> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://comfytv.org/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Load Audio
> Pick or upload local audio from ComfyUI's `input/` folder as the **starting point** for ComfyTV audio pipelines—voiceover, mixing, and IA2V video inputs.
## What this node does
**Load Audio** is an instant **Input** stage. It reads audio files from ComfyUI's **`input/`** folder (or uploads written there), registers a project snapshot, and outputs `COMFYTV_AUDIO`.
Use it for existing BGM, voice WAV, demuxed tracks, etc.—**not** for AI generation. Selecting a file immediately sets output without invoking Speech or Music Stage workflows.
vs **Load Audio from Asset**: this node = raw disk files; asset loader = project library from runs and imports.
## When to use it
* Import external narration, music (FLAC/WAV/MP3).
* Feed reference audio into **Speech Stage** (voice cloning).
* Wire into **Video Stage → audio** for image+audio-to-video.
* Optional track on **Director Timeline**.
## How it works (why ComfyTV is designed this way)
* **Stage vs Run**: **No ▶ Run**—select or upload to output.
* **Snapshots**: Downstream Runs read the current file URL; they won't re-read this node automatically.
* **No workflow**: Not tied to `workflows/audio/` or `workflows/speech/` generators.
## Types (COMFYTV\_\* vs native ComfyUI)
| ComfyTV type | What it is | vs ComfyUI native |
| --------------- | ----------------------- | --------------------------------------- |
| `COMFYTV_AUDIO` | Audio file URL snapshot | Not in-memory `AUDIO` tensor |
| `COMFYTV_VIDEO` | Video snapshot | Demux to audio, then load or asset-pick |
| `COMFYTV_TEXT` | Text snapshot | Speech output—not the same as file load |
**Conversion:**
* Native → ComfyTV: `→ ComfyTV Audio`
* ComfyTV → native: `← ComfyTV Audio`
Details: [bridges.md](https://github.com/jtydhr88/ComfyTV/blob/main/docs/bridges.md)
## UI and parameters
### audio
* **What**: Dropdown of audio in **`input/`** plus **upload**.
* **What to set**: Pick or upload (WAV, MP3, FLAC, etc.).
* **Effect**: Defines source audio for downstream; must be a format ComfyUI recognizes.
* **Common mistake**: Looking here for **Music/Speech Stage** outputs—use **Load Audio from Asset** or wire from the generator.
### project\_id / parent\_output\_id (internal)
* Hidden; maintained by Project and wiring.
## Outputs
| Output | Type | Meaning | Typical downstream |
| --------- | --------------- | ----------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **audio** | `COMFYTV_AUDIO` | Selected audio snapshot | Video Stage (audio), Director Timeline (audio), Speech Stage (reference\_audio), audio extract stages |
## Step by step for beginners
1. **Add Node → ComfyTV → Input → Load Audio**.
2. Wire a **Project** node (recommended).
3. Put files in **`input/`** or upload here.
4. Select in dropdown—**no Run needed**.
5. Connect **audio** downstream, e.g. **Video Stage → audio**.
6. **▶ Run** the downstream generator.
## Full guides (recommended reading)
> This page covers **one node only**. For end-to-end workflows, multi-stage pipelines, type conversion, and design rationale, see the [ComfyTV user guides](https://github.com/jtydhr88/ComfyTV/tree/main/docs) on GitHub:
| Guide | Contents |
| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| [Getting started](https://github.com/jtydhr88/ComfyTV/blob/main/docs/getting-started.md) | Install, canvas basics, per-stage Run, snapshots, Project, Image Picker |
| [Video and audio](https://github.com/jtydhr88/ComfyTV/blob/main/docs/video-and-audio.md) | Clip, crop, resize, extract frame, demux vs Generate video |
| [Generate](https://github.com/jtydhr88/ComfyTV/blob/main/docs/generate.md) | Text, Image, Video, Music, and Speech stages and workflow selection |
## Repository and workflows
| Resource | Link |
| ---------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **GitHub repository** | [https://github.com/jtydhr88/ComfyTV](https://github.com/jtydhr88/ComfyTV) |
| **User guides index** | [https://github.com/jtydhr88/ComfyTV/tree/main/docs](https://github.com/jtydhr88/ComfyTV/tree/main/docs) |
| **Built-in workflows** | [https://github.com/jtydhr88/ComfyTV/tree/main/workflows](https://github.com/jtydhr88/ComfyTV/tree/main/workflows) |
| **Model checklist** | [https://github.com/jtydhr88/ComfyTV/blob/main/docs/models.md](https://github.com/jtydhr88/ComfyTV/blob/main/docs/models.md) |
| **Custom workflows** | [https://github.com/jtydhr88/ComfyTV/blob/main/docs/custom-workflows.md](https://github.com/jtydhr88/ComfyTV/blob/main/docs/custom-workflows.md) |
## FAQ
**Q: Load vs generate (Speech/Music Stage)?**\
A: **Load Audio** = existing files, no GPU inference. **Speech/Music** = AI creation with workflow + Run. Loaders **import**; generators **create**.
**Q: Load Audio vs Load Audio from Asset?**\
A: This = **`input/` disk**. Asset = **project library** after generation/import.
**Q: Type mismatch?**\
A: Downstream must expect `COMFYTV_AUDIO`; native `AUDIO` needs **→ ComfyTV Audio** Bridge.
**Q: No Run button?**\
A: Normal—same as Load Image/Video.
## Related nodes
* **Load Audio from Asset** — library picker.
* **Speech Stage** / **Music Stage** — AI audio generation.
* **AudioVideoDemuxAudioStage** — extract audio from video.
* **Director Timeline** — arrange audio on a timeline.
* **→ ComfyTV Audio** (Bridge).