LSDJ vs Reason
LSDJ
littlesounddj.comReason
reasonstudios.comSide by side
| Figure | LSDJ | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 1 | 12 |
| Spec score · Game Music Software | 7.8 (#17) | 8.2 (#8) |
| Headquarters | Stockholm, Sweden | Stockholm, Sweden |
| Support | The maker invites bug reports by email and says reported bugs will be fixed. | Reason Studios provides product manuals, tutorials, and a support team for Reason questions. |
Plans
Reason
- Reason+Priced on request
- Reason+Price not published
- Reason+Priced on request
- Reason 14$299, paid once
- Reason 14$299 a month
- Reason FreeFree
- Reason 14Price not published
- Reason+ (annual)Price not published
- Reason+ (monthly)Price not published
- Reason Rack 14 PluginPrice not published
In their own words
LSDJ
LSDJ, or Little Sound Dj, is a Game Boy music sequencer built around the console's 4-channel, 4-bit sound. Listed features include dual sample playback, a waveform synthesizer, and speech, with sync options for analog, Game Boy, MIDI, and VST. The site offers a ROM image and manual, along with a save-file manager, a sample patcher for adding user samples, and player versions. For computer use, the maker recommends BGB, a Windows emulator described as working on Mac and Linux with Wine; SameBoy is another emulator option. The ROM can also be used on an original Game Boy with a reprogrammable flash cartridge. RG300, BittBoy, and Odroid-GO are named as hardware emulator examples. LSDJ is free for personal and educational use; commercial users should first seek the copyright holder's permission. The license prohibits copying, publishing, distributing, sublicensing, or selling copies, and provides the software as-is without warranty. The maker invites bug reports by email and says reported bugs will be fixed.
Reason
Reason is music-making software from Reason, a maker founded in 1994 and headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden. It is available as a full digital audio workstation (DAW) and as a plugin. The DAW supports recording, sequencing, and mixing, with multitrack editing and MIDI sequencing. In its virtual Rack, users can connect instruments, effects, and Player MIDI effects. The Rack plugin is available in VST3, AU, and AAX formats and is described as compatible with major DAWs; tutorials cover Ableton, FL Studio, Logic Pro, and Pro Tools.
Reason Free is a plugin with 15 devices and no trial, expiration, or watermarks; it requires a compatible DAW. Reason+ includes the latest DAW and Rack plugin, 93 devices, weekly sound packs, AI stem separation and mastering, and LANDR distribution. Reason runs on Windows and macOS, with minimum requirements of 4 GB RAM, 6.5 GB of free application space, and an internet connection. After login, Reason and Reason Rack can run offline for at least 30 days. Eligible subscriptions have a seven-day free trial.