Got my hands on the betatester version!
Ok fam. I'm don't know all the ins and outs of 3.0 so I know I won't unvail everything that 4.0 can do but I'll try to post things that I find are better and diff't from 3.0.
First of all....if your like me and your working with a CPU that should have been upgraded 3 yrs. ago(lol) u will definitely have to upgrade ya shit if u wanna rock Reason 4.0! U can't even play the demo songs if you got a slow processor and less than a gig of RAM. 512 is the highest I can go with my cpu so I'm struggling over here. If you sign up to be a betatester and u get in u have to remove any Previous Reason b4 u can install beta 4.0. I hope u got a back up hard drive! I got the westell 250G so I'm str8. I recommend u back up everything dealing with Reason to a back up hard drive b4 u even think about messing with the beta just in case the shit goes bunkers. U can't save jack with the beta version and u can only freak it an hour at a time. After 60 minutes it shuts down and u have to open it again.
The sequencer is a beast! The first thing that jumps out 2 me is the Precount on/off button located right below click enable. This is a welcomed addition IMO. U get an automatic 4 count before it starts recoring which elimates that annoying click! It's been a minute since I toyed with my MPC 2000 but if I'm not mistaken the MPC has that feature.
The tool bar of the sequencer is a little diff't. In addition to the selection tool, Pencil tool, eraser tool , magnify and hand tool, u have the razer tool. The razor tool allows u 2 slice up parts of your track to erase them or slice up sections that u may want to drag and drop in other locations within the track. I think that will definitely come in handy!
The quantize section on the tool bar is gone. They relocated it right below stop and record. It is now a button that u can enable or disable. If u enable it (turns green) u quantize during recording. If it's disabled u record loose like a live musician.
Here's another "MAJOR IMPROVEMENT" that I've noticed about the new sequencer. The overdub and replace mode have been replaced with NEW DUB AND NEW ALT. Enable new dub and u can record on top of what u already have recorded. Enable Alt and it's a whole new take. I know what you're thinking "it already does that in previous versions". True..but not like this. U actually have diff't takes along side the originals that if u don't like u can delete and keep the original instead of having to undo what u did to get back to the original. click new alt and a new take opens below the original track. U can do this as many times as u want until u get what u like. Then u can delete the ones u don't want. Here's something else. U can have diff't takes and if u like one, both or all u can merge that shit! AMAZING! IMO. Be back later with more goodies....ONE!