REWIRE SUPPORT

Client Mode

NOTE: ReWire was discontinued by Propellerheads / Reason Studios in 2020. Consequently, FL Studio as a ReWire device is also now deprecated in FL Studio. Official support ended with FL Studio 20.7. Please use FL Studio as a VST/AU to use it in other DAWs.

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 (playback/stop, song position) and has ability to send and receive MIDI data from the host.

Implementation Characteristics

FL Studio ReWire has the following specific features:

Exported Audio Outputs

Outputs, when used as a ReWire client, 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 can 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 in the Rewire host.

Plugins being used in FL Studio with multiple outputs should have these outputs routed to individual mixer tracks, this way they will become individually available through the Mixer outputs to the Rewire host.

MIDI Support

ReWire allows MIDI IN and MIDI OUT via the ReWire connection. The ReWire output bus appears as a 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 these 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 a ReWire device is activated within 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 use a minimum of additional system resources adding little to the CPU load.

However, if you don't intend to use FL Studio as a ReWire device, you can un-register the device (see below).

Registering/Unregistering the ReWire Device

You can register (enable) the FL Studio ReWire device by launching the Start Menu > Image-Line > Install Plugin Version shortcut. You will be prompted to install the VST plugin 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 the Start Menu > Image-Line > Uninstall ReWire Client shortcut.

ReWire Panel

If you're using a host that supports ReWire devices, and the FL Studio ReWire device is activated, launch FL Studio from the Start Menu shortcut to display the ReWire panel rather than the default interface window. Click the FL Studio logo to toggle the visibility of the FL Studio window inside the host (normally this window is displayed automatically after the ReWire panel is launched).

Not a Standalone Process

FL Studio is launched as a process inside the ReWire host. This means that the FL Studio window is 'linked' to the host application window, with 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 FL Studio window uses the same one as 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 also focuses the FL Studio window, with the latter window always appearing in front of the host window. If FL Studio obstructs the view of the host, simply move it aside or hide it until it's needed.

General Use

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

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