A project is the composition you are working on: its patterns, arrangement, instruments, and mix. Lodo keeps one project active in the workspace. Save writes to that project's current file; Save As writes a new file and makes it the current save location.
Create and name a project
Choose New in Options or press Ctrl+N. If the current project has unsaved changes, Lodo asks what to do before replacing it. A new project has no file location yet, so its first Save opens Save Project As.
To give a project a filename before you start composing:
- Choose New.
- Open Save As in Options, or press Ctrl+Shift+S.
- Choose a folder, enter a filename, then confirm with Save or Enter.
- Continue composing. Ctrl+S saves to this file from then on.
The Save As browser starts in the folder of the open project when that folder is available. Otherwise it starts in Lodo's Projects folder; if that location is unavailable, it falls back to your home folder. The suggested filename uses the current file's base name; for an untitled project, it uses the project title shown in the window, which is Untitled by default. Save As writes an .ldp project file, adding that extension when needed.
Open or save a project
Choose Load in Options or press Ctrl+L. The Open Project browser lists .ldp and .json project files. Navigate to a folder, select a file, and confirm with Enter or the browser's Open action. A failed load leaves the current project open and shows an error in the browser; choose another file or close the browser and try again.
Use Save in Options or press Ctrl+S to update the current file. If the project has no save location, Save opens Save Project As instead. Use Save As or press Ctrl+Shift+S to make a separate copy or change the file used by later Saves. After a successful Save As, the new path becomes current. If you open a .json project, Save keeps using that file; Save As creates an .ldp file.
If the chosen Save As filename already exists, Lodo asks for a second confirmation before overwriting it. Press Enter again only if you intend to replace that file. If the save fails, Lodo keeps the open project and its changes. Check the save location and try again.
Choose what happens to unsaved changes
When you start New, Load, close the window, or quit with unsaved project changes, Lodo pauses the action and shows Unsaved changes. The prompt offers three choices:
| Choice | Result |
|---|---|
| Save · Enter | Save the current project, then continue with New, Load, or quit. If it has no save location, choose one in Save As first. |
| Discard · D | Continue and lose the changes made since the last save. |
| Cancel · Esc | Stop the pending action and keep the current project and its changes. |
If Save As was opened from this prompt, the pending action continues only after the file is saved. Cancel the Save As browser to keep working in the current project. If a regular Save fails, the prompt explains that your changes are still open; check the save location and try again, or choose Cancel. A failed Save As shows its error in the file browser.
Moving between views or starting and stopping playback alone does not count as an unsaved project change. Playback continues while the prompt is waiting for a choice. Once you choose Save or Discard and Lodo proceeds with New or Load, it stops playback before attempting the replacement.
Related reading
- Start Here for the main workspace and a suggested reading order.
- Pattern Grid for entering and editing note events.