MuLab 4 Docs Main Menu   

MULAB

Audio Setup

Allows you to choose the audio device. On OSX, this is a Core Audio device, on Windows this is an ASIO or MME device. ASIO is recommended!

When changing the Audio Setup, the current session is automatically saved, closed and re-opened after closing the audio setup dialog. This is the most effective way to notify all modules that buffersize and/or samplerate may have changed.

General note about choosing the best audio buffer size: The bigger the audio buffer size, the lower the chance you will hear unexpected clicks in the audio when using a lot of processing power. But at the same a bigger audio buffer size also causes a higher latency, that is the time between pressing a MIDI note or clicking play and the moment that the audio effectively comes out of the speakers. So using a smaller audio buffer size gives you a lower latency, but then make sure your CPU can handle it, otherwise clicks may appear in your audio because the CPU can't process it all quick enough.

In the Windows version, when using the MME audio system, the audio buffer size = number of blocks * block size. Note that 8 * 512 may give a different behaviour than 4 * 1024, this is system dependent and the only way to know is by experimentation. Though the default setting of 8 * 512 should be fine on most systems

MIDI Setup

Allows you to choose which MIDI input and output ports must be opened in MuLab.

Note that to effectively send events to a MIDI output port, you also need to create a MIDI output plug-in for that port. This can be done in the Session Modular Area.

When you do "New Session" however, MuLab automatically creates a MIDI Out plug-in for each configured MIDI output port.

Manage VST Plug-In

Add or remove VST plug-ins to/from the MuLab plug-in database.

Manage Shortcuts

Allows you to setup shortcuts. For more info on Shortcuts, click here

Choose External Audio Editor

Allows you to choose an external audio editor. (cfr Audio Lab)

Choose Skin

Allows you to switch to another skin.

Insert User License Key

When you have purchased your MuLab XT or MuLab UL User License, you'll receive a personal MuLab Key to push your MuLab to a higher level.

Panic

In case you would hear hanging notes, try this function to reset the music engines.

Upgrade Sessions...

This function will upgrade a full folder of musession files to the current MuLab file format.

For more detailed info click here

Monitor MIDI Input Notes

A diagnostic function.

Start/Stop Logging

A diagnostic function.

About MuLab

Shows the splash screen including the MuLab version.

MuLab Docs

Opens the MuLab Docs.

MuLab Intro Movie

Start the MuLab Intro movie on YouTube.

Online Tutorials

Shows the online MuLab tutorials. For this you need an active internet connection.

Visit MuTools.com

Opens your default browser showing the MuTools.com website.

Quit

Quits MuLab.

 

SESSION

Undo

Undoes the last operation.

Redo

Redoes the last operation.

New

Creates a new session. The new session can replace the current session or you can add it as an extra session aside the already open sessions. For more info on the multi-session feature, click here.

Open

Opens a session. The opened session can replace the current session or you can add it as an extra session aside the already open sessions. For more info on the multi-session feature, click here.

Open Recent

Opens a recent session. The opened session can replace the current session or you can add it as an extra session aside the already open sessions. For more info on the multi-session feature, click here.

Open Template

Opens a template session. The opened template session can replace the current session or you can add it as an extra session aside the already open sessions. For more info on the multi-session feature, click here.

Open Demo

Opens a demo session. The opened demo session can replace the current session or you can add it as an extra session aside the already open sessions. For more info on the multi-session feature, click here.

Revert Session

Reloads the current session from its last saved version, discarding any changes since then.

Save

Saves the current session to the same file it's loaded from.

When this session file already exists, the previous session file is backed up instead of overwritten. This is much safer in case of a (VST-)crash during save.

Save As...

Saves the current session.

Sessions are saved in a separate folder so that the Audio subfolder becomes more private per session. This will make it more easy to bundle a MuSession and its audio/sample files into a zip package.

When this session file already exists, the previous session file is backed up instead of overwritten. This is much safer in case of a (VST-)crash during save.

Save As Template

Saves the current session as a template session. Template sessions are store in your {UserLibrary}/MuSessions/Templates sub-folder.

When you save a session as template "New", this one will be opened whenever you do "New Session".

Close

Closes the current session.

Import Audio File

Imports an audio file into a new Composition. The new audio part is put at focused edit position which is the position where you last clicked or used a shortcut key.

Import Sample Sound

Imports a sample into the session and inserts it into a new MuSampla.

Import Sample Loop

Imports a sample into the session and creates a sliced sample part with it. For all details on sliced sample parts, click here.

Mixdown Audio

Renders all audio in the current composition, and saves that to a chosen audio file.

Only the selected parts are mixed down.
If no parts are selected, then if you have set a Composition loop, only the loop region is mixed down.
Else everything is included in the mix.

Note that to include any effect tail in the mix, you must add an extra (empty) part at the end.

Also note that external MIDI gear cannot be included in the mix, unless you have recorded their audio output!

You can mixdown to both an AIFF or WAVE file, independent of your platform; Just select the file type by using a proper file name extension. Otherwise it's the platform default: On OSX: AIFF file, on Windows: WAVE file.

Import MIDI File

Imports a MIDI file.

Export MIDI File

Exports the current Composition to a MIDI file using the WYHIWYG principle, thus muted parts are now exported.

If the current Composition has any selected parts, then only these parts are exported. Otherwise all parts are exported.

Note that audio parts cannot be exported to MIDI.

Show/Hide Session Modular Area

Shows/Hides the Session Modular Area.

Audio File Manager

Opens the Audio File Manager where you can manage the audio files in the current session.

Sequence Manager

Opens the Sequence Manager where you can manage the sequences in the current session.

Sample Manager

Opens the Sample Manager where you can manage the samples in the current session.

Multi Sample Manager

Opens the Multi Sample Manager where you can manage the multi samples in the current session.

Manage Audio/Sample Files

This function lets you move/copy the used audio/sample files into the Audio sub-folder of your session. This is handy for a neat organization and for when you want to move your session to another system, as MuLab will use relative file links when the audio/sample files are in a sub-folder of the session file.

Edit Session MIDI Input Controller Map

Opens the Session MIDI Controller Map where you can manage the MIDI controller mappings that are always active.

Use Automatic/Manual MIDI Input Focus

MuLab uses 2 different types of focus:

The GUI Focus defines which GUI component will process the keys you press on your computer keyboard. More info here.

The MIDI Input Focus defines which plug-in will process MIDI input. The MIDI input focus is always shown in the Focused Module Panel at the top of the session window.

By default MuLab uses "Use Automatic MIDI Input Focus" which means that MuLab will sync these two focuses i.e. the MIDI focus will auto shift to the most relevant module you're working with on screen.

But there are situations where it is better to not have them synced: Imagine you're making music with someone and you are editing on the computer and the other person is playing a MIDI keyboard. Now whenever you click on a plug-in on the screen the MIDI input focus is shifted to that plug-in and so the sound on the person's keyboard will change. That's not comfortable in that situation. So that's why you can tell MuLab to "Use Manual MIDI Input Focus", then the MIDI Input Focus is preserved regardless of what you're doing on screen. Then whenever you do want to change the MIDI input focus manually, drag-drop the module you want to play onto the Focused Module Panel.

Edit MIDI Input Focuses

Using this dialog panel you can define for each incoming MIDI channel which target module is to be played. This allows you to make flexible MIDI setups using 2 or more MIDI keyboards and/or controllers.

Show Virtual MIDI Keyboard

Opens the Virtual MIDI Keyboard with which you can play and record notes even if you don't have a real MIDI keyboard.

Add Composition

Creates a new composition within this session.

Select Composition

Selects a composition within this session.

Select Next Composition

Selects the next composition within this session.

Toggle Process On/Off

This switches on/off the current session. Switching off a session is like muting it and so it will not use any CPU. This may be handy when you're using multiple sessions in parrallel, cfr Using Multiple Sessions.

Show/Hide Rack Desk

Shows/Hides the Rack Desk.

Table Of ContentsUsing Multiple Sessions