> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.lmms.io/user-manual/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.lmms.io/user-manual/en/instruments/gig-player.md).

# GIG Player

The GIG Player or GigaSampler Player plugin in LMMS uses files called gigasampler files (.gig).

<figure><img src="/files/Xd3m7RDU9XAnW1hIAOxl" alt=""><figcaption><p>GIG Player</p></figcaption></figure>

Initially a format for similar purposes to the [soundfont](/user-manual/en/instruments/sf2-player.md), used by the GigaSampler and GigaStudio project, the .gig file is the basic instrument unit, and would load as Instruments. It stores the collections of samples (and any data associated with their playback) within the Instrument file to allow their playback and usage. A GIG file is capable of holding up to 128 instruments.

Additionally, the software and by extension some GIG Instruments also support a feature called keyswitching. The GIG Player of LMMS does not support keyswitching presently. Where GIG files would treat individual instruments like separate MIDI banks, LMMS loads and displays GIG files' instruments as patches.

The GIG file format is now obsolete, and the Instrument files are not commonly available or widely used.

sfz files allow a lot of the functionality that GIG instruments can. SoundFont files and sfz files are recommended instead of these files.

LMMS implements GIG file support using libgig from LinuxSampler.