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diff --git a/manual/xml/using_existing_audio.xml b/manual/xml/using_existing_audio.xml new file mode 100644 index 0000000000..e32768b35c --- /dev/null +++ b/manual/xml/using_existing_audio.xml @@ -0,0 +1,414 @@ +<?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> |