Song and mix files
Last updated
Last updated
When you save a song called mySong, JJazzLab actually saves 2 different files:
mySong.sng: contains everything except the mix information
mySong.mix: contains only the mix information, i.e. the configuration of the instruments used.
Why using 2 different files ?
Because the mix information is specific to your output synth. Integrating the mix data in the .sng file would make .sng files not portable between users, since users have different output synths.
When you open mySong.sng, JJazzLab also opens mySong.mix in the same directory. If mySong.mix does not exist then JJazzLab creates the mix using the default rhythm mix.
Each JJazzLab rhythm has a builtin default mix. This builtin default mix can only use GM instruments for maximum portability.
You can override the rhythm's builtin mix by saving a default rhythm mix file. Unlike the builtin mix, this rhythm mix can use any instruments.
By default this file is stored in the user rhythm directory set in Options/Rhythms. But the directory can be changed in Options/General.
Combining the 2 paragraphs above, below is how JJazzLab looks for mix information when you load myDir/mySong.sng and this songs uses rhythm 16BeatRock :
use myDir/mySong.mix if present
use defaultRhythmMixDir/16BeatRock.mix if present
use 16BeatRock builtin default mix (GM instruments only)
Steps 2. and 3. are also used when you add a new rhythm in a song.
