User Manual

EXTERNAL MIDI INSTRUMENT
862
Introduction
The External MIDI Instrument is a device designed for controlling external MIDI instruments, i.e. instruments that live
outside of Reason. These could be other software synths or external hardware instruments that are hooked up to a
MIDI interface on your computer.
The External MIDI Instrument is treated like any other instrument device in the Reason sequencer, including Note
Lanes and automatable controls. One exception, though, is that the External MIDI Instrument device does not pro-
duce any sound of its own; it has to be routed via MIDI Out to an external MIDI instrument.
Using the External MIDI Instrument
Setting up for controlling an external MIDI instrument
! To be able to control external MIDI instruments from Reason it is required that you have installed a MIDI inter-
face on your computer. Refer to the documentation of your specific MIDI interface for installation instructions.
1. Connect your external MIDI instrument to the MIDI interface on your computer: MIDI Interface MIDI Out to
MIDI instrument's MIDI In.
If you want to play and/or record MIDI from your MIDI instrument to Reason, connect your instrument’s MIDI Out
to your computer’s MIDI In as well, see “Recording MIDI Controller automation from the controlled MIDI instru-
ment”.
! If you are using the same MIDI instrument also as MIDI Master Keyboard for Reason, you will need to set it to
“MIDI Local Off”. Otherwise you will get doubled notes when you play your MIDI instrument.
D To be able to hear your external MIDI instrument in Reason, connect your instrument’s audio output(s) to the
desired audio input(s) of your audio interface. Then, create an Audio Track, select the appropriate audio inputs
and make sure the Monitor button on the Audio Track in the sequencer is on.
2. Create an External MIDI Instrument device from the “Instruments >” sub-menu in the Create menu or from the
Instruments tab on the Device Palette in the Tool Window.
The device is created in the rack and a track is automatically created in the sequencer.
! Make sure that the MIDI instrument controlled by the External MIDI Instrument device does NOT transmit the
MIDI data back to Reason (e.g. via “MIDI soft through” or “MIDI throughput”). This could cause MIDI feedback
loops that could result in MIDI overflow in Reason.
Refer to the user manuals for your MIDI instruments for information on how to set the instruments to MIDI Local
Off and how to prevent MIDI feedback loops.
3. Select the desired MIDI Port from the drop-down list to the right of the display.
All MIDI Ports that are currently available for Reason on your computer are displayed in the list.