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.