# Import Media

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These preferences define how Tin Man handles media import defaults when certain metadata is missing or when optimization settings are needed for playback performance.

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**Timebase and Timecode Defaults**

* **Indeterminate Timebase**\
  Sets the default **frame rate** to apply when a video, audio, or image sequence does not contain valid timebase metadata.
* **Indeterminate Timecode**\
  Sets the default **starting timecode** for media that lacks embedded timecode information.
* **Indeterminate AAC Sample Offset**\
  Defines the default **sample offset** for AAC audio, which often has an inherent delay of **2112 samples**.

  > This value typically shouldn't be changed unless you're compensating for known sync issues.

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**Audio Mapping**

* **Discrete Audio Mapping**\
  When an audio channel is labeled as "discrete," this setting determines the **default speaker output mapping** for that channel (e.g., mapped to Front Left, Right, Center, etc.).

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**Playback & Performance Settings**

* **Playback at High Depth**\
  If a file supports multiple bit depths for playback, this sets whether **high bit depth** decoding should be the default.
* **Enable Direct I/O**\
  When enabled, Tin Man uses **Direct I/O** for faster disk access, improving performance for large files or high-resolution footage.
* **Use More Memory**\
  Allows the video decode engine to **allocate more memory** for improved decoding performance on capable systems.
* **Hardware Decoding**\
  Toggles the use of **GPU-accelerated decoding** for supported video formats.

  > Can improve playback speed and lower CPU usage on supported hardware.


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