# The menubar

Within the menubar you may do basic tasks like open/close files. In this section we cover briefly the the different entries. The menus have mnemonics e.g. press ALT and F key in order to open File menu.

## File

The file menu lets you do maintenance related to files or quit application. Note there was a simple XML file format introduced in 0.7.x to speed up things. The advanced file format needs optimization work to fulfill. The file format can be modified by configuration file located in your home directory $(HOME)/.gsequencer/ags.conf. The simple file interface is defaulted and can be altered by section generic and simple-file key set to false.

- Open - open an &ags; XML file. Uses per configuration the simple XML Input/Ouput interface.

- Save - save your current work. Uses per configuration the simple XML Input/Ouput interface.

- Save as - save your current work as a different filename. Uses per configuration the simple XML Input/Ouput interface.

- Export - export to PCM audio file.

- Quit - leave &ags;.

### Open file

The file open screenshot

Open files using dialog window.

### Export to PCM audio file

The export window screenshot

This shows you the export dialog. Exclude sequencers affect mainly AgsDrum and AgsMatrix pattern sequencers to be started to output. You may select filename to export to and duration of the exported track. BPM adjustment is take from the navigation. Basically &ags; exports what you hear of the speakers.

With the export toggle button you can start exporting to PCM audio file or stop it at an arbitrary time.

## Edit

The edit menu lets you add audio machines of the related submenu, open automation window or preferences dialog.

- Add - select of different machines. You might want to add the bridged machines of plugins like LADSPA, DSSI or Lv2. Instrument plugins are available within notation editor.

  - Panel - acts as your default sink.

  - Mixer - enables you to bundle your different output engines.

  - Spectrometer - enables you to visualize played frequency using FFTW3.

  - Equalizer - enables you to adjust 10 band equalizer.

  - Drum - is used to do pattern editing using PCM audio files.

  - Matrix - is used to pattern editing, intended to be linked against Synth.

  - Synth - is a software synthesizer supporting variable oscillator count. Use with Matrix.

  - FM Synth - is a frequency modulation software synthesizer supporting variable oscillator count. Use with Matrix.

  - Syncsynth - is a software synthesizer supporting variable oscillator count. Use with notation editor.

  - FM Syncsynth - is a frequency modulation software synthesizer supporting variable oscillator count. Use with notation editor.

  - Hybrid Synth - is a software synthesizer supporting 2 oscillators with relative phase modulation. Use with notation editor.

  - Hybrid FM Synth - is a frequency modulation software synthesizer supporting 3 oscillators. Use with notation editor.

  - FFPlayer - may be used to open Soundfont2 audio file container format in order to do notation.

  - SF2 Synth - may be used to open Soundfont2 audio file container format in order to do notation. Computation just-in-time.

  - Sampler - may be used to open SFZ audio file container format in order to do notation.

  - SFZ Synth - may be used to open SFZ audio file container format in order to do notation. Computation just-in-time.

  - Audiorec - can be used to edit wave form or capture audio from your microphone

- Preferences - open preferences dialog.

### Preferences dialog

Within preferences dialog you may choose between different topics. For each one one tab. The configuration is applied in place after click Apply or OK. There is no need to restart the application.

#### Generic

The preferences dialog screenshot - generic tab

The autosave thread option enables auto-saving to $HOME/.gsequencer directory. Segmentation is used as a delay factor, you can do tactation with it.

#### Audio

The preferences dialog screenshot - audio tab

Sound card is your physical devices to do playback.

Audio channels specifies the audio channels to allocate for output device.

Samplerate affects the entire project. Your audio files have to be at very same rate further your device has to support the given rate. Like buffer size this affects the thread's related to audio processing their frequencies. Note a too low frequency may cause unexpected behavior like no proper velocity.

Buffer size is used for all audio buffers. Your soundcard has to support the passed buffer size. This preference affects thread's frequencies.

Format determines the storage size of one frame. All available formats are signed integers. The following sizes in bits are available: 8, 16, 24, 32 and 64. Your hardware has a need to support the format in order to get sounds.

#### MIDI

The preferences dialog screenshot - midi tab

You can add MIDI sequencers to the configured project. These are intended to connect by the MIDI dialog, later.

There is a combo box availabe to choose your backend like ALSA, OSS or JACK.

The second combo box lets you choose the device. The JACK backend allows you to add MIDI ports.

#### Performance

The preferences dialog screenshot - performance tab

Auto-sense on stream is required for certain plugins and recalls but may cause additional performance losses.

The maximum precision of threads allows you to fine tune performance. A higher frequency allows you to use smaller buffer size and a higher samplerate. But causes a higher synchronization over-head.

## MIDI

The MIDI sub-menu provides functionality related to MIDI like the import or export wizards.

### The MIDI import wizard

The MIDI import wizard allows you to import Standard MIDI Files. You might choose the machine which will be added after import. The notation is available within the pattern or notation editor.

#### Step #1 - file chooser

The MIDI import wizard - step #1

First you have to choose the Standard MIDI File you would like to import. As selected the desired file you might want to click Forward.

#### Step #2 - mapping

The MIDI import wizard - step #2

After parsing the MIDI file there is one more step involved. You have to enable the appropriate track. There are 2 labels visible showing meta information. Below there is a combo box allowing you to choose the machine getting mapped. The spin buttons let you adjust the number of audio channels to create. As well the first offset.

### The MIDI export wizard

The MIDI export wizard allows you to export Standard MIDI Files. You might choose the machine which will be exported.

#### Step #1 - select machines

The MIDI import wizard - step #1

First you have to enable the machines you wish to export. The entry allows you to set the sequence meta information.

#### Step #2 - file chooser

The MIDI import wizard - step #2

After enabled the machines to export you shall specify the filename. As next you click OK in order to write the MIDI file.