2.3.2 The File menu

The File menu is about your songs: starting, opening and saving them, keeping them safe, and bringing music in and out.

2.3.2.1 Project Hub…

Opens the Project Hub: start a new song, open a recent one, or recover your work after a crash, all in one window.

2.3.2.2 New Project

Ctrl+N. Opens the Project Hub, ready for a new song: type its name, choose where it goes and pick a template. Every new song is saved straight away, in a folder of its own.

2.3.2.3 Open Project…

Ctrl+O. Opens a song file from your computer.

• If you pick a packed song (.hpspack), you’re asked for a folder to unpack it into first.
• If the song is open on another computer, Harmonic Pro Studio tells you which one, and since when, and asks before it opens it here. Opening it in two places at once risks one computer overwriting the other’s saves. Choose Take over only if you’re sure the other copy is closed.

2.3.2.4 Open Without Plugins…

A rescue for when a plugin crashes while a song opens. The song opens with every plugin switched off, so you can find and remove the one that causes the crash.

2.3.2.5 Open Recent

Your recently opened songs, newest first. Click one to open it. Clear Menu at the bottom empties the list. How many songs the list keeps is set in Settings › General.

2.3.2.6 Save

Ctrl+S. Saves the song. Every save is also kept in the song’s history (see Project History… below). A song that has never been saved asks for a name and a place first, as Save As… does.

2.3.2.7 Save As…

Ctrl+Shift+S. Saves the song under a new name or in a new place. It asks for the name and the location, and makes the new song’s own folder, as the Project Hub does.

2.3.2.8 Collect Media & Save

Copies every sound file the song uses from elsewhere on your computer into the song’s Audio folder, then saves. Afterwards the song’s folder holds everything it needs, so you can move it or send it in one piece.

2.3.2.9 Back Up Project…

Makes a complete copy of the song (the song, every sound and its presets) that opens on any computer. Choose one of two forms:

• a folder, ready to open;
• or one .hpspack file, easy to send.

Tick Leave out the edit history and kept saves to send the song without the record of how it was made. Your own copy keeps everything.

2.3.2.10 Save Version As…

Saves a named version of the song next to it in the same folder, for example Mix A or Radio Edit. A version is one small file that shares the song’s sounds, not a second copy of the whole folder. Save the song once before you make versions.

2.3.2.11 Versions

The song’s versions, newest first. The one that is open is marked ●. Click another to switch to it; if you have unsaved changes, you’re asked first. With no versions yet, it reads No Saved Versions.

2.3.2.12 Project History…

Every save of the song, kept, newest first. Pick one and roll the song back to it (you’re asked first). History starts with the song’s first save.

2.3.2.13 Verify Project Media

Checks every sound file the song uses against the song’s own record of it, and tells you if a file is missing, has been swapped, or is damaged. Useful after copying a song to another drive.

2.3.2.14 Missing Files…

Lists the sound files the song could not find and helps you get them back: point to where each file is now, search a folder for them, or restore them from the song’s trash. It is greyed out when nothing is missing.

2.3.2.15 Empty Project Trash…

Sounds in the song’s folder that the song no longer uses are moved to a trash inside the folder when you save, never deleted. Empty Project Trash… deletes them for good, after asking you. It is the only command that deletes your sounds.

2.3.2.16 Import

• Audio Files… is greyed out for now. To bring in audio, drag files from the Media Browser or from your computer onto the timeline.
• MIDI File… brings a MIDI file into the song, as clips on the timeline.

2.3.2.17 Export

Stems, the delivery pack and the export queue are in the Studio edition. Every edition exports a stereo WAV or MP3 mix.

2.3.2.18 Project Info…

The song’s name and its details. The details are written into the tags of every file you export:

• Title, Artist, Album, Genre, Year (four digits), ISRC (the recording’s code from your distributor) and Comment;
• Broadcast WAV: a Description, who made the file (Originator) and your own Reference.

Each field is saved when you leave it, and you can undo it. A year or an ISRC that isn’t valid is refused, and the field goes back to what it was.

2.3.2.19 Settings…

Ctrl+,. Opens Settings, the one window for every setting in Harmonic Pro Studio. The ⚙ at the right of the menu bar opens it too.

2.3.2.20 Exit

Ctrl+Q. Closes Harmonic Pro Studio. If the song has unsaved changes, you’re asked first: Save, Discard or Cancel. A recording that is still running is kept before the app closes.