X-Git-Url: http://shamusworld.gotdns.org/cgi-bin/gitweb.cgi?a=blobdiff_plain;f=include%2Fcopying-versus-linking.html;h=b86e77e09d7ae0d9d8a07488f63be42fd1d370b8;hb=935badcb9b12a81f840d447a01999755c4ff9916;hp=78d8b13bd16944d9b151d3493c2b955e28b47141;hpb=dfec6899ef2a121ccf2ff1d47008e7ac4844cf70;p=ardour-manual diff --git a/include/copying-versus-linking.html b/include/copying-versus-linking.html index 78d8b13..b86e77e 100644 --- a/include/copying-versus-linking.html +++ b/include/copying-versus-linking.html @@ -1,52 +1,55 @@

- Copying and linking are two different methods of - using existing audio files on your computer (or network file system) + Copying and linking are two different methods of + using existing audio files on the computer (or network file system) within a session. They differ in one key aspect:

Copying

- An existing media file is copied to the session's audio folder, and - if necessary converted into the session's native format.
- 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). + An existing media file is copied to the session's audio folder, and + if necessary converted into the session's native format.

- MIDI files will already be in SMF format, and are simply copied into + 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). +

+

+ MIDI files will already be in SMF format, and are simply copied into the session's MIDI folder.

Linking

- A link to an existing media file somewhere on the disk is used as a the - source for a region, but the data is not copied or modified + A link to an existing media file somewhere on the disk is used as the + source for a region, but the data is not copied or modified in any way.

- 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 no longer self-contained. 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.

- You can choose to copy or link files into your session with the - Copy file to session option in the Import - dialog window. -

-

- - ← This file will be imported in the audio/MIDI folder of your session. -

-

- - ← This file won't be copied. -

+ The Copy file to session option in the Import + dialog window allows to choose to copy or link files into the session: +

+ + + + + + + + + +
Copy file to sessionThis file will be imported in the audio/MIDI folder of the session.
Copy file to sessionThis file won't be copied.
+

- There is a global preference Edit > Preferences > Misc > - Session Management > Always copy imported files. If it is - enabled, you will not be able to link a file. + There is a global preference Edit > Preferences > + General > Session > Always copy imported files. If it is + enabled, linking a file will not be possible.