Import Media

Bring video and audio files into a project, keep the originals connected, and place clips on the timeline.

Import files

1. In the Media panel, click Import Media.
2. Choose one or more files.

You can also drag supported files from Windows Explorer into the Media panel. Both methods add the files to your project without placing them on the timeline.

Dragging a folder does not import its contents or recreate its folder structure in the Media panel. Open the folder in Explorer and import the files inside it. If you drop files and a folder together, the supported files still import.

A repeated import does not create a second media item. If Solar Sailer cannot read a file, it does not add it. The error names the file and reason so you know what to check before trying again.

Supported formats

• Video: mp4, mov, avi, mkv, webm, mts, m2ts, mpg, mpeg, m4v, wmv, mxf
• Audio: mp3, wav, aac, flac, m4a, ogg, aiff, aif, wma

The file picker also has All Files. Use it to try another format that your installed media backend can read. Drag and drop accepts only the extensions listed above.

Keep source files available

Solar Sailer links to each file where it is. It does not copy or move the original. Removing media from a project also leaves the source file on disk.

If you move, rename, or delete a source file, it goes offline in the project. To reconnect it, right-click the offline item, choose Relink…, click Browse…, and choose its new location. Relinking works one file at a time.

Choose what runs after import

Solar Sailer prepares files for playback in the background, and you can start editing while it works. Some files need a compatible proxy before they can play. If an item shows Proxy Required, right-click it and choose Generate Proxy. See Media Processing and Proxies for more detail.

Auto-classify imported media is on by default under Edit > Preferences… > Import. It sends sample frames or short audio excerpts to your configured AI provider and costs roughly $0.001 per clip. Turn it off before importing if you do not want to send those samples or add charges to your provider account. Files still import when a supported API key is missing, but classification is skipped. See Classify Your Footage for provider and privacy details.

Add clips to the timeline

Imported clips stay in the Media panel until you place them:

• Drag a clip from the Media panel onto the timeline. It's inserted where you drop it.
• Right-click a clip and choose Add to Timeline. It's inserted at the playhead.