Operation Manual

AUDIO BASICS
60
Mac specific information
About using the built-in audio inputs and outputs
All Mac models come with a built-in audio interface, providing stereo input and output jacks (and in some cases a
built-in microphone). Depending on your needs, the quality of these inputs and outputs may be fully sufficient for use
with Reason. However, in Mac OS X 10.4 the system presents the built-in inputs and outputs as two or three individ-
ual audio devices. This means that, by default, you can only select the "Built-in Output" option in Reason's Prefer-
ences. This works fine for playback, but since you get no inputs at all, you cannot record audio.
To get access to both built-in inputs and outputs in Mac OS X 10.4, you need to create an "Aggregate Device", com-
bining inputs and outputs into one "virtual" audio device. This is done in the Aggregate Device Editor.
! Although Aggregate Devices can be used, regular audio devices with both inputs and outputs have proven to
be more reliable and allow lower latencies. Therefore, we recommend using external audio hardware with
good Core Audio drivers instead.
! In Mac OS X 10.5 and later, the Core Audio drivers support combinations of audio inputs and outputs. If you
run Reason under Mac OS X 10.5 or later you do not have to create an Aggregate Device!
Proceed as follows to create an Aggregate Device:
1. In OS X, open “Audio MIDI Setup” in the “Utilities” folder in “Applications”.
2. Select “Open Aggregate Device Editor” from the Audio menu.
The Aggregate Device Editor
3. In the Aggregate Device Editor, click the “+” button to create a new aggregate device.
If you like, you can rename your new aggregate device.
4. Place a tick in the “Use” check boxes for each of the Audio Devices you want to use.
For example, if you want to use the “Built-in Line Input” and “Built-in Output”, tick these two boxes.
! If you want to use the “Built-in Microphone” together with the “Built-in Output”, note that there might be audio
feedback loops if you use the computer’s internal speakers or external speaker close to the built-in micro-
phone! We recommend NOT using the “Built-in Microphone” option, partly because of the feedback loop prob-
lem and partly because of the limited audio quality of the built-in microphone.
5. Click “Done” to finish and exit the Aggregate Device Editor.
6. In the Audio MIDI Setup window, choose the Aggregate Device you just created by selecting it in the “Default
Input” and “Default Output” drop-down lists respectively.
7. Select your Aggregate Device from the “Properties For” drop-down list and set up the “Format” in the drop-
down lists that appear in the “Audio Input” and “Audio Output” sections at the bottom of the window.
D Choose “2ch-24bit” for best audio resolution.
8. When you’re done, exit the Audio MIDI Setup.
! If Reason was running while you created you new aggregate device, you’ll have to restart Reason for the new
aggregate to be available in the “Audio Card” drop-down list on the “Audio” page in the Preferences dialog.