Song and mix files
When you save a song called mySong, JJazzLab actually saves 2 different files:
mySong.sng: contains everything except the mix information, i.e. the chord leadsheet, the song structure, the reference to the rhythm used (e.g. "16beat.s456.sty").
mySong.mix: contains only the mix information, i.e. which instrument is used by each track, and with which configuration (volume, reverb, pan, ...).
Why using 2 different files ?
Because the mix information is specific to your output synth (FluidSynth or a custom 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 tries to open mySong.mix in the same directory. If mySong.mix does not exist then JJazzLab creates the mix using the default rhythm mix file if it's present, otherwise it uses the rhythm's builtin mix (see below).
When loading a song file (.sng), if the rhythm reference (e.g. "MediumJazz.s637.sst") used by this song is not available, JJazzLab substitutes another rhythm available on the system. JJazzLab tries its best to find a "similar" rhythm based on the name (another "jazz" rhythm in the example above). If it can't find a suitable rhythm, it just uses the default rhythm for the time signature.
Default rhythm mix
If you often use a certain rhythm, adjust its mix and save it as a default rhythm mix file, so that each time you'll use that rhythm in a song, it will sound optimally for your output synth.
How it works
When you create a song and select a new rhythm (e.g. MediumJazz.s637.sst), JJazzLab looks for a default rhythm mix file (MediumJazz.s637.mix) to initialize the song mix for this rhythm.
The default rhythm mix lets you define an optimized rhythm mix adapted to your output synth (FluidSynth or a custom synth): for example withMediumJazz.s637.sst you can make the electric guitar quieter, replace the default GM bass instrument by a better one available on your synth, and mute that flute you don't like.
If the default rhythm mix file is not present, JJazzLab uses the rhythm's builtin mix. The rhythm's builtin mix is infered from the rhythm data and from your output synth capabilities. With FluidSynth the resulting mix should be OK with a few manual adjusments. With a custom synth, it might need more fixes.
Adjusting and saving a default rhythm mix
In the Midi options select your preferred output synth, e.g. FluidSynth.
Load a song which uses your favorite rhythm and play it (song mix is initialized with the rhythm's builtin mix if no default rhythm mix is defined)
Adjust the mix until you're satisfied with the song rendering
Use Save as default rhythm mix from the Mix Console File menu, as shown below.
The default rhythm mix file is saved in the same directory than the rhythm file.
JJazzLab will now automatically use this default rhythm mix each time you select the corresponding rhythm in a song.
If it's defined, you can always reapply a default rhythm mix using Load default rhythm mix from the Mix console menu File.
If you want to reset the song mix to the rhythm's builtin mix (see above), use Reset channels from the Mix Console Edit menu, as shown below.
Mix file lookup order
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
Steps 2. and 3. are also used when you add a new rhythm in a song.
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