I first used ReBirth by Propellerheads back in 1995 and was hooked! Around the same time I was working mobile discos and small clubs and having the hands-on experience of DJ mixing with physical hardware, I found Propellerheads aproach easy to relate to. Dispite having very limited sight and relying on screen magnification to use the computer, I stilled enjoyed using the Propellerheads software.
Later I got a copy of Reason 3 and a few tutorials and found the software easy to learn and again really enjoyed using it. Now we’re on Reason 14 and although the DAW is still great, it has become less accessible with almost no screen reader support. Now I use Ableton Live 12 and Maschine mk3 as these both have support for blind users.
One of the features I have always liked about Reason is the flexibility for MIDI remote control. This is where you can connect up your MIDI hardware, anything from keyboards, pad controls to touch pads and mixing consoles. Reason allows for multiple MIDI devices both as control surfaces as well as MIDI outputs. You can hook up your favourite hardware synth and have it work with Reason.
I have a real mix of MIDI hardware from old to more recent. The oldest is a Roland MCR-8 and the most recent is a Novation LaunchPad Mini. One of the great things about Reason Remote, is that I can still use all my old and new MIDI gear with Reason.
One of the issues some people have with Reason MIDI is the scripting required to get your MIDI devices working how you like. Although for some MIDI devices many options are pre-configured often they may not be how you’d like them or may not include all the settings you need.
The aim of this site is to bring together Reason users, helping and sharing Reason MIDI Remote settings. Helping more Reason users get the most out of Reason and their MIDI hardware.
For me having physical control over all the features of Reason, the built-in devices, rack extensions and now VSTs, is the key to my using of the software. Having to use the mouse with high magnification is both slow and hard work. Where as having physical tactile controls is much faster and easier.
Unfortunately Reason has never been completely accessible for blind people and this has got less accessible from version 12. Other DAWs like Ableton Live 12, have introduced screenreader support which has been great for blind musicians.
I have put together a few beta web apps to try and address some access issues like keyboard control of ReDrum, speech feedback of transport controls etc. I am still looking at other options to add better accessibility to Reason and hope one day it can be made completely usable by the blind.