REASON LESSON 11: IMPORTING AUDIOIn this lesson we’ll see how to import audio files - especially loops - into Reason 6, how to fit their tempo to the song tempo and how to fit the songs tempo to the imported audio. We’ll also cover Normalizing, changing the level of clips and creating fades.

Importing Audio into Reason Create audio track The file will be imported onto the track you have just created starting at the song position, so

make sure you set the song position to the beginning of a bar before you import. Import audio file (wav and aif and rex only)**If you want to use mp3 files you'll need to convert them first in Audacity or itunes etc.

Adjusting the tempo of the imported loop to fit your song tempoIf you want to time-stretch a loop to match the tempo of your song:Simple click on the right-hand clip re-size handle of the file while holding ALT and drag the arrow with the clock symbol* to the left or right until it snaps to what you think is the correct bar. If for example the file is too fast, drag the right-hand edge to the right until it snaps to the beginning of the next bar.

*If you don’t see the clock symbol, you are not stretching the file, simply re-sizing it.

Adjusting the tempo of your song to fit the imported loop tempoIf you want to import a loop whose tempo you don't know, then set your song to playback at the same tempo (this is a bit more tricky!)

Import the audio file as above. Right-click on the audio file and choose "Disable Stretch"*

With the audio file selected press P on your keyboard to loop the audio - this is just to make sure that you've got a loop that loops correctly

Now set the L and R locators to enclose the loop to the nearest bar (usually 1, 2 or 4 bars) and set Reason to playback the loop

Now click on the tempo and use the scroll button on your mouse to adjust the songs tempo up or down until audio file loops correctly.

You may find it useful to have the metronome click on when you are matching the tempo*Disabling Stretch makes the audio recording in the clip play back at the same tempo regardless of song tempo in the sequencer.

"Bounce clips to new recordings"Having set the tempo to fit the loop, you may want to make further adjustments to the song tempo, but if you turn Stretch back on, the file will actually go out of sync – reverting to it’s original (incorrect) tempo. To get around this, you need to first "bounce" a new copy of the loop. To do so:

Right-click on the loop and select "Bounce clips to new recordings"

Now you won't hear any change, but the new file now has the correct tempo data, so when you change the tempo of the song, the loop will adjust accordingly.

Tempo Data in Audio FilesSome loop files, such as Apple loops, Acid files and audio files created by the Export or Bounce functions in Reason include information about their original tempo and will automatically adjust to the song tempo as soon as you import them. Audio files created by the Export or Bounce functions in Reason include information about their original tempo. But most files, including any you make yourself in e.g. Audacity, don't. However most commercially available files will at least have the tempo indicated in the filename or folder, so you can often use this set the tempo of the song.

Normalize (Right-click “Normalize”)If the files you record or import are too quiet, it is possible to optimize their level by a process called Normalizing. Normalizing means increasing the overall audio level so that the loudest peak in the sound touches 0 dB. So if you normalize a clip whose loudest peak is -12dB, the level of the entire file will be increased by 12dB.

Adjusting the Level of Audio ClipsYou can adjust the level of audio clips in two ways:

Click on the Clip Level Handle and drag the level up or down. Adjust the level in the Level (dB) display in the inspector.

Adding FadesTo avoid audible glitches where there is a sudden jump in level at the beginning of end of a clip that has

been trimmed, it is sometimes necessary to insert quick fade-ins and fade outs to audio files. To create a fade, click on the Fade In or Fade Out Handle and drag inwards. It’s a good idea to turn off SNAP when editing fades. (Shortcut: Press S to turn SNAP on and off)

Audio file before and after fades have been added and level reducedReverseIt can sometimes be effective to reverse an audio file - for example for reverse cymbals leading into breakdowns, backwards guitar solos, or to insert Satanic back-masked messages in your Heavy Metal tune.

To reverse a clip, simply right-click on it and select REVERSE from the dropdown menus that appears.

Adjusting the Pitch of Audio Clips