Tracks

A MultitrackStudio Track is a combination of a mixer's channel strip, a tape recorder's record/playback switch and a piece of tape, the latter being replaced by an Audio or MIDI file on the hard disk. Empty Tracks can be added by dragging them from the Shelf (or by pressing Ctrl T). Tracks with default-named files can be added using the Recording menu. The order in which the tracks appear can be changed using drag-and-drop.

All tracks have the following basic features:

Track (No file loaded)

• File Display: The File Display shows the name of the loaded file.
  The icon on the left shows the file type:
  • : Mono Audio file.
  • : Stereo Audio file.
  • : MIDI file with one stream.
  • : MIDI file with multiple streams.
  • : The file could not be loaded (probably because the file does not exists or it's an unsupported file type). In this case the Play, Rec and Edit Buttons are disabled.
• File Options Button: Shows the File Options Menu.
  The file options menu contains the following items:
  • New: Create a new audio or MIDI file. Default named files ('Track 1', 'Track 2' etc.) can be created for these file types: .wav, .gjm, .gjs, .mp3, .mid or .mpt. The Rename option can used to rename the file later.
  • Open: Open an existing Audio/MIDI file, or create a new one. The same effect can be achieved by left-clicking the File Display.
  • Save: Save MIDI file to disk. Use this if you want to save performed edits. This item is available for MIDI Tracks only. It is disabled if the file is unmodified.
  • Save As: Copies the file to a new file and loads the new file.
  • Rename: Rename the file. Note: the file will be closed and reopened.
  • Close: Unload the file.
  • Color: Here you can choose a different color than the default green color. The color is used for the File Display and the track's editor.
  • Notes: Shows a notepad that can be used to document the track (text will be stored in the Song file).
  • Properties: Shows the file's properties. If it's a .lst file you can remove edits from it as well.
  • Alternate Take: Creates and loads a new file and puts the track in record mode, so you can quickly record an alternate take. The files will appear on the menu so they can be loaded easily. The new file will appear in a new track if you keep the Ctrl key down while clicking the mouse.
  • New Stream: (MIDI track only). Adds a stream to the MIDI file.
  • Split Streams: (multiple stream MIDI track only). Splits the MIDI file in separate single-stream files, these new files will be loaded in new tracks.
  • File History: Every time a file is loaded it is added to the menu. Using this item you can reload the file. This can be very useful for auditioning Alternate Takes. If you press the Shift key while clicking the file will be opened in a new track. If you press the DEL key the file will be removed from the list, which allows the Find Unused Files tool to mark the file unused. Adding the Ctrl key opens/removes all files.
• Play and Rec Buttons: Put track in Playback or Record Mode. Starting the Transport will actually start playback/recording.
• Volume Fader: This Fader sets the volume for the track.
• Mute Button: Pressing this button will mute the track.
• Solo Button: Pressing this button will solo the track. The signal will still be routed through any Group and/or Effect Return sections. Use the Effect Return's Mute button if needed.
• Pan: This knob (with a blue dot) sets the Pan position for the track (0% = left, 50% = center, 100% = right).
• Level Meter: The Level Meter shows the sound level.
• Edit Button: Shows/hides the track's editor.

The Play, Rec, Mute and Edit buttons operate on all tracks if the Ctrl key is down when the button is clicked.

Loading Files

After left-clicking the File Display a window will appear that lets you specify a file to load. If the file doesn't exists it will be created. The type of the file is determined by the file's extension ('piano.mid' loads or creates a MIDI file, 'piano.gjm' loads or creates a .GJM Audio file). If no extension is entered a .WAV Audio file is loaded or created. Files can be opened as Read Only. If a Track's file is opened this way recording isn't possible.

Audio Tracks

Audio tracks (tracks with an audio file) have the following additional features:

Audio Track

• Effect Send: An Effect Send knob determines the level of the (mono) signal sent to the corresponding Effect Return section. Effect Sends are of the 'post fader' (and 'post effects') type: the Effect Send signal is affected by the Volume Fader, the Mute Button and the effects.
• Effect Slots: The Effect Slots can contain effects such as an EQ or a Compressor. Effects processing takes place before volume and pan processing, so compressor settings don't need any adjustments when moving the Volume Fader.
• Output Selector: The Output Selector determines the routing of the Track's output. You can choose between the Master section or one of the Group sections. If there are no Group sections the selector does not appear.

MIDI Tracks

MIDI Track (Synth: MIDI Port)

MIDI tracks (tracks with a MIDI file) have a Synth Slot that determines where the track's output will be routed to. If it contains a MIDI Port (default) the output will be send to an external hardware synthesizer. If it contains a softsynth (Sampler or VST/DX Instrument) the MIDI data will be converted to audio and the output routed through the mixer. See the MIDI Synths section for more information on this subject.

When using a softsynth MIDI tracks have all the extra controls that Audio Tracks have (except for the first Effect Slot, which is replaced by the Synth Slot).

MIDI Track (Synth: Sampler)