Audio and video files are not imported into MAXQDA but are saved in the MAXQDA Externals data files folder and are linked with a text document. Documents with an assigned media file are marked with a symbol in the “Document System:” a musical note 
for audio files and a camera 
for video files.
There are different ways of making audio and video files available for use in MAXQDA:
- Select Documents > Import document(s) from the main menu,
- Or right-click on the root of the “Document System”, or a document group, and select Import document(s),
- Or click on the button Import Document(s)
in the “Document System.”
in the “Document System.”A dialog window will appear which shows all files that MAXQDA can read. Select a media file and click Open.
This creates a new document named like the media file; this document is linked to the media file. The media file itself is saved in the MAXQDA Externals data files folder which you can set in the main menu by selecting Project > Preferences (Windows) or MAXQDA 12 > Preferences (Mac). If a file with the same name already exists, MAXQDA will ask you if you want to replace the existing file.
You can also assign a media file subsequently to an existing document. To do so, right-click on the document in the “Document System” and select Properties. Here, you can insert or change a link to a media file.
MAXQDA supports the following file formats:
| Audio | Windows: MP3, WAV, WMA, AAC, M4A Mac: MP3, WAV, AAC, CAF, M4A |
| Video | MP4, MOV, MPG, AVI, M4V, 3GP, 3GGP Windows: additionally WMV For video, a MP4 file with the video codec H.264 / AVC is recommended. |
Windows can also support other file formats if the required codec is installed. Normally this is however not necessary.
Assigning Audio/Video files to a Text Document
It is possible to retroactively assign a media file to an existing document. To do so, right-click the document in the Document System and select “Properties”. From here you can link a media file at any time.
Alternatively, you can right-click the document and select Link Audio/Video file
