Operation Manual

SYNCHRONIZATION
61
Slaving Reason to Another
Program on the Same
Computer
! The preferred method for synchronizing two applications is by using Re-
Wire, see page 51. However, if the application you need to sync Reason
with doesn’t support ReWire, you can try the procedures described be-
low.
This section describes how to use MIDI Clock to synchronize Reason to another ap-
plication running on the same computer.
! Note that synchronization via MIDI Clock makes the two programs play
at the same time, that is, they both “run” when you “hit play”. It does not
mean they can both play audio at the same time. See page 279 for details
about “sharing audio”.
Proceed as follows:
1. Set up the other program, so that it transmits MIDI Clock to Reason:
Under Windows this is done by selecting one of the MIDI routing utility ports.
2. In Reason, open the Preferences - Advanced MIDI page.
3. Pull down the MIDI Clock pop-up and select the corresponding MIDI port.
4. Close the dialog.
5. Activate MIDI Clock Sync from the Options menu in Reason.
6. Activate playback on the other device.
Reason will start playing ‘in sync’ with it and the Sync LED on the Transport will
light up.
Synchronization
Considerations
Adjusting for Latency
Latency compensation.
Because of the latency problem described on page 280, you might need to adjust
Reason’s playback in relation to the sync master, so that they are in perfect time. The
tempo will not differ between the two, but Reason might play ahead or behind the
other application. You might need to adjust this. However, this is something you only
need to do once. The setting is stored with your other preferences, so you don’t need
to adjust it again.
Proceed as follows:
1. Set up the other application so that it generates a solid click, on for example
quarter or eighth notes, preferably with a special sound on the downbeat.
This click can either come from an internal metronome or from a MIDI source. If
you use a MIDI source, make sure you pick one that has solid MIDI timing.
2. Set up Reason so that it plays a similar rhythm as the other application.
You might for example use the Metronome or Redrum drum computer for this.
3. Start the two applications in sync.
4. Make sure you hear both applications at approximately equal level.
5. Open the Preferences dialog in Reason and select the Audio page.
6. Trim the “Latency compensation” setting until the “clicks” from the both
sources sound at exactly the same time.
7. Close the Preferences dialog in Reason.
If Latency Compensation isn’t enough
There might be situations where you can’t compensate enough in Reason to make
two software applications run in sync. This might especially be true if the other appli-
cation is an audio sequencer, that is if it can record and playback both audio and
MIDI.
This problem is an indication of the fact that the other application has not been set up
properly and that its audio playback is not in sync with its own MIDI playback.
! This is not something that you can or should compensate for in Reason.
Instead, follow the instruction included with the other application to
make sure its MIDI playback and audio playback are correctly locked to
each other.