Libraries: Difference between revisions

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You may find it useful to watch [https://youtu.be/3V4f6oGcq8E a short video on this subject].
You may find it useful to watch [https://youtu.be/3V4f6oGcq8E a short video on this subject].


[[Image:dux1.0_presetbrowser.png]]
[[Image:dux1.1_presetbrowser.png]]




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* '''Windows:''' HOME/[My ]Documents/Renoise
* '''Windows:''' HOME/[My ]Documents/Renoise
* '''OSX:''' HOME/Documents/Renoise
* '''MacOS:''' HOME/Documents/Renoise
* '''Linux:''' HOME/Renoise
* '''Linux:''' HOME/Renoise


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== XRNL Library Creation ==
== XRNL Library Creation ==


The easiest way to build up a library is to save presets from inside Renoise, creating a library based on an existing user library.
The easiest way to build your own library is to create a copy of an existing user library, save presets to it from inside Renoise and then do the file/folder organisation externally.


=== Build The Collection ===
=== Build The Collection ===
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Libraries are laid out in the same way as the user library. For example, it might have the following structure:
Libraries are laid out in the same way as the user library. For example, it might have the following structure:
: - Samples
: + Samples
: - Multi-Samples
: + Multi-Samples
: - Instruments
: + Instruments


Note that these folders are created automatically, as you save a preset. Inside these folders, you can organize presets in folders too. This is supported and shown in the Renoise/Redux interface, but you can't reorganize, move files around from there - you need to open an explorer/finder window to organize your files. Any changes performed here should automatically be reflected in the Renoise user interface.
Note that these folders are created automatically as you save a preset. It's possible to move presets around or reorganise them into sub-folders, but this needs to be done from within your OS explorer/finder window. Any changes performed there will automatically be reflected in the Renoise user interface.


So, after a bit of customization your file structure might now look like this (with folders expanded):
So, after a bit of customization your file structure might now look like this (with folders expanded):
: - Samples
: + Samples
::  - Ambience
::  - Ambience
::  - Channel
::  - Channel
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=== Add A Manifest ===
=== Add A Manifest ===


Once you feel the content is ready to be exported, add a manifest to the root folder (use a basic text editor such as Notepad+ and copy the following text as a starting point).
Once you feel the content is ready to be exported, add a manifest to the root folder (use a basic text editor such as Notepad and copy the following text as a starting point).
<pre><?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<pre><?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
Line 73: Line 73:
</RenoiseContentLibrary></pre>
</RenoiseContentLibrary></pre>
The only thing that is really important to get right is the name - it needs to follow a certain naming convention, in the form `abc.def.ghi`. For example `com.renoise.elements` for one of our Renoise-published libraries, but you can use whatever name you like as long as it has those three parts.
The only thing that is important to get right is the name - it needs to follow a certain naming convention, in the form `abc.def.ghi`. For example `com.renoise.elements` for one of our Renoise-published libraries, but you can use whatever name you like as long as it has those three parts.


By now, the file structure might look like this:
By now the file structure might look like this:
: + Samples
: + Samples
Line 82: Line 82:
: manifest.xml
: manifest.xml
You can even add additional files if you wish to - perhaps you have a PDF document, or a 'readme' of some kind? These files will not be useful to Renoise, but will still be installed on the user harddrive as part of the library.
You can even add additional files if you wish to - perhaps a PDF document or a 'readme'. These files will not be useful to Renoise, but will still be installed on the user's machine as part of the library.


=== Creating The Library File ===
=== Creating The Library File ===


Using a zip archive utility (on windows, 7zip is recommended), you first compress the ''inside'' of the root folder, and then assign it the name provided in the manifest plus the Renoise library file extension, `.xrnl`.
Using a zip archive utility (on Windows, [https://www.7-zip.org 7Zzip] is recommended), you first compress the ''inside'' of the root folder, and then assign it the name provided in the manifest plus the Renoise library file extension .xrnl. So, in the case of our example pack, the file name would become `org.username.examplepack.xrnl`
So, in the case of our example pack, the file name would become `org.username.examplepack.xrnl`


=== Test Install ===
=== Test Install ===


If you want, you can now install the library to check that everything has worked. To install in Renoise, drag the file on top of the Renoise window. To install in Redux, drag the file on top of the plugin window, or click the load button.
You can now install the library to check that everything has worked by simply dragging the file on top of the Renoise window. To install in Redux either drag the file on top of the plugin window or click the load button [[Image:dux1.0_presetselector-load.png|baseline]] of the [[Instruments#Preset Selector|Preset Selector]].


A successful install should result in a message such as:
A successful install should result in a message like this:
: Library 'xxx' was successfully installed.
: ''Library 'xxx' was successfully installed.''
: It contains Instrument presets.
: ''It contains Instrument presets.''
If the installer encountered a problem, hopefully you will get a useful error message that can help to track down the problem.
If the installer encountered a problem you will be provided with a error message containing information that will be useful in tracking down the problem.

Latest revision as of 17:05, 17 March 2022

Libraries & Presets

A library acts as a container for other presets, stored in the file format .xrnl, which is easily installed via drag and drop. Once installed, the library’s contents will be available to use through the preset menu(s). Since a library’s contents can be many different things, the installer will helpfully tell you what was installed - whether it was a bunch of new instruments, some multi-sample presets, or perhaps a collection of effect chains.

You may find it useful to watch a short video on this subject.

Dux1.1 presetbrowser.png


If you save one of your own presets, it is stored in a special location - the User Library. This is found in the same folder as any installed libraries and is shared for use between Renoise and Redux:

  • Windows: HOME/[My ]Documents/Renoise
  • MacOS: HOME/Documents/Renoise
  • Linux: HOME/Renoise


Specific Preset Types

Instruments are constructed from a variety of parts: Phrases, Keyzones, Waveforms, Modulation and Effects. Specific preset types for each of these sections are available from a drop-down menu at the top right corner, where you can load, save, import and export. This allows an existing instrument to load the various presets into their specific sections without overwriting the whole instrument. A library can contain any of the file types associated with these sections:

3.1 specificpresettypes.png

  • Phrases (.xrnz) - A phrase preset is an XML file describing the number of lines, columns and other settings (loop, tempo etc.) that make up a single phrase.
  • Keyzones (.sfz) - A multi-sample preset is an .sfz soundfont file, an open standard format for describing musical instruments.
  • Waveform (.flac) - Waveform presets are just samples stored as .flac files.
  • Modulation (.xrno) - A Modulation Set preset is a collection of modulation envelopes that affect various sample domains (volume, panning, etc.). The preset itself is a simple XML file.
  • Effects (.xrnt) - An Effect Chain preset describes the effect devices and parameter values that make up an effect-chain. The preset itself is a simple XML file.

A library can also contain two other file types:

  • Effect-Devices (.xrdp) - An Effect-Device preset defines the parameters of a single effect device. This can be any of the regular devices or a Doofer (a special combination of other devices).
  • Themes (.xrnc) - Themes are alternative visual styles for the interface and are stored as simple XML files. New Themes can be created, or existing ones edited, in the Themes tab of the preferences menu.


XRNL Library Creation

The easiest way to build your own library is to create a copy of an existing user library, save presets to it from inside Renoise and then do the file/folder organisation externally.

Build The Collection

Libraries are laid out in the same way as the user library. For example, it might have the following structure: ​

+ Samples
+ Multi-Samples
+ Instruments

Note that these folders are created automatically as you save a preset. It's possible to move presets around or reorganise them into sub-folders, but this needs to be done from within your OS explorer/finder window. Any changes performed there will automatically be reflected in the Renoise user interface.

So, after a bit of customization your file structure might now look like this (with folders expanded): ​

+ Samples
- Ambience
- Channel
- Field Recordings
+ Multi-Samples
+ Instruments
- Synth
- Bass
+ FX
- Scifi

Add A Manifest

Once you feel the content is ready to be exported, add a manifest to the root folder (use a basic text editor such as Notepad and copy the following text as a starting point). ​

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<RenoiseContentLibrary doc_version="0">
  <Id>org.username.examplepack</Id>
  <Name>Example Pack</Name>
  <Author>Username (plus email, link, whatever)</Author>
  <Version>1.0</Version>
  <Description>Amazing pack by username for Renoise+Redux</Description>
</RenoiseContentLibrary>

​ The only thing that is important to get right is the name - it needs to follow a certain naming convention, in the form `abc.def.ghi`. For example `com.renoise.elements` for one of our Renoise-published libraries, but you can use whatever name you like as long as it has those three parts.

By now the file structure might look like this: ​

+ Samples
+ Multi-Samples
+ Instruments
manifest.xml

​ You can even add additional files if you wish to - perhaps a PDF document or a 'readme'. These files will not be useful to Renoise, but will still be installed on the user's machine as part of the library.

Creating The Library File

Using a zip archive utility (on Windows, 7Zzip is recommended), you first compress the inside of the root folder, and then assign it the name provided in the manifest plus the Renoise library file extension .xrnl. So, in the case of our example pack, the file name would become `org.username.examplepack.xrnl`

Test Install

You can now install the library to check that everything has worked by simply dragging the file on top of the Renoise window. To install in Redux either drag the file on top of the plugin window or click the load button Dux1.0 presetselector-load.png of the Preset Selector.

A successful install should result in a message like this: ​

Library 'xxx' was successfully installed.
It contains Instrument presets.

​ If the installer encountered a problem you will be provided with a error message containing information that will be useful in tracking down the problem.