Reference Guide

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Synth Tracks
Software Instruments
Synth Tracks
Using a soft synth introduces a third kind of track to your project alongside audio and MIDI tracks. A
synth track functions much like an audio track, but with a few differences:
• A synth track’s input is always a synth or a ReWire device, which means you cannot record audio
or enable input monitoring from another source on that track.
• A synth track can display a waveform preview of its output. When you enable this display function
by clicking the button on the track strip, the amplitude of a synth track's audio signal is
graphed in real time as a waveform.
• Synth tracks are distinguished by the synth icon to the right of the track number.
A. Synth icon
For step by step instructions, see:
Inserting Soft Synths
Waveform Preview for Buses and Synth Tracks
ReWire Instruments
Freeze Tracks and Synths
Inserting Soft Synths
In order to play a soft synth from a MIDI controller or with recorded MIDI data, you need to have at
least one synth track that lists the soft synth in its Input field, and at least one MIDI track that lists the
soft synth in its Output field. The data from the MIDI track feeds the synth track and plays the soft
synth. If you’re playing the soft synth with a MIDI controller, the MIDI track that’s feeding the synth
track must have the focus (lighter color). You can also patch the soft synth into an audio track’s FX
bin instead of a synth track’s Input field.
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