One feature that doesn't appear to load separately from the Project5 interface is actually one of Version 2's niftiest features: an Arpeggiator with about a bazillion presets. If you've heard a tune like The Who's "Baba O'Riley", (who hasn't heard "Baba O'Riley"??) you've heard a single note synthesizer playing a sequenced pattern of arpeggios. Project5's Arpeggiator can reproduce those sorts of single note patterns with the preset sounds built into program. Play one note on the keyboard (or MIDI-equipped guitar, MIDI xylophone, MIDI whatever), and two, three, four or more are produced by the Arpeggiator in a predetermined pattern.
Well Worth It For Existing Owners To Upgrade
Between the Arpeggiator and the layered sounds in both Project5 and Reason, there are staggering sounds built into these two programs that make it well worth it for their existing owners to upgrade. Reason 3.0 streets for about $449; an upgrade for previous owners of the software is available for $129. Project5 Version 2 is available for about $299, an upgrade is available for about $99.
If I was starting from scratch, and looking for a software synthesizer to begin to experiment with, I'd probably start with Reason (actually, I did...) But both programs play nicely together--and with others as well.
Like I said, now I know what Peter and Kate felt like when they played their first sampling synthesizers in the early 1980s.
And on the note, I'm off--I want to get back to playing these things! ('Scuse me while I kiss the...oh wait, that's the wrong instrument!)
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1 - Temple Stark
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