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. the instrument used by each track with its configuration (volume, reverb, pan, ...).
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.
When loading a song file (.sng), if the rhythm reference (e.g. "16beat.s456.sty") used by this song is not available, JJazzLab substitutes another rhythm which is available on the system.
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.
![](https://jjazzlab.gitbook.io/~gitbook/image?url=https%3A%2F%2F1057949908-files.gitbook.io%2F%7E%2Ffiles%2Fv0%2Fb%2Fgitbook-legacy-files%2Fo%2Fassets%252F-MQE7B7yjVY3xzlsorS4%252F-MQE7v3wT0Pha5eH61MX%252F-MQEBz03sJgmEUl__0lX%252FSaveRhythmMix.png%3Falt%3Dmedia%26token%3D8fab53f7-703b-4677-b247-1ad28295580c&width=768&dpr=4&quality=100&sign=5e68bbbc&sv=1)
By default this file is stored in the user rhythm directory set in Options/Rhythms. But the directory can be changed in Options/General.
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 (GM instruments only)
Steps 2. and 3. are also used when you add a new rhythm in a song.
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