Operation Manual

THE SEQUENCER
31
Importing and Exporting
MIDI Files
Reason can import and export standard midi files (SMF). This allows you to transfer
MIDI data between Reason and other applications.
Importing a MIDI File
To import a Standard MIDI File, select “Import MIDI File” from the File menu. The
Browser appears, where you can locate and open the MIDI file.
D MIDI files have the extension “.mid”.
Now, a number of new tracks are created in Reason’s sequencer. The tracks will have
their original name, with their original MIDI channel added.
D If the imported MIDI file is of “Type 1”, there will be one sequencer track
for each track in the MIDI file.
D If the imported MIDI file is of “Type 0” (that is, it contains one track with
MIDI events on multiple channels), there will be one sequencer track for
each used MIDI channel.
D Any tempo changes in the MIDI file are disregarded.
The tempo in Reason will be set to the first tempo in the MIDI file.
D The new tracks will not be connected to devices in the rack.
You will need to connect the tracks manually to the proper devices, by using the
Out pop-up menu in the track list.
D All controller data in the MIDI file is included.
This means that pitch bend, volume and modulation wheel data are preserved
properly. However, some controllers may “mean” different things for the original
MIDI instruments used when creating the MIDI file and the devices in Reason.
When you have connected a sequencer track to a device, you may therefore need
to remove some unwanted automation from the track.
Green frames will appear for the automated parameters in the device panels. This helps you locate
any unwanted controller data.
Exporting a MIDI File
To export your Reason song as a MIDI file, proceed as follows:
1. Set the End (E) marker at where you want the MIDI file to end.
The MIDI file will contain all events on all tracks from the start of the song to the
End marker.
2. Select “Export MIDI File” from the File menu.
3. In the file dialog that appears, specify a name and location for the file.
Under Windows, the file will automatically get the extension “.mid”. Under Mac
OS, this is not required. However, if you want the MIDI file to be recognizable un-
der Windows (and by some hardware sequencers), you may want to activate the
option “Add Extension to File Name” before saving.
4. Click Save.
MIDI files exported by Reason will have the following properties:
D The MIDI file will be of Type 1, with one MIDI track for each track in the
Reason sequencer.
The tracks will have the same names as in the Reason sequencer.
D Since the Reason sequencer doesn’t use MIDI channels as such, all
tracks will be set to MIDI channel 1.
D The sequencer tempo is included in the MIDI file.