Thor synthesizer explained

The Thor layout is pretty easy upon first glance. Follow the arrows and you will generally understand the flow of the sound signal from it's birth - the oscillator, to it's final output of the master volume(located at the top left of the Tho unit). Let's break it down further.

Within Thor, you have access to the following:

1. Oscillators
     - This is where you select the soundwave type. It will create a very basic sound that can be further refined using the rest of the thor unit. 

2. Filters
     - The filter overlays on top of the Oscillator's sound. It will cut out, or boost certain frequencies along the sound spectrum.

3. Shaper
     - The shaper further refines the waveform via mathematical algorithms. 

4. LFOs
     - These are a separate waveform generator used in programming other functions.

5. Delay
     - Repeats any played notes over time like an echo.

6. Chorus
     -  Chorus is created by adding a slightly delayed, pitch-modulated version of a sound to the original sound.

7. Mod Envelopes
     - This is another feature used in programming functions. Instead of using a waveform as it's base like the LFO, the mod envelope is based around Attack, Decay, Sustain, and Release functions which we will delve into later.

8. Matrix Sequencer
     - The matrix is a mini-sequencer within the Thor unit.

9. Programmer
     - This is the core of Thor's advanced audio manipulation. Through this, you can tie together various parts of the Thor unit to produce something completely different from the original set-up.


Understanding the processes behind all the knobs is important to achieving the sound you want, even if you do decide to work only by using and customizing pre-made patches. Next, we will individually dissect each of these modules one by one.

Propellerhead Reason's layout explained

Open a blank Reason file, and you will notice two separate windows:

1. DEVICE RACK
2. SEQUENCER 

The device rack is your hardware emulator. From this window, you can add a device and program it to create the sounds you want - not much unlike as if you bought a physical unit from the store!

The sequencer is what ties all the devices together. From here you can write the midi sequences(the melodies and their arrangements) and control automations on the knobs contained within the device rack.

TIP: By default, the sequencer and device rack will be combined into a single window upon starting up Reason. You can separate them for user-friendliness clicking Window(next to Options and Help) at the top and selecting Detach Sequencer from the drop down menu.
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Moving back to the Device Rack:

Within the device rack you can right-click on empty space to open the Patch List in which you can generate a 'patch'. A patch is basically a hardware sound-production unit that is emulated into the Reason software package. Propellerhead, the creator of Reason, had tried to keep their music production package as faithful as possible to the original pieces of hardware that birthed the electronic genre. For instance, while in the device rack you can press the TAB key which will flip all the devices around and you can literally rewire the units as if it was really right in front of you! This is also key, because the actual ordering of effects/mastering on top of the instrument changes the final output sound dramatically.

Within this patch list, you will notice the following separated by bars:

1. Mixers
     - A mixer is a unit in which you can plug multiple synthesizer patches, and control their individual volume levels.

2. Synthesizers
     - The synthesizer is the root unit. It produces the sounds, or in the case of a drum kit, it will utilize samples pulled from audio clips.

3. Mastering Tools
     - Mastering tools are what refine the sound to make your track as pleasing to the ear as possible and to get the most out of a speaker system.

4. Effects
     - Effects are applied onto your synthesizer to make the instrument base more interesting, add flow, or to produce a specific vibe.

5. Splitters/Mergers
     - Splitters and Mergers are used to split an audio or effect signal into two separate copies. With an effect signal, these means you can apply the same reverb effect on two different synthesizers instead of making two custom reverb units respectively.

Let us move on to basic synthesis using the Thor Unit. Create a THOR patch - it is located in the list of synthesizers.

NOTE: You must be using atleast Reason v4.0 to create a Thor patch.