Propellerhead Reason 6, Essentials & Balance Out Now

The latest-and-greatest from Propellerhead — Reason 6, Reason Essentials (the successor to Record), and Balance with Reason Essentials, an audio interface integrated with Reason Essentials software — is all available for purchase as of today.

As previously announced, Reason 6 (MSRP: $449) combines all the features of Record with a new and improved version of Reason.

Version 6 adds new creative effects designed for inserting directly into instruments and tracks, including: Pulveriser — sound crushing effect with crunchy compression, dirty distortion and flexible modulation; The Echo — advanced stereo echo with modern delay and analog tape echo emulation; and Alligator — a three band pattern gate for complex rhythmic texturing.

Propellerhead Balance with Reason Essentials

According to Propellerhead, interface enhancements, high definition audio transpose and true 64-bit compatibility highlight other new feature improvements.

Look out for our upcoming review of this exciting new release.

Meanwhile, Reason Essentials ($299) is the new suite designed for musicians, distilled from the core features/functionality of Reason. According to Propellerhead:

Reason Essentials contains a great selection of instruments and effects in a virtual rack that builds itself, or can be infinitely customized — drum machine, loop player, sampler, synths, reverb, delay, distortion, mastering effects and more.

Guitar players will appreciate the built-in virtual guitar and bass POD from Line 6, and an intuitive audio and MIDI sequencer reportedly simplifies the recording and arranging process.

Reason Essentials also comes bundled with Propellerhead’s new 2×2 audio interface, Balance (MSRP for Balance with Reason Essentials: $499).

Compatible with both Mac and Windows computers, Balance is a USB 2 powered interface with separate volume controls for monitors and headphones, and 8 input connections to keep all instruments, mics and devices connected and ready to record with the press of a button.

Owners of Reason or Record who purchase Balance will automatically receive the Reason 6 upgrade as a download for free.

Reason 6, Reason Essentials and Balance are available now for purchase worldwide.

Users of any version of Reason or Reason Essentials can upgrade to Reason 6 for $169. For Record-Reason Duo owners, Propellerhead has a very cool Pay What You Want program (starting at $1) going on until October 31, 2011. After October 31, the upgrade price will be $169.

Click for pricing and availability details on all of the above.

Reason 6 Screenshot

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