How to Use ReWire in Ableton Live

ReWire is a software plugin developed by Propellerhead, designed for use with its Reason application. Reason is a collection of MIDI instruments with an included MIDI sequencer. As Reason cannot record audio files, ReWire allows routing of Reason's sound output into an input on another audio application. ReWire also synchronizes the tempo and playback of both programs, essentially allowing Reason to be used as an external software instrument. Ableton Live is a multitrack recording and DJing application that includes few software instruments of its own. As a result, it is commonly used with external software instruments.

Instructions

1. Launch Ableton Live. Click the "File" or "Live" drop-down menu, depending on whether you are using Windows or Macintosh. Select "Preferences." Click the "Audio" tab. Select your sound card from the "Audio Output" drop-down box.

2. Click the three-pronged icon to launch Reason. Allow the default song file to load. Scroll to the top of the rack window and check the display above "Active Audio Driver" in the hardware interface. The display should read "ReWire Slave Mode," as Reason will have detected a ReWire-compatible application already running on the computer.

3. Return to the Ableton Live window. Create a new track by right-clicking on the upper bar of the mixer view. Select "New Audio Track" from the menu. Click the "I-O" button on the far right. This will reveal the Input and Output controls for the new channel. In the "Audio From" drop-down box, select "Reason." In the box below that, select "1/2 Mix L, Mix R." Switch the "Monitor" mode to "In."

4. Play an instrument or a sample file in Reason. It should be audible through the Ableton output.

Tips & Warnings

• By changing the value in the second drop-down box in the Ableton audio channel, it's possible to route individual channels from the Reason mixer to individual channels in Ableton.

References

• Ableton Live: ReWire to Reason 4
• Propellerhead.se: ReWire; What Is ReWire?