ReWire

Introduction

ReWire and ReWire2 are special protocols for streaming audio between two computer applications. Developed by Propellerhead Software and Steinberg, ReWire provides the following possibilities and features:

•Real-time streaming of up to 64 separate audio channels (256 with ReWire2), at full bandwidth, from the “synthesizer application” into the “mixer application”.

In this case, the “mixer application” is of course Nuendo. An example of a “synthesizer application” is Propellerhead Software’s Reason.

•Automatic, sample accurate synchronization between the audio in the two programs.

•The possibility to have the two programs share one audio card and take advantage of multiple outputs on that card.

•Linked transport controls that allow you to play, rewind, etc., either from Nuendo or from the synthesizer application (provided it has some kind of transport functionality).

•Automatic audio mixing functions of separate channels as required.

In the case of Reason, for example, this allows you to have separate mixer channels for the different devices.

•Additionally, ReWire2 offers the possibility to route MIDI tracks in Nuendo to the other application, for full MIDI control.

For each ReWire2 compatible device, a number of extra MIDI outputs will be made available in Nuendo. In the case of Reason, this allows you to route different MIDI tracks in Nuendo to different devices in Reason, having Nuendo serve as main MIDI sequencer.

•The overall load on your system is much reduced, compared to when using the programs together in the conventional way.

Launching and quitting

When using ReWire, the order in which you launch and quit the two programs is very important:

Launching for normal use with ReWire

1.First launch Nuendo.

2.Enable one or several ReWire channels in the ReWire Device dialog for the other application.

This is described in detail in the section “Activating ReWire channels” on page 484.

3.Launch the other application.

It may take slightly longer for the application to start when you are using ReWire.

Quitting a ReWire session

When you are finished, you also need to quit the applications in a special order:

1.First quit the synthesizer application.

2.Then quit Nuendo.

Launching both programs without using ReWire

We cannot think of any scenario, in which you would need to run Nuendo and the synthesizer application simultaneously on the same computer, without using ReWire, but you can:

1.First launch the synthesizer application.

2.Then launch Nuendo.

Ö Please note that the two programs now compete for system resources such as audio cards, just as when running either with other, non-ReWire audio applications.

Activating ReWire channels

ReWire supports streaming of up to 64 separate audio channels, while ReWire2 supports 256 channels. The exact number of available ReWire channels depends on the synthesizer application. Using the ReWire Device panels in Nuendo, you can specify which of the available channels you want to use:

1. Pull down the Devices menu and select the menu item with the name of the ReWire application. All recognized ReWire compatible applications will be available on the menu.

The ReWire panel appears. This consists of a number of rows, one for each available ReWire channel.

The ReWire panel for Reason.

2. Click on the power buttons to the left to activate/deactivate the desired channels.

The buttons light up to indicate activated channels. Please note that the more ReWire channels you activate, the more processing power is required.

• For information about exactly what signal is carried on each channel, see the documentation of the synthesizer application.

3. If desired, double-click on the labels in the right column, and type in another name.

These labels will be used in the Nuendo mixer to identify the ReWire channels.

Using the transport and tempo controls

This is only relevant if the synthesizer application has some sort of built-in sequencer or similar.

Basic transport controls

When you run ReWire, the transports in the two programs are completely linked. It doesn’t matter in which program you Play, Stop, Fast Forward or Rewind. However, recording (if applicable) is still completely separate in the two applications.

Loop settings

If there is a loop or cycle facility in the synthesizer application, that loop will be completely linked to the cycle in Nuendo. This means that you can move the start and end point for the loop or turn the loop on or off in either program, and this will be reflected in the other.

Tempo settings

As far as tempo goes, Nuendo is always the master. This means that both programs will run in the tempo set in Nuendo.

However, if you are not using the Tempo track in Nuendo, you can adjust the tempo in either program, and this will immediately be reflected in the other.

If you are using the Tempo track in Nuendo (i.e. the Tempo button is activated on the Transport panel), you should not adjust the tempo in the synthesizer application, since a tempo request from ReWire will automatically deactivate the Tempo track in Nuendo!

How the ReWire channels are handled in Nuendo

When you activate ReWire channels in the ReWire Device panels, they will become available as channel strips in the mixer. The ReWire channel strips have the following properties:

•ReWire channels appear to the right of the other audio and MIDI channel strips in the mixer.

•ReWire channels may be any combination of mono and stereo, depending on the synthesizer application.

•ReWire channels have the same functionality as regular audio channels.

This means you can set volume and pan, add EQ, insert effects and sends and route the channel outputs to groups or busses (done in the Inspector. However, ReWire channels have no monitor buttons.

•All ReWire channel settings can be automated using the Read/Write buttons.

When you write automation, channel automation tracks will automatically appear in the Project window. This allows you to view and edit the automation graphically, just as with VST Instrument channels, etc.

•You can mix down the audio from ReWire channels to a file on your hard disk with the Export Audio Mixdown function (see “Mixing down to an audio file” on page 438).

You can export the output bus to which you have routed the ReWire channels. You can also export individual ReWire channels directly – “rendering” each ReWire channel to a separate audio file.

Routing MIDI via ReWire2

This feature is only available with ReWire2-compati- ble applications.

When using Nuendo with a ReWire2-compatible application, additional MIDI outputs will automatically appear on the MIDI Output pop-up menus for MIDI tracks. This allows you to play the synthesizer application via MIDI from Nuendo, using it as one or several separate MIDI sound sources.

The MIDI outputs for a Reason song. Here, each output goes directly to a device in the Reason rack.

• The number and configuration of MIDI outputs depends on the synthesizer application.

Considerations and limitations

Sample rates

Synthesizer applications may be limited to audio playback in certain sample rates. If Nuendo is set to a sample rate other than those, the synthesizer application will play back at the wrong pitch. Consult the documentation of the synthesizer application for details.

ASIO drivers

ReWire works well with ASIO drivers. By using the Nuendo bus system you can route sounds from the synthesizer application to various outputs on an ASIO compatible audio card.