title: Import Dialog
---
+<p>
+ Many sessions will require the use of <dfn>existing material</dfn>,
+ whether it consists of audio and/or MIDI data. Using existing samples,
+ loops and riffs from files stored on your system can be the basis for
+ a new session, or a way to deepen and improve one that is already
+ underway.
+</p>
+<p>
+ You can import audio and MIDI data into your session with the
+ <dfn>Add Existing Media</dfn> dialog.
+</p>
+<img src="/files/reference/images/209-ARDOUR_1_2_1.png" />
-
-
-<p><img src="/files/reference/images/209-ARDOUR_1_2_1.png" /></p>
-<h3>The Soundfile Information Box</h3>
-<h3>Previewing Files Before Import</h3>
-<h3>Importing Files as Tracks or Regions</h3>
-<h3>Importing versus Embedding</h3>
-
+<h2>The Soundfile Information Box</h2>
+<p>
+ This box will display information about the currently selected file:
+</p>
+<ul>
+ <li>number of channels,</li>
+ <li>sample rate,</li>
+ <li>file format,</li>
+ <li>length,</li>
+ <li>embedded timestamp (applies to some professional formats such as
+ Broadcast WAVE), and</li>
+ <li>tags (attached metadata to help categorize files in a library).</li>
+</ul>
+<p>
+ If the sample rate differs from the current session rate, it is displayed
+ in red, which indicates that the file must be resampled before
+ importing.<br />
+ Resampling is controlled by the <kbd class="menu">Conversion quality</kbd>
+ option described below.
+</p>
+
+<h2>Auditioner</h2>
+<p>
+ Files can be auditioned before importing. The slider under the play and
+ stop buttons allows you to scrub around, a fader on the right side allows
+ you to control the playback volume.
+</p>
+
+<h2>Importing options</h2>
+<p>
+ You can import files into new, automatically created tracks, to the region
+ list (from where you can manually drag them into a track), or as new
+ <a href="/working-with-tracks/track-types/">Tape tracks</a> with the
+ <kbd class="menu">Add new files as...</kbd> option.
+</p>
+<p>
+ New files will be inserted at either the file timestamp (if available,
+ zero by default), at the <a href="/missing">edit point</a>, at the
+ playhead, or at the start of the session, as specified in <kbd
+ class="menu">Insert at...</kbd>.
+</p>
+<p>
+ The Channel <kbd class="menu">mapping</kbd> is either "one track/region per
+ file", or "one track/region per channel". The latter splits multichannel
+ source files into mono regions.<br />
+ If you have selected multiple files and are importing them into a track,
+ you can also choose whether to sequence all files into a single track in
+ the order of selection, or to create as many tracks as there are files to
+ import.
+</p>
+<p>
+ The <kbd class="menu">Conversion quality</kbd> drop-down controls the
+ quality of the resampling process, if the sampling rate of the source file
+ differs from the session rate.
+</p>
+<p>
+ Finally, and most importantly, you can decide whether to <kbd
+ class="option">Copy files to session</kbd>, or to link them. Please read
+ <a href="/adding-pre-existing-material/copying-versus-linking/">Copying
+ versus Linking</a> for details.
+</p>
+
+{% children %}