layout: default
title: Adding Pre-existing Material
---
-
-
-
-<p>Many sessions will involve the use of pre-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 a new session, or a way to deepen and improve one that is already underway. </p>
-<p>There are four pathways for importing/embedding an audio or MIDI file into a session. </p>
+<p>
+ There are several ways to importing an audio or MIDI file into a
+ session:
+</p>
<ul>
-<li><code>Session > Import</code></li>
-<li><code>Region List context menu > Import To Region List</code></li>
-<li><code>Track context menu > Import Existing Media</code></li>
+ <li><kbd class="menu">Session > Import</kbd></li>
+ <li>Region List context menu: <kbd class="menu">Import To Region List</kbd></li>
+ <li>Track context menu: <kbd class="menu">Import Existing Media</kbd>
+</li>
</ul>
-<p>These methods are all equivalent: they open the "Add Existing Media" import dialog. Once the dialog is open, you can choose to add new audio as new tracks, as regions in the region list, or as audio in the selected track. You can change this behavior once the dialog is opened. </p>
-<p>Finally, you can also easily import files into your project by dragging and dropping the file from some other application (e.g. your platform's file manager such as Nautilus or Finder). You can drag onto the Region List or into the desired track or into empty space in the editor track display. The file will be imported (copied) into your session, and positioned at the mouse pointer position when the drag ended.</p>
+<p>
+ These methods are all equivalent: they open the <a
+ href="/adding-pre-existing-material/import-dialog/">Add Existing Media</a>
+ dialog.
+</p>
+<p>
+ Finally, you can also easily import files into your project by dragging
+ and dropping a file from some other application (e.g. your platform's
+ file manager). You can drag onto the
+ <dfn>Region List</dfn>, into the desired <dfn>track</dfn> or into empty
+ space in the editor track display.<br />
+ The file will be imported and copied
+ into your session, and placed at the position when the drag ended.
+</p>
{% children %}
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,
+ which 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 %}
---
layout: default
-title: Importing versus Embedding
+title: Copying versus Linking
---
-
-
-
-<p>Importing and embedding are two different methods of using existing audio files on your computer (or network file system) within a session. They differ in one key aspect:</p>
-<h3>Importing</h3>
-<p>An existing media file is copied to the session's audio folder, and if necessary is converted into the session's native format. </p>
-<p>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.</p>
-<p>MIDI files will already be in SMF format, and are simply copied into the session's MIDI folder.</p>
-<h3>Embedding</h3>
-<p>An existing media file is used as a the source for a region, but is not copied or modified in any way.</p>
-<p>You can choose to import or embed the files in your session selecting or de-selecting the "Copy file to session" option in the Import dialog window.</p>
-<p><img src="/files/reference/images/225-ARDOUR_1_2_1.png" /> the file will be imported in the audio/MIDI folder of your session</p>
-<p><img src="/files/reference/images/226-ARDOUR_1_2_1.png" /> the file won't be copied.</p>
-<p>If it doesn't work you can uncheck <code>Preferences > Misc > Session Management > Always copy imported files</code>.</p>
+<p>
+ <dfn>Copying</dfn> and <dfn>linking</dfn> are two different methods of
+ using existing audio files on your 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 is 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).
+</p>
+<p>
+ MIDI files will already be in SMF format, and are simply copied into
+ the session's MIDI folder.
+</p>
+<h2>Linking</h2>
+<p>
+ A link to an existing media file somewhere on the disk is used as a 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
+ 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="/files/reference/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="/files/reference/images/226-ARDOUR_1_2_1.png" />
+ ← This file won't be copied.
+</p>
+<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.
+</p>
menu_title: Freesound Search/Import
---
-
-
-
-<p><a href="http://www.freesound.org" title="http://www.freesound.org">http://www.freesound.org</a> is an online repository of searchable sound files. The “Search Freesound” of the Import dialog tab allows you to search the Freesound database, download & audition files from within the Import dialog.</p>
-<p>Tags: enter the “tags” that you would like to search. You may enter multiple search terms separated by spaces. For example “drums 120bpm” will search for files that are tagged “drums” OR “120bpm”.</p>
-<p>Sort: Choosing one of the sort options will cause Freesound to order the files before returning the list of available files. This can save time if you know (for example) the sound you need is very short.</p>
-<p>Search: Click this button to initiate the search. Freesound will begin returning pages of information, with 20 items per page. You may click “Stop” to stop downloading.</p>
-<p>The file list: Click on a file to download it from Freesound. Double-click the file to auto-play it in the auditioner.</p>
-<p>Files imported with Freesound will automatically include any Tags that are associated with the file, and these tages will be included in a search when you use the “Search Tags” tab.</p>
+<p>
+ <a href="http://www.freesound.org"
+ title="http://www.freesound.org"><dfn>Freesound</dfn></a>
+ is an online repository of searchable sound files licensed under
+ Creative-Commons term. The <kbd class="menu">Search Freesound</kbd> tab
+ of the import dialog allows you to search the Freesound database,
+ and to download and audition files directly.</p>
+<dl>
+ <dt>Tags</dt>
+ <dd>Enter metadata tags that you would like to search for. You may enter
+ multiple search terms separated by spaces. For example,
+ <kbd class="input">drums 120bpm</kbd> will search for files that are tagged
+ <samp>drums</samp>, <samp>120bpm</samp>, or both.</dd>
+ <dt>Sort</dt>
+ <dd>Choosing one of the sort options will cause Freesound to return the list
+ of available files sorted accordingly. This can save time if you know (for
+ example) the sound you need is very short.</dd>
+ <dt>Search</dt>
+ <dd>Click this button to initiate the search. Freesound will begin returning
+ pages of information, with 20 items per page. The <kbd
+ class="menu">Stop</kbd> button interrupts the download.</dd>
+ <dt>The file list</dt>
+ <dd>Click on a file to download it from Freesound. Double-click the file to
+ auto-play it in the auditioner.</dd>
+</dl>
+<p>
+ Files imported with Freesound will automatically include any tags that are
+ associated with the file, and these tags will be included in a search when
+ you use the <kbd class="menu">Search Tags</kbd> tab.
+</p>
title: Searching for Files Using Tags
---
-
-
-
-<p>A "tag" is bit of information, or metadata, that is associated with a data file. Specifically, tags are keywords or terms that you feel have some relevance to a particular soundfile. Ardour can store these tags in a searchable database so that you can quickly search for sounds based on the tags that you have assigned to them. For example you can assign the term "120bpm" to a sound, and then when you search for this tag, the file will appear in the search list. Tags are independent of the filename or anything else about the file. Tags, and the file paths that they are associated with, are stored in a file called "sfdb" in your Ardour user folder.</p>
-
-
+<p>
+ A <dfn>tag</dfn> is bit of information, or metadata, that is associated
+ with a data file. Specifically, tags are keywords or terms that you feel
+ have some relevance to a particular soundfile. Ardour can store these tags
+ in a searchable <dfn>database</dfn> so that you can quickly search for sounds based
+ on the tags that you have assigned to them.
+</p>
+<p>
+ For example you can assign the term <kbd class="input">120bpm</kbd> to a
+ sound, and then when you search for this tag, the file will appear in the
+ search list. Tags are independent of the filename or anything else about
+ the file. Tags, and the file paths that they are associated with, are
+ stored in a file called <samp>sfdb</samp> in your Ardour user folder.
+</p>
+<p>
+ To <dfn>add tags</dfn> to a given file, open the <kbd class="menu">Session > Import</kbd>
+ dialog, select the file in the browser, and type new tags into tag area in
+ the soundfile information box on the right.<br/>
+ Tags are stored when the input box loses focus, there is no need to
+ explicitly save them.
+</p>
+<p>
+ You can <dfn>search</dfn> for specific tags in the <kbd
+ class="menu">Search Tags</kbd> tab of the same dialog. Files which have
+ been tagged with the relevant terms will appear in the results window.
+ Selected files can be auditioned and marked with additional tags if
+ required.
+</p>
+
{% children %}
title: Supported File Formats
---
-
-
-
-<p>The list of audio file formats that Ardour can import/embed is quite long. It is based on the functionality offered by libsndfile, an excellent and widely used software library by Australian programmer Erik de Castro Lopo. As libsndfile's capabilities expand, so will Ardour's abilities to import (and export) new formats. Ardour supports all common audio file formats, including WAV, AIFF, AIFC, CAF, W64 and BWF. with all typical sample formats (8,16,24,32 bit integer, floating point, and more).</p>
-<p>You can find a full list of libsndfile's supported formats <a href="http://www.mega-nerd.com/libsndfile/#Features">here</a>.</p>
-<p>For MIDI import, Ardour will read any Standard MIDI Format (SMF) file. </p>
+<p>
+ The list of audio file formats that Ardour can understand is quite long.
+ It is based on the functionality offered by <dfn>libsndfile</dfn>, an excellent and
+ widely used software library by Australian programmer Erik de Castro Lopo.
+ As libsndfile's capabilities expand, so will Ardour's abilities to import
+ (and export) new formats. Ardour supports all common audio file formats,
+ including WAV, AIFF, AIFC, CAF, W64 and BWF, with all typical sample formats
+ (8-, 16-, 24-, 32-bit integer, floating point, and more).
+</p>
+<p>
+ You can find a full list of libsndfile's supported formats
+ <a href="http://www.mega-nerd.com/libsndfile/#Features">here</a>.
+ </p>
+<p>
+ For MIDI import, Ardour will read any Standard MIDI Format (SMF) file.
+</p>
projects / ardour-manual / commitdiff