A free version of the acclaimed Reason Rack has just launched – here’s everything you need to know

The iconic Reason Rack has been a core component of the Reason DAW since its launch in 2000. But in 2019, it was made available as a standalone plugin for the first time, offering producers the chance to harness its power within DAWs outside of Reason.

Reason Rack is highly acclaimed, and allows producers to stack virtual instruments on top of one another with total control over the routing between them.

Now, Reason Studios has unveiled a new free version, offering 15 Reason instruments, effects and creative utilities for no cost at all. This isn’t a trial, and has no expiration or watermark, Reason confirms.

Reason Free – what’s actually included?

The 15 included Devices consist of four virtual instruments, five effects, and six creative utilities.

The flagship virtual instrument available within Reason Free is Europa, a powerful wavetable synthesizer geared towards “modern sound design”, with three spectral engineers, advanced waveform shaping, modulation and effects, and a bank of over 600 presets for instant inspiration. The full list of included Devices is below:

Instruments

• Europa – Powerful wavetable synthesizer for modern sound design
• Kong – Versatile drum machine for beats, samples and percussion
• ID8 – All-in-one collection of essential songwriting instruments
• Monotone – Monophonic synthesizer for deep basses and expressive lead

Effects 

• Scream 4 – Creative distortion and saturation
• The Echo – Flexible stereo delay with modulation and filtering
• Audiomatic – One-knob effect for vintage and lo-fi character
• RV7000 MkII – Professional reverb for realistic and creative spaces
• MClass Maximizer – Mastering limiter for louder, cleaner mixes

Creative utilities

• Scales & Chords – Creates melodies and chords that stay in key
• Combinator – Combines instruments and effects into custom devices
• Pulsar – Dual modulation device for adding movement to any Rack parameter
• Spider Audio Merger & Splitter – Splits and combines audio signals
• Spider CV Merger & Splitter – Routes and combines modulation signals
• MIDI Out Device – Controls external plugins and hardware

How is Reason Free different from the full Reason Rack?

Where Reason Free offers 15 instruments, effects and utilities, the full Reason Rack – included in a Reason+ subscription – offers more than 90, as well as weekly Sound Packs, plus access to the full Reason DAW.

Also included in Reason+ is access to the LANDR ecosystem, with unlimited music distribution and tools for creativity, mixing and mastering. Additionally, Reason users can expand their setup with individual Rack Extensions and Refills, or by buying a perpetual Reason licence.

What is Reason Studios saying about Reason Free?

“Reason has always been about musical exploration – when you connect two Devices, turn the knobs, and discover a great sound you weren’t looking for,” says Mattias Häggström Gerdt, Product Manager at Reason Studios.

“With Reason Free, we’re giving everyone a piece of that experience. The included Devices are fantastic in their own right, but the Rack also gives you the freedom to go deeper, experiment and build something entirely your own.”

Pricing & availability

As the name might suggest, Reason Free is totally free, and is available now as a VST3, AU and AAX plugin for compatible DAWS. “It is free forever, with no trial period, expiration date or watermark,” Reason Studios says.

Additionally, Reason Free can run as a DAW of its own, offering producers up to 16 tracks.

Learn more at Reason Studios.