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. Tracks can be added using the Add Track menu's Add Audio Track, Add Midi Track or Import Audio/MIDI File options. The latter can import multiple files in one go using the Shift or Ctrl keys. Tracks can be removed by dragging them to the Garbage Bin in the bottom left corner of the screen. The order in which the tracks appear can be changed using drag-and-drop.

All tracks have the following basic features:

Track (No file opened)

• File Display: The File Display shows the name of the opened file.
  The lower text line indicates the type of the file:
  • "mono audio (.wav)": Mono audio file of the .wav type.
  • "stereo audio (.wav)": Stereo audio file of the .wav type
  • "midi": MIDI file with one stream.
  • "multi midi": MIDI file with multiple streams.
  • "not opened": The file isn't opened, 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.
  • the "(r)" appendix means the file is opened as read-only.
• File Options Menu (appears on clicking the File Display)
  The file options menu contains the following items:
  • Color: Here you can choose a different color than the default color, which is blue in the standard theme. The color is used for the File Display and the track's editor.
  • Open: Open an existing Audio/MIDI file, or create a new one. A standard Windows file dialog 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 opened or created. Files can be opened as Read Only. If a track's file is opened this way recording isn't possible.
  • Save: Save MIDI or .aem file to disk. Use this if you want to save performed edits. This item is available for MIDI tracks and edited audio tracks only. It is disabled if the file is unmodified.
    Note: The tracks are saved automatically whenever the Song menu's Save option is invoked, so saving tracks explicitly usually isn't necessary.
  • Save As: Copies the file to a new file and opens the new file.
  • Rename: Rename the file. Note: the file will be closed and reopened, so the editor's undo history will be lost.
  • Close: Unload the file.
  • Properties: Shows the file's properties. If it's an .mp3 file you can edit its tags from it as well.
  • 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 opened in new tracks.
  • Alternate Take: Creates and opens 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 opened easily. The new file will appear in a new track if you keep the Ctrl key down while clicking the mouse.
  • Copy live performance to clipboard: (MIDI software instrument track only) After a software instrument has been played 'live' without actually recording it, the performance can be copied to the clipboard, and subsequently pasted in a track.
  • File History: Every time a file is opened 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 playback 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.
  Multiple tracks can be soloed by keeping the Ctrl key down while clicking additional Solo buttons.
• 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.

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 (Instrument: External MIDI Instrument)

MIDI tracks (tracks with a MIDI file) have an Instrument slot that determines where the track's output will be routed to. If it contains an External MIDI Instrument (default) the output will be send to an external hardware synthesizer. If it contains a software instrument (Sampler or VSTi/DXi plugin) the MIDI data will be converted to audio and the output routed through the mixer. See the MIDI Instruments section for more information on this subject.

MIDI tracks using a software instrument have all the extra controls audio tracks have (except for the first Effect Slot, which is replaced by the Instrument Slot).

MIDI track (Instrument: Sampler)