Specifications

INSTALLATION
8
About the Audio
Hardware
The audio hardware is the computer equipment that converts the digital signals
from Reason to analog audio signals (for connection to an amplifier, head-
phones, or similar). This equipment could be a standard stereo sound card, a
USB audio interface, the built-in audio hardware on a Macintosh or some more
advanced audio card with several inputs and outputs, digital connectors, etc.
Regardless of which, you need to make sure the hardware and its drivers are
properly installed:
Mac OS X
If you are using the built-in audio hardware of the Macintosh
In this case you don’t need to make any extra settings. Just connect the audio
output to your listening equipment (speakers, mixer, headphones or similar) and
make sure your Mac plays audio properly.
If you are using other audio hardware
You may want to use other audio hardware with Reason (e.g. an audio interface
with multiple outputs, digital connections, etc.). For this to be possible, the audio
hardware must be compatible with Mac OS X, that is, there must be a Mac OS
X driver available for the card.
1. Install the audio hardware and its drivers as described in its docu-
mentation.
2. Connect the stereo outputs of your audio hardware to your listening
equipment (speakers, mixer, headphones or similar).
For info about how to use multiple outputs (i.e. more than a stereo output),
see the Operation Manual pdf. For now, we stick to standard stereo connec-
tions.
3. If possible, test that audio plays back OK with the audio hardware.
With some audio hardware, a test application is supplied for this purpose.
Windows
D If possible, you should use ASIO compatible audio hardware (i.e.
audio hardware for which there is an ASIO driver).
ASIO drivers generally provide better performance and lower latency (see
page 14).
D If there is no ASIO driver available, you should make sure your au-
dio card supports DirectX.
DirectX is a Microsoft protocol for handling audio and other multimedia as-
pects.
D As a last resort, you could use audio cards that don’t support ASIO
or DirectX, provided that they are Windows compatible.
In this case, Reason will communicate with the audio hardware via MME
(Windows Multi Media Extensions). However, most often this results in large
latency values (see page 14), making real-time playback of instrument de-
vices difficult or even impossible.
Regardless of which type of audio hardware or drivers you are using, you should
follow these basic steps:
1. Make sure you have the latest drivers for the audio hardware!
Please check the manufacturer’s web site for the latest versions.
2. Install the audio hardware and its drivers as described in its docu-
mentation.
3. Connect the stereo outputs of your audio hardware to your listening
equipment (speakers, mixer, headphones or similar).
For information about how to use multiple outputs (i.e. more than a stereo
output), see the Operation Manual pdf. For now, we stick to standard stereo
connections.
4. If possible, test that audio plays back properly with the audio hard-
ware.
In the case of audio hardware with ASIO drivers, you will need some test ap-
plication for this (often included with the audio hardware). If you are using Di-
rectX or MME drivers, you can use Windows’ Media Player application for
this.