Reason...the missing link?

Hello - So I've been doing extensive research here on the DUC regarding using Reason with Pro Tools. I have some lingering questions, but first... There seems to be alot of people here who still don't have things worked out. This thread here outlines, step by step, how to configure Reason to play out of the digi001, as well as how to set up an IAC bus to play Reason as a sound module thru Pro Tools: this post doesn't tell you how to configure your IAC busses in OMS, but you can get that info here: Okay...on to my questions. I have successfully been able to download the ASIO driver that will allow you to play Reason thru the digi001 (you can get the driver here: ). I have also been able to set up the IAC bus to play Reason via midi from Pro Tools. When controlling Reason from PT via midi and the IAC bus, I have a Tascam US-428 which can function as the sound card for Reason, and it has digital outs which I can feed into my Digi001 for a stereo audio track. A key piece of info that doesn't get mentioned often is that you when using Reason with PT, you must have different audio hardware devices selected for system sounds, Reason, and PT. Each piece of hardware (in my case, the built-in Sound Manager, the US-428, and the Digi001) can only be used by one application at a time. Also, you must start PT first and then Reason, or else you will get an error message from PT which says "digi hardware currently in use", or something to that effect. Ok, really here are my questions.... 1) If I am using SPDIF to run my audio from the Tascam US-428 to the Digi001, can't I input each individual Reason track discretely into PT? 2) Even though I have "run in backround" checked in BOTH applications (PT and Reason), I cannot play Reason thru PT if the Reason window is in front of the PT window....is this correct? 3) If I can tweak my Reason tracks thru PT while playing them both in sync, why would I have to be committed to inputting only a stereo track from the Reason sound card to PT? Couldn't I just wait until I have finished all my tweaks, and then export/import the individual tracks into PT (and still by in sync?)? 4) Why would I need Refuse? Thank you in advance for responding to this post...many of us who are trying to get this stuff worked out are very appreciative! Happy Holidays,

Joe - Thanks so much for your response. I'm not sure how I will end up working with PT/Reason integrated, but I seem to think that I will be trying both ways. What I tried to do last night was sync up the two programs using the IAC bus, and then use PT to play Reason. I have my keyboard going into the Digi001, then I create a midi track and select the IAC bus as the output (which I've named "Reason"). When I record enable the PT midi track, the midi info is relayed via the bus to Reason which then triggers the Reason device you've selected. When configured like this, PT had to be the active window in front...as soon as you put Reason up front, you can no longer play the devices. The reason you gave for this makes perfect sense to me, and has made me think... Can I get a midi "splitter" or D.A. so I can split the midi coming out of my keyboard and send one to the Digi001 and one to the Tascam US-428. Then I could do either config...either play Reason thru PT (and sequence in PT) or play/sequence Reason directly thru the 428 interface....right? I can have both programs open, sequence in Reason (by deselecting the IAC bus in Reason's advanced midi prefereces), output the 428 to the 001, and still keep them in sync? If I did this, then I could have PT tracks playing in the backround as I work on my Reason sequences? Would I have to set up the transport differently (IOW, not have it controlled by PT via the IAC bus?)? If so, how? Could I export the individual midi tracks from Reason and import those into PT? I'm also still foggy on the latency issues (will there be any? will using SPDIF reduce it?), and I'm still unclear as to why I would need refuse (if it taxes the CPU too much to get discrete audio tracks anyway)...would it only be useful if I didn't have the 2nd soundcard (428) to output Reason's audio to the 001? Wouldn't the latency be very bad with Refuse and direct connect? I know I have a great many questions....if anyone can offer any info regarding ANY of this stuff, that would be tremendous! Please don't feel you have to tackle all of it...LOL Thanks again Joe...you were a big help!

The benefit of Refuse (or it's "legit" inspiration, ReWire) is that instead of having just a two-channel stereo Reason mix to work with in PT, you'd get 16 channels. For instance, put your NT-XT on channels 1 and 2, your three loop players on 3 through 8, your Redrum on 9 and 10, etc. This way you can apply PT effects to individual Reason instruments, and mix them separately in PT. I don't understand your comment on needing Reason and the OS to have separate audio hardware. I use Sound Manager for Reason on an iBook, while PT is using the 001 on a Quicksilver. Yeah, once in a while I get a system sound played into PT - it's happened like twice.

Hi Silver - Thanks for the info...do you use the Refuse shell? Can you actually get all 16 channels of audio? What are your latency issues? It sounds like you are using two different computers...one running PT and one running Reason, correct? Then my comments about selecting different hardware devices for Reason and PT definitely wouldn't apply...I made the comment because I think it's important to understand that if you have the ASIO driver to output Reason thru the 001, you cannot have it selected in Reason if you wish to run PT at the same time. PT will not open because another app (Reason) is occupying it's hardware (the 001). Of course, this is only if running both apps on the same computer. I read quite a few posts where people were getting confused on this point, and I thought it might be helpful... Thanks again for your reply...maybe you'll be able to shed some more light on this stuff!

Okay so how do you sync up 2 different computers, 1 running PT, 1 running Reason? I know i can trigger midi from PT to Reason but I want to be able to sync up filter sweeps...panning... realtime control of my stuff . Is it possible? Please help me guys! If i get Logic Audio Platinum which i am anyway.... would it be easier than using PT and Reason?

Sure, you need a midi interface on each CPU, feed the reason CPU, Midi TC, Clock, TC, from the PT computer. It wil slave to PT well and give you more control over reason, however, its slicker if you can pull it all off on one CPU. You also end up having a hand on each CPU kybrd and a midi controller all at once. I run complex midi using DP, Logic, Cubase, etc, slaved to PT all the time. The 2nd midi interface must have active power, not be a passive simple midi 2 port box. You can also do this with a studio 4 by opcode, open up OMS and indicate the two computer setup and feed TC in the proper direction. In short, its possible in several ways... Regards e