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.