How to Route a Reaktor 5 Sequencer to an Internal Synthesizer

The Reaktor  Factory Library consists of Sound Generators, Grooveboxes, Sample Transformers, Effects, Synthesizers, and Sequencers. This article will explain how to route the Reaktor 5 Sequencer Spiral to an internal Reaktor 5 Synthesizer. In this example, we will use Steampipe as our synthesizer.

  1. Open Reaktor either in stand-alone mode or as a plug-in.
  2. Click the FACTORY tab to obtain an overview of the Reaktor 5 Factory Library.
    Factory tab
  3. Within the browse tree go to:
    Factory > Instruments > Sequencers > "Spiral.ism"
  4. Double-click "Spiral.ins" or drag it to the main working area in Reaktor to open the Instrument in a new Ensemble.

    Note: In Reaktor terminology, an Instrument can be a traditional instrument like a Synth, Sequencer, Effect, or Sampler whereas an Ensemble can host more than one Instrument.

    Spiral Instrument

    Spiral has now been inserted into the Ensemble Structure.
    Edit Mode
  5. Within the file tree go to:
    Factory > Instruments > Synthesizer > "SteamPipe 1.ism"
  6. Double-click "SteamPipe 1.ism" or drag it to the main working area in the Ensemble Structure.
    Load Steampipe
    SteamPipe has now been inserted into the Ensemble Structure.
  7. Select the Spiral instrument by clicking its icon. The color of the instrument will switch to red.
    Select Spiral
  8. Click the CONNECT button on the left-hand side of Reaktor 5.
    Click CONNECT
  9. In the MIDI OUT section, click in the To Internal Instruments drop-down menu and select SteamPipe.
    To Internal Devices
  10. Click and hold on to the L Output (or the small dot beside it) of the SteamPipe Instrument, and then drag your mouse toward Out 1. When you reach the Out 1 Input or the dot beside it, let go of your mouse button. Repeat this procedure for the R Output of Steampipe and connect it to Out 2. After having made these connections to the Audio Terminals, your panel should look like this:
    Out Terminals
  11. Deactivate Edit Mode by clicking the tree icon in the upper menu tab. This will change the Ensemble Structure View to the Panel View.
    Deactivate Edit Mode
  12. Press play in Reaktor 5. Spiral will immediately start sending audible MIDI notes to SteamPipe.
    Press Play

Spiral is now using its generative algorithms to create melodies in SteamPipe. For more information on Spiral and SteamPipe, refer to the Reaktor 5.5 Instrument Reference Manual located under Documentation within the Reaktor 5 application folder. To save the Ensemble under a new name go to File > Save Ensemble As and select a name and location.

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