User Guide

GETTING STARTED CHP. 3

Adding media to the project

You must add media files to a project before you can paint, arrange, and process them. When you add a file to

a project, ACID creates a new track to accommodate it. ACID adds new tracks at the current volume of the

Preview fader in the Mixer window, unless you have set a default track volume level. For more information,

see Setting default track properties on page 178.

There are several methods of adding media files to a project.

Note:

ACID may create proxy files for media whose

compression scheme may cause working with them to be

inefficient and slow. For more information, see Proxy File on

page 201.

Note:

Before using long Beatmapped or long one-shot files

from CDs or shared network folders, copy the media to your

local drive for the best possible performance.

ACID temporary files

When you add a media file to a project from a removable device, ACID stores a copy of the media file in the

temporary files folder. This keeps the media file available for use even if the source of the media is no longer

accessible.

Note:

You can customize the location of the temporary files

folder. For more information, see Using the General tab on

page 179.

Be aware that the temporary files folder is cleared when you close ACID. However, files are not cleared from

the folder if ACID closes inappropriately.

Adding media files from the Explorer window

The Explorer window will likely be your primary means of locating media files used in projects. Display the

Explorer, if needed, by choosing

Explorer from the View menu, or by pressing .

There are three ways to add media files from the Explorer window:

• Double-click the desired file.

• Drag the file from the Explorer to the track view or track list. Dragging a file from the Explorer to the

track name of an existing track allows you to replace the original file with the new file, while all events

remain in place.

• Right-click and drag a file to the track view or track list to specify the type of track to be created. When

you drop the file, a shortcut menu appears that allows you to choose whether to treat the file as a loop,

one-shot, Beatmapped track, or as an autodetected type.

Adding media files from the Open dialog

There are three ways to add media files from the Open dialog:

• Select the desired file and click

Open.

• Right-click the selected file and choose

Select from the shortcut menu.

• Double-click the selected file.

Alt + 1