REWIRE SUPPORT

Client Mode

FL Studio can function as a ReWire client with ReWire enabled hosts. When functioning as a ReWire client, FL Studio sends all of its audio output to the ReWire host (providing up to 16 individual stereo outputs). FL Studio synchronizes with the host transport controls as well (playback/stop, song position) and has ability to send and receive MIDI data from the host.

Implementation Characteristics

The implementation of the FL Studio ReWire device has the following specifics:

Exported Audio Outputs

When used as a ReWire device, FL Studio provides 16 stereo outputs (32 paired mono channels). By default the first output pair is assigned to the master mixer track, which means the whole project mix is sent to the first output pair. You are free to change this combination to fit your needs. For example, you can assign each mixer track to a separate output, thus assigning individual outputs to a maximum of 16 individual mixer tracks.

MIDI Support

ReWire allows transmitting and receiving MIDI data via a ReWire connection. The ReWire output bus is represented as regular MIDI output device in the MIDI Settings window of FL Studio.

The ReWire MIDI output is usually linked to port 10, but you can change this assignment to suit your needs (to use it, add a MIDI Out channel set to the same port).

MIDI input works by mapping the first 16 channels (in order) in the Step Sequencer to 16 unique MIDI channels. To control any of those 16 channels, simply send MIDI from the host to the appropriate channel number in the ReWire MIDI bus .

Automatic Launch

FL Studio is launched automatically when you activate its ReWire device in the host (since Cubase always activates all existing ReWire devices, FL Studio is launched at the startup of Cubase). Normally there is no need to launch FL Studio from the shortcut after launching the host.

If the ReWire device is activated, but not used, FL Studio will spend a minimum of additional system resources and will add next to nothing to the CPU load.

However, if you don't intend to use FL Studio as a ReWire device at all, you can unregister the device (see below).

Register/Unregister the ReWire Device

You can register (enable) the FL Studio ReWire device by launching the Install Plugin Version shortcut from your Start Menu:

Start Menu > Programs > FL Studio 4 > Advanced > Install Plugin Version

You will be prompted to install the VSTi and DXi plugins first. Click cancel on both boxes and confirm you want to register the ReWire device in the last box.

To unregister (disable) the FL Studio ReWire device, use this shortcut:

Start Menu > Programs > FL Studio 4 > Advanced > Uninstall ReWire Client

ReWire Panel

If there is a running host which supports ReWire devices and the FL Studio ReWire device is activated, launching FL Studio from the Start Menu shortcut will not display the default interface window, but the ReWire device panel (see below). Clicking the FL Studio logo enables you to toggle the visibility of the FL Studio window inside the host (normally the FL Studio window is automatically displayed after the ReWire panel is launched).

Not a Standalone Process

FL Studio is launched as a process inside the ReWire host. This means FL Studio's window is "linked" to the host application window. This has the following consequences:

The FL Studio window is "linked" to the same taskbar button as the host. Although the panel has its own taskbar button, the actual FL Studio window uses the one of the host.
Minimizing the FL Studio window hides the host window and vice versa. To hide the FL Studio window only, use the close button instead of the minimize button (this will not terminate the current FL Studio session), or click the icon in the FL Studio ReWire panel to toggle visibility.
Focusing the host window focuses the FL Studio window and the FL Studio window always appears in front of the host window. If FL Studio obstructs the view in the host, simply move it aside or hide it until it's needed.

General Usage

In most cases you need to follow these steps to get FL Studio running as a ReWire client in a compatible host:

Make sure the FL Studio device is registered.
Launch the host.
If required by the host, activate the FL Studio ReWire device (some hosts do this automatically, such as Cubase).
Launch the FL Studio ReWire panel from the standard FL Studio shortcut in the Start menu. Alternatively, some hosts (such as Sonar) provide hide/show panel button which can be used to toggle the FL Studio window visibility.
If the host requires it (such as Cubase) activate at least one of the available ReWire audio channels to hear the output (FL Studio has the master output assigned to the first stereo pair of the ReWire channels).

Step By Step Guide

The following sections describe in a more detailed manner how to use FL Studio as a ReWire client in Steinberg Cubase SX and Cakewalk Software Sonar 2:

Using FL Studio with Cubase SX

Using FL Studio with Sonar 2