Reason
Developer	Reason Studios
Initial release	November 22, 2000
Stable release	v13 / June 18, 2024
Operating system	Microsoft Windows,macOS
Type	Digital audio workstation,audio plug-in
Website	www.reasonstudios.com

Reason is adigital audio workstation andaudio plug-in^[1] developed by the Swedish companyReason Studios (formerly known as Propellerhead Software) for macOS and Windows. The first version was released in 2000.

Propellerhead Software was founded in 1994 by Ernst Nathorst-Böös, Pelle Jubel and Marcus Zetterquist and launched withReCycle. They became popular in 1996 after releasing theReBirth RB-338, described byMusicRadar in February 2011 as "one of the most important virtual instruments in the history of electronic music". By the late 1990s, advancements in technology meant that it became feasible for home users to build their own virtual studios from software, and so in 1999, Propellerhead ended development on ReBirth to work on Reason.^[2]

Reason was first released in November 2000. MusicRadar described it in 2011 as "broadly similar to the likes ofLogic andCubase, but" with its "user interface mimick[ing] a rack full of equipment, allowing instruments, effects and mixers to be linked together in order to create a complete production setup".^[2] Subsequent versions came out in September 2002, 2005, September 2007,^[2] August 2010,^[3] September 2011,^[4] April 2013,^[5] September 2014,^[6] June 2016,^[7] October 2017,^[8] September 2019,^[9] September 2021,^[10] and June 2024.^[11] Early versions of the program lacked the ability to record audio, and in September 2009, Propellerhead releasedRecord to work alongside Reason;^[12] Record was later merged into Reason 6.^[13] The success of the program prompted Propellerhead to rebrand itself as Reason Studios in August 2019.^[14]

Reviewing Reason 12,MusicRadar questioned how useful Reason 11 users would find it, but noted that it looked "the best it has in years",^[15] while Musictech.com described it as a "brilliant buy" for producers looking for a newdigital audio workstation.^[16] Pcmag.com noted that "existing fans [...] should take a close look", though criticised its user interface, saying that it had "aged considerably" compared to its competition.^[17]

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The following producers and musical acts have at some point used Reason:

• Beastie Boys^[18][19]
• MGMT^[20]
• Toro Y Moi^[21]
• The Prodigy^[22]
• Michael Oakley^[23]
• LCD Soundsystem^[24]
• Flying Lotus^[25]
• Tyler, the Creator^[26]
• J. Cole^[27]
• Future Islands^[28]
• Sir Mix-a-Lot^[29]
• The Knife^[30]
• Owl City^[31]
• BT^[32]
• Stromae^[33]
• DJ Khalil,^[34] DJ and producer for e.g.Kanye West,Drake andEminem
• Symbolyc One,^[35] producer for e.g.Beyoncé,Kanye West andEminem
• Nascent,^[36] producer for e.g.Chance the Rapper,Kanye West andSZA
• DJ Toomp^[37]
• DJ Pierre^[38]
• DJ Mustard^[39]
• Skrillex^[40]
• Hans Zimmer^[41]
• Ian Kirkpatrick,^[42] producer for e.g.Selena Gomez andDua Lipa
• Kool Kojak,^[43] producer for e.g.Flo Rida andNicki Minaj
• Mike & Keys,^[44] producers for e.g.Nipsey Hussle andEminem
• BlaqNMild,^[45] producer for e.g.Drake andBeyoncé
• Cool & Dre,^[46] producers for e.g.Lil Wayne,Jay-Z andBeyoncé
• Nana Rogues,^[47] producer for e.g.Drake,Zara Larsson andStormzy
• Key Wane,^[48] producer for e.g.Drake,Beyoncé andBig Sean
• Larry Klein,^[49] producer for e.g.Herbie Hancock andJoni Mitchell
• Illmind,^[50] producer for e.g.Nicki Minaj,Ludacris and50 Cent
• Kshmr,^[51] DJ and producer
• A Guy Called Gerald^[52]
• Digital Mystikz^[53]
• Goddard.^[54]
• Todd Rundgren^[55]
• Jlin^[56]
• Shigeto^[57]
• Dan Deacon^[58]
• ConcernedApe,^[59] maker ofStardew Valley
• The Flaming Lips^[60]
• Niki & the Dove^[61]
• Serj Tankian ofSystem of a Down^[62]
• Rostam ofVampire Weekend^[63]
• Claude VonStroke^[64]
• Com Truise^[65]
• Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs^[66]
• Mark Nevers,^[67] producer for e.g.Lambchop andBonnie "Prince" Billy
• The Dust Brothers,^[68] producers for e.g.Beastie Boys andBeck

Much ofThe Prodigy'sAlways Outnumbered, Never Outgunned was made using the program.^[22]MGMT has said "pretty much everything" on their debut albumOracular Spectacular was made using built-in Reason synths.^[69]

Video game creatorConcernedApe has stated that "the entireStardew Valley soundtrack was made using Reason."^[70]

Kshmr produced "Like a G6" byFar East Movement as well as "Tsunami" byDVBBS using the program.^[71][72]

• Digital audio workstation – Device or software used for recording, editing and producing audio files
• List of music software

• Official website

• Digital audio workstation software
• 2000 software

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