12.25

SYNCHRONIZATION AND ADVANCED MIDI614
About using different time signatures with Ableton Link
Using a different time signature than the other devices/applications in the Ableton Link network works just fine. The
sync progress bar on the Transport panel always shows the sync phase of one single Bar, regardless of selected time
signature. Using different time signatures may of course generate interesting rhythmical results, though.
About synchronizing external MIDI instruments while using Ableton Link
It’s also possible to synchronize external MIDI instruments from Reason via MIDI Clock, while you are using Ableton
Link. This is very useful if you, for example, are using external hardware MIDI instruments and want them to follow the
Ableton Link synchronization tempo.
1. Set up Reason to send MIDI Clock, as described in “Using Reason as MIDI Clock Host”.
2. Select “Ableton Link” from the Sync Mode selector and then click the Send Clock button in the Transport
panel:
3. Hit Play in the Reason sequencer.
The Reason sequencer will start when the green progress bar reaches the current play head position (phase)
within the current Bar. As the sequencer starts, any external MIDI instruments will also be started and synced to
Reason’s MIDI Clock signal. The MIDI Clock tempo will then automatically follow the Ableton Link tempo.
About Tempo Automation when using Ableton Link
If you use Ableton Link synchronization in a Reason song which has Tempo Automation, the Tempo Automation lane
will be automatically muted in the sequencer:
The song will then automatically follow the Ableton Link tempo instead and disregard any tempo automation.
! As long as Ableton Link synchronization is active it’s not possible to manually unmute the Tempo Automation
lane!
D If you switch back to Internal sync from Ableton Link sync, the Tempo in the Reason sequencer will remain at
the tempo it had when you switched back.
The Tempo Automation lane is also automatically unmuted.
The Automation Override indicator on the Transport panel is also lit:
D Click the Automation Override indicator - or press stop in the Reason sequencer - to set the tempo according
to the Tempo Automation clip.