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 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.

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

• Double-click a media file or 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 Explorer to the timeline. The file is added to the Project Media window, and an event is created where you drop the file.

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.

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 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. Select the Automatically overlap multiple selected media when added check box 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. 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, click here.
   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.

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.

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 Explorer or Project Media window to the middle of an existing event (or position the cursor and double-click a file in the 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.

1. Select the Auto Ripple button .

2. Drag a media file from the 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 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.

   

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

   

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.

To add files to your project without creating events, choose Import from the File menu, and then choose Media from the submenu (or click the Import button in the Project Media window) the files are added to the Project Media window.

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