This is the Key commands list for Propellerhead Reason 4. The action is listed first and the commands are directly below them.

Contents 1 General Keyboard Shortcuts 1.1 Toggle Rack front/rear 1.2 Maximize/restore Rack 1.3 Maximize/restore Sequencer 1.4 Create new Song 1.5 Open Song 1.6 Save Song 1.7 Save Song As 1.8 Close Song 1.9 Quit 1.10 Undo 1.11 Redo 1.12 Delete Devices and Tracks (without warning). 1.13 Delete Devices and Tracks 1.14 Select All 1.15 Create Instrument 1.16 Create Effect 1.17 Browse Patches for selected device. 1.18 Select rack when rack and sequencer are sepa-rated. 1.19 Select sequencer when rack and sequencer are separated. 1.20 Show/Hide cables 1.21 Follow Song on/off 1.22 Show/hide Tool window 1.23 Insert Instrument (Windows only) 1.24 Hide Reason (Mac OS only) 1.25 Minimize Reason (Mac OS only) 1.26 Open Preferences (Mac OS only) 1.27 Cut Track & Device (device or track selected), Cut Clip or Event (depending on current selection). 1.28 Copy Track & Device (device or track selected), Copy Clip or Event (dependng on current selec-tion). 1.29 Paste Track & Device, Paste Clip or Event. 2 General modifier keys 2.1 Disable autorouting of device. 2.2 Fold/unfold all devices. 2.3 Fold/unfold all tracks. 2.4 Select multiple devices/events/clips/tracks. 2.5 Increase precision when making settings. 2.6 Reset parameter to default value. 2.7 Prevent creation of Sequencer-track for devices that normally will get a track. Create Sequencer-track for devices that normally will not get a track. 3 Sequencer Keyboard short-cuts 3.1 Toggle Arrange/Edit view. 3.2 Toggle Arrow/Pencil tool, Eraser/Pencil tool. Toggle Magnifying Glass/Hand tool. 3.3 Select Arrow tool. 3.4 Select Pencil tool. 3.5 Select Eraser tool. 3.6 Select Razor tool. 3.7 Select Magnifying Glass tool. 3.8 Select Hand tool. 3.9 Quantize notes. 3.10 Duplicate Track & Device (device or track selected). Join Clips. 3.11 Merge Note Lanes om Tracks. 3.12 Mute/Unmute Clips. 3.13 Snap on/off. 3.14 Toggle Pencil/Line tool (velocity edit lane only). 3.15 New Alt 3.16 New Dub 3.17 Vertical zoom in 3.18 Vertical zoom out 4 Sequencer modifier keys 4.1 Create automation lane for parameter. If device has no track, a track will also be created. 4.2 Restrict movement direction to either horizontal or vertical. 4.3 Copy data instead of moving it. 4.4 Set Left Locator in ruler. 4.5 Set Right Locator in ruler. 4.6 Set End Marker in ruler. 4.7 Switch to zoom out with the Magnifying Glass tool in-stead of zoom in (with either the Magnifying Glass-or the Hand tool selected). 4.8 Limits movement to one direction only. Horizontal or vertical. 4.9 Disables vertical zooming. Horizontal zoom only. 5 Arrow keys 5.1 Select next device up or down (rack selected), select next track up or down (track list selected), select clip on next/previous lane (Arrange view selected). 5.2 Select next/previous clip on lane (Arrange view se-lected), select next/previous value field (Position dis- plays). 5.3 Nudge selection one Snap unit back/forward. 5.4 Nudge selection one Beat back/forward. 5.5 Nudge selection one Tick back/forward. 6 Transport keyboard short-cuts 6.1 Stop, Go to start position, Go to start of Song. 6.2 Play 6.3 Record 6.4 Rewind 6.5 Go to Loop Start 6.6 Go to Loop End 6.7 Go to Next Bar/Fast Forward 6.8 Go to Previous Bar/Rewind 6.9 Tempo Up 6.10 Tempo Down 6.11 Stop/Play 6.12 Toggle Metronome click on/off 6.13 Loop on/off 7 Matrix keyboard short-cuts 7.1 Cut Pattern. 7.2 Copy Pattern. 7.3 Paste Pattern. 7.4 Shift Pattern Left. 7.5 Shift Pattern Right. 7.6 Shift Pattern Up. 7.7 Shift Pattern Down. 7.8 Randomize Pattern. 7.9 Alter Pattern. 8 Matrix modifier keys 8.1 Allows you to draw lines and ramps. 8.2 Temporarily toggles Tie mode on/off. 9 Redrum keyboard short-cuts 9.1 Cut Pattern. 9.2 Copy Pattern. 9.3 Paste pattern. 9.4 Shift Pattern Left. 9.5 Shift Pattern Right. 9.6 Randomize Pattern. 9.7 Alter Pattern. 10 Redrum modifier keys 10.1 Enter Hard note when programming Pattern. 10.2 Enter Soft note when programming Pattern. 11 Dr. Rex modifier keys 11.1 Audition slice. 12 NN-19 modifier keys 12.1 Audition sample. 13 NN-XT keyboard short-cuts 13.1 Remove zone(s) from key map. 14 NN-XT modifier keys 14.1 Audition sample. In sample column, at root pitch and unprocessed. In keyboard column, at corresponding pitch and with processing applied. 14.2 Set root note of sample with edit focus. 15 Save dialog keyboard short-cuts 15.1 Mac OS keys 15.1.1 Cancel. 15.1.2 Yes (save song). 15.1.3 No (do not save song). 15.2 Windows keys 15.2.1 Cancel. 15.2.2 Yes (save song) 15.2.3 No (do not save song).

General Keyboard Shortcuts

Toggle Rack front/rear

Tab

Maximize/restore Rack

[Command]/[Ctrl]+[1]

Maximize/restore Sequencer

[Command]/[Ctrl]+[2]

Create new Song

[Command]/[Ctrl]+[N]

Open Song

[Command]/[Ctrl]+[O]

Save Song

[Command]/[Ctrl]+[S]

Save Song As

[Shift]-[Command]/[Shift]- [Ctrl]+[S]

Close Song

[Command]/[Ctrl]+[W]

Quit

[Command]/[Ctrl]+[Q]

Undo

[Command]/[Ctrl]+[Z]

Redo

[Command]/[Ctrl]+[Y]

Delete Devices and Tracks (without warning).

[Command]/[Ctrl]+[Del] or [Command]/[Ctrl]+[Backspace]

Delete Devices and Tracks

[Del] / [Backspace]

Select All

[Command]/[Ctrl]+[A]

Create Instrument

[Command]/[Ctrl]+[I]

Create Effect

[Command]/[Ctrl]+[F]

Browse Patches for selected device.

[Command]/[Ctrl]+[B]

Select rack when rack and sequencer are sepa-rated.

[Command]/[Ctrl]+[1]

Select sequencer when rack and sequencer are separated.

[Command]/[Ctrl]+[2]

Show/Hide cables

[L]

Follow Song on/off

[F]

Show/hide Tool window

[F8]

Insert Instrument (Windows only)

[Insert]

Hide Reason (Mac OS only)

[Command]-[H]

Minimize Reason (Mac OS only)

[Command]-[M]

Open Preferences (Mac OS only)

[Command]-[,]

Cut Track & Device (device or track selected), Cut Clip or Event (depending on current selection).

[Command]/[Ctrl]+[X]

Copy Track & Device (device or track selected), Copy Clip or Event (dependng on current selec-tion).

[Command]/[Ctrl]+[C]

Paste Track & Device, Paste Clip or Event.

[Command]/[Ctrl]+[V]

General modifier keys

Disable autorouting of device.

[Shift]+Create device

Fold/unfold all devices.

[Option]/[Alt]+Fold/un-fold device

Fold/unfold all tracks.

[Option]/[Alt]+Fold/un-fold track

Select multiple devices/events/clips/tracks.

[Shift]+Select

Increase precision when making settings.

[Shift]+Move fader/knob
[Command]/[Ctrl]+Click
fader/knob
[Option]/[Alt]+Create de-
vice

Reset parameter to default value.

[Command]/[Ctrl]+Click fader/knob

Prevent creation of Sequencer-track for devices that normally will get a track. Create Sequencer-track for devices that normally will not get a track.

[Option]/[Alt]+Create de-vice

Sequencer Keyboard short-cuts

Toggle Arrange/Edit view.

[Shift]+[Tab] or
[Command]/[Ctrl]+[E]

Toggle Arrow/Pencil tool, Eraser/Pencil tool. Toggle Magnifying Glass/Hand tool.

[Command]/[Alt]

Select Arrow tool.

[Q]

Select Pencil tool.

[W]

Select Eraser tool.

[E]

Select Razor tool.

[R]

Select Magnifying Glass tool.

[T]

Select Hand tool.

[Y]

Quantize notes.

[Command]/[Ctrl]+[K]

Duplicate Track & Device (device or track selected). Join Clips.

[Command]/[Ctrl]+[D]

Merge Note Lanes om Tracks.

[Command]/[Ctrl]+[J]

Mute/Unmute Clips.

[Command]/[Ctrl]+[R]

Snap on/off.

[M]

Toggle Pencil/Line tool (velocity edit lane only).

[S]

New Alt

[Option]/[Ctrl] Numberpad [6] or [.]

New Dub

Numberpad [3] or [,]

Vertical zoom in

[Shift]-[Command]/[Shift]
[Ctrl]+[+]

Vertical zoom out

[Shift]-[Command]/[Shift]
[Ctrl]+[–]

Sequencer modifier keys

Create automation lane for parameter. If device has no track, a track will also be created.

[Option]/[Alt]+Click knob/fader/button

Restrict movement direction to either horizontal or vertical.

[Shift]+Move events/clips

Copy data instead of moving it.

[Option]/[Ctrl]+Move data

Set Left Locator in ruler.

[Option]/[Ctrl]+Click

Set Right Locator in ruler.

[Command]/[Alt]+Click

Set End Marker in ruler.

[Shift]+Click

Switch to zoom out with the Magnifying Glass tool in-stead of zoom in (with either the Magnifying Glass-or the Hand tool selected).

[Option]/[Ctrl]+Click

Limits movement to one direction only. Horizontal or vertical.

[Shift]+Drag with Hand
tool or Eraser tool

Disables vertical zooming. Horizontal zoom only.

[Shift]+Zoom with
Magnifying Glass tool

Arrow keys

Select next device up or down (rack selected), select next track up or down (track list selected), select clip on next/previous lane (Arrange view selected).

Arrow up/down keys

Select next/previous clip on lane (Arrange view se-lected), select next/previous value field (Position dis- plays).

Arrow left/right keys

Nudge selection one Snap unit back/forward.

[Command]/[Ctrl]+Arr left/right keys

Nudge selection one Beat back/forward.

[Shift]-[Command]/[Shift] [Ctrl]+Arrow left/right
keys

Nudge selection one Tick back/forward.

[Option]-[Command]/[Alt]-[Ctrl]+Arrow left/right keys

Transport keyboard short-cuts

Stop, Go to start position, Go to start of Song.

Numberpad [0]

Play

Numberpad [Enter]

Record

Numberpad [*]

Rewind

Numberpad [Num Lock]

Go to Loop Start

Numberpad [1]

Go to Loop End

Numberpad [2]

Go to Next Bar/Fast Forward

Numberpad [8]

Go to Previous Bar/Rewind

Numberpad [7]

Tempo Up

Numberpad [+]

Tempo Down

Numberpad [-]

Stop/Play

[Spacebar]

Toggle Metronome click on/off

[C] or Numberpad [9]

Loop on/off

Numberpad [/]

Matrix keyboard short-cuts

Cut Pattern.

[Command]/[Ctrl]+[X]

Copy Pattern.

[Command]/[Ctrl]+[C]

Paste Pattern.

[Command]/[Ctrl]+[V]

Shift Pattern Left.

[Command]/[Ctrl]+[J]

Shift Pattern Right.

[Command]/[Ctrl]+[K]

Shift Pattern Up.

[Shift]-[Command]/[Shift]-[Ctrl]+[U]

Shift Pattern Down.

[Shift]-[Command]/[Shift]-[Ctrl]+[D]

Randomize Pattern.

[Command]/[Ctrl]+[R]

Alter Pattern.

[Command]/[Ctrl]+[T]

Matrix modifier keys

Allows you to draw lines and ramps.

[Shift]+Draw Key/Curve values

Temporarily toggles Tie mode on/off.

[Shift]+Draw Gate

Redrum keyboard short-cuts

Cut Pattern.

[Command]/[Ctrl]+[X]

Copy Pattern.

[Command]/[Ctrl]+[C]

Paste pattern.

[Command]/[Ctrl]+[V]

Shift Pattern Left.

[Command]/[Ctrl]+[J]

Shift Pattern Right.

[Command]/[Ctrl]+[K]

Randomize Pattern.

[Command]/[Ctrl]+[R]

Alter Pattern.

[Command]/[Ctrl]+[T]

Redrum modifier keys

Enter Hard note when programming Pattern.

[Shift]+Click Pattern Step button

Enter Soft note when programming Pattern.

[Option]/[Alt]+Click Pattern Step button

Dr. Rex modifier keys

Audition slice.

[Option]/[Alt]+Click slice in overview

NN-19 modifier keys

Audition sample.

[Option]/[Alt]+Click in keyboard display

NN-XT keyboard short-cuts

Remove zone(s) from key map.

[Delete] or [Backspace]

NN-XT modifier keys

Audition sample. In sample column, at root pitch and unprocessed. In keyboard column, at corresponding pitch and with processing applied.

[Option]/[Alt]+Click in sample column or keyboard column

Set root note of sample with edit focus.

[Command]/[Ctrl]+Click in keyboard column

Save dialog keyboard short-cuts

These key commands can be used in the save dialog that appears if you close a
song document that contains unsaved changes:

Mac OS keys

Cancel.

[Command]+[.]

Yes (save song).

[Command]+[S]

No (do not save song).

[Command]+[D]

Windows keys

Cancel.

[Esc] or [C]

Yes (save song)

[Y]

No (do not save song).

[N]

Recording vocals and having it blend with the total mix is an art by itself. The following tricks can be used to get great “In your Face” Vocals.

1. Send your vocal tracks to two mono aux sends.

2. The first Aux send has an EQ with a high pass set around 6-8khz, and a compressor set with a low threshold and fast attack and release. Mix that back in with the vocal to add a bit of air.High frequencies are attenuated as they travel through the air much faster than lower frequencies, so anything you want to sound “in your face” needs extra high end.

3. The second Aux send is for a plate reverb with as many early reflections as possible. The idea here is to get the vocal to sound as wide as possible. You want to avoid a vocal that images to a single point. The vocal needs to be wide to sound close and clear. The thumb rule is, the wider it is, it sounds closer to the listener and skinny sounds are farther away.

4. Later, you can always adapt your vocals to add any special effects. Normally I use 3 reverbs (small, medium and long) and a plate verb for the vocals.

Have fun recording/mixing your vocals.

Making and producing music has never been possible from home before. Setting up a Home Recording Studio was nothing but a dream. But thanks to the cheap computer prices and the internet today. You should now be absolutely ready to bring your dreams into reality. So are you ready to spend somewhere in the range of $1000 – $1500? Well, if you said yes, just be ready to get more excited in setting up a pro home studio. All you would need to possess in order to build your home studio is a powerful computer and a few gears. Now, lets get into some details.

Steps involved in setting up a computer based home studio :
1. Choose your Computer – As said in the title, this particular post is mainly dealing with building a home studio for computer based recording. With that said, plan on what type of computer do you want to buy. Meaning, a laptop or a desktop. You should definitely have a minimum of 1gig RAM(more the better), more than 300gigs of hard disk space, a good sound card and atleast a 19 inch monitor. Write a detailed plan on what type of configuration/models would you like to invest on. Please take enough time in this step because your studio is virtually going to be built on your computer. You need to be savvy enough to power up your computer and make it so very available to produce and enjoy music. Remember, you can always add power to your computer down the line but try to make it a very good beginning, so you don’t have to worry about glitches while making music. The ultimate goal is to make music like the pro’s who do it in a real studio. So max out on budget with respect to getting a high quality computer.

2. Decide on what Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) you want to work with – There are so many DAW’s in the market now and each of them boast of spectacular capabilities. It is totally up to you to know and get used to a program. Some of the most popular DAW’s are Pro Tools, Cakewalk, Fruity Loops, Cubase, Reason etc., Make your selection. Probably if you’ve not been exposed to any of these DAW’s, you can always download some trial versions and get your hands on it. It is going to be the most critical software for all your recording, mixing and editing needs. You just cannot be casual here.

3. Get the Gears – After you’ve crossed the computer and the DAW selection hurdle, the next one is to get some gears to get to work. You would obviously need the following to get you started.

a. Mic – You need to decide on choosing between a condensor mic or a dynamic mic. There are so many models available in the market and you should have an understanding of all the advantages and disadvantages of each model. Personally, I’ve been recording all my vocals on RODE NT1A, which costed $225 when I bought and I’ve to say it is an amazing mic(condensor). I’ve had great recordings done with RODE NT1A.

b. Audio Interface – Audio Interface is the core of any good home recording studio. Well, as usual, there are so many audio interfaces available from so many companies and it again needs some special research to figure out the Audio Interfaces you want. Since I’m more of a pro tools user, I’m using MBOX2 PRO and it is firewire based. So, it all depends upon with Digital Audio Station(DAW) you want to work on. Also before choosing your audio interface, answer these basis questtions like
i. Whether you need Pro Tools compatibility?
Digidesign’s Pro Tools is the industry-wide standard platform for recording and producing music. So most of the Digidesign’s audio interfaces for Pro Tools are usually much costlier than its competitors. If you don’t need Pro Tools and plan on using another DAW software program, you don’t need Pro Tools hardware. But you have to remember that you can’t use Pro Tools without a compatible interface.
Pro Tools oriented setup is always pretty restricted to Digidesign’s products and it doesn’t seemlessly go with other products, which is one of the biggest drawbacks that most of the users crib about. Bottom line is if you are going with Pro Tools as your recording platform, then you should also be able to spend a few more bucks but I’m sure you will be happy when you get to do it. My best advice is to go with Firewire based audio interface to avoild latency problems, when you are recording.

ii. How Many Inputs would You Need?
You should be knowing what you are going to record on a regular schedule. That would determine the need for the inputs on the audio interface. Its always great to have many inputs, so you could always expand your musical landscape when needed but if your stuck with fewer inputs, it might always be a problem to seamlessly create the music you want. Well, you can definitely get things done with fewer inputs but it might take a lot of time for bigger musical arrangements. With that said, there are interfaces that are cheaper but offer less inputs. I would always prefer aleast two microphone preamp inputs, which would allow you to do vocals and guitar(for example) at once. So give it some time knowing all the products inputs and outputs available and their respective benefits.

iii. Do you want Firewire or USB based interfaces?
Firewire interfaces obviously are more expensive than USB but I would always vouch for getting a Firewire based interface. Well, If you’re only going to need two channels at a time, USB should be fine but I’m always hesitant suggesting a USB Audio Interface. I just cannot compromise Firewire Audio Intefaces for a USB under any circumstances. Please understand that audio interface is a key gear to your home studio and you don’t want to mess it up with cheaper products.

4. Recording Instruments – After all, you can’t perform music without a basic instrument on hand. The most common instruments would be a keyboard (synthesizer) or a guitar. So get your music instrument, if you don’t have one. Make sure that your keyboard has a MIDI interface, which is the key to making computer based music. Almost all the keyboard these days have the midi ports on them but just in case you are using an old keyboard, try to get a MIDI keyboard.

5. Cables for connecting it all together – Well, cables are going to be costing you a few 100 dollars as you would need it for connecting your audio interfaces, your microphones, your music instruments etc.,

Please do pass on your valuable comments and ratings, if you liked this post.