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