3 <img src="/images/import-window.png" alt="The import window" width="50%">
10 Many sessions will require the use of <dfn>existing material</dfn>,
11 whether it consists of audio and/or MIDI data. Using existing samples,
12 loops and riffs from files stored on the system can be the basis for
13 a new session, or a way to deepen and improve one that is already
17 Importing audio and MIDI data into the session is done with the
18 <dfn>Add Existing Media</dfn> dialog, accessed either by the
19 <kbd class="menu"> Session > Import</kbd> menu or, if any tracks have
20 already been added, by right-clicking on the canvas of the <dfn>Editor</dfn>
21 window and choosing <kbd class="menu">Insert Existing Media</kbd>.
24 <h2>The Soundfile Information Box</h2>
26 This box will display information about the currently selected file:
29 <li>number of channels,</li>
33 <li>embedded timestamp (applies to some professional formats such as
34 Broadcast WAVE), and</li>
35 <li><a href="@@searching-for-files-using-tags">tags</a> (attached metadata to help categorize files in a library).</li>
38 If the sample rate differs from the current session rate, it is displayed
39 in red, which indicates that the file must be resampled before
43 Resampling is controlled by the <kbd class="menu">Conversion quality</kbd>
44 option described below.
52 Files can be auditioned before importing. The slider under the play and
53 stop buttons allows to scrub around, a fader on the right side allows
54 to control the playback volume.
57 Auditioning MIDI files requires a MIDI instrument to be chosen in the <kbd class="menu">
58 Instrument</kbd> dropdown list.
61 <h2>Importing options</h2>
63 Through the <kbd class="menu">Add files…</kbd> option, imported files can be inserted in the session:
66 <tr><th>as new tracks</th><td>automatically creates new tracks and import the files in it</td></tr>
67 <tr><th>to region list</th><td>adds the files to the <a href="@@the-region-list">region list</a>, from where then can be manually dragged into a track</td></tr>
68 <tr><th>as new tape tracks</th><td>adds the files as <a href="@@track-types">Tape tracks.</a></td></tr>
71 The <kbd class="menu">Insert at</kbd> option chooses where in time the file will be imported, amongst:
74 <li>the <dfn>file timestamp</dfn> (if available, zero by default)</li>
75 <li>at the <a href="@@edit-point-control"><dfn>edit point</dfn></a></li>
76 <li>at the <dfn>playhead</dfn></li>
77 <li>at the <dfn>session start</dfn>.</li>
80 The Channel <kbd class="menu">Mapping</kbd> option is only available for
81 multi-channel files (i.e. all but mono ones). It is either
84 <tr><th>one track/region per file</th><td>Creates a multi channel track for each imported file</td></tr>
85 <tr><th>one track/region per channel</th><td>Creates only mono channels, as many as there are channels in the imported files</td></tr>
86 <tr><th>sequence files</th><td>If multiple files are imported, they can be sequenced into a single track in the order of selection</td></tr>
89 The <kbd class="menu">Conversion quality</kbd> drop-down controls the
90 quality of the resampling process, if the sampling rate of the source file
91 differs from the session rate.
94 There are three MIDI-specific options as well. First off, you can set a track
98 <tr><th>by track number</th><td>will automatically assign every track a name that consists of the imported file name and a track number</td></tr>
99 <tr><th>by track name</th><td>will</td></tr>
100 <tr><th>by instrument name</th><td>will</a></td></tr>
104 You can also optionally import a tempo map from a MIDI file.
105 The <kbd class="menu">Use MIDI Tempo Map (if defined)</kbd> option appears
106 when a MIDI file is selected in the file selection dialog.
109 The last MIDI-specific option is <kbd class="menu">Import MIDI Markers
110 (if any)</kbd>. If those are present in a MIDI file, they will be rendered
111 right above MIDI clips on the canvas. Editing the MIDI markers is currently
114 <figure class="right">
115 <img src="/images/imported-midi-markers.png" alt="MIDI markers imported from a .mid file" width="75%">
117 MIDI markers imported from a .mid file
122 Finally, and most importantly, the files can be linked or copied to the session
123 with the <kbd class="option">Copy files to session</kbd> checkbox. Please read
124 <a href="@@copying-versus-linking">Copying
125 versus Linking</a> for details.
128 <h2>Importing from FreeSound.org</h2>
131 Ardour can import sounds from the public library at FreeSound.org.
132 This feature requires an account with the online service.
136 Sound clips on FreeSound.org typically have metadata in form of tags
137 that give a general idea what sound is recorded in a clip. Ardour will
138 use that metadata to find sound clips that match your request.
141 <figure class="right">
142 <img src="/images/freesound-clips-list.png" alt="List of sound clips found on FreeSound.org" width="75%">
144 List of sound clips found on FreeSound.org
149 There are two more options for the search:
153 <li><dfn>Sort</dfn>: allows sorting all sound clips that match your
154 request in a particular order. Changing the type of sorting requires
155 running the search again.</li>
156 <li><dfn>License</dfn>: allows limiting your search by choosing
157 a particular license depending on how you license your own work.</li>
161 Ardour will list all sounds clips that match your request right in the
162 window. If there are a lot of option, click the
163 <kbd class="button">More</kbd> button to load the next page with results.
167 When you click on any sound clip in the list for the first time,
168 a FreeSound.org login page will open in your preferred web browser.
171 <figure class="right">
172 <img src="/images/freesound-login.png" alt="Log into FreeSound.org" width="75%">
174 Log into FreeSound.org
180 You will then be asked to grant access to Ardour.
183 <figure class="right">
184 <img src="/images/freesound-grant-access.png" alt="Grant access to Ardour" width="75%">
186 Grant access to Ardour
192 Once you do that, FreeSound.org will generate authorization code that you need to select and copy to the clipboard.
195 <figure class="right">
196 <img src="/images/freesound-auth-code.png" alt="Authorization token" width="75%">
204 Finally, insert the code into the entry box here and click <kbd class="button">OK</kbd>.
207 <figure class="right">
208 <img src="/images/freesound-code-insert.png" alt="Insert authorization token" width="75%">
210 Insert authorization code
216 After that, Ardour will be able to download clips for preview in a folder
217 for temporary files that you can select in the
218 <kbd class="window">Preferences</kbd> dialog on the
219 <kbd class="windows">General</kbd> page.
223 You can preview and insert clips from FreeSound.org like any other sound
228 Please note that authorization code only works as long as Ardour is running.
229 The next time you start Ardour, you will need to authorize it again. This is
230 implementation specifics of FreeSound.org.