{"id":1757614,"date":"2019-09-30T18:33:51","date_gmt":"2019-09-30T18:33:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/?post_type=articles&#038;p=1757614"},"modified":"2021-02-02T19:16:50","modified_gmt":"2021-02-02T19:16:50","slug":"using-plug-ins-in-reason","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/articles\/using-plug-ins-in-reason\/","title":{"rendered":"Using Plug-ins in Reason"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>In this guide, we will show you how to work with effects plug-ins and virtual instruments in Reason. We\u2019ll show how to load one and add it to a track. We\u2019ll also show you some tips and tricks along the way. Follow each of the sections below to get started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol><li><strong><a href=\"#Scanning-new-plug-ins\">Scanning new plug-ins<\/a><\/strong><\/li><li><strong><a href=\"#Loading-plug-ins-on-a-track\">Loading plug-ins on a track<\/a><\/strong><ul><li><strong><a href=\"#Routing-multi-out-virtual-instruments\">Routing multi-out virtual instruments<\/a><\/strong><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><strong><a href=\"#Using-the-Reason-Rack-as-a-plug-in\">Using the Reason Rack as a plug-in<\/a><\/strong><\/li><li><strong><a href=\"#Troubleshooting-plug-in-issues\">Troubleshooting plug-in issues<\/a><\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"Scanning-new-plug-ins\" class=\"wp-block-cgb-block-customheader blackHeader alignLeft noUnderline customh2 swheader\">Scanning new plug-ins<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"background-color:#fff5c7\" class=\"has-background\"> <strong>IMPORTANT: <\/strong>Only <strong>VST2 <\/strong>plug-ins and virtual instruments are currently compatible with Reason 11. Visit our guide to learn more about <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/articles\/which-plug-format-need-for-my-daw\/\" target=\"_blank\">different plug-in formats<\/a>.\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you first launch Reason, it will scan for any installed VST plugins from its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/articles\/which-plug-format-need-for-my-daw\/#VST\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">default plug-in path<\/a>. If you installed a new plug-in or virtual instrument to a custom folder, however, you first need to add that new path within the Advanced Preferences. Follow these steps to add a new plug-in for use with Reason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol><li>Go to the <strong>Edit <\/strong>menu and select <strong>Preferences<\/strong>.<\/li><li>Click the <strong>Advanced <\/strong>tab, add the folder path(s) where your plug-ins were installed, and then restart Reason.&nbsp;<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"Loading-plug-ins-on-a-track\" class=\"wp-block-cgb-block-customheader blackHeader alignLeft noUnderline customh2 swheader\">Loading plug-ins on a track<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Once your plug-ins have been scanned you can then load them into your project. You can load them a few different ways. For effects plug-ins, simply drag and drop it into the <em>Rack <\/em>window. Virtual instruments can either be dropped into the <em>Rack <\/em>window, or added in the <em>Sequencer <\/em>window by clicking <strong>Add Track<\/strong> and then selecting it from the <em>Instruments <\/em>menu.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"Routing-multi-out-virtual-instruments\" class=\"wp-block-cgb-block-customheader darkBlueHeader alignLeft underline customh3 swheader\">Routing multi-out virtual instruments<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When using a virtual instrument such as Kontakt or Superior Drummer which utilizes multiple outputs, you need to manually create the individual mixer channels for mixing within Reason. Follow these steps to create mixer channels for multi-out virtual instruments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol><li>Create an instrument track, and switch the rack view to view the back by pressing <strong>Tab.<\/strong><\/li><li>Click the <strong>Down arrow <\/strong>next to <em>CV PROGRAMMER<\/em> to reveal the I\/O.<\/li><li>Right-click the additional outputs you wish to create a new mixer channel for and select <strong>Route to New Mixer Channel<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-video aligncenter\"><video controls loop muted src=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/media\/2019\/09\/Creating-Multi-Out.mp4\"><\/video><figcaption>Creating multi-outs on a virtual instrument.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"Using-the-Reason-Rack-as-a-plug-in\" class=\"wp-block-cgb-block-customheader blackHeader alignLeft noUnderline customh2 swheader\">Using the Reason Rack as a plug-in<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"background-color:#c9f0ff\" class=\"has-background\">The Reason Rack plug-in is currently only compatible with DAW\u2019s which use the <strong>.vst3 <\/strong>or <strong>AU <\/strong>plug-in format. <strong>AAX <\/strong>compatibility is currently under development and will be available later this year.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Reason 11 has a new feature that allows you to use the Reason Rack as a third-party VST3 plug-in within a DAW. Instead of needing to use the ReWire application, you can now just create an instrument track or insert it as an effect on an audio track. Once loaded, you can patch the signal how you want, which is useful if you want to send the effect to an aux track.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol><li>Create an instrument or audio track, and then select <strong>Reason Rack Plugin<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/li><li>When the Reason Rack window opens, double-click to add a rack instrument\/effect. You can also click <strong>Add Device <\/strong>to bring up the <em>Browser <\/em>window and select from the full list of effects and instruments available within Reason.<\/li><li>Select <strong>Flip Rack<\/strong>, and adjust any routing settings via the patch cables.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"Troubleshooting-plug-in-issues\" class=\"wp-block-cgb-block-customheader blackHeader alignLeft noUnderline customh2 swheader\">Troubleshooting plug-in issues<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There may be a time where you run into an error when launching Reason, or when you attempt to use a plug-in on a track. It could be due to a number of , from incompatibility, an iLok not being plugged in, or even running an outdated version. Here are a few troubleshooting steps you can take to get the plug-ins working again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"Compatibility-and-file-location\" class=\"wp-block-cgb-block-customheader blackHeader alignLeft underline customh3 swheader\">Compatibility and file location<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If a plug-in or virtual instrument isn\u2019t showing up, the first thing to check is that the plug-in is compatible. Reason currently supports VST2 and VST 2.4 plug-ins. The other thing to check is that the folder where the plug-in resides is added to the <a href=\"#Scanning-new-plug-ins\">scan list<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"Plug-in-has-been-disabled-or-could-not-be-loaded\" class=\"wp-block-cgb-block-customheader blackHeader alignLeft underline customh3 swheader\">Plug-in has been disabled or could not be loaded<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you\u2019ve confirmed that your plug-in is compatible, the next thing to check is that it didn\u2019t get disabled. More often than not, if the plug-in crashes when it\u2019s being scanned, Reason will disable the plug-in. Follow these steps to re-enable a plug-in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol><li>Navigate to the <strong>Window <\/strong>menu, and select <strong>Manage Plugins<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Locate your plug-in, and if the status is <em>Could not be loaded <\/em>or <em>Disabled<\/em>, select it and click <strong>Enable<\/strong>.<\/li><li>Close and then relaunch Reason.&nbsp;<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"iLok-licensed-plug-ins\" class=\"wp-block-cgb-block-customheader blackHeader alignLeft underline customh3 swheader\">iLok licensed plug-ins<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Plug-ins that require iLok licenses and USB dongles will be disabled if the key wasn\u2019t plugged in and the initial activation window was skipped. If this happens, reconnect your iLok, re-enable the plug-in and then relaunch Reason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"Optimize-plug-in-performance\" class=\"wp-block-cgb-block-customheader blackHeader alignLeft underline customh3 swheader\">Optimize plug-in performance<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Loading a series of plug-ins can bog your system down and slow down your workflow. Here are a few plug-in optimization tips to help you along the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"Increase-buffer-size-and-change-performance-settings\" class=\"wp-block-cgb-block-customheader blackHeader alignLeft underline customh3 swheader\">Increase buffer size and change performance settings<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you hear pops, clicks, or poor audio quality, the buffer size may be too low. Check the DSP meter in the <em>Transport <\/em>area to see how much processing power the project is using. Remember, inserting more plug-ins will use up more CPU.&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"Create-a-mix-channel\" class=\"wp-block-cgb-block-customheader blackHeader alignLeft underline customh3 swheader\">Create a mix channel<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re using the same effect on multiple tracks, such as reverb on multiple drum tracks, add one instance of that plug-in to a Mix (aux) Channel and route the audio tracks to that channel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol><li>Navigate to <strong>Create<\/strong> and select <strong>Mix Channel<\/strong>.<\/li><li>Add the effects plug-in to the Mix channel and press the <strong>Tab <\/strong>key on your keyboard to flip to the back of the <em>Rack<\/em><\/li><li>Change the Audio Output of the channels from <strong>Master Section<\/strong> to <strong>Mix Channel<\/strong>.\t<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-video aligncenter\"><video controls loop muted src=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/media\/2019\/09\/Send-to-Mix-Channel.mp4\"><\/video><figcaption>Routing multiple audio tracks to a Mix Channel.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p id=\"Additional-resources\" class=\"wp-block-cgb-block-customheader blackHeader alignLeft noUnderline customh4 swheader\">Additional resources<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"VST in Reason\" width=\"620\" height=\"349\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/2Zy3RipH5u0?wmode=transparent&amp;rel=0&amp;feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":1757618,"template":"","categories":[142726,7],"tags":[53757,54726,54243,54779,34259,54928,34740,54773,253273,253274,58290,78626,101159,115960,248908],"storecat":[],"itemids":[249699,247572,247569,249700,247574,247576,247571,248868,247570,247573,248873,248874,247575,247577,248869,248871,248870,248872],"manufacturers":[252749],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v17.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In this guide, we will show you how to work with plug-ins in Reason and other DAW&#039;s, and also troubleshoot plug-in issues. 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