---
name: "bse"
section: "5"
platform: "linux"
package: "beast"
version: "0.7.4-5"
release: "Debian 7 (Wheezy)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/bse/5"
---

# bse(5)

Better Sound Engine File Format

## NAME

BSE - Better Sound Engine File Format

## SYNOPSIS

*filename***.bse**

## DESCRIPTION

The **bse** file format is used by the *BSE* library and dependent programs to save *BSE* projects, songs, instruments and sample collections. The *BSE* scheme shell [bsescm(1)](/bsescm/1.md) is able to play back **bse** files directly.

## FORMAT

*BSE* files start out with a special magic string "; BseProject0 and then contain nested  expressions in scheme syntax using the ASCII charset. Binary data may be appended to a *.bse* file if it is seperated from the preceeding ASCII test by one or more literal NUL characters (' '). This mechanism is used to store arbitrary binary data like *.WAV* or Ogg/Vorbis files in *BSE* projects, while keeping the actuall content user editable (text editors that preserve binary sections have to be used, such as [vi(1)](/vi/1.md) or [emacs(1)](/emacs/1.md)).

## COMPATIBILITY

The exact format and sets of objects and properties used in a **bse** file depend highly on the library version that was used to save the file. Compatibility functions are supplied by the library itself, so old **bse** files can be converted when the file is loaded. To enable this mechanism, all **bse** files contain a **"bse-version"** directive which indicates the **bse** file format version of the supplied content.

## SEE ALSO

[beast(1)](/beast/1.md), [bsescm(1)](/bsescm/1.md), BSE Object Reference (http://beast.testbit.eu/bse-objects)