232 lines
7.6 KiB
HTML
232 lines
7.6 KiB
HTML
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<figure class="right">
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<img src="/images/import-window.png" alt="The import window" width="50%">
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<figcaption>
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The import window.
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</figcaption>
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</figure>
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<p>
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Many sessions will require the use of <dfn>existing material</dfn>,
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whether it consists of audio and/or MIDI data. Using existing samples,
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loops and riffs from files stored on the system can be the basis for
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a new session, or a way to deepen and improve one that is already
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underway.
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</p>
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<p>
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Importing audio and MIDI data into the session is done with the
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<dfn>Add Existing Media</dfn> dialog, accessed either by the
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<kbd class="menu"> Session > Import</kbd> menu or, if any tracks have
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already been added, by right-clicking on the canvas of the <dfn>Editor</dfn>
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window and choosing <kbd class="menu">Insert Existing Media</kbd>.
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</p>
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<h2>The Soundfile Information Box</h2>
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<p>
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This box will display information about the currently selected file:
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</p>
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<ul>
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<li>number of channels,</li>
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<li>sample rate,</li>
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<li>file format,</li>
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<li>length,</li>
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<li>embedded timestamp (applies to some professional formats such as
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Broadcast WAVE), and</li>
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<li><a href="@@searching-for-files-using-tags">tags</a> (attached metadata to help categorize files in a library).</li>
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</ul>
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<p>
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If the sample rate differs from the current session rate, it is displayed
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in red, which indicates that the file must be resampled before
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importing.
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</p>
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<p>
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Resampling is controlled by the <kbd class="menu">Conversion quality</kbd>
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option described below.
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</p>
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<p>
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</p>
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<h2>Auditioner</h2>
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<p>
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Files can be auditioned before importing. The slider under the play and
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stop buttons allows to scrub around, a fader on the right side allows
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to control the playback volume.
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</p>
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<p>
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Auditioning MIDI files requires a MIDI instrument to be chosen in the <kbd class="menu">
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Instrument</kbd> dropdown list.
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</p>
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<h2>Importing options</h2>
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<p>
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Through the <kbd class="menu">Add files…</kbd> option, imported files can be inserted in the session:
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</p>
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<table class="dl">
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<tr><th>as new tracks</th><td>automatically creates new tracks and import the files in it</td></tr>
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<tr><th>to region list</th><td>adds the files to the <a href="@@the-region-list">region list</a>, from where then can be manually dragged into a track</td></tr>
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<tr><th>as new tape tracks</th><td>adds the files as <a href="@@track-types">Tape tracks.</a></td></tr>
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</table>
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<p>
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The <kbd class="menu">Insert at</kbd> option chooses where in time the file will be imported, amongst:
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</p>
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<ul>
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<li>the <dfn>file timestamp</dfn> (if available, zero by default)</li>
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<li>at the <a href="@@edit-point-control"><dfn>edit point</dfn></a></li>
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<li>at the <dfn>playhead</dfn></li>
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<li>at the <dfn>session start</dfn>.</li>
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</ul>
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<p>
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The Channel <kbd class="menu">Mapping</kbd> option is only available for
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multi-channel files (i.e. all but mono ones). It is either
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</p>
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<table class="dl">
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<tr><th>one track/region per file</th><td>Creates a multi channel track for each imported file</td></tr>
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<tr><th>one track/region per channel</th><td>Creates only mono channels, as many as there are channels in the imported files</td></tr>
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<tr><th>sequence files</th><td>If multiple files are imported, they can be sequenced into a single track in the order of selection</td></tr>
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</table>
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<p>
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The <kbd class="menu">Conversion quality</kbd> drop-down controls the
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quality of the resampling process, if the sampling rate of the source file
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differs from the session rate.
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</p>
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<p>
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There are three MIDI-specific options as well. First off, you can set a track
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naming scheme:
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</p>
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<table class="dl">
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<tr><th>by track number</th><td>will automatically assign every track a name that consists of the imported file name and a track number</td></tr>
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<tr><th>by track name</th><td>will</td></tr>
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<tr><th>by instrument name</th><td>will</a></td></tr>
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</table>
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<p>
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<p>
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You can also optionally import a tempo map from a MIDI file.
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The <kbd class="menu">Use MIDI Tempo Map (if defined)</kbd> option appears
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when a MIDI file is selected in the file selection dialog.
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<p>
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<p>
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The last MIDI-specific option is <kbd class="menu">Import MIDI Markers
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(if any)</kbd>. If those are present in a MIDI file, they will be rendered
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right above MIDI clips on the canvas. Editing the MIDI markers is currently
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unavailable.
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</p>
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<figure class="right">
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<img src="/images/imported-midi-markers.png" alt="MIDI markers imported from a .mid file" width="75%">
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<figcaption>
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MIDI markers imported from a .mid file
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</figcaption>
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</figure>
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</p>
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<p>
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Finally, and most importantly, the files can be linked or copied to the session
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with the <kbd class="option">Copy files to session</kbd> checkbox. Please read
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<a href="@@copying-versus-linking">Copying
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versus Linking</a> for details.
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</p>
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<h2>Importing from FreeSound.org</h2>
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<p>
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Ardour can import sounds from the public library at FreeSound.org.
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This feature requires an account with the online service.
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</p>
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<p>
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Sound clips on FreeSound.org typically have metadata in form of tags
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that give a general idea what sound is recorded in a clip. Ardour will
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use that metadata to find sound clips that match your request.
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</p>
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<figure class="right">
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<img src="/images/freesound-clips-list.png" alt="List of sound clips found on FreeSound.org" width="75%">
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<figcaption>
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List of sound clips found on FreeSound.org
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</figcaption>
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</figure>
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<p>
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There are two more options for the search:
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</p>
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<ol>
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<li><dfn>Sort</dfn>: allows sorting all sound clips that match your
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request in a particular order. Changing the type of sorting requires
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running the search again.</li>
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<li><dfn>License</dfn>: allows limiting your search by choosing
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a particular license depending on how you license your own work.</li>
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</ol>
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<p>
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Ardour will list all sounds clips that match your request right in the
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window. If there are a lot of option, click the
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<kbd class="button">More</kbd> button to load the next page with results.
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</p>
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<p>
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When you click on any sound clip in the list for the first time,
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a FreeSound.org login page will open in your preferred web browser.
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</p>
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<figure class="right">
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<img src="/images/freesound-login.png" alt="Log into FreeSound.org" width="75%">
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<figcaption>
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Log into FreeSound.org
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</figcaption>
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</figure>
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</p>
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<p>
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You will then be asked to grant access to Ardour.
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</p>
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<figure class="right">
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<img src="/images/freesound-grant-access.png" alt="Grant access to Ardour" width="75%">
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<figcaption>
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Grant access to Ardour
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</figcaption>
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</figure>
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</p>
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<p>
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Once you do that, FreeSound.org will generate authorization code that you need to select and copy to the clipboard.
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</p>
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<figure class="right">
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<img src="/images/freesound-auth-code.png" alt="Authorization token" width="75%">
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<figcaption>
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Authorization code
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</figcaption>
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</figure>
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</p>
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<p>
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Finally, insert the code into the entry box here and click <kbd class="button">OK</kbd>.
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</p>
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<figure class="right">
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<img src="/images/freesound-code-insert.png" alt="Insert authorization token" width="75%">
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<figcaption>
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Insert authorization code
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</figcaption>
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</figure>
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</p>
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<p>
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After that, Ardour will be able to download clips for preview in a folder
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for temporary files that you can select in the
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<kbd class="window">Preferences</kbd> dialog on the
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<kbd class="windows">General</kbd> page.
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</p>
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<p>
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You can preview and insert clips from FreeSound.org like any other sound
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files.
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</p>
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<p>
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Please note that authorization code only works as long as Ardour is running.
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The next time you start Ardour, you will need to authorize it again. This is
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implementation specifics of FreeSound.org.
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</p>
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