Project and Media Attributes

When you play media files in CINELERRA-GG, the media files have a certain number of tracks, frame size, sample size, and so on. No matter what attributes the media file has, it is played back according to the project attributes. So, if an audio file's sample rate is different than the project attributes, it is resampled. Similarly, if a video file's frame size is different than the project attributes, the video is composited on a black frame, either cropped or bordered with black.

The project attributes are adjusted in Settings → Format (figure 3.1) or can be created in File → New. When you adjust project settings in File → New, a new empty timeline is created. Every timeline created from this point on uses the same settings. When you adjust settings in Settings → Format, media on the timeline is left unchanged. But every timeline created from this point uses the same settings.

Figure 3.1: Set Format window - note the Audio Channel positions

In addition to the standard settings for sample rate, frame rate, and frame size (canvas size), CINELERRA-GG uses some less traditional settings like channel positions, color model, and aspect ratio. The aspect ratio refers to the display aspect ratio (DAR).

Edit decision lists , the EDL stored in XML, save the project settings. Formats which contain media but no edit decisions just add data to the tracks. Keep in mind details such as if your project sample rate is 48 kHz and you load a sound file with 96 kHz, you will still be playing it at 48 kHz. Or if you load an EDL file at 96 kHz and the current project sample rate is 48 kHz, you will change it to 96 kHz.

The New Project window has some options that are different than the Set Format window as you can see by comparing figure 3.1 above with this figure 3.2. Mostly notably is the field for a directory path and a Project Name.

Figure 3.2: New Project dialog window

Explanation of the various fields is described next.