Our Technical Support staff has been getting a lot of questions about installing the Native Instruments software synthesizers into a Digital Performer environment. To clarify for everyone, here is a step by step procedure.
Make sure you have the latest versions of all software and drivers. Check online frequently for FreeMIDI, Digital Performer and Native Instruments updates.
1. When installing your Native Instruments software, you should be asked if you want to install a MAS plug-in. You should choose “Yes”.
2. Enable “Inter-Application MIDI” in FreeMIDI: While FreeMIDI is running, choose FreeMIDI Preferences from the FILE menu. Check the box next to “Inter-Application MIDI”. Close the FreeMIDI Preferences, save and quit FreeMIDI.
3. Launch your Native Instruments application. From the “System” menu, choose “MIDI….” The MIDI Settings window should open.
4. Below “Select MIDI System”, choose FreeMIDI. If/when “available inputs” are listed below, do NOT choose any inputs. You will be able to choose them within Digital Performer.
5. With your Native Instruments application running, Launch Digital Performer. The output choices for MIDI tracks should now include your Native Instruments synth (Reaktor, Absynth, B4, etc…). Choose your NI synth and one of the channel choices.
6. To route audio through Digital Performer, go back to your Native Instruments application. From the “System” menu, choose “Digital Performer/MAS” from the Audio Port pop-up.
7. Go back to Digital Performer and create an Aux Track. You should be able to choose your Native Instruments application as the Input to the Aux track *(If it is not available as an input, it is likely that the MAS plug-in was not installed properly) Set the output of the Aux tracks to your main outputs (e.g. analog 1-2…)
8. In order to record your Native Instruments synth as an audio track, simply create an Audio “Voice” instead of an Aux Track in step 7. Record enable the track (whose input is “Reaktor”, “Absynth”, etc…)