibilities will not be more than a few lines.

In fact, the main focus of RASTA VOCAL SAMPLES is not the producer of Reggae or even DUB. This is definitely a product that should be considered first and foremost by owners of Sound Systems, virtual online or in the Outernet. The major part of the pack contains shouts and short phrases which will -when placed strategically- give an extra touch to your selection without the shadow of a doubt.

Unfortunately, it has a part reserved for your typical Sound Clash phrases: "killing soundboys" and stuff like that. Not directly something to put in your righteous Roots track, and even a bit outdated as the vibe in Roots land is more and more that of One Love instead of clashing. It could be that the producers of RASTA VOCAL SAMPLES have focused a bit too much on other forms of music, music where Sound Clashes may very well be popular. The fact that there is a part two, not with Dan Man, which will not be reviewed in the Dubroom doesn't promise too much good either. 

Fortunately, you can just choose to ignore the verbal violence since there is more than enough material left. Especially when you've already purchased Sound System Vocals Parts one, two and three at LOOPMASTERS.com and have not spent the virtual cash you own with each purchase, the few euro's or pounds or dollars it costs will definitely provide you with a valuable addition to your vocal sound library. 

For DJ's and Selectors, this product is definitely recommended. Producers of DUB will also benefit from the material as there are many short phrases, shouts and even a few singing lines you can use. RASTA VOCAL SAMPLES is all about the music, about original music and about spicing up the music. This is a spice that gives a Jamaican flavor to non-Reggae tracks and adds some thrill and excitement on top of Roots Reggae riddims.

READ REVIEWS, DOWNLOAD SOUNDS, GET LOOPS

MAD PROFESSOR'S REEL TO REEL REGGAE PART TWO

MAD PROFESSOR'S REEL TO REEL REGGAE PART TWO
STUDIO DUBROOM SOFTWARE AND SOUNDWARE REVIEW

WWW, JULY 2014 - In what could very well be the first review of the product, we take a look at Mad Professor's Reel to Reel Reggae Part Two as it was just released by Loopmasters. They've been visiting the Professor in his Ariwa studio once again and came back with some very, very interesting material. Read all about it, at least download a demo for free and find out how your productions can be served and improved by the package.

Without a doubt, part two goes further than it's predecessor. It has several things that you could only crave for and probably did, which gets clear at the beginning. So let's start there. Unlike part one, you can choose to buy certain segments rather than the whole pack which can come in handy when you're not able to purchase everything in one go or when you're simply just interested in certain aspects. Here they are:

• Drum Loops
• Bass Loops
• Music Loops
• One Shots (with sampler patches)

For this review (and of course for the Dubroom's musical productions) we've purchased the Music Loops and the One Shots. For the drum and the bass, we simply took a listen to the streaming demo's and dived in the downloadable 55 Mb free demo pack. In the the knowledge that we're dealing here with stuff from Mad Professor's Ariwa Sound Studio, and with reference to Part One, we find ourselves having a solid foundation for our examination.

READ REVIEW, DOWNLOAD SOUNDS, GET LOOPS

BLUE CAT'S FREE PLUGIN PACK

BLUE CAT'S FREE PLUGIN PACK
STUDIO DUBROOM DOWNLOAD

WWW, June 2014 - When the flanger in the free Plug-In Pack is anything close to representing the quality of the rest of the effects, and why shouldn't it be, the Blue Cat has a very fine gift to producers and musicians. Whatever your flavour (VST etc), they have it and you can too.

Admitted: it's just the flanger that was used and it wasn't for this review even though it caused this review to be there in the first place. In other words: this sounded too good to not share and so it was done.  This is a flanger that leaves some of it's commercially available competitors way behind. It works fine with drums and even with voice, when you're into weird Dub mixing that is.

READ MORE AND DOWNLOAD

DUBDROPS SOUND SYSTEM VOCALS PARTS 1, 2 AND 3

DUBDROPS SOUND SYSTEM VOCALS PARTS 1, 2 AND 3
STUDIO DUBROOM SOFTWARE AND SOUNDWARE REVIEW

WWW, June 2014 - Just like the previous SoundWare review,  this Dubroom review of the excellent Sound System Vocals by DubDrops (not coincidently sounding like DrumDrops) also comes with some practical sound illustrations in the form of released Dubroom productions. So you wondered where the recent releases featuring Horseman and Dennis Alcapone came from, because you're a producer/selector/whatever yourself? Now you know, without apology. 

Consider all Dubroom productions carrying the works of Horseman and/or Dennis Alcapone to be unofficial promo's for the Sound System Vocals series by DubDrops. Yes, they are completely free and legal musical works representing the current state of the Dubroom Studio and musical phase of it's engineer and can hopefully enjoyed by those that will never read bother to read a review about soundware because they just love (DUB) Reggae Music: the audience, the ones for who ultimately all of we do it. But the music is also partly the result of purchasing the series, for which we make no apology. 

Quite the contrary.

So, when you're a producer, selector, or otherwise interested in reading about the DubDrops series, you might want to check out the Dubroom's three-part in-depth review and decide for yourself if this is something for you as well.

READ REVIEW, DOWNLOAD SOUNDS, GET LOOPS

MAD PROFESSOR: REEL TO REEL REGGAE SAMPLES AND LOOPS

MAD PROFESSOR: REEL TO REEL REGGAE SAMPLES AND LOOPS
STUDIO DUBROOM SOFTWARE AND SOUNDWARE REVIEW

WWW, June 2014 - Those who have been listening to the first Dubroom productions in the new 2014 sound, have been recognizing very familiar elements. At least, to those who know their (DUB) Reggae music. Yes, there were two releases carrying horns that unmistakably came from Mad Professor's ARIWA SOUND Studio's. So, what was the case? Yes, they were the result of a purchase of Mad Professor's REEL 2 REEL REGGAE, a loops and sample pack that gives you enough material to fill several albums.

Read a Dubroom review of the sample pack, download/listen to an MP3 track with just some loops and standard echo/reverb plus a little bit of moving sliders on the REX players which already gives a pretty decent taste of the quality and potential of REEL TO REEL Reggae.

READ REVIEW, DOWNLOAD SOUNDS, GET LOOPS