Using ZYLIA Studio PRO with ReWire

by Maciej Lenartowicz

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Integrating new tools into existing work-flows may be a difficult task, especially when those tools introduce innovative features, such as “virtual microphones” in ZYLIA Studio PRO. 

One of ZYLIA Studio PRO requirements is support for multichannel input for the plugin, which not many DAWs offer. Fortunately, there are ways to combine best of both worlds, and use ZYLIA’s technology with a typical multitrack workflow designed for dedicated microphone recording.
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Such connection can be achieved thanks to ReWire, which is a software protocol allowing applications to exchange control messages and audio data. ReWire works both on macOS and Windows and requires no prior installation or configuration. Find out more at Wikipedia or Propellerhead website.

"Virtual Microphone" is a spatial audio filtering technique based on advanced beam-forming and sound source separation algorithms. It is defined and created by the ZYLIA software which takes into account both phase and amplitude differences between signals captured by the 19 capsules of the ZM-1. Virtual Microphones can have different spatial characteristics, width or shape depending on recording use cases and user needs. Each can be used as a single spot microphone with super-narrow directivity response, or can be combined with other into a variety of multi‑channel surround recording sets. This technology gives musicians and sound engineers a very flexible recording toolbox which can be used in post‑production phase. Additionally, advanced DSP algorithms allow to reduce room echo or to increase the performance of sound source separation. More in a ZYLIA white paper.

​This article will guide you through the process of setting up a connection between ZYLIA Studio PRO (running within REAPER) and your DAW of choice (assuming it supports ReWire protocol).

1. Make sure to run your main DAW in the first place. In case of this tutorial, we will use Ableton Live. It will act as a ReWire master (mixer).
2. When your DAW is up and running go to its audio settings. Select a proper device, sample rate, and buffer size. Keep in mind that ZS PRO will work only with a sample rate of 48 kHz.
3. Start REAPER, which will be a host to ZS PRO plugin and act as a ReWire slave (device). If it is configured correctly, you should see “ReWire Slave Audio” in the upper right corner of REAPER window.
   If you don’t see this it means that REAPER is not running as a ReWire slave. To fix this, go to “Edit” menu and select “Preferences”. In the list on the left find “Plug-ins” section and select “ReWire/DX”.  Enable “Check for ReWire mixer/device on startup” option and restart REAPER.

Example session in REAPER with ZYLIA Studio PRO. Notice that REAPER runs in ReWire mode.

4. Now you can create a new project in REAPER or load existing one. Use ZYLIA Studio PRO as you would otherwise, i.e. create a new track for every virtual microphone, with just one exception – these new tracks won’t be sent to master track. To do so, enter “Routing” menu for a track in REAPER and disable “Master send” option.

​To route audio form virtual microphone out of REAPER, you need to select “hardware” output for a track. These are the very same channels that will be available in Ableton. Click on “Add new hardware output...” menu and select one of the outputs from the list. It is advised to start from “ReWire Output 3” (for Z1 virtual microphone) since first and second outputs are usually associated with a master track

5. Go back to Ableton and create a new track. You will need “In/Out Section” of the mixer visible – if it’s not, use round “IO” button just right to the master track to turn it on. In “Audio From” section select “REAPER” as an input device, then select “REAPER Output 3” as an input channel. When you press “play” in one of the applications the signal from REAPER (processed by ZYLIA Studio PRO) should appear in Ableton. Set “Monitor” option to “In” to hear the sound produced by REAPER. The signal from virtual microphone now may be recorded and processed in the same way as it would be from a normal microphone connected to your audio interface.

Ableton session set to receive audio from REAPER.