Reason Compact - Make Music Reviews

by Eve Severe

When ReasonCompact was released I bought a few synth kits and the 9.99 synth editor. Thought it was fun as I have not used Reason on my computer in some time and like the sounds and ease of use. Then I opened up a month or two later to see that a bass and a drum kit were added. I was happy until I realized that I had to pay another 10 bucks each to edit. Kind of a bummer. I am NOT cheap as I own at least 80 audio apps and have paid a pretty penny for some. ReasonCompact is not worth 30 bucks plus having to pay for all of the sounds.
For 30 bucks there should be a plethora of kits. I get adding in apps for kits but the kits are pretty sparse. Plus you have to use an entire drum kit as opposed to being able to change one drum. That is extremely limiting.
I guess the only saving grace is that it isn’t a subscription model. I just can’t see putting any more money into ReasonCompact.

by FrontLineAssembled

I’ve been using Reason since 1.0. I have bought every version and even supported other programs such as Recycle and use rack extensions. I am now running version 10 and have the new compact instruments. Made a few tunes with the new synths, works well enough. Thought I would try out the phone interface. $9.99 to unlock Europa?, another $9.99 for the bass synth too? Oh, another $9.99 for the drum machine? Then I can’t forget about the 7 or so $0.99 little add ons either. What kind of cash grab is this? I have the full version of Reason 20 feet away, but now I need to “unlock” items on my inferior playback device? I can use Reason by signing in to any computer with reason installed. Are you really going to hit us with micro transactions?

Propellerhead Software, I know you have a business to run, money to make, and employees to pay, but if you keep down this particular path of money grabbing, you will lose a supporter. That might not seem like much, but I am doubtful I am alone in this sentiment.
Please release a version of this (compact) that at least recognizes already paid users of your software.

by Top-P-BeatZ

I have been a reason user since reason 4 and ReasonCompact has never been my goto mobile app to make music. I use bm3 and have dabbled in other daws like GarageBand and flmobile and every one of these apps are more like real daws compared to reason compact. If y’all made a professional mobile app that was capable of recording in a real sequencer, record/ audio tracks, auv3 and inner audio support,distribute mobile rack extensions ,
Add the nnxt or dr Rex to allow creators to import drum kits loops and samples. Last but not least add the audio timestretch/pitchshift feature with the movable transient markers. If y’all did this I’m telling you y’all would be dominating the mobile music market. Like cmon why is GarageBand free and offers a near desktop experience. There are a world of mobile producers out there waiting for these types of things. iPads are now advanced enough to use keyboard and mouse and connect external devices just like a computer.. PLEASE READ AND CONSIDER THIS!! - Reason user

by AudioPhilefellow

Really? with a very social music community and all of these great producer apps such as FL studio, DM1, Beatmaker, iMPC pro, and on...You use Reasons name to release an app that is 10 years behind in options/creativity? This is what happens now.. that music community i mentioned earlier will quickly identify ReasonCompact as a joke, and due to about 15 to 25 other production apps that are simply way better; “you will not get a second chance” ... there is way too much competition to drop this timid, powerless app into the ring. And due to the lax and unconvincing responses from the developers, there is no promise here at all. On to what’s wrong... for anyone who plans on making music or thinks this is “Reason”...everything, too much to mention. You wouldn’t itemize everything that’s wrong with a totaled car would you? ... you would just say the car is totaled.... ReasonCompact is “Totaled”
developers don’t bother responding to me, because i don’t believe you. respect your soon to be ex patrons more.

by Seemslikesalvation

Oh Propellerhead, what are you doing. No no no. I applaud you for giving up on Figure (although that app did have the simplicity down which is one of the things this lacks) but you’ve got it all wrong with ReasonCompact. I’m not sure if the tech exists for this yet, but Reason Compact should simply be an instrument for Reason on a computer. You should be able to use it to make expressive sounds / performances that would be hard to do on the computer. Keep it extremely simple at first. You’ll perform on the computer and just use ReasonCompact for tweaking sounds, recording automation etc.

The problem with these mobile music apps is that you end up looping what you’re making over and over and over again, and you just get sick of listening to it very quickly. I would never, in a million years, make anything I could release, with ReasonCompact.

It needs to be a useable, indispensable instrument for Reason first. Maybe much later it can turn into a sequencer.

One more thing. I used ReasonCompact long enough to become annoyed by having to keep tapping Demo every time I swiped to another page of the controls. Let me demo the thing or not. Don’t keep reminding me I’m using a demo. Doesn’t make me want to buy it.

by Krszytoff

I’m not really sure why ReasonCompact is getting so many 5 star reviews. I’m also baffled as to why this got an Editor’s Choice award. Don’t get me wrong - the sounds are fantastic. But after spending extra money to get all of the unlocks, this is more of a sketch pad than a production tool. Loops are maxed out at 8 bars. And you can’t piece separate files together to create a song. So I’m not sure what the point is. Also, when you create your own idea, ReasonCompact assigns some unintelligible name to your file for you…which to this day, I don’t know how to rename or even if you can. Oh, and there is no user manual that I can find. I’m not saying this has to have all of the features that something like Cubasis, NanoStudio, Auria Pro have. But when you’re spending money on an app from a reputable company like, I’d expect a little more. Their Thor synth app, on the other hand is phenomenal. However, calling ReasonCompact Reason when it’s nowhere even being close to their flagship DAW for Windows & Mac is very misleading.

by Average Review

It‘a been a few years since the developers responded to one of the reviews promising, “More instruments and tracks”, without receiving even a single additional preset. The development progress of Reason Compact is starting to seem eerily similar to that of Figure right before it became semi-abandonware. In other words, the mobile apps division is probably still not much of a priority for Propellerheads, and that saddens me.

Anyway, I can’t say I wasn’t already preparing myself for the worst. Losing the creative outlet and community I had come to love on Alihoopa gave me ptsd. As much as I like making clips on Reason Compact, I really have no one to share them with, and no way to do anything else with them since I can’t justify the purchase of Reason Desktop. I really hope that Reason Compact wasn’t conceived as a ploy to convince people to buy the Desktop version. After all, only a fraction of us are actually producers.

by Ruthlessmama

Let me start off by saying that this sounds phenomenal. My 3 star rating has nothing to do with the instruments provided here. I’ve been a fan of Propellerheads/Reason Studios for many years!
My low rating has to do with change, and in this case, the lack of progress/change.
We’ve had Auv3 on iOS for 6 years now! Inter App Audio is long out dated. I like state saving. I like multi instance instruments! So why can’t we have it? There’s a whole market here where you could charge for each of the Reason Instruments, and even at iOS prices, still make the same money selling individual plug-ins as you would selling the basic Reason package!
This “Groovebox” mentality on iOS is just a fun play toy, but can’t be used seriously in a DAW!
Please, PLEASE, catch up to the present and maybe even become innovative again like you were in the beginning. I really miss the inspiration I used to get from your products!!

by Mach12341234

For gods sake, just put Reason in an actual phone app! Apple does this with garage band! So it’s perfectly possible! Granted it would probably take time, but this is (almost) 2019 and it’s no secret that people prefer the convenience of their phone or tablet — accommodate that need! It doesn’t have to be the full version of Reason but it should look just like the full version that’s on your computer / laptop but perhaps with less features because obviously Reason is a monster and most phones wouldn’t be able to handle the full version.
ReasonCompact is certainly good, and the 1 synth machine you get is very powerful, but this honestly doesn’t feel like “Reason”
Native Instruments could have made ReasonCompact and I wouldn’t be able to distinguish between the two developers and that’s a problem in my opinion.
Good try, but try again! Next time with something that is virtually identical to the full version of Reason!

by Iammane

So, as a sketch pad and light design tool to bring stuff over to the desktop version, it’s great. It’s what Figure should have been. The price for unlocking Europa, Rytmik and Monobass is just too high, especially for a desktop user. I picked up Reason 11 for $199 bucks off a Lite license, but to fully unlock Reason Compact and get all the IAP if I so chose would be well over 40 bucks. I can’t say Reason Compact is 1/4 the functionality of Reason on the desktop...

ReasonCompact hasn’t seen an update in some time. I’m not saying it should be a full fledged copy of Reason in your pocket, that’s impossible, but having maybe a song mode, or pattern chaining, or maybe the ability to add a second Europa would be a very, very welcome addition.

It’s got good guts, but as it stands ReasonCompact is just really underwhelming.

by Musicmandisco

Update:Presets can now be saved-

This is a feature that should’ve been included in ReasonCompact from the beginning😡🤬🤯!!!

I just want that to be clear. Users should have been able to save their own presets. Especially after purchasing the in app upgrade for $10. Thank you for this elementary feature. App sounds great and is worth the $10.

I guess that the original release of ReasonCompact excited and irritated me immensely, being a dude that’s used Reason since V1. And having paid for my annual $100 updates for a longggg time; I liked the fact they had a couple of apps on iOS that were inexpensive and immensely reliable and fun.

If there is anyone out there that loves what the desktop Reason is and thinks this is even close to similar to what the name implies.... ITS NOT. ITS EUROPA COMPACT. NOW WITH SAVING PRESET FEATURE.

PROPS- DONT MESS UP LIKE THIS AGAIN. IT TARNISHES 2 DECADES OF THE AMAZING PRODUCT THAT REASON IS TODAY.

My ask is this- Please make an app like this for all reason modules that can work with the desktop. Not only acting as a second display but a dynamic and interactive user interface. Id go in to more details but Im not on payroll so thats that. Oh yeah- dont forget to make them all auv3 ;)

by Watchdog4ever

Reason is my go-to desktop DAW so I was excited when I seen Reason Compact on ReasonCompact Store. It’s a good, solid music app for starting ideas but in it’s current state, not so much for finishing songs which is a bummer. I’m hoping that, in future versions, we’ll see some of the classic synths like Malstrom and Subtractor in the rack as well as Redrum or Kong...or at least sample import in Rytmik. RV7000 would be awesome to use on the go, especially with the ability to record your own impulse responses. It’s pretty limited right now but I’d still recommend it if you’re a Reason user. As to the instruments I mentioned earlier, stand alone versions would be a great idea too like they did with Thor. It’s still my favorite iOS synth

by 808's & Snares

This 2.0 update made ReasonCompact 10x more powerful.... this is just what I was looking for. I own over 70 purchased music production apps.... it’s simple, the sounds in here are amazing and cannot be duplicated elsewhere. Period. Add a sequencer, mixer, and song mode and I’m ALL in! That’s all that is missing! I will pay for the IAP no complaints there...: but to make this a true powerhouse it needs those functions. Yes you can export to Reason, but for the mobile musicians who only use iPhones and iPads exporting to reason 10 just isn’t an option.....I know computers are the way to go, but phones are now the new computers and they have the capabilities to make this all come true. Honestly your company is wonderful and I know that these requests can be implicated pretty easy with the masterminds behind COMPACT. Add these and it’s an easy 5 star app and simply the most easy, straightforward yet deep, and best sounding app on iOS..... PLEASE beat Novations Groovebox to the test and add these functions, so that I and everyone else in my shoes can create and publish music all in one spot and with ease. You guys rock, keep up the good work and I’ll be following up for any future updates!

by Crazyblob

The sounds are amazing, I love using the synths. I didn’t think I would be using the drums, but I do anyways. Sounds are great, but ReasonCompact needs a bit more attention.

UI: Sound packs shouldn’t be full screen. It takes up wayyy too much space, and looks really clunky and hard to navigate. I also feel the pace of the of switching places throughout ReasonCompact is slow. It doesn’t feel as fluent. Oh, when you click the three dots when using a sound thing, it doesn’t allow you to export it. Nothing huge, but it kinda bothers me and it’d be great if you guys focused on that. A bit more consistency.

Bugs: Sorry, but this is kinda buggy. For one, when I switch to my AirPods or really connect any headphones in I have to restart ReasonCompact , because the sound doesn’t work. Also Europa keymode is bugged, I think. The poly doesn’t work when you have a preset from Europa that isn’t poly. You can’t switch to the poly, well you can but it doesn’t work. ReasonCompact sometimes crashes when I’m editing the stuff in Europa too.

Overall great app with greats sounds, it just needs more help with the parts outside of the sounds.

by Drum And Bum

Still a great monster, love having a pocket size Europa to go with Stockholm, but you have to buy it with diamonds! And on top of that, there’s $7 in sound packs at the time of this review... so beware. Definitely a recommended monster synth if you have Reason and want to make a quick patch and play it with your other iOS apps, would give it $17 out of 10 stars but I don’t have enough diamonds! Just cause it’s called Reason Compact shouldn’t throw you off, I still want my Reason Lite and I don’t know how to get it from here.

by Brighton Be

Reason, from the first time I used it infused my ideas with a creative energy I could not get from other DAWs. This though is soo game changing and on another level. I like my tools to not dictate my creativity but rather to inspire it and propel it forward without getting bogged in technical details. ReasonCompact smashes through that goal as I can go from hearing a melody in my head and having a very good sounding sample all from the palm of my hand, now that’s how you make technology get out of the way of creativity.

One caveat, I find ReasonCompact a lil bit finicky with my phone OS. It crashes a lot, especially when I try to export projects, I’m hoping this can be fixed.

Also, if you log out after signing up YOU LOSE ALL YOUR PROJECTS! Which defeats the entirety of the accessibility ReasonCompact is trying to reach for. Please let me keep my projects, the ideas I lost were really cool. There’s absolutely no way I could figure out how to restore my projects so that really makes me unsettled. What if I want to pull up something I’m working on, on the go and I find out somehow I got logged out and I have to start all over again. Reason you’re onto something here, but please fix that.

by FluxT3kArsenal

Thank you propellerhead, have been a fan since my 1 mac powerbook..,lol
Seriously have found tons of awesome innovative ideas thanks to the great work you guys do.. the updates on here look and sound amazing.. plus the new edition for computers also is just insane.. really stoked.. I just love being able to use it as a digital Rack, and still record on AB live and logic..So ready to embark on this amazing symphonic power house.. much respect keep it up.. we all really appreciate your hard work.. Bless all of you, I can tell that lots of love and soul have gone into this bad boi
Much respect 💎🎹🎧
Ps
Saving your music has always been possible.. for use your head.. a lil in out split aux but that not even needed these days just run it as a vst and I have been able to record melodies and more from my phone to my Pc running LIve AB , it also records right into GB.. and you can save the loop from there.. but I recommend beefing up that sound on GB you they have great mastering apps.. ppl don’t even believe that it was made on a phone.. I love to use everything real,analog,digital , and bring the best out of all of it.. love music!! No lame coach breathing dwn your neck.. music is a door you have to chose to open.. no one is going to make you.. keep it pure and have fun.. bless u all

by Nitpickin'Gamer

My favorite producing app so far though I think ableton should make an app too. I like the synth packets, a dollar price is dope too. I also like how you can export your whole session too and now you can track out to eight bar loops and edit within that. Literally made a few bangers off ReasonCompact and it’s been a dope experience. However with the latest iOS update the export feature doesn’t work and causes ReasonCompact to crash which is frustrating because now I am familiar with ReasonCompact and can make some pretty dope beats that I want to transfer to my Mac version of Reason 10. Other than that iOS glitch it’s the dopest on the fly app.

by +TKRA+

Love ReasonCompact that you have made because its almost like your actually doing it on a real pc or computer laptop or desktop computer because it is just amazing how you made ReasonCompact. I’d also showed it to a friend of mine he’s a YouTuber but not all the way with the views and stuff so I thought this will help for his music background in his videos and this will definitely come in hand for me as well that I could almost tell that he likes what I am putting for his videos and since we’re on topic for me there is one thing can y’all add a visual for ReasonCompact so I can tell him like what sound or art I am making that would be great 🙏🏽. Plus add more Techno and Electronica themes that I could create from a video game or a music video or a movie. #lovethisappthaty’allcreatedhere😁

by Maxwellteks

ReasonCompact . Definitely ranks in the top of my list for sound quality and creativity. Awesome arpeggiator set-up / sounds at least as good or better than most other pro-unlocked apps. Not to mention the shear coolness of the team there for allowing , possible buyers, the ability to test out the pro controls for each section, brilliant strategy. I feel obligated to say however , I have experienced just a few glitchy moments where it threw me back to the home screen , but no major problems, it’s so rare that I could rec and probably never be interrupted, just wanted to report it.

I can’t report enough ,however, the good sound that Reason/ Compacts into their app. ....If you only unlock one thing like the synth , It will serve you well in your creative sound designs.
THANKS

by SomeComputerGuy

I’ve been using Reason since 1.0. I have bought every version and even supported other programs such as Recycle and use rack extensions. I am now running version 10 and have the new compact instruments. Made a few tunes with the new synths, works well enough. Thought I would try out the phone interface. $9.99 to unlock Europa?, another $9.99 for the bass synth too? Oh, another $9.99 for the drum machine? Then I can’t forget about the 7 or so $0.99 little add ons either. What kind of cash grab is this? I have the full version of Reason 20 feet away, but now I need to “unlock” items on my inferior playback device? I can use Reason by signing in to any computer with reason installed. Are you really going to hit us with micro transactions?

Propellerhead Software, I know you have a business to run, money to make, and employees to pay, but if you keep down this particular path of money grabbing, you will lose a supporter. That might not seem like much, but I am doubtful I am alone in this sentiment.
Please release a version of this (compact) that at least recognizes already paid users of your software.

by Marcus Broderick

I really enjoy Reason Compact and the sounds/presets are beautiful. I also very much enjoy their approach to the chord function, it’s very robust and easy to use. My request is still, especially now that Reason 11 is available to use as a DAW or VST, that Reason Compact will work as an AUv3 in the very near future. I’d love to host this in GarageBand.

Also, I’d love to see better state recall per project. Meaning if i have a project set up to play europa in a specific octave, it would be nice if when i reopen the project the keyboard was still positioned in that octave range. This would immensely improve my experience using Reason Compact as a primary instrument in live performance.

Thank You.