Reason Rack Plugin 14 Operation Manual
DAW | Rack Plugin | Reason+ Rack Extensions
Introduction
This is the HTML Help for Reason Rack Plugin, part of the Reason Version 14 music production software from Reason Studios. The information in this HTML Help is also available as a PDF file - the Reason Rack Plugin Operation Manual - which can be downloaded here.
If you're using Reason mainly as plugin in another DAW host, this is the manual for you! If you're using Reason as a standalone music application in itself, you should check out the Reason 14 Operation Manual here.
Also, be sure to regularly check out www.reasonstudios.com for the latest news!
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The information in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on the part of Reason Studios.
A few words from the writer
This is the last manual I’ll be writing as part of Studios. I started back in 2007 (when it was still Propellerhead Software), and the first manuals I worked on were for Record 1.0 and Reason 5. Since then, I’ve had the chance to write manuals for pretty much all our products—which has been an amazing ride!
I’ve always tried to keep things clear and easy to follow, whether you’re just getting started or you’ve been using for years. I hope that’s come through.
Just wanted to say a big thanks for all these great years—and I hope you keep enjoying making music with Reason!
Fredrik Hylvander, Stockholm, May 2026
Reason Rack Plugin is an instrument and effect plugin in VST3, AUv2 (Mac) and AAX formats. Reason Rack Plugin is installed when you install the standalone Reason program.
Like the standalone Reason 14 application, Reason Rack Plugin works on two platforms: Windows 10/11 (64-bit) and macOS 10.15 (Catalina) (64-bit) or later. All functions are the same. If your DAW host supports cross-platform functionality (saving a project on one platform and opening it on another), Reason Rack Plugin will open and work the same on both platforms (provided of course that Reason is installed on both computers).
The screenshots in this manual were taken from both platform versions of Reason Rack Plugin. Since the layout is more or less identical in these versions, there shouldn't be any problem following the instructions.
This manual describes both the Windows and macOS versions of Reason Rack Plugin; wherever the versions differ this is clearly stated in the text.
#Text conventions
The text conventions are pretty straightforward. The examples below describe when certain text styles are used:
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This style instructs the user to perform the task(s) described in the sentence.
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This text style means IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Read carefully to avoid problems!
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This text style is used for tips and additional info.
#Key command conventions
In the manual, computer keyboard commands are indicated with brackets. For example:
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Hold down [Shift] and press [C].
However, some modifier keys are different on Windows and Mac computers. Whenever this is the case, the manual separates the commands with “(Win)” and “(Mac)” indications as in the following example:
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Hold down [Ctrl](Win) or [Cmd](Mac) and press [C] to copy.
#References to context menus
Whenever the manual instructs you to select an item from the “context menu”, it means that you should right-click (or [Ctrl]-click if you’re using a Mac with single-button mouse) on the specific area, section or device, and then select the item from the pop-up menu that appears - the context menu. The item list in context menus varies depending on where in the application you click.
#Frames and circles (call-outs)
In pictures throughout this manual there might be circles and/or rectangles highlighting certain areas or objects. These are indicated by filled lines according to the examples in the picture above. Sometimes these highlighting frames/circles might also be accompanied by descriptive texts. The different colors of the frames and texts are only to enhance the contrast to the background pictures.
#Dashed arrows
A dashed arrow in a picture indicates the directions in which the pointer (or other tool) should be dragged to perform the desired operation. The example in the picture above shows in which directions (up and down) to drag the pointer to change the knob’s setting.
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Note that the information below is for Reason 14 and later. The information applies both to Reason+ subscriptions and to licensed Reason versions, unless noted.
Reason Rack Plugin is authorized in the same way as the standalone Reason application, and uses the same license or Reason+ account.
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The core of the authorization system is your Reason Studios account (and license number, if you are using a licensed version of Reason 14).
#Registering Reason (licensed version only)
To be able to run your licensed version of Reason Rack Plugin, Reason must be registered to your account on the Reason Studios web site.
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If you purchased a Reason license in a music store, follow the instructions you received from the shop.
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If you purchased Reason directly from the Reason Studios Shop web site, the Reason license has already been automatically registered to your user account and you can use Reason by running it on a computer connected to the Internet.
#Authorizing Reason Rack Plugin
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Note that Internet connection is initially required for the procedures described below.
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Launch your DAW and create a Reason Rack Plugin instance.
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Enter you Username/e-mail address and Password for your Reason Studios account and click the Log in button.
Reason Rack Plugin launches in Authorized Mode.
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The first time you log in to the "Welcome to Reason" login dialog, the program will automatically store your user credentials.
The next time you create a Reason Rack Plugin instance, it will start without showing the login dialog. This also automatically enables off-line use, allowing Reason Rack Plugin to run even if you have no Internet connection. Reason Rack Plugin will then run off-line for a month. This period is continuously renewed when you use Reason Rack Plugin with an Internet connection. You do not have to do anything manually, except connecting to the Internet once a month.
#Logging out from Reason Rack Plugin
Logging out means removing the stored login credentials - do this if you’re not going to use Reason Rack Plugin on that computer, or if you need to log in to another Reason Studios user account.
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In the Settings dialog in Reason Rack Plugin, click the “Log Out on Quit” button:
The next time you run Reason, you will need to enter your Username/e-mail and password in the "Welcome to Reason" dialog again. Internet connection is then required again.
#Authorizing a computer for long-term off-line use
In addition, if you have an Annual (yearly) Reason+ or Reason Rack subscription or own a licensed version of Reason 14 or Reason Rack, you can authorize your computer for long-term off-line use. This can be useful if you are traveling or working in a studio without Internet access, etc. The long-term authorization allows for staying off-line on the authorized computer for one (1) year. If you are a Reason+ or Reason Rack subscriber you are limited by the subscription end date, though. In most situations, authorizing a computer for long-term use is not necessary, though.
#Authorizing Reason Rack Plugin for long-term off-line use
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Open the Settings dialog.
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Click the “Add long-term authorization” button:
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The authorization expiry date for your computer is shown in the Offline Authorization section.
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You can authorize up to three (3) computers for long-term off-line use.
#Removing a long-term authorization for a computer
If you've already long-term authorized three computers and would like to authorize another computer, you will need to remove the authorization for one of the computers first:
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Launch your DAW and add a Reason Rack Plugin instance on one of the computers that already has a long-term authorization.
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Open the Settings dialog.
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Click the “Remove long-term authorization” button:
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If you can no longer access any of your authorized computers, you need to contact support to have them remove the authorization(s). This can be done .
#What happens if an authorization expires?
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If a Reason Rack Plugin authorization should expire during a session, you can continue to work and save your song as usual.
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The next time you open Reason Rack Plugin you will have to log in in the “Welcome to Reason” dialog again.
Rack Extensions are additional devices that can be purchased or trialed from the Reason Studios web shop. Rack Extensions can be instruments, effects or utility devices, such as mixers and CV processors. Rack Extension devices are developed by Reason Studios as well as by 3rd party companies.
Once installed, Rack Extensions will be available both in standalone Reason and in Reason Rack Plugin. In the program or plugin, they behave just like built-in devices.
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To browse, trial or purchase Rack Extensions, visit reasonstudios.com/shop
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To download, install and manage Rack Extensions that you own, use the Reason Companion app, which can be downloaded here.
You can open all these directly from the Rack Extensions section in the Settings dialog, see “Rack Extensions and Content”.
#The "Update Rack Extension Licenses" alert
Your Rack Extensions are authorized in the same way as Reason Rack Plugin. However, if you are opening the plugin when connected to the Internet, you may get an alert asking you to "Update Rack Extension Licenses". This means the Rack Extension license on your user account has changed, and no longer matches the license components on the computer (for example if you have added new Rack Extensions to your account, or if Trial licenses have timed out). Choose whether to update the license components on your computer or to run this session without Rack Extensions.
#Getting all your content
Reason and Reason Rack Plugin comes with some additional content (Rack Extensions and ReFills) that you can download separately, either right after the Reason installation or at a later point. To download additional content, proceed as follows:
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Note that this procedure requires Internet connection!
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Open the Reason Companion app and click the Devices tab.
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At the top of the Devices tab, install the desired additional device(s).
Alternatively, click the “Install All” button to install all Rack Extensions in one go:
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Then, click the “ReFills” tab and install the desired additional ReFill(s).
Alternatively, click the “Install All” button to install all ReFills in one go:
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After installation, restart Reason Rack Plugin for the installed items to become available.
The additional content is stored on your computer as follows:
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The additional Rack Extension devices are stored in the following folders:
Windows: C:\Users\[your.user]\AppData\Roaming\Propellerhead Software\Optional REs
macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Propellerhead Software/Optional REs
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The additional ReFills are stored in the “Music > Reason Studios > ReFills” sub-folder.