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This is for Mac OS (This should be similar for Windows but there will a different procedure to create a MIDI device.)

This applies broadly to other software which generates MIDI events.
(This is how I have got it to work. If you know of easier ways please let me know.)

Step 0 is creating as IAC device in the MIDI window of the Utilities/AudioMidi.app

Propellerhead’s Reason/Record (R/R) distinguish between normal hardware and software inputing MIDI events.

Nominal Hardware – all channel event to one R/R instrument

In R/R there is a preference category Keyboard and Control Services in which hardware keyboards and control surfaces are detected or specified. If you want to add a new device select the Add button then select the Manufacturer and then a specified keyboard.

Step 1. To use Nodal in this role first select Select “MIDI Control Keyboard ” (There is a “Multi Channel Control Keyboard” option but in my tests there is no advantage in selecting this. The manual does not mention this option. )

• 1.1 Rename this something relevant like “NODAL”
• 1.2 MIDI Input will be one of the buses created in the IAC device.
• 1.3 Make sure the “Use with Record” box is ticked.

Step 2. Select an instrument in the Arrange section of R/R. This is the instrument to which all MIDI events will be sent. All channels. So if you have a Nodal page with multiple instruments to multiple channels all the MIDI notes will go here. Which is probably not want you want. However you could separately go through each Nodal channel in turn and record the MIDI to different selected instruments.

(Addition note for NI Maschine. this hardware in not recognised by R/R)

Software – for multiple channels
This is not really recommend by Propellerheads but is usable.

Step 1. In R/R preferences select Advanced Control. You can connect up to four R/R buses up to separate IAC buses. In general you only need the first.

• 1.1 You can also select an external clock sync.

Step 2. In the R/R rack select the “Advance MIDI button”. This will show you the R/R bus and the IAC connected bus. Each separate channel can be assigned to a seperate instrument. This will get the sound from multi instrument playing but does not record the MIDI events. You can record the audio if you have Record.
(This does not preclude having Nodal as a hardware device at the same time.)

Step 3. (Assuming Record) Each instrument has an associated Mix channel with the same name. Click the disclosure triangle to the left of the coloured name. This will show more of the VU meter. There is a small button now showing underneath the VU meter labelled “Rec Source”. Click this to be able to record the source from this channel to Audio channel

Step 4. Create an Audio Channel, possibly one for each instrument. Click it’s disclosure triangle to select the source. Click the Audio Input triangle. Select stereo and select the the name of the Mix channel. (You could use mono and left channel if the instrument is mono.)

Step 5. Arm tracks and select Record. Shift+click to arm multiple audio channel. Click Record and click Nodal start and you should see waveform appearing on correct R/R channels.

Rewire – if you have a Rewire Host then this is the better. Ableton Live has the most transparent implementation.
That described on the Propellerheads site and in the manuals. (See: http://www.propellerheads.se/substance/rewirehelp/index.cfm )

Reason:MIDI is a bit inconsistent with Reason (the program not an explanation). Numerology 2 can be set up a control surface for Reason. This setup works well. Reason responds to MIDI and CC data from Numerology and can also record it just like any hardware interface.

The negative thing is that Reason applies all MIDI event data to the selected controller so that multiple controllers in Numerology will send out all their data to the one selected instrument in Reason. This means you would work with one instrument at a time.

Alternatively if you have Record you can use Numerology as a software interface with Advance Setting in Reason and route different channels to different instruments. The audio from these MIDI channels can be routed to Audio channels for recording.

The other disappointment is that the Maschine controller works with Reason only with difficulty which is really not worth the effort.

Project; The introduction of Sharepoint into the FWA
This is a alpha version of the first song. Created by random generating function in AC Toolbox:

New Music: With one old rock MIDI file, sliced by Synfire and dragged into place with sounds by Reason we have Tuesday on the Levee:

Maschine: Version 1.6 of the software is released and it is working really well. The big item is the ability to include AU/VST plugins and what is really good is that the controls of the plug in are mapped to Maschine knobs. This makes Maschine a great controller as well as being an excellent drum machine.

This works really well with “The Finger” since all the controls are mapped and you can twist the night away. Some really interesting effects chains can be created with plug ins and internal effects with inserts and sends.

There are also workflow improvements and with the ability to rename more items handy.

Native Instruments also added Komplete Elements which I have most of the things with Komplete but now I am evem more complete with added ensembles and Kore things.

Congratulations to Native Instruments who have shown a real ongoing commitment to Maschine.

iPad MIDI controllers These are a mixed bag:

Hexachrome is my favourite way for some quick harmonic note and chord entry.
StepPolyArp is a handy arpeggiator.
Amos cannot establish a connection so does not work at all
Koushion is like the Tonori-on but has timing issues. It requires a DAW to start and stop.

What is also a bit messy is there is no standard WIFI midi connection software used on the Mac. Hexachrome uses OScullator, StepPolyArp and Amos use DSMIDIWIFI and Koushan has its own piece of software. There should be a standard.

Reason I had another session with Reason/Record and I am becoming comfortable with it. I always liked the sound of Reason so I will focus on using Record/Reason as my principle DAW. This will enable me to concentrate on one technology and not wander around the new pieces of gear.

The revision in today’s title comes from pulling out all my Reason resources and going over them to really understand the program. I am also going over the lessons in “Composing Music” by William Russo.

Nucleus Sound Lab is releasing a new refill concentrating on guitar sounds. Not the standard patch but seriously well twisted and very usable.

Podcast Listening to Dr KEWL. The name is so right.