Native Instruments Reaktor 6 Diving Deeper
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Document authored by: Adam Hanley, Jan Ola Korte
Software version: 6.2 (08/2017)
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
1 Welcome to Diving Deeper .........................................................................................
1.1 The REAKTOR 6 Documentation .................................................................................................. 8
1.2 Manual Conventions ................................................................................................................... 12
2 Play Mode vs. Edit Mode ...........................................................................................
2.1 Play Mode ................................................................................................................................... 13
2.2 Edit Mode ................................................................................................................................... 14
3 Controlling REAKTOR with MIDI and OSC .....................................................................
3.1 Configuring OSC Settings ........................................................................................................... 16
3.2 Making OSC Connections ............................................................................................................ 22
3.3 Connect Properties ..................................................................................................................... 26
3.2.1 MIDI and OSC Learn ................................................................................................... 22
3.2.2 Connection Manager .................................................................................................. 23
3.3.1 MIDI Properties .......................................................................................................... 28
3.3.2 OSC Properties ........................................................................................................... 28
3.3.3 Ensemble and Instrument Properties ......................................................................... 32
4 Automation ...............................................................................................................
4.1 Automation Properties ................................................................................................................ 35
4.2 Common Issues .......................................................................................................................... 37
5 Snapshots and Presets ..............................................................................................
7
13
15
35
39
5.1 Snapshots for Multiple Instruments ........................................................................................... 39
5.2 Snapshot Master ........................................................................................................................ 40
5.3 Bank Name ................................................................................................................................. 42
5.4 Storing and Editing Snapshots ................................................................................................... 43
5.5 Re-ordering Snapshots ............................................................................................................... 44
5.2.1 Changing the Snapshot Master ................................................................................. 41
REAKTOR 6 - Diving Deeper - 4
5.6 Morph and Random .................................................................................................................... 45
5.7 Snapshot Banks ......................................................................................................................... 48
5.8 Default Values ............................................................................................................................ 51
5.7.1 Creating and Editing Snapshot Banks ....................................................................... 49
6 The Player and Recorder ...........................................................................................
6.1 The Player ................................................................................................................................... 52
6.2 The Recorder ...............................................................................................................................53
6.2.1 Recording Audio ........................................................................................................ 54
6.2.2 Recorder Settings ...................................................................................................... 55
7 The Preferences Window ...........................................................................................
7.1 General Preferences .................................................................................................................... 57
7.2 CPU Usage Preferences .............................................................................................................. 60
7.3 Directories Preferences ............................................................................................................... 61
7.4 Usage Data .................................................................................................................................66
8 The Sample Map Editor ..............................................................................................
Table of Contents
52
57
69
8.1 Sample Maps ..............................................................................................................................70
8.2 The Sample List .......................................................................................................................... 72
8.3 The Map View ............................................................................................................................. 78
8.4 Waveform View ........................................................................................................................... 84
8.5 Note Actions ............................................................................................................................... 86
8.6 Sample Map Editor Settings ....................................................................................................... 88
8.7 External Editor ............................................................................................................................ 89
8.1.1 Importing and Exporting Sample Maps ...................................................................... 71
8.2.1 Editing the Sample List ............................................................................................. 73
REAKTOR 6 - Diving Deeper - 5
Table of Contents
9 Panel Layouts ...........................................................................................................
10 Panelsets ..................................................................................................................
10.1 Recalling Panelsets .................................................................................................................... 94
10.2 Creating and Editing Panelsets .................................................................................................. 98
11 An Introduction to Building ........................................................................................
11.1 Navigating the Structure View .................................................................................................... 102
11.2 Navigation Tools ......................................................................................................................... 105
11.3 Loading and Connecting Instruments ......................................................................................... 111
11.4 Learning More .............................................................................................................................115
11.2.1 Split Screen ............................................................................................................... 105
11.2.2 Breadcrumbs ............................................................................................................. 109
11.2.3 Bookmarks ................................................................................................................. 109
12 Keyboard Shortcuts ...................................................................................................
Index ........................................................................................................................
90
94
101
117
121
REAKTOR 6 - Diving Deeper - 6
Welcome to Diving Deeper
1 Welcome to Diving Deeper
Welcome to Diving Deeper into REAKTOR. This document picks up where the Getting Started
left off, covering some of the more advanced techniques and options available when using REAKTOR. As such, it assumes you are familiar with the main areas of the user interface, the
general audio and midi settings, and how to load and play Ensembles, including Snapshot handling and basic MIDI control. If this sounds unfamiliar to you, we recommend that you read
the Getting Started document first.
This document is designed to show you how to get the most out of your REAKTOR instruments
and effects. It covers subjects that you have already been introduced to, like Snapshots and
MIDI connections, in more detail. It also introduces more complex concepts like controlling
REAKTOR with OSC.
The last section in this document introduces you to the Structure View as a precursor to the
REAKTOR 6 Building in Primary document.
REAKTOR 6 - Diving Deeper - 7
1.1 The REAKTOR 6 Documentation
Welcome to Diving Deeper
The REAKTOR 6 Documentation
The REAKTOR documentation is accessible from the Help menu
The documentation for REAKTOR 6 is divided into five separate documents, guiding you from
loading and playing pre-built Ensembles to building your own Instruments.
• REAKTOR 6 What Is New is written for users who are already familiar with previous versions
of REAKTOR and only describes the latest features in brief.
• REAKTOR 6 Getting Started is for new users. It is the only document needed for users who
intend to use REAKTOR for loading and playing pre-built REAKTOR instruments and effects.
• REAKTOR 6 Diving Deeper expands on the concepts introduced in the Getting Started docu-
ment. It provides more detail on subjects like Snapshots (REAKTOR's preset system), and
introduces advanced topics like OSC control and combining multiple Instruments in one
Ensemble.
REAKTOR 6 - Diving Deeper - 8
Welcome to Diving Deeper
The REAKTOR 6 Documentation
• REAKTOR 6 Building in Primary shows you how to build your own Instruments in REAK-
TOR’s Primary level. It focuses on a series of tutorials that guide you through building
your first synthesizers, effects, and sequencers.
• REAKTOR 6 Building in Core describes the Core level of REAKTOR with its low-level build-
ing features, which can be used for implementing custom DSP algorithms. It includes reference information about the Core Macro Library, an comprehensive collection of DSP
building blocks.
With the exception of the What Is New document, each of the documents listed above builds
on the knowledge of the previous documents. While it is not necessary to read all of every
document, some of the more advanced documents, like Building in Primary, assume knowledge from the previous documents.
REAKTOR Content Documentation
REAKTOR comes with a comprehensive Factory Library, including many pre-built instruments
and effects, as well as Blocks, a new modular synthesizer framework that brings the experience
of patching an analog modular synthesizer to REAKTOR. The manuals for this content, as well
as any REAKTOR-based KOMPLETE instruments or effects you have installed, can be accessed from the Browser in REAKTOR’s Side Pane.
To open the manuals for REAKTOR content:
1. Click on the Browser icon in the Side Pane to open the Browser.
REAKTOR 6 - Diving Deeper - 9
2. Select the Player tab.
3. Double-click on the folder of the content you wish to view the manual for.
Welcome to Diving Deeper
The REAKTOR 6 Documentation
REAKTOR 6 - Diving Deeper - 10
Welcome to Diving Deeper
The REAKTOR 6 Documentation
4. Select the Documentation subfolder. The manual shows up as a PDF file in the lower section of the Browser.
5. Double-click on the PDF file.
The manual will open in your standard PDF reader.
→
REAKTOR 6 - Diving Deeper - 11
Welcome to Diving Deeper
1.2 Manual Conventions
This section introduces you to the signage and text highlighting used in this manual.
• Text appearing in (drop-down) menus (such as Open…, Save as… etc.) and paths to locations on your hard disk or other storage devices is printed in italics.
• Text appearing elsewhere (labels of buttons, controls, text next to checkboxes etc.) is
printed in blue. Whenever you see this formatting applied, you will find the same text appearing somewhere on the screen.
• Important names and concepts are printed in bold.
• References to keys on your computer’s keyboard you’ll find put in square brackets (e.g.,
“Press [Shift] + [Enter]”).
Single instructions are introduced by this play button type arrow.
►
Results of actions are introduced by this smaller arrow.
→
An indented, gray paragraph contains additional, contextual information.
Manual Conventions
Furthermore, this manual uses particular formatting to point out special facts and to warn you
of potential issues. The icons introducing these notes let you see what kind of information is to
be expected:
The speech bubble icon indicates a useful tip that may often help you to solve a task
more efficiently.
The exclamation mark icon highlights important information that is essential for the given context.
The red cross icon warns you of serious issues and potential risks that require your full
attention.
REAKTOR 6 - Diving Deeper - 12
Play Mode vs. Edit Mode
2 Play Mode vs. Edit Mode
REAKTOR has two modes of operation:
• Play Mode: Optimizes REAKTOR for using instruments and effects. Editing features are
limited in favor of a more streamlined interface and faster loading times.
• Edit Mode: Displays all the controls available for building and editing Ensembles.
When you first launch REAKTOR in stand-alone, and every time you load it as a plug-in, it will
start in Play Mode.
2.1 Play Mode
The main benefits of Play Mode are:
• Streamlined interface to maximize the Ensemble Panel space: In Play mode, all of the Structure navigation controls are hidden, presenting a more streamlined workspace for those
who want to use instruments and effects built in REAKTOR, but do not intend to edit the
Ensemble Structures.
Play Mode
• Optimized loading times for Ensembles: Play Mode is required to be active in order for REAKTOR to use the Compiled Core Cell Code Cache, and so can decrease loading times of
larger Ensembles significantly. For more information on the Compiled Core Cell Code
Cache please read REAKTOR 6 Building in Primary document.
• Increased ease of use as a plug-in: Play Mode also makes working with REAKTOR as a
plug-in easier by disabling any control options that are not saved in a host chunk — that
is to say, any options that require you to save the Ensemble file when you are using REAKTOR as a plug-in. This means you no longer need to worry about the auto-save functions and host recall for your projects.
• Double-click knobs to set them to their default value: In Edit Mode, double-clicking anything
on the Ensemble Panel generally opens the Properties for that Module. Since editing a
Module's Properties is not possible in Play Mode, double-clicking is redefined to reset
knobs and faders to their default value. This makes it easy, for example, to reset an EQ to
a clean setting.
REAKTOR 6 - Diving Deeper - 13
Play Mode vs. Edit Mode
2.2 Edit Mode
To activate Edit Mode, click on the EDIT button in the Toolbar.
►
Edit Mode makes it possible to alter the Structure of an Ensemble, and edit any other settings
that are saved in the Ensemble file.
For example, recalling Panelsets is possible in both Edit Mode and Play Mode, but creating
Panelsets is only possible in Edit Mode. The same is also true for Snapshots.
Some of the features described in this manual will require activating Edit Mode, so if you notice a feature described that you cannot see in your instance of REAKTOR, try activating Edit
Mode.
Edit Mode
REAKTOR 6 - Diving Deeper - 14
Controlling REAKTOR with MIDI and OSC
3 Controlling REAKTOR with MIDI and OSC
REAKTOR can use two standards for sending and receiving control messages:
• MIDI: Musical Instrument Digital Interface - a standard communication protocol for musical instruments created in the early 80s that is still commonly used today. Virtually all
keyboard controllers will use MIDI to communicate with your computer.
• OSC: Open Sound Control - a more modern protocol that offers faster data rates, higher
resolutions, and a more flexible architecture when compared to MIDI. However, OSC is
less common and requires a little more technical knowledge to set up.
Setting up MIDI and the assigning MIDI controllers is covered in the REAKTOR 6 Getting Started Document. Therefore the following sections will mainly focus on the OSC
protocol.
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Controlling REAKTOR with MIDI and OSC
3.1 Configuring OSC Settings
To open the OSC Settings window, enter the File menu and select OSC Settings…
►
Configuring OSC Settings
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Controlling REAKTOR with MIDI and OSC
The OSC Settings Window
The OSC Settings uses tabs to navigate between the three different sections:
Configuring OSC Settings
• Receive: Here you can set up communication from an OSC Device to REAKTOR.
• Send: Here you can set up communication from REAKTOR to other OSC Devices.
• Sync: This tab contains the OSC sync options.
In order to use OSC in REAKTOR, check the OSC Activate check box in the top left cor-
►
ner of the OSC Settings window.
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Controlling REAKTOR with MIDI and OSC
Configuring OSC Settings
OSC Receive
The OSC Receive Tab
The Receive tab contains three main areas:
At the top is the Receive on Port value display. This is where you can view or edit REAKTOR’s
OSC input Port number. The Port number is important for use in setting up communication
from your OSC device. REAKTOR only receives OSC messages via this Port, so the number has
to match the Port number set on your OSC device.
To change the Port number, double-click on the value displayed, and enter a new value.
►
Below this you will see a display of the Local IP Address currently accessed by REAKTOR.
These addresses are not editable from REAKTOR, but are displayed for use when setting up
your OSC device.
The large area at the bottom of the window is the Incoming OSC Monitor.
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Controlling REAKTOR with MIDI and OSC
Configuring OSC Settings
The Incoming OSC Monitor
This displays all of the incoming OSC messages received by REAKTOR, and is primarily used
for checking your connection is working correctly.
To clear the monitor contents, click on the Clear button at the bottom right of the monitor
►
display.
OSC Send
REAKTOR 6 - Diving Deeper - 19
Controlling REAKTOR with MIDI and OSC
Configuring OSC Settings
This area is used for entering the details of your OSC device(s) to enable communication with
REAKTOR.
To enter the OSC target’s information:
1. Click on the New button below the OSC Targets window. A new target will then appear in
the window with default information.
2. Enter the relevant information into the fields by clicking on the field and typing the settings from your OSC device.
3. When all information is entered correctly, you can send a test message by clicking the
Test button.
4. The test message will be sent out to all of the OSC targets in the list. If your OSC controller has an OSC input indicator or monitor, it should show activity when the test message
is sent.
You can also automatically search for other OSC enabled instances of REAKTOR:
1. Click the Scan button. REAKTOR will send a 'ping' message and listen for a 'pong'.
A list of devices that sent a 'pong' reply to REAKTOR will appear in the OSC Targets list.
2. Remove any targets that you do not wish to use by clicking on the target name in the list
to select it, and then clicking the trashcan icon to remove them.
REAKTOR 6 - Diving Deeper - 20
OSC Sync
Controlling REAKTOR with MIDI and OSC
Configuring OSC Settings
Note that Scan only scans between port ranges 10000 and 10015.
The OSC Sync Tab
The OSC Sync tab contains options for how REAKTOR should use OSC Sync messages.
To change the OSC Sync setting:
1. Click on the dropdown menu.
2. Select the Sync setting you wish to use from the list:
• No Sync: REAKTOR will not send, or respond to OSC Sync messages.
• Enable Sync as Master: REAKTOR will send OSC Sync messages to any device connected
in the OSC Send tab.
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Controlling REAKTOR with MIDI and OSC
Making OSC Connections
• Enable Sync as Slave: REAKTOR will slave to OSC Sync messages sent from any device
connected in the OSC Receive tab.
If you enable OSC Sync, additional options will become available.
The first additional option is always the Select Sync Type menu.
The Select Sync Type Menu
It contains two options: ##CORRECT? DOUBLE CHECK!##
• Time Sync: This option sends/receives transport messages (start/stop/continue) as well as
tempo information. This can be thought of as song position sync.
• Clock Sync: This option sends/receives transport messages only. So in this case, the OSC
messages can start and stop playback, but they do not ensure that the tempo of the OSC
devices are in sync.
If you selected the Enable Sync as Master option, then another control becomes available: De-
lay messages by (ms)
Delay messages by (ms) Parameter
Changing the value of this parameter will delay the OSC Sync messages so that they are sent a
select number of milliseconds after REAKTOR has generated them.
3.2 Making OSC Connections
3.2.1 MIDI and OSC Learn
The easiest way to make an OSC connection is via the MIDI & OSC Learn function.
1. Right-click the control on the interface to which you want to connect.
REAKTOR 6 - Diving Deeper - 22
Controlling REAKTOR with MIDI and OSC
Making OSC Connections
2. Select MIDI & OSC Learn.
3. Move the OSC controller you want to use.
The OSC controller will now be connected to the REAKTOR Ensemble control.
→
3.2.2 Connection Manager
The Connection Manager is located in the Side Pane. It allows you to manage the MIDI and
OSC connections in the loaded Ensemble.
To view the Connection Manager, click on the Side Pane tab with the controller icon.
►
The Connection Manager has two tabs, one for MIDI and one for OSC. Even though they use
the different protocols, both tabs work in a very similar way, although the MIDI tab has a few
more options than the OSC tab.
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Controlling REAKTOR with MIDI and OSC
Making OSC Connections
• The current connections appear at the top of the list (they will be identifiable by the information present in the Target column).
• Recently received messages appear below the current connections (by default, this list
will only be refreshed each time you open the tab).
• For MIDI, controller messages will appear above note messages.
To view incoming messages in real-time, activate the Auto button below the list. Not only
►
will this re-populate the list in real-time, but it will also highlight currently used messages.
To clear the unconnected controllers in the table, click on the Clean button below the
►
list.
REAKTOR 6 - Diving Deeper - 24
Controlling REAKTOR with MIDI and OSC
Making OSC Connections
Creating and Deleting Connections
You can make MIDI and OSC connections from the Connection Manager by drag and drop:
1. Click on the arrow icon next to the OSC control you want to use.
2. While holding the mouse, drag the control over the interface parameter you want to control.
3. Once you are over the parameter, release the mouse.
A connection will be made between the OSC control and the REAKTOR Ensemble con-
→
trol.
You can also activate MIDI and OSC Learn from the Connection Manager:
1. Click on the MIDI port icon to activate MIDI and OSC Learn.
2. Click on the REAKTOR control to which you want to connect.
3. Move the MIDI or OSC controller you want to use.
A connection will be made between the MIDI/OSC control and the REAKTOR Ensemble
→
control.
You can also use the Connection Manager to remove OSC connections:
1. Select the connection you want to remove by clicking on it in the list.
REAKTOR 6 - Diving Deeper - 25
Controlling REAKTOR with MIDI and OSC
Connect Properties
2. Click on the trashcan icon below the list or press the [delete] key on your keyboard.
The selected connection will be removed.
→
3.3 Connect Properties
Every item in REAKTOR that can be connected to MIDI or OSC will have a Connect tab in their
Properties.
To access the Connect Properties:
1. Click on the EDIT button in the Toolbar to activate Edit Mode.
2. Right- click on the control you want to edit.
3. Select "<control name>" Properties.
4. The Properties for this control will open in the Side Pane.
5. Click on the Connect tab to view the Connect Properties.
REAKTOR 6 - Diving Deeper - 26
Controlling REAKTOR with MIDI and OSC
Connect Properties
The Connect Properties for a control contains a number of sections, but this document will only cover the MIDI and OSC related sections. The other sections will be covered in the REAKTOR 6 Building in Primary document available from the Help menu
The MIDI and OSC sections of the Connect Properties
It is possible to set up MIDI and OSC connections both into and out of REAKTOR from the
Connect Properties.
REAKTOR 6 - Diving Deeper - 27
Controlling REAKTOR with MIDI and OSC
3.3.1 MIDI Properties
The MIDI sections feature the following controls:
• MIDI
◦ Type: Select the MIDI message type that the control will listen for.
◦ Note/CC Number: Select the MIDI Number (if MIDI Type is set to Controller) or MIDI
Note (if the MIDI Type is set to Note or Poly Aftertouch)
• MIDI IN
◦ On: Activates MIDI to control the selected object.
◦ Soft Takeover: Activates smoothing between the MIDI input and the Panel control, so
that values do not suddenly jump when a new MIDI message arrives.
◦ Incremental: Some dials and rotary knobs can be turned continuously — they do not
have fixed lowest and highest positions. Such MIDI controllers send increment messages rather than absolute MIDI controller values. If you are operating your Panel control with such a MIDI controller, activate this option.
Connect Properties
• MIDI OUT
◦ On: When active, the Panel control will send MIDI messages when you interact with it
from the interface.
◦ Remote Thru: Forwards the incoming MIDI messages directly to the output.
3.3.2 OSC Properties
OSC Messages use Address Patterns to identify different controls. These Address Patterns are
written similarly to website locations or file locations: strings of text separated by /
For example, an Address Pattern could be /Page1/Cutoff
The Address Pattern is then followed by the control value.
OSC can also send arrays of values (i.e. several values in one packet) in a single Address Pattern.
REAKTOR 6 - Diving Deeper - 28
Controlling REAKTOR with MIDI and OSC
Connect Properties
OSC Receive
The OSC Receive Properties
You can connect an OSC control to a REAKTOR control via the OSC RECEIVE section of the
Connect Properties.
1. Click on the Add Source menu.
2. Select New…
3. A new OSC source will be added to the table above.
4. Enter the Address Pattern of the OSC control.
5. If the OSC control sends data as an array of values, enter an index value in the Index column, otherwise leave it at 0.
REAKTOR 6 - Diving Deeper - 29
Controlling REAKTOR with MIDI and OSC
Connect Properties
6. Alternatively, select from the Recently Received sub-menu to automatically enter the Address Pattern of a recently received OSC message.
The OSC control will be connected to the REAKTOR control.
→
If the Recently Received sub-menu list is too cluttered, click on the Clear Recent List to
►
clear the OSC control addresses shown in the sub-menu.
To delete an OSC connection:
1. Select the OSC connection you want to delete from the table.
2. Click on the trashcan icon below the table.
The OSC connection will be removed.
→
REAKTOR 6 - Diving Deeper - 30
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