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Instrument Tracks, Multiple Outputs: ReWired...
In last week’s installment,
I discussed how to bring the stereo output of Reason into Pro Tools 7. This is
great, and the method I most often use while I am tracking and editing. However,
once it is time to mix a project, I bring the individual outputs of each device
in Reason into Pro Tools, so that I have greater control and flexibility in making
it a part of the mix.
After reading through this week’s discussion, you may find all of this
a bit much to take in. Never fear, as at the end of this tutorial I attempt to
summarize the salient points of both approaches, so that you can really understand
the concepts involved.
Just as a reminder, make sure that you have the latest version of Reason (3.0.4
at the time of this writing) available on the Propellerhead website,
and that it has been properly installed so that it runs without a hitch as a
standalone application.
1. Make sure Reason is not open, launch Pro Tools 7, and then create a stereo
instrument track (tick-based).
2. In the Mix window, click on the first Insert and choose Reason (Stereo).
After you have selected Reason for the Insert, the Reason
application will automatically
launch.
3. Starting from a completely empty Reason Song file choose:
Create > Mixer 14:2
Create > SubTractor Analog Synthesizer
Create > NN19 Digital Sampler
A mixer, synthesizer and sampler will be added to the rack. Load a patch into
SubTractor and NN19.
4. If you press the Tab key Reason will turn its back to you, revealing all of
the sexy cabling used to connect all the devices.
Notice that main (mono) output of SubTractor is connected
to the left input of Input 1 on the mixer, and that the main
(stereo) outputs of NN19 are connected
to the left and right inputs on Input 2 on the mixer, and that the main (stereo)
outputs of the mixer are connected to the main inputs Input 1 and Input 2 on
the Hardware Interface. This is how in last week’s tutorial, the inputs
of all the devices on the rack are mixed together and sent to the main (L and
R) inputs on the Hardware Interface to be routed via ReWire into Pro Tools.
To work with each device individually in Pro Tools, we need to route each device
to a separate input on the Hardware Interface.
5. Drag the outputs of NN19 out of input 2 on the mixer and into input 3 and
4 respectively on the Hardware Interface, and drag the output of SubTractor
out of input 1 on the mixer and into input 5 on the Hardware Interface. Although
the mixer is still connected to inputs 1 and 2 on the Hardware Interface, the
instruments are now bypassing the mixer and directly connected to individual
inputs on the Hardware Interface.
6. Return to Pro Tools and make sure that the Reason pop-up
menu on the ReWire plug-in is set to Channel 3 - 4, which
correspond to output 3 and 4 on the
Hardware Interface in Reason, which is connected to NN19.
7. Make sure you are viewing the Instrument view in the Mix
window (a new view in Pro Tools 7), by choosing View > Mix Window > Instruments.
Choose your MIDI controller (keyboard) for the MIDI input,
and choose NN19 for the
MIDI output
[Instrument I/O].
8. Record enable the track, and sequence a part for NN19.
After you are done recording, click the Record Enable button
to disable recording for the track.
Note: By default the Input for the Instrument track is set
to No Input, and herein lies a potential problem. Some software
instrument will not sound when
inserted
on an Instrument track unless they have a valid hardware input and/or MIDI
output assignment (e.g. A1-2).
9. Create a mono instrument track (tick-based) for SubTractor. Click on the
first Insert and choose Reason (Mono). Choose Channel 5 using the Reason pop-up
menu
on the ReWire plug-in, which correspond to output 5 on the Hardware Interface
in Reason, which is connected to SubTractor.
10. Choose your MIDI controller (keyboard) for the MIDI input,
and choose SubTractor for the MIDI output [Instrument I/O].
Sequence a part for SubTractor. After
you are done recording, click the Record Enable button to disable recording
for the
track.
When you playback the Pro Tools session, you will hear the
output of both NN19 and SubTractor each playing on their
respective instrument track. If you add
more devices simply create more instrument tracks and follow the same method
(ReWire supports up to 64 channels of audio).
At this point, you can add Insert and Send Effects using your favorite TDM
and/or RTAS plug-ins (depending on your Pro Tools system), and automate these
tracks
just as you would any other track in Pro Tools. When you are done, make sure
to quit Reason before quitting Pro Tools.
A Reason to tie together all the loose ends...
Again, don’t worry if you feel a bit overwhelmed. Going through and actually
doing each step of the exercises yourself should get you up and running with
Reason and Pro Tools in no-time. However, part of the gig for me is to help
you digest these ideas so that you really understand how it all comes together.
Hopefully
this little cheat-sheet will help you understand when it is best to use each
method, and how to set it all up. If you still have questions or thoughts you
would like to share, drop me a line (scott@audioMIDI.com).
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The Main Output of Reason into Pro Tool 7 |
The Outputs of each device separately into Pro Tools |
| Which method should I use to bring Reason into Pro
Tools? |
Use this method when you are tracking and editing,
and when you don’t need individual control over
each Reason device in the mix. |
Use this method when you are mixing, and want to be
able to control each Reason device in the mix. |
| Which track type do I use? |
Use an Instrument or Aux track to instantiate one instance
of Reason, and use additional MIDI tracks to control
additional Reason devices. |
Use an Instrument track to instantiate Reason for an
individual Reason device, and use additional Instrument
tracks, each with an instantiation of Reason, for additional
Reason devices. |
Pro Tools Tidbits for the Week
- McDSP has released
updated versions of their plug-ins for Pro Tools 7.
- Arturia has released
updates for the Moog Modular V2, CS-80V 1.5, minimoog
V 1.5, ARP 2600 V 1.0.
- FXpansion has released a minor update, bringing BFD to
version 1.5.0.31.
If you have a Pro Tools related question that you would
like me to take a shot at answering or have any feedback,
please send it to scott@audioMIDI.com. I will do my best
to select the questions that seem to stump the most people.
As always, stay tuned to the audioMIDI.com eNews for the latest reviews and new product info.
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