The Name bar provides tools for preset management and other functions. It is shown in all views. See Alchemy interface overview.
Preset field and pop-up menu: Displays a list of presets available to load. By default, all presets are shown. To quickly scroll through and load a preset, use the Previous and Next buttons (the arrows) adjacent to the Preset field. The order of presets is determined by settings in the Preset browser. See Alchemy Preset browser overview.
The field shows the current preset name and category, or Default if no preset is loaded. The category of the selected preset is displayed to the left of the preset name when a preset is loaded.
Category button: Show a pop-up menu of preset categories.
File button: Open a pop-up menu containing preset management commands.
Save Consolidated: Save a copy of the active preset along with copies of audio files used.
Note: Because Factory samples use audio files available to all Alchemy users, these files are not copied.
Initialize Preset: Initialize Alchemy, providing a basic sawtooth wave that can be used as a starting point for your own presets.
Refresh Library: Scans all default file locations, and updates the preset library database.
Save button: Save your changes to the active preset. If the preset belongs in the Factory bank, a Save As dialog is displayed, preventing you from accidentally overwriting the preset.
Save As button: Open a browser window where you can choose a filename (*.acp) and a location to save the currently active preset. Newly saved presets are automatically added to the Preset browser with a category, several predetermined attributes, and the artist name specified in Preferences > My Info > Artist Name. If this preference is not set, “Unknown Artist” is shown in preset results.
Quality pop-up menu: Choose the processing resolution on output. This setting remains active when loading other presets or when recalling the project.
Volume knob: Boost or cut the overall preset volume. This happens at the end of the signal path and controls the effected and dry signals of all voices.
The following default locations are used for Alchemy files.
Presets: /Library/Application Support/Logic/Plugin Settings/Alchemy
User presets: ~/Music/Audio Music Apps/Plug-In Settings/Alchemy/
Sample data: /Library/Application Support/Logic/Alchemy Samples/
EXS Sampler Instruments: /Library/Application Support/Logic/Sampler Instruments
User sample data: ~/Music/Audio Music Apps/Alchemy Samples/
Ratings, comments, tags, and attributes: These are stored in the preset database file.
When a preset is saved as part of a CST, patch, or project (when “Include Alchemy assets” is not active in the preferences), AAZ data (the Alchemy analyzed sample format) that has already been saved is referenced in its current location. If AAZ data has not already been saved, it is saved in the ~/Music/Audio Music Apps/Alchemy Samples/ folder.
When an ACP (Alchemy preset) file is saved, references to AAZ files in the factory samples folder are also saved. If AAZ files are in any other location, they are saved in the same folder as the ACP file. The ACP filename is used at the front of AAZ filenames.
User samples may be located anywhere on disk, with AAZ data being saved in the patch or preset location. The locations above are the defaults when “Include Alchemy assets” is not active in the preferences.