Hi,

Im new to using Reason. I just got Reason 5. I have been using Abelton Live for a while and am very familiar with making music that way. Something has me stumped in Reason that probably has a pretty simple solution. I create a drum pattern on the Redrum rack. Then in the sequencer window I right click on the redrum panel to the left and select 'convert pattern automation to notes'. when this is complete I have a timeline of my drum pattern in the sequencer. which is good. BUT when I go back to the Rack view of Reason and try to edit my drum patter form the redrum rack or if I try to create a new drum pattern from the redrum rack it wont let me. I click 'Run' and it lights up orange but no music is playing even though I have a pattern selected and lit up to the right. nothing happens at all. Does anyone have a solution to this?

Thank you!

I very rarely use patterns on the Redrum itself (I edit straight in the sequencer window by using the pen tool) but you can right-click on the Redrum unit and select "copy pattern to track". Then just copy the pattern to desired song length... (you would probably want some breaks, rolls or variations here and there also).

Then you can easily edit automation for whatever you need editing... (right-click -> edit automation on the parameter you want to automate)

If you want to edit either the pattern itself or the automation, simply double click on the note lane...

The short answer is that after you do "convert pattern automation to notes", Reason turns off the patterns of the ReDrum. To turn them back on, click the following buttons on the ReDrum: "Enable Pattern Section", "Pattern", and finally "Run".

That said, if you're new to Reason, "convert pattern automation to notes" is probably not the best way to go. Here's how the ReDrum is typically used:

A) Patterns only; no note lanes. Create your patterns, hit Record and select different patterns as the track plays. This will automate the order in which the patterns are played back.

B) Patterns and note lanes. Create a pattern. Set the Left and Right markers, right-click on the ReDrum and select Copy Pattern To Track. This converts the current pattern to notes. Now you can edit the notes individually, and also play a different pattern on top of the notes.

C) No patterns; note lanes only. Use the pen tool to draw in individual notes like Bathyscaphe said.

4) No patterns, no note lanes, CV only. Ok, that's only for routing freaks like myself.