Adding media files to your project

After previewing the files to determine which media files you want to use in your project, you've several options for adding them to your project.

TIP The volume for new audio tracks is determined by your default track properties. For more information, see Setting default track properties

NOTE

  • Select the Allow pulldown removal when opening 24p DV checkbox on the General tab of the Preferences dialog if you want to remove pulldown when you open 24 fps progressive-scan DV video files. When the checkbox is cleared, 24p video will be read and edited as 29.97 fps interlaced video (60i). For more information, see Preferences - General Tab

  • Select the Import audio at project tempo checkbox on the Audio tab of the Preferences dialog if you want ACID loops to be stretched to match the project tempo (specified on the Ruler tab of the Project Properties dialog) when you add them to the timeline or preview from the Explorer window. Clear the Import at project tempo checkbox if you want to ignore tempo information. For more information, see Preferences - Audio Tab and Setting project properties

  • When you add a multichannel audio file (.wav/.wav64, .avi, .mxf, ATRAC, and BWF) to your project, the audio is added across tracks. For example, if you import a four-channel WAV file, the audio will be added to four adjacent tracks. For control over which channels are used by each event, right-click a multichannel audio event, choose Channels from the shortcut menu, and choose a command from the submenu. For more information, see Audio channels

  • When you add a multistream audio file to your project, you can choose which stream you want to use by right-clicking the event, choosing Stream from the shortcut menu, and then choosing a stream from the submenu.

  • 5.1-channel audio from DVD camcorders will be downmixed to stereo when importing into a stereo project. When importing into a 5.1 surround project, audio will be added to separate tracks for the center, front, rear, and LFE channels.

  • If VEGAS Pro cannot read frames in a video event, they will be displayed in red in the timeline (those frames will be black in the Video Preview window and the rendered output):

  • If you want to use RAW camera files in your project, the Microsoft Camera Codec Pack will allow you to view RAW camera files and add them to the timeline.

  • The first time you add video media to the timeline, VEGAS Pro will ask you whether you want to match your project video settings to match the first video media you add to the timeline.

    NOTE If you choose a VEGAS Pro project (.veg) file, VEGAS Pro will match the settings of the project, not the media within the project.

Using the Windows Explorer to add media and create events

If you're using the Windows Explorer to browse your computer for media, you can add a media file quickly by dragging it to the VEGAS Pro window.

The media file is added to the Project Media window, and an event is created where you drop the file. If you drop the file on an area of the timeline that does not contain a track, a new track will be created.

Using the VEGAS Pro Explorer to add media and create events

If you're using the VEGAS Pro Explorer to preview files, you can add media by performing either of the following actions:

  • Double-click a media file or VEGAS Pro project to add it to your project. The file is added to the Project Media window, and an event is created at the cursor position.

  • Drag a media or project file from the VEGAS Pro Explorer to the timeline. The file is added to the Project Media window, and an event is created where you drop the file.

TIP

  • Drag a .veg file to the timeline to add it to the current project as a nested project. For more information, see Nesting projects

  • Double-click a .veg file in the Explorer window to open a project.

  • To add a track from an audio CD, browse to your CD drive and double-click a .cda file (or drag it to the timeline). You will be prompted to type a name for the file, and then the track will be extracted. After the track is extracted, it will be added as an event on an audio track in your project.

  • If you're adding video files to the timeline, you can choose to add only the audio or video stream to your project. Right-click and drag the files to the timeline. When you drop the files, a shortcut menu is displayed. Choose Audio Only or Video Only from the shortcut menu and choose a command from the submenu to arrange the event on the timeline.

IMPORTANT VEGAS Pro is not intended, and should not be used for, illegal or infringing purposes, such as the illegal copying or sharing of copyrighted materials. Using VEGAS Pro for such purposes is, among other things, against United States and international copyright laws and contrary to the terms and conditions of the End User License Agreement. Such activity may be punishable by law and may also subject you to the breach remedies set forth in the End User License Agreement.

Adding multiple files and creating events

If you're using the Explorer or Project Media window, you can add several media files to your project at once.

  1. Select the media files or VEGAS Pro projects you want to use.

  2. Right-click the selected files and drag them to the timeline. A shortcut menu is displayed.

  3. Choose a command from the shortcut menu to indicate how you want to arrange the events on the timeline.

    Command

    Description

    Add Across Time

    Adds the selected media files end-to-end on the track where you drop them.

    TIP Select the Automatically overlap multiple selected media when added checkbox on the Editing tab of the Preferences dialog if you want to overlap events when you add them to the same track. Automatic Crossfades must be turned on to use this feature. For more information, see Preferences - Editing Tab and Automatic crossfades

    To change the amount of overlap between events, adjust the Amount setting in the Cut-to-overlap conversion section of the dialog.

    Add Across Tracks

    Adds the selected media files as events on adjacent tracks.

    Add As Takes

    Adds the selected media files as multiple takes of the same event. For more information about choosing takes, see Using takes as alternate versions of events

    Video Only

    If you're dragging video files to the timeline, you can choose to add only the video stream to your project. Choose Video Only from the shortcut menu and choose a command from the submenu to indicate how you want to arrange the events on the timeline.

    Audio Only

    If you're dragging video files to the timeline, you can choose to add only the audio stream to your project. Choose Audio Only from the shortcut menu and choose a command from the submenu to indicate how you want to arrange the events on the timeline.

    NOTE If you change your mind later and want to add a missing media stream to a video/audio only event, right click on an event and chose Add Missing Stream for Selected Event

  4. Events are created where you drop the files (and the media files are added to the Project Media window if you're using the Explorer).

    The order of the events is determined by file that you click before dragging and the order of the files in the Explorer or Project Media window: for example, select the files A.wav, B.wav, and C.wav. Right-click B.wav and drag the files to the timeline. When the shortcut menu is displayed, choose Add Across Time. When you drop the files, B.wav will be added as the first event, followed by A.wav and C.wav.

Adding media over other events (punching-in vs. inserting)

When you drop a file on a blank spot on the timeline, an event is created at that location. What happens if you drop a file on an existing event? You can either punch-in or insert an event.

Punch-in

If you add a media file in the middle of another event, a punch-in is created: an event is created where you drop the file, and the new event simply lies on top of any existing events on the track.

  1. Drag a media file from the VEGAS Pro Explorer or Project Media window to the middle of an existing event (or position the cursor and double-click a file in the VEGAS Pro Explorer or Project Media window).

  2. The original event maintains its position on the timeline, but cuts to the new event where you added the new file:

Inserting media

By using auto ripple, you can drop a media file in timeline and automatically move downstream events to make space for the new event. For more information, see Post-edit ripple

  1. Select the Auto Ripple button .

  2. Drag a media file from the VEGAS Pro Explorer or Project Media window to a position on the timeline between two events (or position the cursor and double-click a file in the VEGAS Pro Explorer or Project Media window).

    If you want to insert an event in the middle of an existing event, you can split the existing event before adding the media file. For more information, see Splitting events

  3. When you add the file, the events to the right move to make space for the new event:

Using the Project Media window to add media without creating events

You can use the Project Media window to collect and arrange all the media you will use in your project before creating events on the timeline.

From the File menu, choose Import, and then choose Media from the submenu (or click the Import Media button in the Project Media window) to add a media file to your project without adding it to the timeline.

When you're ready to start adding events, you can drag media files from the Project Media window to the timeline.

For more information, see Using the Project Media window