6.5

SONG FILE HANDLING
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About this chapter
This chapter describes how to open, create and save songs in various ways. It also describes how to save a song as
a Template and how to import and export songs as Standard MIDI files.
Opening Songs
Opening a Reason or Record Song
! To be able to open a Reason Song (or a Record Song), you need to run Reason in Authorized mode. If you’re
using Reason in Demo Mode (unauthorized), the “Open” item on the File menu is removed and replaced by
“Open Demo Song”. This allows you to open only the factory made Reason Demo Songs (see “Opening a Rea-
son Demo Song”). See “Running Reason with the Ignition Key hardware” and “Running Reason with Internet
Verification” for details on how to authorize Reason.
To open a Reason (or Record) Song:
1. Hold down [Ctrl](Win) or [Cmd](Mac) and press [O], or select “Open” from the File menu.
The Reason Song Browser window appears.
2. Use the browser to navigate to the desired folder on disk or within a ReFill.
See “Using the Browser” in the “Sounds and Patches” chapter.
3. When you have located the Reason (.reason, .rsndemo, .ree, .reedemo, .rltd, .rns, .rps or .rsb), or Record Song
file (.record or .recdemo), select it and click “Open” (or double click on the file).
The song opens in a new document window.
q You can have several Songs open at the same time if you like. This allows you to copy and paste patterns, clips
and patches between songs. However, all open songs consume some memory and processing power, so you
might want to close songs you don’t need for the moment.
q It’s possible to have Reason open the last song you worked on as soon as you launch the program. See “Open-
ing the last Song at program launch” for more information.
If the “Missing Sounds” dialog appears
If the song includes samples or REX files, and these have been moved or renamed since the song was saved, the
program will inform you that it cannot find all files. You can then choose to either manually locate the missing files, to
have the program search for them or to proceed without the missing sounds. For details, see “Handling Missing
Sounds” in the “Sounds and Patches” chapter.
If “Missing Device” panels appear in the rack
When you open a Reason song made by another user, it may have been created with Rack Extension devices that
you don't have. All such missing devices in a song will be replaced by generic “Missing Device” placeholder devices.
See “About missing Rack Extensions” for more information.
About opening pre Reason Version 6 Songs in Reason Version 6.5
If you run Reason in Authorized mode, it’s also possible to open older Reason (.rns, .rps and .rsb) songs. A Reason
Song created in Reason Version 5 or earlier will end up in a separate Song document, just like an ordinary Reason
Version 6.5 Song. All Rack device and sequencer track configuration will be preserved as well as all cable connec-
tions. The only things that will be changed are these:
• The Main Mixer Master Section will be connected to Outputs 1 and 2 on the Reason Hardware Device.