diff options
Diffstat (limited to 'manual/xml/using_existing_audio.xml')
| -rw-r--r-- | manual/xml/using_existing_audio.xml | 442 |
1 files changed, 442 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/manual/xml/using_existing_audio.xml b/manual/xml/using_existing_audio.xml new file mode 100644 index 0000000000..1aba2db49d --- /dev/null +++ b/manual/xml/using_existing_audio.xml @@ -0,0 +1,442 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" standalone="no"?> + +<!DOCTYPE chapter PUBLIC "-//OASIS//DTD DocBook XML V4.4//EN" "http://www.oasis-open.org/docbook/xml/4.4/docbookx.dtd" [ + +]> + +<chapter id="ch-using-existing-audio"> + <title>Using Existing Audio</title> + <para> + There are two primary ways to bring data into Ardour: recording it + within a session from a live sound source or importing pre-existing + audio files. This section covers the various ways to import audio into a + session. + </para> + + <section id="importing-and-embedding"> + <title>Importing and Embedding</title> + <para> + 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 respect: + </para> + + <variablelist> + <title></title> + <varlistentry> + <term>Importing</term> + <listitem> + <para> + An existing audio file is copied to the session's sounds folder, + and is converted into the session's native format (WAVE or + Broadcast WAVE depending on your choice) and sample rate. + </para> + </listitem> + </varlistentry> + + <varlistentry> + <term>Embedding</term> + <listitem> + <para> + An existing audio file is used as a the source for a region, but + is not copied or modified in any way. + </para> + </listitem> + </varlistentry> + </variablelist> + </section> + + <section id="supported-external-audio-file-formats"> + <title>Supported External Audio File Formats</title> + <para> + 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. Ogg/Vorbis (an + excellent, unpatented and license free audio compression format + similar to MP3) is planned for the near future. Currently, supported + formats include: + </para> + + <itemizedlist> + <listitem> + <para> + Microsoft WAV + </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para> + SGI/Apple AIFF/AIFC + </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para> + Sun AU/Snd + </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para> + Raw (headerless) + </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para> + Paris Audio File (PAF) + </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para> + Commodore IFF/SVX + </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para> + Sphere/NIST WAV + </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para> + IRCAM SF + </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para> + Creative VOC + </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para> + SoundForge W64 + </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para> + GNU Octave MAT4.4 + </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para> + Portable Voice Format + </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para> + Fasttracker 2 XI + </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para> + HMM Tool Kit HTK + </para> + </listitem> + </itemizedlist> + + <para> + Sample encodings supported include: + </para> + + <itemizedlist> + <listitem> + <para> + Unsigned and signed 8, 16, 24 and 32 bit PCM + </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para> + IEEE 32 and 64 floating point + </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para> + U-LAW + </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para> + A-LAW + </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para> + IMA ADPCM + </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para> + MS ADPCM + </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para> + GSM 6.10 + </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para> + G721/723 ADPCM + </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para> + 12/16/24 bit DWVW + </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para> + OK Dialogic ADPCM + </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para> + 8/16 DPCM + </para> + </listitem> + </itemizedlist> + </section> + + <section id="using-audio-files"> + <title> Using audio files as tracks or regions? </title> + <para> + When you want to use existing audio files in an Ardour session, the + first choice you need to make is whether you want to bring the files + in as tracks or as new regions. Consider the two following scenarios: + </para> + + <itemizedlist> + <listitem> + <para> + you have an 8 track recording of existing material, with 1 audio + file per track + </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para> + you have a sample library containing 500 small audio files + </para> + </listitem> + </itemizedlist> + + <para> + In the first case, your goal is probably to have 8 tracks (at least), + with each track containing a single audio file. In the second case, + its a lot more likely that you simply want to be able to use any of + the samples easily, but do not want any tracks created as a direct + result of the import/embed. It is very important that you understand + this distinction: many new users think there should be a "simple" way + to import existing audio without understanding that the goal of + importing/embedding is not always the same. + </para> + + <para> + Ardour provides two different options when importing. You can + import/embed audio files as new tracks, or you can import/embed them + into the region list, where they will be available as regions to put + into new or existing tracks. You can also insert import/embed audio + files directly into an existing track. + </para> + </section> + + <section id="importing-an-audio-file-as-a-new-track"> + <title> How to import an audio file as a new track </title> + <para> + Click on the <guimenuitem>Edit</guimenuitem> item in the editor's menu + bar. From the popup menu that appears, choose <menuchoice> + <guimenu>Import</guimenu> <guisubmenu>...as new tracks</guisubmenu> + </menuchoice>. The Audio Library/File Chooser window will appear. + After you have made your selection of files to import, click the + button at the bottom of that window (it will say something like + "Import selected regions as new tracks"). + </para> + </section> + + <section id="embedding-an-audio-file-as-a-new-track"> + <title> How to embed an audio file as a new track </title> + <section id="embedding-an-audio-file-drag-and-drop"> + <title> Drag-n-Drop </title> + <para> + If you use a file manager such as Nautilus or Konqueror ((basically, + any tool that uses standard "list-of-URL's" encoding for + drag-n-drop)), the simplest method to import files as tracks is to + drag-n-drop. Select the files you want to embed in the file manager, + drag the selection into Ardour and drop it over an area of the + editor's track/arrange display where there are no tracks. The files + will be embedded as 1 new track per file. + </para> + </section> + + <section id="embedding-audio-file-using-edit-menu"> + <title> Edit menu </title> + <para> + Click on the <guimenuitem>Edit</guimenuitem> item in the editor's + menu bar. From the popup menu that appears, choose <menuchoice> + <guimenu>Embed</guimenu> <guisubmenu>...as new tracks</guisubmenu> + </menuchoice>. The Audio Library/File Chooser window will appear. + After you have made your selection of files to embed, click the + button at the bottom of that window (it will say something like + "Embed selected regions as new tracks"). 1 new track will be created + for each file. + </para> + </section> + </section> + + <section id="importing-audio-as-a-new-region"> + <title> Importing as a new region </title> + <para></para> + </section> + + <section id="embedding-audio-as-a-new-region"> + <title> Embedding as a new region </title> + <para></para> + + <section id="embedding-audio-drag-and-drop"> + <title> Drag-n-Drop </title> + <para></para> + </section> + + <section id="embedding-audio-region-list-menu"> + <title> Region List Menu </title> + <para></para> + </section> + </section> + + <section id="how-to-import-embed"> + <title>How to import/embed</title> + <para> + Begin by clicking on the titlebar of the region list in the editor + window. Select <guimenuitem>Import</guimenuitem> from the menu that + appears, and the Sound File Database will be displayed. See sfdb for + more details on using this dialog. + </para> + + <para> + Once you have found and selected the files you want to import, click + the "Import Selected" button on the SFDB dialog. Each selected audio + file will be copied into the session's sounds folder, converted into + the session's native format and sample rate. One or more new regions + will be placed in the "External" section of the region list, either + one per channel of each file or, if "create multichannel regions" was + selected in the SFBD dialog, one per file. + </para> + + <para> + If you use Nautilus as your file manager, you can easily import files + into your project by dragging them onto the desired track, then + releasing the mouse button. The file will then be + <link linkend="gt-embed">embedded</link> into your session. + </para> + + <para> + At this time, no control over the conversion process is offered. If + sample rate conversion is required, it will be carried out at the + highest quality that Ardour can provide. This means that it can be + rather slow (many minutes to import an audio file lasting a few + minutes). + </para> + </section> + + <section id="how-to-embed-a-file"> + <title> How to embed a file </title> + <para> + There are two pathways for embedding an audio file into a session. One + is initiated from the region list, and simply creates one or more new + regions. The other is initiated from a specific track, and not only + adds regions to the region list, but also inserts them into the + track's playlist. + </para> + + <section id="embedding-via-the-region-list"> + <title>Embedding via the region list</title> + <orderedlist> + <listitem> + <para> + click with 1 on the region list title bar. + </para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para> + Select Import audio file from the menu that appears. + </para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para> + The SFDB dialog appears. + </para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para> + Select the files you want to import + </para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para> + then click on the <guibutton>Embed Selected</guibutton> button. + </para> + </listitem> + </orderedlist> + <para> + New regions are added to the External section of the region list. + </para> + </section> + + <section id="embedding-from-a-track"> + <title>Embedding from a track</title> + <orderedlist> + <listitem> + <para> + in the track you want to add the audiofile to.The track context + menu will appear. + </para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para> + Select EditInsert external sndfile from this menu. The SFDB + dialog appears. + </para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para> + Select the files you want to import + </para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para> + then click on the <guibutton>Embed Selected</guibutton> button. + </para> + </listitem> + </orderedlist> + <para> + New regions are added to the "External" section of the region list, + and one is inserted into the track from which the embed was started. + </para> + </section> + </section> +<!-- + <xi:include xmlns:xi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XInclude" + href="Some_Subsection.xml" /> + --> +</chapter> |