+
+
+ Many sessions will require the use of existing material, 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 + loops and riffs from files stored on the system can be the basis for a new session, or a way to deepen and improve one that is already underway.
Importing audio and MIDI data into the session is done with the - Add Existing Media dialog, accessed by the - Session > Import menu. + Add Existing Media dialog, accessed either by the + Session > Import menu or, if any tracks have + already been added, by right-clicking on the canvas of the Editor + window and choosing Insert Existing Media.
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 + stop buttons allows to scrub around, a fader on the right side allows to control the playback volume.
- Auditionning MIDI files requires a MIDI instrument to be chosen in the + Auditioning MIDI files requires a MIDI instrument to be chosen in the Instrument dropdown list.
@@ -55,15 +62,15 @@Through the Add files… option, imported files can be inserted in the session:
-| as new tracks | automatically creates new tracks and import the files in it |
|---|---|
| to region list | adds the files to the region list, from where then can be manually dragged into a track |
| as new tape tracks | adds the files as Tape tracks. |
The Insert at option chooses where in time the file will be imported, amongst:
- +| one track/region per file | Creates a multi channel track for each imported file |
|---|---|
| one track/region per channel | Creates only mono channels, as many as there are channels in the imported files |
| sequence files | If multiple files are imported, they can be sequenced into a single track in the order of selection |
The Conversion quality drop-down controls the quality of the resampling process, if the sampling rate of the source file differs from the session rate.
- Finally, and most importantly, the the files can be linked or copied to the session + There are three MIDI-specific options as well. First off, you can set a track + naming scheme: +
+| by track number | will automatically assign every track a name that consists of the imported file name and a track number |
|---|---|
| by track name | will |
| by instrument name | will |
+
+ You can also optionally import a tempo map from a MIDI file. + The Use MIDI Tempo Map (if defined) option appears + when a MIDI file is selected in the file selection dialog. +
+
+ The last MIDI-specific option is Import MIDI Markers + (if any). If those are present in a MIDI file, they will be rendered + right above MIDI clips on the canvas. Editing the MIDI markers is currently + unavailable. +
+
+ + Finally, and most importantly, the files can be linked or copied to the session with the Copy files to session checkbox. Please read Copying versus Linking for details.
++ Ardour can import sounds from the public library at FreeSound.org. + This feature requires an account with the online service. +
+ ++ Sound clips on FreeSound.org typically have metadata in form of tags + that give a general idea what sound is recorded in a clip. Ardour will + use that metadata to find sound clips that match your request. +
+ +
+ + There are two more options for the search: +
+ ++ Ardour will list all sounds clips that match your request right in the + window. If there are a lot of option, click the + More button to load the next page with results. +
+ ++ When you click on any sound clip in the list for the first time, + a FreeSound.org login page will open in your preferred web browser. +
+ +
+ + You will then be asked to grant access to Ardour. +
+ +
+ + Once you do that, FreeSound.org will generate authorization code that you need to select and copy to the clipboard. +
+ +
+ + Finally, insert the code into the entry box here and click OK. +
+ +
+ + After that, Ardour will be able to download clips for preview in a folder + for temporary files that you can select in the + Preferences dialog on the + General page. +
+ ++ You can preview and insert clips from FreeSound.org like any other sound + files. +
+ ++ Please note that authorization code only works as long as Ardour is running. + The next time you start Ardour, you will need to authorize it again. This is + implementation specifics of FreeSound.org. +