<p>
<dfn>Copying</dfn> and <dfn>linking</dfn> are two different methods of
- using existing audio files on your computer (or network file system)
+ using existing audio files on the computer (or network file system)
within a session. They differ in one key aspect:
</p>
<h2>Copying</h2>
<p>
An existing media file is copied to the session's audio folder, and
- if necessary converted into the session's native format.<br>
- For audio files, you can control the choice of this format (eg. WAVE
- or Broadcast WAVE). Audio files will also be converted to the session
- sample rate if necessary (which can take several minutes for larger
- files).
+ if necessary converted into the session's native format.
+</p>
+<p>
+ For audio files, the format can be chosen (e.g. WAVE or Broadcast WAVE). Audio
+ files will also be converted to the session sample rate if necessary (which
+ can take several minutes for larger files).
</p>
<p>
MIDI files will already be in SMF format, and are simply copied into
<h2>Linking</h2>
<p>
- A link to an existing media file somewhere on the disk is used as a the
+ A link to an existing media file somewhere on the disk is used as the
source for a region, but the data is <strong>not copied or modified</strong>
in any way.
</p>
<p class="warning">
- While linking is handy to conserve disk space, it means that your session
+ While linking is handy to conserve disk space, it means that the session
is <dfn>no longer self-contained</dfn>. If the external file moves, it
will become unavailable, and any changes to it from elsewhere will affect
the session. A backup of the session directory will miss linked files.
</p>
<p>
- You can choose to copy or link files into your session with the
- <kbd class="option">Copy file to session</kbd> option in the Import
- dialog window.
-</p>
-<p>
- <img class="left" src="/images/225-ARDOUR_1_2_1.png" />
- ← This file will be imported in the audio/MIDI folder of your session.
-</p>
-<p>
- <img class="left" src="/images/226-ARDOUR_1_2_1.png" />
- ← This file won't be copied.
-</p>
+ The <kbd class="option">Copy file to session</kbd> option in the Import
+ dialog window allows to choose to copy or link files into the session:
+</p>
+<table>
+ <tr>
+ <td><kbd class="option">Copy file to session</kbd></td>
+ <td>This file will be imported in the audio/MIDI folder of the session.</td>
+ </tr>
+ <tr>
+ <td><kbd class="optoff">Copy file to session</kbd></td>
+ <td>This file won't be copied.</td>
+ </tr>
+</table>
+
<p class="note">
- There is a global preference <kbd class="menu">Edit > Preferences > Misc >
- Session Management > Always copy imported files</kbd>. If it is
- enabled, you will not be able to link a file.
+ There is a global preference <kbd class="menu">Edit > Preferences >
+ General > Session > Always copy imported files</kbd>. If it is
+ enabled, linking a file will not be possible.
</p>