Feature request: Replace audio sources

[finstapurrs (Arrogant Ambassador)]

Just rehashing this thread from 2021. Is there any updates/workarounds that have since been implemented?

Example workflow: Editor Sidebar > Sources and right click to “Replace source” > File Dialog to import replacement source. Once file is selected, all regions in timeline switch to the new source.

This would be super helpful for collaborative projects especially, where I have to edit/mix stems sent by others. Often they make small tweaks from their side, e.g. lyricist replaced just a line or a word, or maybe singer did retake of just one or two lines in between. With source replacement feature I would not have to redo all region trimming, fades/gain staging, etc.

Another nice use-case would be auditioning/replacing samples in arranged drum sequences: e.g. if I want to change my snare/hats sample, instead of recreating the pattern on a new track and copy+pasting throughout the arrangement, I could just replace the source and see if it sounds good. This would have to handle the case of replacement source being shorter/longer than original source though.

The original thread mentions this feature in Bitwig, I found it in Kdenlive too… maybe seeing their implementation on github can help? (I’m not a coder haha)

Thanks!

[GhostsonAcid]

@finstapurrs

With source replacement feature I would not have to redo all region trimming, fades/gain staging, etc.

Well today’s your lucky(?) day!

I just addressed this exact thing here in my new Lua script’s thread, and you do NOT have to lose ANY of that region data:

AudioClipboard (v1.0) | A standalone Lua script for copying & pasting audio regions between projects/snapshots

Hey @dspasic, I just randomly stumbled-upon your Replace/swap audio media thread from years ago… Even though it’s been ~4 years, I just thought I’d let you know that you can now basically achieve this using my script here (in Ardour 8.12+). Just copy your regions using AudioClipboard, then during “Pre-Paste”, simply manually-select which replacement source(s) you would like to use instead. Once ‘pre-pasting’ (i.e. importing/embedding) is finished, you can then paste and the new regions will…

…
Maybe one day the devs will add something as you describe directly into Ardour itself… (Who knows?) But for now, my script can handle this basic functionality.

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@finstapurrs

instead of recreating the pattern on a new track and copy+pasting throughout the arrangement, I could just replace the source and see if it sounds good.

~Also easy using AudioClipboard, as long as all the regions you want to replace the source of are on the same track. → Just select all of them, copy them, pre-paste them while manually-selecting a new source, and then paste them back into place.

Anyway, just experiment with it and let me know if you have any questions/suggestions/problems/etc.! It would be interesting to get more feedback on this one feature of the script…

-Cheers!
-J