How to Import Multiple Media Files at Once

Last updated 20 July 2026

How to Import Multiple Media Files at Once

Import several images, videos, and image sequences in one operation and — optionally — create a single sequencer that plays them back to back with transitions.

[USER-ACTION-REQUIRED: Attach a screenshot of the "Import multiple media files" and "Image Assets" dialogs here]

Before you start

  • At least one scene group exists (all new projects include one by default)
  • Your media are imported as assets, or available as files on disk that Backstage can import on drop
  • For the "onto a surface" flow: at least one surface is in the scene

Steps

1. Select multiple assets

In the Assets panel, hold Ctrl and click assets to toggle them, or hold Shift and click two assets to select the range between them. Multi-selection works for still images, videos, and image sequences; other asset types (NDI, Capture Input, Spout, etc.) are not multi-selectable.

Alternatively, drag several media files straight from Windows Explorer onto the Scene View — Backstage imports all recognized files first, then continues with the same flow below.

2. Drop the selection onto the Scene View

Drag the selected assets onto the Scene View:

  • Drop on an existing surface — the cursor label shows the target surface and mapping (e.g. "Plane 1 > Default"). The sequencer(s) are created on that surface.

  • Drop on empty space — a menu appears to create a new surface or display first; Backstage builds the geometry, then continues to the import choice.

3. Choose one combined sequencer or individual sequencers

When two or more media files (images, videos, image sequences) are dropped together, an Import multiple media files dialog appears:

"N media files dropped. Create one sequencer playing the files one after another, or an individual sequencer per file?"

  • One Sequencer — continue to the arrangement dialog (step 4).

  • Individual Sequencers — opens the Create Sequencers ? dialog: a per-asset list with a Create checkbox and an Auto Start checkbox (plus All / None buttons). Each checked asset gets its own sequencer on the target surface. Skip to step 6.

  • Cancel — aborts the import.

This prompt only appears for a batch of two or more media files. Non-media assets in the selection are filtered out before this point.

4. Arrange the order and set timing (One Sequencer)

Choosing One Sequencer opens the Image Assets dialog:

  • Asset table with a Move column (up/down arrows per row) to set playback order. Videos and image sequences show their natural duration next to the name.

  • Duration per image (s) — how long each still image plays. Default 5.0 s. Videos and image sequences always use their own duration regardless of this value. (Shown only when the batch contains still images.)

  • Transition — the transition between consecutive clips: Cross Fade, Fade Through Black, Fade Through White, Wipe (Right/Left/Down/Up/Diagonal), Iris, Push (Left/Right/Up/Down), Additive Dissolve, Luminance Dissolve. Default Cross Fade.

  • Transition duration (s) — length of the overlap during which the transition plays. Default 0.5 s for all-still-image batches, 0.0 s (no transition) when the batch contains any video or image sequence. For still-image batches it is clamped to 90% of the image duration.

The transition fields appear only when the batch has more than one asset.

5. Confirm (One Sequencer)

Click OK. Backstage creates one sequence (named after the first asset), one video channel routed to the target surface/mapping, and one event per asset placed back to back — each event overlapped by the transition duration so the chosen transition plays. The Sequencer panel opens and fits the timeline to the new events.

6. Undo if needed

The whole operation — surface creation (if any) plus the sequencer(s) and events — is a single undo step (Ctrl+Z).

Options explained

Setting

Description

Values / Range

Duration per image (s)

How long each still image plays. Does not affect videos or image sequences.

Float, default 5.0 s

Transition

Transition between consecutive events.

Cross Fade, Fade Through Black/White, Wipe (Right/Left/Down/Up/Diagonal), Iris, Push (Left/Right/Up/Down), Additive Dissolve, Luminance Dissolve

Transition duration (s)

Overlap during which the transition plays.

Float; default 0.5 s (stills only), 0.0 s when videos/sequences present; clamped to 90% of image duration for still-image batches

Auto Start (Individual Sequencers)

Start each new sequencer playing immediately after creation.

Checkbox (per asset)

Common Mistakes

  • No choice dialog when dropping a single file — the Import multiple media files dialog only appears for two or more media files. A single asset uses the standard single-asset import.

  • Non-media assets in the selection are ignored — only images, videos, and image sequences enter the multi-import flow. NDI, Spout, Capture Input, and other live sources are not multi-selectable.

  • Transition duration is 0.0 when videos are in the batch — this is intentional; the right overlap depends on the content. Set it manually if you want transitions between videos.

Tips

  • Reorder assets with the up/down arrows in the arrangement dialog before confirming — the order there is the playback order.

  • For a still-image slideshow with smooth transitions, use Cross Fade with a 1–2 second transition duration.

  • You can also multi-select assets in the asset picker opened from a sequencer channel; confirming there opens the same arrangement dialog.

https://brainsalt.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/BAC/pages/34308135 — Import Video & Audio Assets (single-asset import and adding assets to sequences).

https://brainsalt.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/BXHELP/pages/520880130 — How to Create Crossfade Transitions Between Events (configuring transitions on a channel).

https://brainsalt.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/BXHELP/pages/488931330 — Supported Media Types.

https://brainsalt.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/BXHELP/pages/479363073 — Your First Project.