OnSong
Last updated
Last updated
Song One can read OnSong files. The supported file formats include the native OnSong files and ChordPro or PDF files generated by OnSong. (See 'Avoid exporting files in the PDF format' below.)
Song One automatically adds chord diagrams to imported songs that include chords. You may disable this feature or specify the tuning/string instrument to be used to generate the diagrams in Song One's settings/preferences:
To import songs tap/click on the inward pointing arrow in the upper left corner of Song One's main window. (If the library panel is not visible tap/click on the three lines in the upper left corner of the screen.)
Choose 'Import File' to either...
select an 'OnSong Backup' file and import the entire song catalog including all songs, sets, imported audio tracks, MIDI events and notes,
or select and add a single song saved by OnSong in the ChordPro, the PDF format or its native text-based file format. (See text-based files and PDF files to learn how added songs are transformed.)
An 'OnSong Backup' file is the most convenient way to import your entire song catalog into Song One (including songs, sets, imported audio tracks, midi events and notes).
This requires the following steps:
Exporting an 'OnSong Backup' file from OnSong:
OnSong Pro/Standard/2020-2023
Tap/Click on the share icon in the upper left corner.
Select 'Export' in the pop-up list.
Select 'OnSong Backup' as the export format.
Tap/Click on the wrench icon (bottom right corner) and select 'As a single file' in the 'Output Options' pop-up menu.
Tap/Click on 'Export' (top right corner).
Save the 'OnSong Backup' file in a directory of your choice (e.g. iCloud Drive).
OnSong Pro/Standard: Add the '.backup' file extension to the exported file (OnSong 2020/2022 adds the '.backup' file extension automatically).
Importing the 'OnSong Backup' file into Song One:
Choose 'Import File' in Song One's import menu and select the 'OnSong Backup' file.
A pop-up dialog appears with two import options:
Select 'Rebuild' to import the entire song catalog including all songs, sets, imported audio tracks, MIDI events and notes.
Select 'Recover' to extract all readable songs from a damaged ‘OnSong Backup’ file.
All imported audio backing tracks inlcuded in OnSongs backup file are imported into Song One.
Imported audio backing tracks are downloaded to all your macOS/iOS devices automatically when the option 'Sync Imported Backing Tracks' is enabled in Song One's settings (under 'Devices'). (See Importing Audio Tracks to learn more.)
Synced audio backing tracks are stored permanently inside Song One's app container for instant playback of backing tracks regardless of internet connectivity.
Earlier versions of OnSong required the use of iTunes to store backing tracks externally in the device’s music library. These audio files are not included in OnSong’s backup catalog.
Song One 10.6 (or higher) will automatically locate and re-link these audio files by matching the metadata values provided in OnSong's backup file (Title, Artist and Album Title). (See Playback Via Apple's 'Music' App to learn more.)
Song One uses a single library to manage all songs. Separate 'Books' created in OnSong can be viewed with the help of Song One's library filter:
Tap/Click on the filter icon in the right corner of the search field and select the name of the 'Book' in the 'Category' submenu. ('Books' are converted into 'Categories' during import. See Library Filter to learn more.)
The settings of the theme panel determine how your imported OnSong catalog is displayed. (See 'Themes' to learn more.)
Apply the following settings to create a theme that closely resembles OnSong's default layout format:
Select 'AvenirNext' under 'Custom Font',
incease the size of the custom font to 135%,
set the 'Line Spacing' to -3.0,
hide the default paper style 'Background Image'
and adjust the size of the title and subtitle to your liking.
If you do not wish to import your entire song catalog you may also create a set in OnSong to add a collection of songs to your Song One catalog.
This requires the following steps:
Exporting a set from OnSong:
OnSong 2020-2023
Select the desired set in the library window.
Tap/Click on the 'Share' icon in the upper left corner.
Select 'Export' in the pop-up menu.
Select 'ChordPro' as the export format.
Tap/Click on 'Export' (top right corner).
Save the 'Set' file in a directory of your choice (e.g. iCloud Drive).
Importing a set into Song One:
Choose 'Import File' in Song One's import menu and select the exported 'Set' file.
See text-based files to learn how added songs are transformed.
If you do not wish to import your entire song catalog you may also use Song One's 'Import Folder' option to add a collection of songs in the OnSong file format to your Song One catalog. Song One examines all the compatible files in the selected OnSong folder (including its subfolders) and imports them.
Exporting songs from OnSong:
OnSong Pro
Create a new 'Set' in OnSong and add the songs you wish to export.
Tap/Click on the share icon in the upper left corner.
Select 'Export' in the pop-up list.
Select 'OnSong' (or 'ChordPro', or 'PDF') as the export format.
Choose 'Files' as the export location (bottom left corner).
Tap/Click on 'Export' (top right corner).
Choose (or create) a folder in the directory of your choice and export your songs.
Importing songs into Song One:
Choose 'Import Folder' in Song One's import menu and select the folder containing your exported OnSong files.
See text-based files and PDF files to learn how added songs are transformed.
On macOS you may also import OnSong files into your Song One catalog with a double-click. In order to do so you specify the opening application (Song One) in the 'Get Info' window of macOS:
Select an OnSong file (i.e. a file with an '.onsong' extension) with a single click.
Hold the command ('⌘') key while pressing the 'i' key to open the 'Get Info' window.
Click on the pop-up menu under 'Open with:'.
Select 'Song One' from the list.
Click on the 'Change All..' button to apply this setting to all OnSong files.
After this setup you double-click on an OnSong file to automatically import it into Song One.
Avoid exporting files in the PDF format:
Text-based PDFs have to be transformed into the native Song One file format to:
edit the lyrics or the chords in the song editor
take advantage of themes.
Only import songs into Song One in the PDF format if you wish to keep (or add to) your PDF annotations.
