Operation Manual

SYNCHRONIZATION AND ADVANCED MIDI
330
About this chapter
This chapter describes how to synchronize Reason to MIDI Clock, and how to use the External Control Bus inputs for
advanced MIDI routing when you’re not using ReWire.
Synchronization to MIDI Clock
ReWire users – read this!
This section is about synchronization via MIDI Clock, and does not apply to users of ReWire. If you are using Reason
together with a ReWire compatible application, ReWire automatically handles all synchronization issues for you. See
“About synchronization” for details.
What is synchronization and MIDI Clock?
Synchronization, in this context, is when you make Reason play at the same tempo as another device; where both
start, stop and can locate to certain positions, together. This is done by transmitting MIDI Clock signals between Rea-
son and the other device. MIDI Clock is a very fast “metronome” that can be transmitted in a MIDI cable. As part of the
MIDI Clock concept there are also instructions for Start, Stop and locating to sixteenth note positions.
You can set up synchronization between Reason and hardware devices (tape recorders, drum machines, stand alone
sequencers, workstations etc.) and other computer programs running on the same or another computer.
Master/Slave
In a synchronized system there is always one master and one or more slaves. In our case, the master is the one that
controls the tempo. In other words, it is only the tempo setting on the master device that is of any relevance, since the
slaves slavishly follow the master's tempo.
• Reason always acts as a slave. That is, it receives MIDI Clock signals, it never transmits them.
! Before you create any serious projects that require sync, try out the features described in “Slaving Reason to
an external MIDI application or instrument” and “Slaving Reason to another program on the same computer”,
and check out “Synchronization considerations”.
Slaving Reason to an external MIDI application or instrument
This example assumes that you have an external device, such as a drum machine, hardware sequencer, another com-
puter, tape recorder etc., that transmits MIDI Clock signals to which you want to synchronize Reason.
1. Connect a the device via USB/MIDI to the computer running Reason.
2. Set up the other device so that it transmits MIDI Clock signals to the MIDI Out you just connected to the com-
puter running Reason.
3. In Reason, pull down the Edit menu (under Mac OS X, the Reason menu) and open the Preferences dialog. Se-
lect the Advanced Control page.
4. Pull down the MIDI Clock Sync pop-up and select the MIDI Input to which you connected the other device.
5. Close the dialog.