diff --git a/content/getting-started/importing-audio-and-midi/index.en.md b/content/getting-started/importing-audio-and-midi/index.en.md index c9b5678..6adbb0f 100644 --- a/content/getting-started/importing-audio-and-midi/index.en.md +++ b/content/getting-started/importing-audio-and-midi/index.en.md @@ -1,32 +1,50 @@ +++ -title = "Importing audio" -description = "Importing audio to Ardour tracks" +title = "Importing audio and MIDI" +description = "Importing audio and MIDI files to Ardour tracks" chapter = false weight = 4 +++ -Sections of audio are known as _regions_ in Ardour. A Region can be an entire -sound file or a portion of it. Here you will learn how to import audio files -from the hard drive of your computer so they can be used in your Ardour session. - -To import an audio file into your session, you will use the _Add Existing Media_ - dialog. Use the shortcut **Ctrl+I** to get to this window, or alternatively go -to the `Session > Import` menu). - -On the left side of this dialog you will see a file browser which allows you to -search your hard drive for appropriate sound files to add (preferably, start -with a common file format, such as WAV or AIFF). +You can reuse existing audio and MIDI files by adding them as regions on +existing or new tracks. To do so, press the **Ctrl+I** shortcut or go to the +`Session > Import` menu to open the _Add Existing Media_ dialog, pick a file of interest, and import it. {{< figure alt="Add Media" src="en/ardour7-add-existing-media.png" >}} -At the lower left corner there is a menu which indicates how these files will -be added. _Add files… as new tracks_ will import audio files and place them on -a newly created track. _Add files… to source list_ will simply import audio -files into the Sources list, without creating any new tracks. Choose this -option now, as we don't want Ardour to create any tracks at this point. Make -sure the _Mapping_ options says _one region per file_. +Some settings are the same for audio and MIDI, some are format-specific. -{{< figure alt="Add to source list" src="en/ardour7-to-source-list.png" >}} +## Playing existing files + +Before you import a file, it's a good idea to make sure it's the right one. On +the right side of the _Add Existing Media_ dialog you will see a section +allowing you to inspect the properties of the file you selected. Here you will +see the name, number of channels, sample rate, format and length of the sound +file, along with any tags you have chosen to add to the file. + +The **Play** button allows you to preview the file. You can also select +**Auto-play** if you would like to hear a sound file immediately as soon as +you click on it in the file browser (without having to push the **Play** +button). + +For MIDI files, you can select a virtual instrument that will be used to play +the selected MIDI file, although you won't be able to select a particular +synth patch. + +## Choosing Tracks and Insertion Point + +There are some common scenarios for importing media files: importing multiple +audio files as new tracks and inserting them into the session start, importing +multiple audio files to the list of of available sources for later use, +importing one MIDI file into an existing track at the playhead position, etc. +So there are two important options here: where to insert a region generally +(which track, if at all), and which point of the timeline to insert to. + +The _Add files …_ drop-down list if where you choose the former, and the +_Insert at_ drop-down list is where you choose the latter. + +## Inserting to Sources list + +Let's start with the scenario where you import some audio files into the list of sources. {{% notice tip %}} If you do not have any suitable audio files on your hard drive to follow these @@ -35,14 +53,10 @@ large collection of Public Domain and Creative Commons–licensed samples in a variety of sample rates and formats. {{% /notice %}} -On the right side of the _Add Existing Media_ dialog you will see a section -allowing you to inspect the properties of the file you selected. Here you will -see the name, number of channels, sample rate, format and length of the sound -file, along with any tags you have chosen to add to the file. +Select some files and in the _Add files…_ drop-down list choose _to source +list_. Make sure the _Mapping_ options says _one region per file_. -The **Play** button allows you to preview the file. You can also select -**Auto-play** if you would like to hear a sound file immediately as soon as you -click on it in the file browser (without having to push the Play button). +{{< figure alt="Add to source list" src="en/ardour7-to-source-list.png" >}} You will notice that the option _Copy files to session_ is checked by default. This will make a copy of the imported file(s) into the folder of the current @@ -55,11 +69,9 @@ box checked (_Copy files to session_)**. Click **OK** to proceed. -{{% notice tip %}} The file(s) you have imported will appear listed in your _Sources_ list. This list is located at the far right of the editor window. If you don't see it, make sure _Show Editor List_ is checked under the _View_ menu. -{{% /notice %}} {{< figure alt="Editor List" src="en/ardour7-audio-imported-to-sources-list.png" >}} @@ -89,7 +101,7 @@ mono track only the left channel is displayed (and played back).  {{< figure alt="Stereo Mono" src="en/Ardour4_Stereo_Mono_Comparison.png" >}} -### Importing Audio Directly to a Track +## Importing Directly to a Track As mentioned earlier, the _Add existing media_ dialog also allows you to import audio files directly onto tracks. @@ -103,14 +115,16 @@ If you have previously selected one or more tracks, the menu will display the additional option _Add files… to selected tracks_ to add a sound file into the already existing selected track. -When adding files as new tracks, note that the _Mapping_ options lets you choose -between _one track per channel_ and _one track per file_. For the purpose of -this tutorial, choose _one track per file_, otherwise the left and right -channels of a stereo file will be split into two separate tracks. +Note that if you import a multitrack MIDI file, Ardour will always create one new track per one existing track in the MIDI file and map them accordingly. -#### Choose Insert Point +When adding files as new tracks, note that the _Mapping_ options lets you +choose between _one track per channel_ and _one track per file_. For the +purpose of this tutorial, choose _one track per file_, otherwise the left and +right channels of a stereo file will be split into two separate tracks. -When using either one of the options above (_add as new track_ or _add to +## Choose Insert Point + +When using either one of the options above (_Add as new track_ or _Add to selected tracks_), you should also specify where in the track you want the new region to be placed. In the screenshot below, we are choosing _session start_. @@ -119,10 +133,10 @@ region to be placed. In the screenshot below, we are choosing _session start_. The region appears in a new track in the session. The new track automatically receives the name of the imported sound file. -The sound file will also appear in the _Regions_ list so that it can be inserted -into other tracks as well by dragging and dropping it. +The sound file will also appear in the _Regions_ list so that it can be +inserted into other tracks as well by dragging and dropping it. -### Remove Regions from Tracks +## Remove Regions from Tracks To remove a region from a track, you can select it with the mouse and use the *Cut* function from the menu, the **Control** (or **Apple**) key and the **X**