Signal types

The following signal types are used in Reason:

Audio signals

Besides the Spider CV, Matrix Pattern Sequencer and the RPG-8 Arpeggiator, all Reason devices have audio connectors on the back. The audio connectors carry audio signals to or from devices via virtual cables.

Audio connectors are shown as large quarter inch jacks.

Audio Effects devices, which are used to process audio, have both audio inputs and outputs.

Instrument devices, which generate audio, have either mono or stereo left/right audio output connectors.

You do not have to use both outputs for devices with stereo outputs. Use the left output to use a mono signal from a stereo device.

To monitor audio outputs from devices, the signals can be routed, either via the Main Mixer or directly, to the physical outputs of your audio interface via the Reason Hardware Interface (see “Manual audio routing”).

Typically, if you are using an audio interface with stereo outputs, you will most likely use the Main Mixer to mix the audio signals to the master outputs.

To route audio input signals from your audio interface to audio tracks in the sequencer, you just have to select the appropriate input(s) from the Audio Input drop-down list on the corresponding audio track (see “Selecting audio input(s) and defining mono or stereo”).

This means that you never have to manually patch input signals from the Audio In jacks of the Reason Hardware Interface.

For more information about signal paths in Reason, see “System signal paths”.

CV/Gate signals

In the early days of synthesizers, before the MIDI protocol was invented, analog synthesizers could be interconnected using Control Voltage (CV) cables. For example, one cable would be used for controlling pitch while another would send a Gate voltage, basically telling a synth when to play a note and when to stop. The CV signal cables in Reason emulate this analog control system. CV signals are typically used to modulate parameter values, and do not carry audio.

CV/Gate connectors are shown as smaller mini jacks.

CV is typically used for modulation purposes.

For example, you could modulate a parameter with a CV signal generated by an LFO or an envelope generator on another device.

Gate outputs/inputs are typically used to trigger events, such as note on/off values, envelopes etc.

Gate signals produce on/off values, plus a “value” which could be likened to (and used as) velocity.

You can only route CV/Gate signals from an output to an input (or vice versa).

You cannot route an input to another input or an output to another output.

P-LAN signals

P-LAN is the internal system used for routing audio signals from Mix Channel and Audio Track devices to the Main Mixer Master Section device - and from Mix Channel/Audio Track devices to other Mix Channel devices that are used as Output Busses (sub-mixers).

P-LAN connections are not indicated by cables or similar in the rack - only by an Audio Output display on the front and rear of Mix Channel and Audio Track devices:

P-Lan signal destinations on Mix Channel and Audio Track devices (front and rear).

If you use the Direct Out jacks on an Audio Track device or Mix Channel device, the internal P-LAN connection is broken. In this case, the audio from the Mix Channel/Audio Track device is not sent to the Master Section.

About MIDI routing

Normally, MIDI (e.g. note and performance data) are sent to devices from their respective sequencer track. No cables are used in the rack to indicate MIDI connections.

For other ways to route MIDI to devices, see the chapters “Remote - Playing and Controlling Devices”, “Synchronization and Advanced MIDI” and “External MIDI Instrument”.