When using a *single* typical 3rd party audio interface (such as those
from Apogee, RME, Presonus, and many others), *or* using JackPilot or a
similar application to start JACK, there is no need to worry about any
of this. An aggregate device only needs to be set up if any of the
following conditions are true:
- Two entirely separate devices are used *and* JACK is started using
Ardour
- A builtin audio device is used *and* JACK is started using Ardour
- More than two entirely separate devices are used
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In the case of a builtin audio device, an aggregate device that combines
"Builtin Input" and "Builtin Output" into one device needs to be
created.
The precise instructions for creating an aggregate device on OS X have
varied from one released to another. Please read
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202000.
.. rubric:: Linux
:name: linux
Please see the instructions at
`http://jackaudio.org/faq
` <#main-menu>`__
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` <#status-bar>`__
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` <#transport-bar>`__
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` <#selection-and-punch-clocks>`__
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` <#other-toolbar-items>`__
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` <#other-toolbar-items>`__
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` <#transport-clocks>`__
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` <#other-toolbar-items>`__
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` <#selection-and-punch-clocks>`__
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` <#mini-timeline>`__
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` <#other-toolbar-items>`__
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` <#audiomidi-mixer-strips>`__
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` <#toolbox>`__
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` <#zoom-controls>`__
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` <#grid-controls>`__
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` <#edit-point-control>`__
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` <#nudge-controls>`__
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` <#selection-and-punch-clocks>`__
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` <#editor-lists>`__
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` <#ruler>`__
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` <#summary>`__
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` <#track-and-bus-groups>`__
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` <#bus-controls>`__
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` <#audio-track-controls>`__
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` <#automation>`__
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` <#audio-track-controls>`__
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` <#midi-track-controls>`__
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` <#midi-track-controls>`__
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` <#main-menu>`__
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The Editor and Mixer windows. Click on a section to access its
description.
The Editor and the Mixer share the same toolbar (the top of the window).
The sections displayed in this toolbar can be customized to the user's
workflow, by checking options in Preferences > Appearance > Toolbar.
Switching between the Editor and the Mixer windows is done:
- with the `Mode Selector buttons <#other-toolbar-items>`__ in the
upper right
- with the M shortcut
- with the menu Window > Editor *(or Mixer)* > Show.
Both windows can be visible at the same time (e.g. for a multi-monitor
setup) using Window > Editor *(or Mixer)* > Detach option in the same
submenu.
.. rubric:: The Editor
:name: the-editor
The Editor window includes the editor track canvas where audio and MIDI
data can be arranged along a timeline. This is the window where editing
and arranging a project is done. The window has a general "horizontal"
sense to it: the timeline flows from left to right, the playhead showing
the current position in the session moves from left to right—the window
really represents time in a fairly literal way.
It is possible to show a single channel strip in the editor window, and
some people find this enough to work on mixing without actually opening
the mixer window. Most of the time though, both of these windows will be
needed at various stages of a session's lifetime.
.. rubric:: The Mixer
:name: the-mixer
The Mixer window represents signal flow and is the window that will
probably be used most when mixing a session. It includes channel strips
for each track and bus in the session. It has a general "vertical" sense
to it: signals flow from the top of each channel strip through the
processing elements in the strip to reach the output listed at the
bottom.
To learn more about the process of mixing, see
`Mixing <#basic-mixing>`__.
.. rubric:: 12 - Main Menu
:name: main-menu
:class: clear
The Main Menu is made of 8 menus that allow the user to interact with
Ardour, and below is a reference of all the menu actions.
Notice that a lot of this menus, and probably all of the most used ones
have keyboard shortcuts to ease and fasten the work. A sum-up of these
shortcuts can be found on the `Defaults Keyboard
Bindings <#default-keyboard-bindings>`__ page, and every menu in Ardour
can be reassigned to an user defined key binding, or used via
`OSC <#controlling-ardour-with-osc>`__ with a control surface.
.. rubric:: 12.1 - The Session Menu
:name: the-session-menu
:class: clear
The Session menu groups together everything related to the session and
the file operations.
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| New… | Creates a |
| | `new <#newopen-session-dialog>`__ |
| | session |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Open… | Opens an existing session |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Recent… | Opens a list of recent sessions |
| | that can be opened |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Close | Closes the current session (but |
| | not Ardour) |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Save | Saves the current session |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Save As… | Saves to a new session (with |
| | options) |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Rename… | Changes the name of the session |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Snapshot (& keep working on | Create a |
| current version)… | `Snapshot <#snapshots>`__ but any |
| | subsequent change will be saved |
| | to this session |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Snapshot (& switch to new | Same thing, and any subsequent |
| version)… | change will be saved to this new |
| | snapshot session |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Save Template… | Saves the session as a |
| | `template <#session-templates>`__ |
| | , |
| | without the audio |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Archive… | Exports the session as a |
| | `compressed |
| | file <#backup-and-sharing-of-sess |
| | ions>`__ |
| | for archiving or sharing |
| | purposes, optionally compressing |
| | the audio to FLAC |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Metadata | |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Edit Metadata… | Opens the |
| | `Metadata <#metadata>`__ window, |
| | where information about the |
| | session can be saved |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Import Metadata… | Creates the metadata by |
| | extracting them from another |
| | session |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Add Track, Bus or VCA… | Adds a `new |
| | track/bus/VCA <#adding-tracks-bus |
| | ses-and-vcas>`__ |
| | to the session, same as the Track |
| | > Add Track, Bus or VCA… |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Import | Opens the |
| | `Import <#adding-pre-existing-mat |
| | erial>`__ |
| | windows, to add media to the |
| | session |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Import PT session | Import a ProTools© session file. |
| | Not everything in the original |
| | session can be imported. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Scripting | |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Add Lua Script… | Loads or adds a `Lua Session |
| | script <#lua-scripting>`__ to the |
| | current session |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Remove Lua Script | Removes a loaded Lua Session |
| | script from the session |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Open Video… | Imports a `video |
| | file <#video-timeline-and-monitor |
| | ing>`__ |
| | in the session |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Remove Video | Removes the video part of the |
| | session (the video timeline |
| | disappears) |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Export | |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Export to Audio File(s)… | `Export <#mixdown>`__ all or part |
| | of the session in audio form |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Stem export… | `Exports each |
| | track <#export-dialog>`__ as its |
| | own audio file (for e.g. DAW |
| | interchange) |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Export to Video File | Exports the session to a `video |
| | file <#workflow-amp-operations>`_ |
| | _ |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Clean-Up | |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Bring all media into session | Copies all the media files |
| folder | imported from outside the session |
| | folder in that folder, see |
| | `Cleaning up |
| | Sessions <#cleaning-up-sessions>` |
| | __ |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Reset Peak Files | Reinitializes the buffered images |
| | representing the audio files |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Clean-up Unused Sources… | Quarantines all the media files |
| | not used in the session to a |
| | specific sub-folder of the |
| | session |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Flush Wastebasket | Deletes those quarantined files |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| [] Properties | Shows the `Session |
| | Properties <#session-properties-d |
| | ialog>`__ |
| | dialog, allowing to fine-tune the |
| | parameters of the current session |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Lock | Locks the session by showing an |
| | Unlock window that (until |
| | clicked) blocks every action on |
| | Ardour's window |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Quit | Exits Ardour. Prompts for saving |
| | the session if it has been |
| | modified. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
.. rubric:: 12.2 - The Transport Menu
:name: the-transport-menu
:class: clear
The Transport menu handles how Ardour handles the playback and playhead.
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Start/Stop | Starts or stops the playhead, and |
| | recording if it is armed |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Play | |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Play Selection | Only plays the selected part of |
| | the session, be it a range or |
| | selected regions |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Play Selection w/Preroll | As the previous menu, except it |
| | starts the playback a few bars or |
| | seconds before the beginning of |
| | the selection (the amount of time |
| | can be set in the |
| | `Preferences <#preferences>`__) |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Start/Continue/Stop | Leaves loop play or range play |
| | mode but without stopping the |
| | transport |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Play from Edit Point and Return | Starts the playback at the `Edit |
| | point <#edit-point-control>`__, |
| | and when stopped, goes back to |
| | the original location |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Play Loop Range | If a `Loop |
| | range <#the-loop-range>`__ is |
| | defined, play it and loop until |
| | stopped |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Start Recording | This is a shortcut to trigger the |
| | global recording, and start |
| | playback at once |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Stop and Forget Capture | Stops the recording, removes the |
| | newly created material, and goes |
| | back to the original position |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Enable Record | Triggers the global recording. |
| | Next time "Play" is pressed, it |
| | will record on the track(s) that |
| | are armed for recording |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Record w/Preroll | As the Start Recording menu, |
| | except it starts the recording a |
| | few bars or seconds before the |
| | playhead's position (the amount |
| | of time can be set in the |
| | `Preferences <#preferences>`__) |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Record w/Count-In | As the Start Recording menu, |
| | except it waits for 2 bars before |
| | the playhead's position. The |
| | Metronome will tick (even if |
| | disabled) during the count-in |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Set Loop from Selection | Converts the selection into a |
| | `Loop range <#the-loop-range>`__ |
| | by placing loop markers at the |
| | start and end of the selected |
| | range |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Set Punch from Selection | Same thing, for |
| | `Punch <#punch-range>`__ |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Set Session Start/End from | Same thing, for the start and end |
| Selection | markers of the session, defining |
| | the session's length |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Forward | Plays the audio forwards from the |
| | playhead on. If the audio is |
| | already playing forwards, |
| | increment its speed by 50%. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Rewind | Plays the audio backwards from |
| | the playhead on. If the audio is |
| | already playing backwards, |
| | increment its speed by 50%. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Transition to Roll | Plays the audio forwards, with a |
| | speed of 1 (real time) |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Transition to Reverse | Plays the audio backwards, with a |
| | speed of 1 (real time) |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Playhead | |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Playhead to Mouse | Set the position of the playhead |
| | at the current position of the |
| | mouse cursor |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Playhead to Active Mark | If a marker is selected, set the |
| | position of the playhead at the |
| | position of the marker |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Center Playhead | Centers the view on the playhead |
| | without changing the zoom level |
| | (putting the playhead in the |
| | middle of the screen) |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Nudge Playhead Forward | Shifts the position of the |
| | playhead to the right by the |
| | amount shown in the `nudge |
| | timer <#nudge-controls>`__ |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Nudge Playhead Backward | Same thing, to the left |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Move to Next Transient | When transient have been set, |
| | moves the playhead to the next |
| | one to the right |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Move to Previous Transient | Same, to the left |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Playhead to Next Grid | Regardless of the state of the |
| | Grid Mode, goes to the next grid |
| | to the right, as set by the |
| | `Snap/Grid |
| | unit <#grid-controls>`__ |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Playhead to Previous Grid | Same, to the left |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Playhead to Next Region Boundary | Moves the playhead to the right |
| | to the next beginning or end of |
| | region on the selected track or, |
| | if no track is selected, on all |
| | tracks |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Playhead to Previous Region | Same, to the left |
| Boundary | |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Playhead to Next Region Boundary | Moves the playhead to next |
| (No Track Selection) | beginning or end of region, be it |
| | on the selected track or any |
| | other |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Playhead to Previous Region | Same, to the left |
| Boundary (No Track Selection) | |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Playhead to Next Region Sync | Moves the playhead to next Region |
| | Sync Point, that is by default |
| | the beginning of a region but |
| | `can be moved <#grid-controls>`__ |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Playhead to Previous Region Sync | Same, to the left |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Jump to Next Mark | moves the playhead to the next |
| | `marker <#creating-location-marke |
| | rs>`__ |
| | on the Ruler |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Jump to Previous Mark | Same, to the left |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Go to Zero | Sends the playhead to the |
| | 00:00:00:00 time, regardless of |
| | the sessions Start marker |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Go to Start | Sends the playhead to the Start |
| | marker of the session |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Go to End | Sends the playhead to the End |
| | marker of the session |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Go to Wall Clock | Sends the playhead to the current |
| | value of system time, as shown on |
| | the top right of the `Status |
| | bar <#status-bar>`__ |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Active Mark | |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| To Next Region Boundary | Moves the currently selected |
| | `marker <#working-with-markers>`_ |
| | _ |
| | to the next region beginning or |
| | end |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| To Previous Region Boundary | Same, to the left |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| To Next Region Sync | Moves the currently selected to |
| | the next region sync point (by |
| | default: beginning or end of the |
| | region) |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| To Previous Region Sync | Same, to the left |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Markers | |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Add Mark from Playhead | Creates a Marker at the position |
| | of the playhead |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Remove Mark at Playhead | Removes any marker at the |
| | position of the playhead |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Toggle Mark at Playhead | Combine the 2 previous: if a |
| | marker exists, deletes it, |
| | otherwise create it |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Locate to Mark *n* | If it exists, goes to the *n-th* |
| | marker |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Set Session Start from Playhead | Puts the Start of the session |
| | marker at the playhead's position |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Set Session End from Playhead | Puts the End of the session |
| | marker at the playhead's position |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| [] Time Master | Sets Ardour as the Time master, |
| | i.e. Ardour sends the time |
| | information to the audio system |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| [] Punch In/Out | Based on the Punch in and Punch |
| | out markers if they exist, tells |
| | Ardour to record only between |
| | those two points |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| [] Punch In | Based on the Punch in marker, |
| | only allow to record from this |
| | point on |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| [] Punch Out | Based on the Punch out marker, |
| | forbids recording before this |
| | point |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| [] Audio Input | If checked, automatically switch |
| | the |
| | `monitor <#monitor-setup-in-ardou |
| | r>`__ |
| | from *input* to *playback*\ mode |
| | when playing |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| [] Follow Edits | If checked, selecting a region |
| | moves the playhead to its |
| | beginning |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| [] Auto Play | If checked, moving the playhead |
| | in the ruler starts the playback |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| [] Auto Return | If checked, when the playback is |
| | stopped, go back to the previous |
| | position of the playhead. If not, |
| | the playhead stays where it is |
| | when the playback is stopped |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| [] Click | Activates/deactivates the click |
| | track (metronome) |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| [] Follow Playhead | If checked, while playing, when |
| | the playhead reaches the right of |
| | the screen, Ardour scrolls one |
| | screen to the right to keep the |
| | playhead visible at all times |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| [] Stationary Playhead | If checked *and* if Follow |
| | playhead is checked, on playback, |
| | the playhead stays at the center |
| | of the screen, and the session |
| | scrolls |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Panic | Immediately stops all MIDI |
| | playback (useful e.g. when a MIDI |
| | bug in encountered) |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
.. rubric:: 12.3 - The Edit Menu
:name: the-edit-menu
:class: clear
The Edit menu groups together the actions related to the edition, and so
will be mostly used while in Editor mode.
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Undo (*action*) | Reverts the last editing |
| | operation, namely *action* |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Redo | Does the last editing operation |
| | again, after an Undo |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Undo Selection Change | Reverts the last selection |
| | operation |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Redo Selection Change | Does the last selection operation |
| | again after an Undo Selection |
| | Change |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Cut | Deletes the current selection, |
| | but puts it in memory ready to be |
| | pasted |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Copy | Copies the current selection to |
| | memory |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Paste | Pastes the memory at the `edit |
| | point <#edit-point-control>`__, |
| | after a Cut or Copy operation |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Select | |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Select All Objects | Selects all the regions and |
| | automation points in the session |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Select All Tracks | Selects all the tracks, busses |
| | and control masters in the |
| | session |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Deselect All | Deselects all objects or tracks, |
| | nothing is selected |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Invert Selection | Select the previously unselected |
| | regions, and deselect the |
| | previously selected ones |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Set Range to Loop Range | Creates a range selection on the |
| | selected tracks, based on the |
| | selected loop markers, and |
| | switches to `Range Mode |
| | tool <#toolbox>`__ |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Set Range to Punch Range | Same as above, based on the |
| | selected punch markers |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Set Range to Selected Regions | Same as above, based on the |
| | selected regions (i.e. from the |
| | start of the earliest region to |
| | the end of the latest one) |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Select All After Edit Point | Select all the regions and |
| | automation points that exist |
| | after the Edit Point, even if the |
| | region starts before it. If some |
| | tracks are selected, only selects |
| | on these tracks. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Select All Before Edit Point | Same as above, but before the |
| | Edit point (i.e. to the left of |
| | it) |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Select All Overlapping Edit Range | Select all the regions and |
| | automation points of which at |
| | least a part is in the current |
| | selection range |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Select All Inside Edit Range | Selects all the regions that are |
| | completely inside the selection |
| | range, i.e. their start and end |
| | are inside the range. If some |
| | tracks are selected, only selects |
| | on these tracks. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Select All in Punch Range | Selects all the regions of which |
| | a part in in the punch range. If |
| | some tracks are selected, only |
| | selects on these tracks. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Select All in Loop Range | Same as above, based on the loop |
| | range |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Move Range Start to Previous | Extends the left boundary of the |
| Region Boundary | range to the left to the next |
| | region start or end. The region |
| | must be in the range. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Move Range Start to Next Region | Same as above, to the right |
| Boundary | (reduces the selection) |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Move Range End to Previous Region | Same as above, with the right |
| Boundary | edge of the range, to the left |
| | (reduces the selection) |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Move Range End to Next Region | Same as above, with the right |
| Boundary | edge, to the right (extends the |
| | selection) |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Start Range | Sets the left edge of the range |
| | to the Edit point |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Finish Range | Sets the right edge of the range |
| | to the Edit point |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Select Next Track or Bus | Select the track or bus under the |
| | currently selected one. If |
| | multiple tracks are selected, |
| | only the first one is considered |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Select Previous Track or Bus | Same as above, with the track/bus |
| | above the first one selected. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Delete | Deletes all that is currently |
| | selected |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Crop | Cuts the parts of the regions |
| | that are outside the range |
| | boundaries. Only applies on the |
| | regions that belong at least in |
| | part to the range. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Split/Separate | Cuts the selected regions at the |
| | Edit point, separating them in |
| | two regions |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Separate | |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Separate Under | Removes all the parts of the |
| | regions that are under the |
| | selected one. Once done, the |
| | selected region is alone on its |
| | part of the track. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Separate Using Loop Range | Cuts the selected regions or the |
| | regions on the selected tracks |
| | along the Loop range's start and |
| | end markers. If nothing is |
| | selected, acts on all tracks at |
| | once. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Separate Using Punch Range | Same as above, with the Punch |
| | range markers |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Align | |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Align Start | Moves the selected regions to |
| | align the beginning of the |
| | regions to the Edit point |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Align Start Relative | When multiple regions are |
| | selected, moves all the regions |
| | together as a block to align the |
| | beginning of the earliest one to |
| | the Edit point. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Align End | Moves the selected regions to |
| | align the end of the regions to |
| | the Edit point |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Align End Relative | When multiple regions are |
| | selected, moves all the regions |
| | together as a block to align the |
| | end of the latest one to the Edit |
| | point. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Align Sync | Moves the selected regions to |
| | align the Sync point of the |
| | regions to the Edit point |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Align Sync Relative | When multiple regions are |
| | selected, moves all the regions |
| | together as a block to align the |
| | earliest Sync point to the Edit |
| | point. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Fade | |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Fade Range Selection | For all the regions that either |
| | begin or end in the range, create |
| | a fade in or out on the regions |
| | length. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Set Fade In Length | If the edit point is withing the |
| | region boundaries, adjusts |
| | selected audio regions' fade in |
| | to end at the edit point. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| [] Fade In | Toggles the fade in on the |
| | selected region on or off |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Set Fade Out Length | Same as above, for the fade out |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| [] Fade Out | Toggles the fade out on the |
| | selected region on or off |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Remove Last Capture | Destroy the last recording. A |
| | prompt reminds the user this |
| | *cannot* be undone. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Edit point | |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Change Edit Point | Toggles between the mouse and the |
| | playhead as the Edit point |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Change Edit Point Including | Toggles between the mouse, the |
| Marker | playhead and marker as the Edit |
| | point |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Snap Mode | |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| () No Grid | Disables |
| | `snapping <#grid-controls>`__, |
| | i.e. allows free movement of |
| | regions and boundaries |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| () Grid | Forces snapping, so any move of |
| | region boundary will be lined to |
| | the grid as chosen |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| () Magnetic | If the movement of the region or |
| | boundary happens near a grid |
| | line, snaps, otherwise, allow |
| | free movement |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Next Snap Mode | Toggles between the No Grid, Grid |
| | and Magnetic snap modes |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Next Snap Choice | Circles through the snap choices, |
| | as detailed below |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Previous Snap Choice | Circles through the snap choices, |
| | as detailed below, in reverse |
| | order |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Next Musical Snap Choice | Circles through the musical snap |
| | choices, e.g. those expressed in |
| | bars and beats |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Previous Musical Snap Choice | Same as previous, but in reverse |
| | order |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Snap To | |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Snap to CD Frame | The grid unit will be 1/75th of a |
| | second |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Snap to Timecode | The grid unit will be based on |
| Frame/Second/Minute | the timecode settings for the |
| | session |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Snap to Second/Minute | The grid unit will be based on |
| | absolute times |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Snap to *n*\ th | The grid unit will be 1/\ *n* |
| | beats and will depend on the |
| | tempo and meter in effect at that |
| | point in the timeline. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Snap to Beat | Same as above, whole beat |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Snap to Bar | Same as above, whole bar |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Snap to Mark | The grid will be made of markers |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Snap to Region Start | No grid, the regions will snap to |
| | the closest region start on any |
| | track |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Snap to Region End | Same as above with the regions' |
| | ends |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Snap to Regions Sync | Same as above, with the Sync |
| | points (by default, start of the |
| | region) |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Snap to Region Boundaries | Same as above, for both the |
| | starts and ends of regions |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Tempo | |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Set Tempo from Region = Bar | Computes the tempo so that the |
| | duration of the first selected |
| | region is 1 bar. Ardour prompts |
| | if the user wants it to be the |
| | global tempo, or a tempo marker |
| | at the beginning of the region |
| | used |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Set Tempo from Edit Range = Bar | Same thing, with the current |
| | Range instead of a region |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| [] Smart Object Mode | Toggles the Smart Mode, allowing |
| | the mouse to be in Range Mode in |
| | the upper half of a region, and |
| | in Grab Mode in the lower half |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Scripted Actions | |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| [] Script Manager | Shows the `Script |
| | manager <#lua-scripting>`__, |
| | allowing to use and manage the |
| | Lua scripts in the session |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Unset #\ *n* | Deactivate the *n*\ th script |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Preferences | Displays the |
| | `Preferences <#preferences>`__ |
| | panels, allowing to change |
| | Ardour's behaviour |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
.. rubric:: 12.4 - The Region Menu
:name: the-region-menu
:class: clear
The Region Menu is where the user can tweak its regions, the parts of
audio or MIDI that sit on the timeline.
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Insert Region from Region List | If a region is selected in the |
| | Editor List, add it at the Edit |
| | point |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Play | Starts playback at the beginning |
| | of the selected region(s), and |
| | stops at its(their) end |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Loop | Creates a loop range on the |
| | selected region's boundaries, and |
| | starts the looped playback |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Rename… | Changes the name of the region, |
| | that appears in its top left area |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Properties… | Shows the Region properties |
| | window, that displays detailed |
| | information about the region and |
| | allow for some modifications |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Loudness Analysis… | Shows the Audio Report/Analysis |
| | window, that displays detailed |
| | `dBFS |
| | information <#metering-in-ardour> |
| | `__ |
| | as well as a spectrogram (dBFS of |
| | frequency against time) |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Spectral Analysis… | Shows the Audio Report/Analysis |
| | window, that displays a |
| | integrated spectral view of the |
| | region (dBFS against frequency) |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Edit | |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Combine | Creates a new region by joining |
| | the selected audio regions in the |
| | same track, and replaces those |
| | region with the newly created |
| | compound. The same rules are |
| | applied to create the compound as |
| | for playback regarding e.g. |
| | layering |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Uncombine | Splits back the compound created |
| | by *combining* into its original |
| | audio regions |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Pitch Shift… | Changes the tune of the audio |
| | region, by octave, semitones or |
| | percentage, based on spectral |
| | analysis. Optionally, and if they |
| | have been set for the region, |
| | preserves the formants |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Split/Separate | Cuts the selected regions at the |
| | Edit point, separating them in |
| | two regions |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Split at Percussion Onset | Allows splitting the selected |
| | regions on its Percussion Onsets |
| | marker as set by the Rhythm |
| | Ferret (Not usable as of 5.5) |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Make Mono Regions | Creates mono regions out of a |
| | stereo or multichannel region by |
| | splitting it into its discrete |
| | channels. The created regions are |
| | added to the Editor List |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Close Gaps | Extends (or reduces) the selected |
| | regions to be perfectly aligned. |
| | Optionally, sets up a crossfade |
| | duration, or a pull-back (spacing |
| | between regions) |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Place Transient | Places a transient at the Edit |
| | Point. Used e.g. for the Pitch |
| | Shift… action |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Rhythm Ferret… | Opens the Rhythm Ferret which is |
| | a powerful tool to sequence audio |
| | files |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Strip Silence… | Opens the Strip Silence window |
| | which is a very handy tool to |
| | remove all audio under a |
| | user-chosen threshold (with a |
| | preview) |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Reverse | Mirrors the audio horizontally |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Layering | |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Raise to Top | On overlapping regions, puts the |
| | selected one(s) on top |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Raise | On overlapping region, makes the |
| | selected one(s) one layer higher |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Lower | Makes the selected region(s) one |
| | layer lower |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Lower to Bottom | Sends the selected region to the |
| | background |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| MIDI | |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Transpose… | On a MIDI region, shows the |
| | `Transpose MIDI |
| | window <#transposing-midi>`__, |
| | allowing to shift the pitch of |
| | the whole MIDI region by ± *n* |
| | semitones or octaves |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Insert Patch Change… | Inserts a patch change at the |
| | Edit Point, allowing a change of |
| | patch, channel, program and/or |
| | bank |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Quantize… | Shows the `Quantize |
| | window <#quantize-midi>`__, |
| | allowing to perfectly align the |
| | MIDI notes to the musical grid |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Legatize | Shortens or elongates the MIDI |
| | notes to make them perfectly |
| | sequential, i.e. the end of a |
| | note is the start of the |
| | following one |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Remove Overlap | Shortens or elongates the MIDI |
| | notes to make them perfectly |
| | sequential, i.e. the end of a |
| | note is the start of the |
| | following one |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Transform… | `Transform |
| | window <#transforming-midi---math |
| | ematical-operations>`__, |
| | that allows for mathematical |
| | operations on the midi notes |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Unlink from Other copies | Makes the selected MIDI region |
| | independent, e.g. editing this |
| | region won't affect any other |
| | one. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| List Editor… | Shows the `List |
| | Editor <#midi-list-editor>`__ |
| | which sequentially lists all the |
| | MIDI events in the region, and |
| | allows for precise modifications |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Gain | |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| [] Opaque | When checked, makes the region |
| | opaque audio-wise, i.e., the |
| | underlying regions won't be |
| | audible |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| [] Mute | When checked, mutes *only* the |
| | selected region on the track, |
| | without muting the track. The |
| | muted regions will have *!!* |
| | prepended to their name and will |
| | be semi-transparent |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Normalize… | Shows the Normalize region |
| | dialog, which allows to scale the |
| | region level by setting its |
| | maximum level, optionally |
| | constraining the RMS |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Boost Gain | Increases the gain on the |
| | selected region by boosting the |
| | audio, without touching the |
| | envelope or automation |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Cut Gain | Reduces the gain without touching |
| | the envelope or automation |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Reset Envelope | If the gain envelope has been |
| | edited, resets it to its initial |
| | value (constant at 0 dB) |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| [] Envelope Active | When unchecked, disables any |
| | envelope editing that has been |
| | made. The envelope will be |
| | displayed in yellow instead of |
| | green. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Position | |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Move to Original Position | Moves the region where it was |
| | initially recorded or inserted in |
| | the session |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Snap Position to Grid | If the Grid Mode is set to |
| | *Grid*, snaps the region to the |
| | nearest grid line |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| [] Lock | Locks the selected regions at |
| | their current positions in time |
| | and tracks, avoiding any movement |
| | on the timeline. The region name |
| | will be surrounded by *>* and *<* |
| | brackets |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| [] Glue to Bars and Beats | Locks the region position to |
| | relative to the musical grid, |
| | i.e. a change of tempo will move |
| | the region to keep it on the same |
| | bar/beat |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| [] Lock to Video | Same as above, relative to the |
| | position in the video |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Set Sync Position | Creates or move the Sync |
| | position, i.e. the point of the |
| | region that will be aligned or |
| | snapped to the grid, and that is |
| | (by default) the beginning of the |
| | region. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Remove Sync | Removes any user defined Sync |
| | point, and resets the sync |
| | position to the beginning of the |
| | region |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Nudge Later | Moves the region to the right by |
| | the amount shown in the `nudge |
| | timer <#nudge-controls>`__ |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Nudge Earlier | Same as above, to the left |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Nudge Later by Capture Offset | Moves the region to the right by |
| | the capture latency computed by |
| | Ardour based on the user's |
| | settings regarding latency |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Nudge Earlier by Capture Offset | Same as above, to the left |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Sequence Regions | Puts the selected regions one |
| | after the other, so that the end |
| | of one region is the beginning of |
| | the next one, removing any |
| | overlap or silence. The reference |
| | point is the earliest region. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Trim | |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Trim Start at Edit Point | If the Edit Point is within the |
| | region boundaries, shortens the |
| | region to align its start with |
| | the Edit Point |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Trim End at Edit Point | Same as above, for the end of the |
| | region |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Trim to Loop | Uses both the start and end Loop |
| | markers to shorten the region |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Trim to Punch | Same as above with the Punch |
| | markers |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Trim to Previous | On overlapping regions, shortens |
| | the selected one so that the |
| | previous region is complete, i.e. |
| | the new start point for the |
| | selected region is the end point |
| | of the previous region on the |
| | timeline |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Trim to Next | Same as above, with the end of |
| | the selected region aligned to |
| | the start of the following one. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Ranges | |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Set Loop Range | Creates a Loop range based on the |
| | selected regions, i.e. the start |
| | of the loop range is the start of |
| | the earliest region, and the end |
| | of the loop is the end of the |
| | latest region. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Set Punch | Same as above, for the Punch |
| | range |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Add Single Range Marker | Same as above, for the Edit range |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Add Range Marker Per Region | For each selected region, creates |
| | its own Edit range based on the |
| | boundaries of each region |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Set Range Selection | Creates a range selection based |
| | on the boundaries of the selected |
| | regions |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Fades | |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| [] Fade In | Activates/deactivates the Fade In |
| | at the start of the region |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| [] Fade Out | Same as above, for the Fade out |
| | at the end of the region |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| [] Fades | Shortcut to activate/deactivate |
| | both the fade in and fade out |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Duplicate | |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Duplicate | Creates a copy of the selected |
| | region(s) and appends it to the |
| | original |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Multi-Duplicate… | Shows the Duplicate dialog, |
| | allowing to create multiple |
| | copies, or a not-integer number |
| | of copies (the last one will then |
| | be truncated) |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Fill Track | Creates duplicates until it fills |
| | the session, i.e. reaches the End |
| | marker of the session. The last |
| | duplicate may be truncated to fit |
| | in |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Export… | Shows the `Export |
| | dialog <#export-dialog>`__, with |
| | all parameters set to export only |
| | the selected region(s) |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Bounce (without processing) | Creates a bounce, i.e. a version |
| | of the region with all the edits |
| | (boundaries, envelope), as a new |
| | region in the Editor List, |
| | without any of the effects of the |
| | mixer strip |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Bounce (with processing) | Same as above, *with* the effects |
| | of the mixer strip |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Remove | Deletes the region from the edit |
| | (no file is harmed in the |
| | process, and the region stays in |
| | the Editor for later use) |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
.. rubric:: 12.5 - The Track Menu
:name: the-track-menu
:class: clear
The Track menu is where one can deal with the tracks, busses and control
masters.
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Add Track, Bus or VCA… | Shows the `Add Track, Bus or VCA… |
| | window <#adding-tracks-busses-and |
| | -vcas>`__, |
| | where one can add one or more |
| | tracks, busses or control masters |
| | to the session and define its |
| | parameters |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Duplicate Tracks/Busses… | Shows the Duplicate Tracks and |
| | Busses window, allowing to |
| | duplicate the selected track(s) |
| | and optionally, its playlist |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Toggle Record Enable | Sets the Record Enable mode On on |
| | the selected track(s). These |
| | tracks will record audio/midi |
| | next time the global record is |
| | active and playback is started. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Toggle Solo | Sets the solo On on the selected |
| | tracks, so only these tracks will |
| | play |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Toggle Mute | Mutes the selected tracks, they |
| | won't play until unmuted |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Insert Time | Shows the `Insert Time |
| | window <#insert-remove-time>`__, |
| | allowing to insert a blank time |
| | in the selected tracks' playlist |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Remove Time | Same as |
| | `above <#insert-remove-time>`__, |
| | but to remove time |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Move Selected Tracks Up | Changes the position of the |
| | selected tracks one track up |
| | towards the top. In the mixer, |
| | the tracks will be moved to the |
| | left. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Move Selected Tracks Down | Same as above, towards the bottom |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Height | |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Fit Selection (Vertical) | Will fit the selected track(s) in |
| | the window. If too many tracks |
| | are selected, they'll be reduced |
| | to their minimum height. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Largest | Sets the selected tracks height |
| | to a very high value, hence |
| | making the tracks wide on screen |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Larger | Same as above, but a little less |
| | high |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Large | Same as above, but again less |
| | high |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Normal | Sets the height of the track to |
| | its default value which is a |
| | trade-off between readability and |
| | number of tracks displayed |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Small | Reduces the size of the tracks to |
| | a low value, increasing the |
| | number of on screen tracks |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Toggle Active | Toggles the active state of a |
| | track. An inactive track will be |
| | grayed and won't play any sound. |
| | That can be seen in the A column |
| | of the `Tracks and Busses |
| | List <#the-tracks-and-busses-list |
| | >`__ |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Remove | Deletes this track and its |
| | playlist (no file is harmed in |
| | the process, and the regions from |
| | the playlist stay in the Editor |
| | for later use) |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
.. rubric:: 12.6 - The View Menu
:name: the-view-menu
:class: clear
The View menu sets how the session is seen, and what's visible or not.
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| [] Maximise Editor Space | Puts the Editor window in full |
| | screen mode |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| [] Maximize Mixer Space | Puts the Mixer window in full |
| | screen mode |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Primary Clock | |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Focus On Clock | Sets the focus on the `main |
| | clock <#transport-clocks>`__, |
| | allowing to type in numbers |
| | directly to change the playhead |
| | position |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Timecode | Sets the main clock in timecode |
| | mode, so it displays time in the |
| | Hours:Minutes:Seconds:Frames |
| | format |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Bars & Beats | Sets the main clock in musical |
| | time mode, so it displays time in |
| | the Bars:Beats:Ticks format |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Minutes & Seconds | Sets the main clock in absolute |
| | time mode, so it displays time in |
| | the |
| | Hours:Minutes:Seconds.Millisecond |
| | s |
| | format |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Samples | Sets the main clock in samples |
| | time mode, so the time is |
| | displayed in samples from the |
| | absolute start |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Secondary Clock | |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Timecode | Same as for the main clock (see |
| | above) |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Bars & Beats | Same as for the main clock |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Minutes & Seconds | Same as for the main clock |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Samples | Same as for the main clock |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Zoom | |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Zoom In | Zooms in, focusing the *Zoom |
| | Focus* (see below) |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Zoom Out | Zooms out |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Zoom to Session | Adjust the zoom value so that all |
| | the session (as defined by its |
| | start and end markers) fit in the |
| | window |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Zoom to Selection | Adjust the zoom value so that all |
| | the selected regions fit in the |
| | window |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Fit Selection (Vertical) | Fits the selected track(s) in the |
| | window. If too many tracks are |
| | selected, they'll be reduced to |
| | their minimum height. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Toggle Zoom State | Reverts to last zoom state (kind |
| | of "undo" for zoom, even if edits |
| | have been made in-between) |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Expand Track Height | Increases the height of the |
| | selected tracks. If no track is |
| | selected, then all the tracks are |
| | expanded |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Shrink Track Height | Same as above, but reduces the |
| | height of the tracks |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Zoom Focus | |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Zoom Focus Left | Sets the screen's left side as |
| | the zoom target, i.e. when |
| | zooming in, the left side of the |
| | screen will stay at the same |
| | place in the timeline |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Zoom Focus Right | Same, with the right of the |
| | screen |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Zoom Focus Center | Same, with the center of the |
| | screen |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Zoom Focus Playhead | Sets the playhead as the focus |
| | point of the zoom, i.e. the point |
| | in time that will stay fixed |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Zoom Focus Mouse | Same as above, with the mouse |
| | pointer |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Zoom Focus Edit Point | Same as above, with the Edit |
| | Point |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Next Zoom Focus | Circles between the previous |
| | modes |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Rulers | |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| [] Min:Sec | Shows (when checked) or hides a |
| | line in `the Ruler <#ruler>`__ |
| | with the time formatted as |
| | Hours:Minutes:Seconds.Millisecond |
| | s |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| [] Timecode | Same as above, with the time |
| | formatted as |
| | Hours:Minutes:Seconds:Frames |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| [] Samples | Same as the above, with the time |
| | displayed in samples from the |
| | absolute start |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| [] Bars & Beats | Same as the above, with the time |
| | formatted as Bars:Beats:Ticks |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| [] Meter | Shows / hides the Meter line in |
| | the ruler, where the signature |
| | can be adjusted along the |
| | playline |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| [] Tempo | Shows / hides the Tempo line, |
| | where the BPM can be changed with |
| | markers |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| [] Ranges | Shows / hides the Range line, |
| | where ranges can be defined |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| [] Loop/Punch | Shows / hides the Loop/Punch |
| | line, where loops and Punches can |
| | be defined |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| [] CD Markers | Shows / hides the Range line, |
| | where CD Markers can be defined |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| [] Markers | Shows / hides the Markers line, |
| | where custom markers can be |
| | defined |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| [] Video | Shows / hides the Video timeline, |
| | where frames of the video are |
| | shown for syncing purposes |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Video Monitor | |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Original Size | When the `Video |
| | Monitor <#video-timeline-and-moni |
| | toring>`__ |
| | is active, resets its size to the |
| | original size, i.e. 1 pixel in |
| | the video is 1 pixel on screen |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| [] Letterbox | When checked, forces the ratio |
| | (width/height) to be the one of |
| | the original video. If unchecked, |
| | the video will be stretched to |
| | fit the window |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| [] Always on Top | Stays above all other windows, |
| | enabling to work in Ardour |
| | without the video windows to be |
| | hidden in the background |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| [] Fullscreen | Sets the Xjadeo window to be |
| | fullscreen. Can be useful in a |
| | dual monitor setup |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| [] Timecode | When checked, displays a Timecode |
| | over the video, in the |
| | Hours:Minutes:Seconds:Frames |
| | format |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| [] Frame number | When checked, shows the absolute |
| | frame number inside the video, |
| | i.e. this image is the *n*\ th of |
| | the video |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| [] Timecode Background | Adds a black background to the |
| | timecode for readability |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Scroll | |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Scroll Tracks Down | Scrolls the view toward the |
| | bottom of the session from one |
| | screen (vertically, so along |
| | tracks) |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Scroll Tracks Up | Same as above, towards the top |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Scroll Forward | Scrolls the view toward the right |
| | of the session from one screen |
| | (horizontally, so along time) |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Scroll Backward | Same as above, to the left |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Views | |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Save View *n* | Saves the position on the |
| | timeline in the memory, |
| | horizontally and vertically |
| | (along time and tracks) |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Go to View *n* | Loads and displays a saved |
| | position (see above) |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| [] Show Editor Mixer | When checked, the selected |
| | tracks' mixer strip is displayed |
| | on the left of the editor window, |
| | allowing for a quick access to |
| | e.g. effects and routing |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| [] Show Editor List | In the Editor window, shows the |
| | `Editor List <#editor-lists>`__, |
| | giving access to a number of |
| | handy lists (regions, tracks, …) |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| [] Toggle Mixer List | In the Mixer view, shows the |
| | Mixer list, giving access to some |
| | handy lists (`Favorite |
| | plugins <#favorite-plugins-window |
| | >`__, |
| | `The Strip |
| | list <#strips-list>`__,…) |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| [] Toggle Monitor Section | If the Use monitoring section on |
| Visibility | this session has been checked in |
| | the `Session Properties |
| | window <#monitoring-tab>`__, |
| | shows or hides the Monitor |
| | Section in the Mixer |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| [] Show Measure Lines | If checked, in the Editor, shows |
| | a vertical white line at each |
| | measure start |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| [] Show Summary | If checked, in the Editor, shows |
| | the `Summary <#summary>`__, |
| | allowing a faster navigation in |
| | the session |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| [] Show Group Tabs | If checked, makes the groups |
| | visible as tabs on the left in |
| | the Editor, and on the top in the |
| | mixer |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| [] Show Marker Lines | If checked, each marker is |
| | extended across all the tracks in |
| | the editor with a line of the |
| | same color |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
.. rubric:: 12.7 - The Window Menu
:name: the-window-menu
:class: clear
The Window menu deals with the layout of the different windows, and
their visibility.
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| [] Audio/MIDI Setup | Shows the `Audio/MIDI Setup |
| | window <#newopen-session-dialog>` |
| | __, |
| | where the sound system |
| | configuration can be modified |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Editor | |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Show | Switches to the Editor view |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Hide | Hides the Editor, hence showing |
| | the Mixer when the windows are |
| | attached |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Attach | If the Editor window is detached, |
| | separated from the main window, |
| | attach it back |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Detach | If the Editor is attached to the |
| | main window, detach it (makes the |
| | Editor a separated window, useful |
| | for multi-monitor setup) |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Mixer | |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Show/Hide/Attach/Detach | Same as for the Editor, for the |
| | *Mixer* window |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Preferences | |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Show/Hide/Attach/Detach | Same as for the Editor, for the |
| | *Preferences* window |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Meterbridge | Shows the `Meterbridge |
| | window <#metering-in-ardour>`__, |
| | that displays all the tracks' |
| | meter at once and their recording |
| | status, and is very handy for |
| | multitrack recording |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Scripting | Opens the `Lua Scripting |
| | window <#lua-scripting>`__, |
| | allowing to edit and run Lua |
| | scripts |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| [] Tracks and Busses | Opens the Tracks and Busses |
| | window, which is a shortcut to |
| | many tracks/busses operations |
| | (routing, effects, …) |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| [] Locations | Opens the `Ranges and Marks |
| | window <#the-ranges-and-marks-lis |
| | ts>`__, |
| | a single point of control for all |
| | range and location markers |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| [] Binding Editor | Opens the `Key Bindings |
| | window <#default-keyboard-binding |
| | s>`__, |
| | which allows for easy creation or |
| | modification of any keyboard |
| | shortcut |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| [] Bundle Manager | Opens the Bundle Manager window, |
| | allowing to create and manage |
| | *Bundles*, which are a way to |
| | simplify connection management, |
| | by defining groups of ports |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| [] Big Clock | Opens the `Main |
| | Clock <#transport-clocks>`__ as |
| | its own separate (and huge) |
| | window, which is helpful when |
| | recording |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| [] Video Monitor | If a |
| | `video <#video-timeline-and-monit |
| | oring>`__ |
| | has been imported in the session, |
| | opens a video window (namely, |
| | *Xjadeo*), synced to the timeline |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Midi Tracer | Opens the MIDI Tracer window, |
| | allowing to follow each and every |
| | MIDI message entering or leaving |
| | Ardour |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| [] Audio Connections | Opens the `Audio Connection |
| | Manager window <#patchbay>`__, a |
| | way to make connections to, from |
| | and within Ardour's mixer |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| [] MIDI Connections | Same as above, for the MIDI |
| | connections |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| [] Log | Shows the Log window, where |
| | Ardour lists useful information, |
| | warnings and errors |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
.. rubric:: 12.8 - The Help Menu
:name: the-help-menu
:class: clear
The Help Menu gives access to useful information about Ardour.
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| [] About | Shows the About Ardour window, |
| | which contains information about |
| | the version, config, authors,and |
| | license of Ardour |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Chat | This is a shortcut to the webchat |
| | version of the Freenode IRC |
| | channel of Ardour, where the |
| | developers meet, and questions |
| | can be asked if the Manual is not |
| | enough |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Manual | Link to a FLOSSManual guide to |
| | Ardour |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Reference | Link to this manual, hosted on |
| | ardour.org |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| User Forums | Link to ardour.org's user forum |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| How to Report a Bug | Link to an helping page about |
| | reporting bugs |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Report a Bug | Link to Ardour's Mantis |
| | bugtracker |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Ardour Website | Link to Ardour's main and |
| | official website |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Ardour Development | Link to the developers' part of |
| | the official website |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
.. rubric:: 13 - Status Bar
:name: status-bar
:class: clear
.. figure:: /images/status-bar.png
:alt: The Status Bar
The Status Bar
The status bar is an informative bar at the top of the window, showing:
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| File: | the file format used in the |
| | session, including when recording |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| TC: | is the timecode, i.e. the number |
| | of frames per second used by the |
| | session (for videos) |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Audio: | gives the sample rate used in the |
| | session, and the latency computed |
| | from the buffer size |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Buffers: | describe how much data is |
| | buffered, see below |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| DSP: | for Digital Sound Processing, |
| | shows how much of the CPU is used |
| | by Ardour and its plugins |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| PkBld: | *(only shows up while creating |
| | peaks)* displays the number of |
| | peak files left to create |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| X: | shows the number of xruns since |
| | Ardour's launch, see below |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Disk: | reports the remaining hard disk |
| | space as the time that can be |
| | recorded with the current session |
| | setting |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Wall Clock | showing the system time |
| | (especially useful in full screen |
| | mode) |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Log button | that indicates if Ardour has |
| | encountered any warning or error. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
Right clicking anywhere on the Status Bar allows to choose which of this
information we want displayed, through a checkbox menu.
The buffers are labelled as p for playback and c for capture. If the
system is fast enough, these buffers should be 100% full at all times,
showing the system has time to precompute all the data before delivering
it to the audio system. A buffer constantly under 20% is a sign of an
underpowered computer system or of too much processing.
An Xrun (short for buffer over- or under-run) happens when the system
has been forced to skip audio frames, e.g. if the latency asked is too
short for the computing power of the machine. It usually results in
clicks, pops and crackles if it happens while recording.
The log button turns yellow when a warning is shown, and red when an
error occurs. Clicking the log button gives access to the log.
.. rubric:: 14 - Transport Bar
:name: transport-bar
:class: clear
.. rubric:: The transport controls
:name: the-transport-controls
The Transport Bar groups all the actions regarding the control of
playback and recording.
.. figure:: /images/transport.png
:alt: The transport controls
The transport controls
This bar is made of (from left to right):
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Midi Panic | Immediately stops all midi |
| | output. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Enable/disable Audio Click | Toggles (on/off) a click track |
| | (metronome) along the |
| | `tempo <#tempo-and-meter>`__. |
| | Right clicking brings up the |
| | Click submenu from the |
| | Preferences. Scrolling with the |
| | mouse wheel adjusts the gain of |
| | the click. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Go to Start of the Session | Jumps back at the beginning of |
| | the session, as defined by the |
| | `start |
| | marker <#working-with-markers>`__ |
| | . |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Go to End of the Session | Jumps forward to the end of the |
| | session, as defined by the `end |
| | marker <#working-with-markers>`__ |
| | . |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Play Loop Range | Repeats the defined |
| | `loop <#controlling-playback>`__ |
| | as defined by the `Loop |
| | range <#the-loop-range>`__, until |
| | the "Stop playback" button is |
| | pressed. Clicking the "Play loop |
| | Range" button while already |
| | active switches to normal Play |
| | mode, which exits the loop |
| | without stopping and restarting |
| | playback. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Play Range/Selection | If a range has been defined using |
| | the Range Mode button, plays the |
| | range, of if an audio or MIDI |
| | region is selected, plays this |
| | region. In both cases, the |
| | playback stops at the end of the |
| | range or selected region. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Play from playhead | Starts the playback and |
| | optionally record (more below). |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Stop | Whatever the playing mode (loop, |
| | range, …) stops all playback. |
| | Depending on other settings, some |
| | effects (like chorus or reverb) |
| | might still be audible for a |
| | while. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Toggle Record | Global switch button to |
| | activate/deactivate recording. |
| | While active, the button blinks |
| | red. The button doesn't start |
| | recording by itself: if one or |
| | more tracks are marked as |
| | record-enabled, pressing the |
| | "Play from Playhead" starts |
| | recording on those tracks. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
All these actions are bound to keyboard shortcuts, which allows for
speedier use and more focused work.
If Ardour is synchronized with other devices then some or all of these
control methods may be unavailable—depending on the synchronization
protocol, Ardour may respond only to commands sent from its master
device(s).
Under these buttons is the Shuttle Speed Control that allows to scrub
through the audio quickly. The slider decides the playback speed: the
further from the center it is set, the faster the playback will scrub in
both directions.
The Shuttle Speed Control supports 2 operating modes, that can be chosen
with right click > Mode:
- Sprung mode that allows for a temporary scrub: it only scrubs while
the mouse is left clicked on the control.
- Wheel mode that allows to set a playback speed until the "Stop"
button is pressed, which stops the playback and resets its speed.
On the left of the slider is the positional sync button (which might
show Internal, or MTC or several other values), than can be used to
control whether or not the transport position and start is controlled by
Ardour, or by an external positional synchronization source, such as
MIDI Time Code (MTC), Linear Time Code (LTC) or JACK (see `Timecode
Generators and Slaves <#timecode-generators-and-slaves>`__).
The current playback status (Stop, Play, or speed %) is shown on the
right of the speed slider.
.. rubric:: Using Key Bindings
:name: using-key-bindings
Ardour has many available commands for playback control that can be
bound to keys. Many of them have default bindings, some do not, so the
list below shows both the default bindings and internal command names
for some of them.
+-------+----------------------------------------+
| Space | Switch between playback and stop. |
+-------+----------------------------------------+
| Home | Move playhead to session start marker |
+-------+----------------------------------------+
| End | Move playhead to session end marker |
+-------+----------------------------------------+
| → | Playhead to next region boundary |
+-------+----------------------------------------+
| ← | Playhead to previous region boundary |
+-------+----------------------------------------+
| 0 | Move playhead to start of the timeline |
+-------+----------------------------------------+
Go to the Transport and Transport > Playhead to find more.
.. rubric:: 15 - Transport Clocks
:name: transport-clocks
:class: clear
.. figure:: /images/new_main_clocks.png
:alt: The transport clocks in Ardour
The transport clocks in Ardour
Clocks in Ardour are used to display time values precisely. In many
cases, they are also one way to edit (change) time values, and in a few
cases, the only way. All clocks share the same basic appearance and
functionality, which is described below, but a few clocks serve
particularly important roles.
In the transport bar of the editor window there are two clocks (on a
large enough screen), that display the current position of the playhead
and additional information related to transport control and the
timeline. These are called the transport clocks; the left one is the
primary transport clock and the right one is the secondary transport
clock.
All the clocks in Ardour share the same powerful way of editing time.
Refer to `Editing Clocks <#editing-clocks>`__ to learn how.
Editing the time in the transport clocks will reposition the playhead in
the same way that various other editing operations will.
.. rubric:: The Special Role of the Secondary Transport Clock
:name: the-special-role-of-the-secondary-transport-clock
On a few occasions Ardour needs to display time values to the user, but
there is no obvious way to specify what units to use. The most common
case is the big cursor that appears when dragging regions. For this and
other similar cases, Ardour will display time using the same units as
the secondary clock.
.. rubric:: Why are there two transport clocks?
:name: why-are-there-two-transport-clocks
Having two transport clocks allows seeing the playhead position in two
different time units without having to change any settings. For example,
one can see the playhead position in both timecode units and BBT time.
.. rubric:: Special Modes for the Transport Clocks
:name: special-modes-for-the-transport-clocks
In addition to the time-unit modes, each of the two transport clocks
(again, on a sufficiently large screen) can be independently set to
display Delta to Edit Point in whatever time units its current mode
indicates. This setting means that the clock shows the distance between
the playhead and the current edit point, and it may show a positive or
negative value depending on the temporal order of these two points. The
clocks will use a different color when in this mode to avoid confusion.
To switch either (or both!) of the transport clocks into this mode, use
Edit > Preferences > Transport and select the relevant checkboxes.
Note that when in Delta to Edit Point mode, the transport clocks cannot
be edited.
.. rubric:: The Big Clock
:name: the-big-clock
To show the current playhead position in a big, resizable window,
activate Window > Big Clock. The big clock is very useful when working
away from the screen but still wanting to see the playhead position
clearly (such as when working with a remote control device across a
room). The big clock will change its visual appearance to indicate when
active recording is taking place. Below on the left is a screenshot
showing a fairly large big clock window filling a good part of the
display, and on the right, the same clock during active recording.
.. figure:: /images/bigclock.png
:alt: The Big Clock, with no transport rolling (left) and recording
(right).
:height: 100px
The Big Clock, with no transport rolling (left) and recording
(right).
.. rubric:: 16 - Selection and Punch Clocks
:name: selection-and-punch-clocks
:class: clear
.. rubric:: The Selection Clocks
:name: selection_clocks
.. figure:: /images/selection-clocks.png
:alt: The range clocks
The range clocks
The current selection range, as set with the `Range Mode
tool <#toolbox>`__, is displayed in these three clocks: start of the
range, end of the range, and length.
Clicking on the range clocks will locate to either the beginning or end
of the punch range.
Right clicking on any of the clocks brings up a context menu allowing to
change the type of time display between the `4 clock
modes <#editing-clocks>`__, and to copy the selected clock's time to the
clipboard.
.. rubric:: The Punch Controls & clocks
:name: punch_controls
.. figure:: /images/punch-controls.png
:alt: The Punch Controls, and the related Punch clocks
The Punch Controls, and the related Punch clocks
The punch controls available in the main toolbar, work in conjunction
with the punch clocks, only visible while in Editor Mode.
The In and Out buttons relate to the Punch range, and allow to use only
one of the two punch boundaries, or both:
+--------------+------------------------------------------------------------+
| In only | Records from the In marker on, without a end boundary |
+--------------+------------------------------------------------------------+
| Out only | Records until the Out marker, without a beginning boundary |
+--------------+------------------------------------------------------------+
| In *and* Out | Records only between the In and Out markers |
+--------------+------------------------------------------------------------+
The punch clocks can be controlled the same way as the range clocks
(moving the playhead, and changing the display mode).
.. rubric:: Recording mode
:name: rec-mode
The Rec button affects how the tracks behave when recording:
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Non-Layered OFF *(default)* | Tracks in normal mode will record |
| | non-destructively — new data is |
| | written to new files, and when |
| | overdubbing, new regions will be |
| | layered on top of existing ones. |
| | This is the recommended mode for |
| | most workflows. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Non-Layered ON | Tracks using non-layered mode |
| | will record non-destructively — |
| | new data is written to new files, |
| | but when overdubbing, the |
| | existing regions are trimmed so |
| | that there are no overlaps. This |
| | does not affect the previously |
| | recorded audio data, and trimmed |
| | regions can be expanded again at |
| | will. Non-layered mode can be |
| | very useful for spoken word |
| | material, especially in |
| | combination with `push/pull |
| | trimming <#pushpull-trimming>`__. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
See `Track Modes <#track-types>`__ for more information.
.. rubric:: 17 - Mini-Timeline
:name: mini-timeline
:class: clear
.. figure:: /images/mini-timeline.png
:alt: The Mini-Timeline.
The Mini-Timeline.
The mini-timeline allows, as the `Summary <#summary>`__ does, navigation
of a session. Its main advantage, though, is that it stays visible even
when in Mixer mode.
The range of time covered by the mini-timeline is set by right clicking
the timeline, and choosing a time span from 30 seconds up to 20 minutes.
The mini-timeline also shows all markers (start, end and any user
defined ones). Clicking a marker jumps to that point on the timeline,
allowing for quick access to key timings in the session.
While hovering with the mouse over the mini-timeline:
- left clicking moves the playhead to the time under the mouse cursor
- using the scroll wheel scrolls the playhead back and forth inside the
session
- using scroll wheel scrolls more finely inside the session
- using scroll wheel scrolls even more finely inside the session
.. rubric:: 18 - Other Toolbar Items
:name: other-toolbar-items
:class: clear
.. rubric:: The Monitor Options
:name: monitor-options
.. figure:: /images/input-mode-buttons.png
:alt: The Monitor options
The Monitor options
These buttons allow switching the monitoring mode globally, for all the
tracks at once. The monitoring mode allows to decide what the user wants
to be listening to, between:
- All In: all the tracks play what's on their *In*\ puts.
- All Disk: all the tracks play the actual content of the playlist on
*Disk*.
The Auto Input switch allows Ardour to auto-select what is played, which
is:
- When not playing: all tracks are on In (to listen to any connected
source)
- When playing, all tracks are on Disk (to play whatever was recorded
on those tracks)
- When recording, on rec-enabled tracks: In and on non rec-enabled
ones: Disk
.. rubric:: The Playhead Options
:name: playhead_options
.. figure:: /images/playhead-options.png
:alt: The playhead options
The playhead options
Those 2 buttons control the behaviour of the playhead:
- Follow Range is a toggle that can be used to control whether or not
making a range selection will move the playhead to the start of the
range.
- Auto Return is a toggle switch too. When active, pressing the Stop
button returns the playhead to its previous position, and when
inactive, pressing Stop keeps the playhead at its current location.
Activating Auto Return can be useful for hearing the same piece of
audio before and after tweaking it, without having to set a loop
range on it.
.. rubric:: The Status indicators
:name: status_indicators
.. figure:: /images/status_buttons.png
:alt: The Status buttons
The Status buttons
The Status buttons show the current session state:
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Solo | Blinks when one or more tracks |
| | are being soloed, see `Muting and |
| | Soloing <#muting-and-soloing>`__. |
| | Clicking this button disables any |
| | active explicit and implicit solo |
| | on all tracks and busses. |
| | Clicking this button deactivates |
| | the solo on every track/bus. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Audition | Blinks when some audio is |
| | auditioned, e.g. by using the |
| | import dialog, or using the |
| | Audition context menu in the |
| | `Regions |
| | List <#the-region-list>`__. |
| | Clicking this button stops the |
| | auditioning. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Feedback | Blinks when Ardour detects a |
| | feedback loop, which happens when |
| | the output of an audio signal |
| | chain is plugged back to its |
| | input. This is probably not |
| | wanted and can be dangerous for |
| | the hardware and the listener. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
.. rubric:: The Mode Selector
:name: mode_selector
.. figure:: /images/mode-selector_scripts_meter.png
:alt: The Mode Selector
The Mode Selector
The Mode Selector allows switching between the Editor and Mixer windows.
If a window is detached, the corresponding button is lit in blue.
Clicking the button switches the detached window visibility.
The global meter shows the levels of the master's output. Its the same
meter that sits in the `Master's Mixer strip <#master-bus-strip>`__, and
also shows a peak indicator, that turns red when any level exceeds 0dB.
It can be reset by a Left click.
The buttons in between the Mode Selector and the global meter are script
buttons, which are user-definable buttons to attach any session
`lua-script <#lua-scripting>`__ to.
.. rubric:: 19 - Toolbox
:name: toolbox
:class: clear
.. figure:: /images/toolbar-tools.png
:alt: Editor toolbar's tools, aka toolbox
Editor toolbar's tools, aka toolbox
.. rubric:: Global Edit mode
:name: global-edit-mode
Ardour has a global edit mode selector at the left of the Editing
toolbar, which affect how regions are moved or copied:
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Slide | Regions move freely. Ardour |
| | creates overlaps when necessary. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Ripple | Editing affects the regions to |
| | the "right" of the edit (see |
| | below). |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Lock | No region motion is permitted |
| | (except for "nudge"). |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
Ripple Edit mode provides the following conveniences:
- Deleting a range will move later regions to compensate for the
deleted time
- Deleting a region will move later regions to compensate for the
deleted region's length
- Moving a region will move later regions to compensate for the length
of the move
- Inserting a new region (via dragging or via Paste) will move later
regions to the right to compensate
If Snap To Grid is enabled, then regions can only move so that they
align with locations determined by the current snap settings (beats, or
seconds, or other region boundaries, etc). See `Snap To the
Grid <#grid-controls>`__ for details.
.. rubric:: The *Smart* switch
:name: the-smart-switch
The Smart Mode button to the left of the mouse mode buttons modifies the
Grab Mode. When enabled, the mouse behaves as if it is in "Range Mode"
in the upper half of a region, and in "Grab Mode" in the lower half.
This allows avoiding constant switching between these two modes.
.. rubric:: Mouse Modes
:name: mouse-modes
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Grab Mode | The Grab Mode is used for |
| | selecting, moving, deleting and |
| | copying objects. When in object |
| | mode, the mouse pointer appears |
| | as a hand whenever it is over the |
| | track canvas or the rulers. The |
| | mouse can now be used to select |
| | and perform operations on objects |
| | such as regions, markers etc. |
| | This is the most common mode to |
| | work in, as it allows you to |
| | select and move regions, as well |
| | as modify automation points on |
| | the automation tracks. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Range Mode | When in Range Mode, the mouse |
| | pointer appears as a vertical |
| | line whenever it is over the |
| | track canvas or the rulers. The |
| | mouse will now be able to select |
| | a point or range of time. Time |
| | ranges can be selected over one |
| | or several tracks, depending on |
| | the selection of your tracks. |
| | If none of your tracks are |
| | selected, the Range Tool will |
| | operate on all the session track |
| | visualized in the Editor. |
| | If you want to edit only |
| | particular tracks, select them |
| | before you apply the range tool. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Cut Tool Mode | When in Cut Tool Mode, the mouse |
| | pointer appears as a pair of |
| | scissors whenever it is over the |
| | track canvas or the rulers. This |
| | tools allows to cut any region |
| | into 2 regions at the mouse |
| | cursor, regardless of the Edit |
| | Point. |
| | If one or more track(s) is |
| | selected, then all the regions on |
| | these tracks will be split at the |
| | mouse cursor position. |
| | If no track is selected, then |
| | only the region hovered by the |
| | mouse cursor will be split. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Stretch Mode | When in time fx mode, the mouse |
| | pointer appears as a distinctive |
| | expanding square symbol whenever |
| | it is over the track canvas or |
| | the rulers. This mode is used to |
| | resize regions using a |
| | timestretch algorithm. Click on |
| | an edge of a region of audio and |
| | drag it one way or the other to |
| | stretch or shrink the region. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Audition Tool | Clicking a region using the |
| | audition tool will play this |
| | region to the control room |
| | outputs. |
| | You can also scrub with this tool |
| | by clicking and dragging in the |
| | direction you wish to listen. The |
| | amount you drag in one direction |
| | or the other will determine the |
| | playback speed. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Draw Tool | When in Draw Tool mode, the mouse |
| | pointer will change to a pencil. |
| | You can then click within an |
| | audio region to change the gain |
| | envelope for that region. This |
| | curve is separate from fader |
| | automation for individual tracks. |
| | It will remain locked to the |
| | region's time, so if the region |
| | is moved, the region gain |
| | envelope is moved along with it. |
| | The draw tool works on automation |
| | too, allowing the creation and |
| | modification of control points on |
| | the automation curves. |
| | Last, it is used on a MIDI region |
| | to edit the notes. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Internal/Region Edit Mode | When in Internal Edit mode, the |
| | mouse pointer will change to |
| | cross-hairs. This tool acts on |
| | region gain and automation as the |
| | Draw tool. |
| | On a MIDI region, it allows to |
| | lasso-select multiple notes at a |
| | time. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
.. rubric:: 20 - Controls
:name: controls
:class: clear
.. rubric:: 20.1 - Zoom Controls
:name: zoom-controls
:class: clear
.. figure:: /images/toolbar-zoom.png
:alt: Editor toolbar's zoom
Editor toolbar's zoom
The zoom controls allow to navigate the session along both the time and
track axes.
The drop down Zoom Focus menu allows to select a focus point for the
zoom, i.e. the center of the zoom. The choices are:
- Left of the screen
- Right of the screen
- Center of the screen
- Playhead
- Mouse
- Edit Point as set in the `Edit point <#edit-point-control>`__
control.
The two leftmost zoom buttons (− and +) use this zoom focus to zoom out
and in respectively.
The Zoom to session button is a handy shortcut to zoom out or in until
all the session (as defined by its `start/end
markers <#working-with-markers>`__) fits horizontally.
Changing the Number of visible tracks dropdown menu allows to fit this
number of tracks vertically in the screen.
There *is* a minimal track height to keep it visible, so according to
you screen vertical size, some high number can have no effect.
Inside this menu are two handy choices:
- Selected tracks that focus on the selected tracks. If the selected
tracks are not contiguous, the unselected tracks inbetween will be
hidden, see the `Track and Bus list <#the-tracks-and-busses-list>`__.
- All that fits all the tracks of the sessions vertically (provided
there's enough screen estate).
The rightmost buttons Shrink tracks and Expand tracks reduce or expand
the vertical size of the selected tracks. If no track is selected, all
the tracks will be shrunk or expanded each time the button is pushed.
.. rubric:: 20.2 - Grid Controls
:name: grid-controls
:class: clear
.. figure:: /images/toolbar-grid.png
:alt: Editor toolbar's grid.
Editor toolbar's grid.
Ardour's editor utilizes a grid to assist in the placement of regions on
the timeline, or with editing functions that need to happen at a
specific point in time. This snapping of the cursor and various objects
to the grid can be toggled on or off, as does its behaviour, and grid
units.
.. rubric:: About Snapping
:name: about-snapping
There are two ways to think about aligning material to a grid. The first
and most obvious one is where an object's position is clamped to grid
lines. In Ardour, this is called absolute snap and is commonly used when
working with sampled material where audio begins exactly at the
beginning of a file, note or region.
The second, relative snap, is used when an object's position relative to
the grid lines is important. In music, this allows to move objects
around without changing the "feel" (or timing) of a performance.
Absolute snap is the default method of snapping in Ardour.
While dragging objects, pressing the absolute snap modifier key(s)
switches from absolute to relative snap.
The snap can also be entirely disabled by using the snap modifier (see
below).
Note that in relative snap mode the reference point is taken to be the
distance to the nearest grid line.
Note also that when an object lies exactly on a grid line, there will be
no difference between relative and absolute snap modes.
The relative snap and snap modifiers (along with other modifier keys)
may be set in Edit > Preferences > User Interaction
For common use patterns, it is recommended to assign a unique key for
one snap modifier and two keys for the other in such a way that they
share an otherwise unused key. For example, the snap modifier may be
chosen to be the key and the relative snap modifier to be the and keys.
.. rubric:: Snap Modes
:name: snap-modes
Using the above modifications, Ardour supports three different modes of
snapping to the grid:
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| No Grid | disables the grid. All objects |
| | move freely in this mode. In No |
| | Grid mode, the grid may be |
| | temporarily activated by pressing |
| | the snap modifier (for absolute |
| | snap) or switch to relative snap |
| | by pressing the relative snap |
| | modifier. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Grid | activates normal snapping. All |
| | positions of objects snap to the |
| | grid. (See `Grid |
| | Units <#gridunits>`__ below to |
| | change the grid). Moving an |
| | object in "Grid"-mode, does not |
| | change its position until the |
| | mouse is far enough for the |
| | object to reach the next grid |
| | line. To maintain an objects' |
| | position relative to the grid |
| | line, the "snap relative" |
| | modifier can be used. When |
| | holding down this modifier during |
| | a drag, the dragged object will |
| | jump while maintaining its |
| | original distance from the line. |
| | New objects will always be |
| | created at grid points. Holding |
| | down the snap modifier will |
| | disable the current grid setting |
| | and allow moving the object |
| | freely. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Magnetic | is a less strict type of |
| | snapping. Objects can still be |
| | moved to any position, but |
| | positions close to the relative |
| | or absolute grid points will |
| | snap. In order to move an object |
| | very close to a snap point, it |
| | may be necessary to zoom in to |
| | prevent snapping to that point, |
| | or to use the snap modifier to |
| | disable snap completely. As with |
| | Grid mode, the snap modifier will |
| | disable snap completely while the |
| | absolute snap modifier will move |
| | the "notch" of Magnetic snap to |
| | the grid lines. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
.. rubric:: Syncing Regions to the Grid
:name: syncing-regions-to-the-grid
By default, a region's beginning will be used as the reference for both
types of snapping, this behaviour can be changed by setting a sync point
in the region, by selecting the region(s) and pressing V. This will set
the sync point to the current `edit point <#edit-point-control>`__.
.. rubric:: Grid Units
:name: gridunits
The selector next to the grid mode selector defines the size of the grid
elements. The grid can be set to several different units:
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| CD Frames | A CD Frame is 1/75th of a second. |
| | Snapping to CD Frames (using |
| | absolute snap) can be used to |
| | avoid issues with CD track |
| | lengths. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Timecode Frames/Seconds/Minutes | The duration of a frame depends |
| | on the timecode settings for the |
| | session. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Seconds/Minutes | These are absolute time units, |
| | unaffected by sample rate or |
| | timecode settings |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Beats/N | Set the grid to units of 1/N |
| | beats, where N can be 128, 64, |
| | 32, 16, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2. The |
| | duration of a grid unit will |
| | depend on the tempo and meter in |
| | effect at that point in the |
| | timeline. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Beats | Set the grid to whole beats. The |
| | duration of a grid unit will |
| | depend on the tempo and meter in |
| | effect at that point in the |
| | timeline. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Bars | Set the grid to whole bars. The |
| | duration of a grid unit will |
| | depend on the tempo and meter in |
| | effect at that point in the |
| | timeline. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Markers | The grid lines are the markers. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Region Starts | The grid lines are constructed |
| | from region start points (see |
| | below). |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Region Ends | The grid lines are constructed |
| | from region end points (see |
| | below). |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Region Syncs | The grid lines are constructed |
| | from region sync points. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Region Bounds | The grid lines are constructed |
| | from region start or end points. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
To use Region starts/ends/syncs/bounds as snap choices, it is necessary
to have either:
- *No* tracks selected, which means that Ardour snaps to regions on any
track, or
- Several tracks selected, which means that Ardour only snaps to
regions on those selected tracks.
If items are moved on a track, and only the current track is selected,
then snapping will only happen with other regions on the same track.
This means that enabling Edit > Preferences > Editor > Link Selections
of Regions and Tracks will make the "Region" grid unit unusable. This
option should not be used in conjunction with the use any of the Region
grid units.
.. rubric:: 20.3 - Edit Point Control
:name: edit-point-control
:class: clear
.. figure:: /images/toolbar-editpoint.png
:alt: Editor toolbar's Edit Point
Editor toolbar's Edit Point
Editing operations in a Digital Audio Workstation like Ardour can be
broken down according to how many points on the timeline are required to
carry the operation out. Splitting a region for example, requires just
one position on the timeline (the one where the split will happen).
Cutting out a time range requires two positions, one for the start of
the cut and one for the end.
In Ardour the edit point is the location where most single-point editing
operations take place. It can be set to either of the following:
- the Playhead position
- the selected (or "active") Marker
- the position of the Mouse (or touch) pointer
The default edit point is the location of the pointer.
There are two keybindings available to cycle through the edit point
options. The most common workflow tends to involve switching back and
forth between the playhead and mouse as the edit point. Pressing the
grave accent key \` switches between these two. Using \` cycles through
all three choices (including the selected marker). The edit point can
also be switched using the combo-selector just right of the snap/grid
unit selector.
.. rubric:: 20.4 - Nudge Controls
:name: nudge-controls
:class: clear
.. figure:: /images/toolbar-nudge.png
:alt: Editor toolbar's Nudge
Editor toolbar's Nudge
The nudge controls will move the selected region(s) by a fixed amount of
time. The left and right buttons move either backward or forward in
time, and the small clock to the left of these buttons sets the amount
of time to nudge by. As with all other clocks, you can right-click on
the clock to choose the time representation you want to use.
If there are no selected objects, the nudge controls can be used to move
the playhead backward or forward by the amount shown on the clock.
.. rubric:: 21 - Ruler
:name: ruler
:class: clear
.. figure:: /images/ruler.png
:alt: Ardour's Ruler
Ardour's Ruler
The Ruler scales the session along time, allows navigating, and can be
marked for different uses.
One of its main uses is to move the playhead: clicking anywhere on the
timeline will bring the playhead at this location in time. Also, using
the mouse's scrollwheel while hovering the Ruler will zoom in or out
(⇑/⇓ ).
The Ruler is made of a succession of rows, each having a special role
related to time. Adding or removing rows can be done by right clicking
anywhere in the ruler's header on the left, and ticking any of:
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Mins:Secs | scaling the session with the |
| | Mins:Secs:mSec notation |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Timecode | scaling the session with the |
| | Hours:Mins:Secs:Frames notation |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Samples | scaling the session with the |
| | sample number notation |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Bars:Beats | slicing the time according to the |
| | time signature of the Meter |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Meter | shows the time signature. It can |
| | be changed along the timeline, by |
| | Right click > New Meter. The |
| | Bars:Beats ruler will reflect the |
| | change. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Tempo | shows the BPM. It can be changed |
| | along the timeline, by Right |
| | click > New Tempo. The Bars:Beats |
| | ruler will reflect the change. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Range Markers | allow to create and modify ranges |
| | directly on the Ruler. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Loop/Punch Ranges | are special kind of ranges |
| | designed to be played as a loop |
| | and to do punch recording, i.e. |
| | recording on a precise section of |
| | time, respectively. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| CD Markers | are markers designed to be used |
| | while creating a recording that |
| | has to be split in time, as an |
| | audio CD |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Location Markers | is meant to receive any kind of |
| | marker, user generated or from |
| | Ardour itself. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Video Timeline | shows thumbnails of the |
| | `video <#video-timeline-and-monit |
| | oring>`__ |
| | in the timeline |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
Most of the operations on the markers are described in `Working with
Markers <#working-with-markers>`__, while the Meter, Tempo, Bars:Beats
and Timecode use are described in `Tempo and
Meter <#tempo-and-meter>`__.
.. rubric:: 22 - Summary
:name: summary
:class: clear
.. figure:: /images/summary.png
:alt: Ardour's Summary
Ardour's Summary
The Summary is a global overview of the session, allowing for a good
"bird's eye" view of where in time and tracks the work happens.
Each horizontal line represents a track in the session, with the colored
bars being the audio and MIDI regions, colored as per their track's
color setting.
Two yellow vertical lines show the position of the *Start* and *End*
markers, defining the session's length. The red line shows the
playhead's position.
The transparent white rectangle represents what's actually displayed in
the Editor window, i.e. what part of the session is being looked at on
screen.
The Summary also doubles as a navigator:
- the arrow on the left allow to scroll the view horizontally to the
left, by 1 length of the view each time
- the arrow on the right allow to scroll the view horizontally to the
right, by 1 length of the view each time
- the white rectangle can be dragged anywhere on the session, moving
the view accordingly
- the right and left borders of the white square can be resized,
zooming in and out accordingly
.. rubric:: 23 - Editor Lists
:name: editor-lists
:class: clear
At the right hand side of the editor window is an optional area which
provides one of a range of useful lists of parts of the session. It is
not shown by default when first starting using Ardour. The Editor list
can be hidden or shown using View > Show Editor List. The very
right-hand side of the list gives a selection of tabs which are used to
choose the list to view. The left-hand border of the list can be dragged
to vary the width of the list.
.. rubric:: 23.1 - The Region List
:name: the-region-list
:class: clear
The region list shows all the regions in the session. The left-hand
column gives the region name, and there are a range of times given for
information:
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Position | position of the start of the |
| | region on the global timeline |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| End | position of the region on the |
| | global timeline |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Length | duration of the region |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Sync | position of the sync point, |
| | relative to the start of region |
| | (can be negative) |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Fade In | duration of the fade in. Can't be |
| | less than 1 ms, to avoid |
| | clipping. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Fade Out | duration of the fade out |
| | (positive value, ≥ 1 ms). |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
The secondary clock defines the time unit used in this list. `Set the
secondary clock <#editing-clocks>`__ to the type of unit desired.
At the right of the list are four columns of flags that can be altered:
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| L | whether the region position is |
| | locked, so that it cannot be |
| | moved. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| G | whether the region's position is |
| | ‘glued’ to bars and beats. If so, |
| | the region will stay at the same |
| | position in bars and beats even |
| | if the tempo and/or time |
| | signature change. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| M | whether the region is muted, so |
| | that it will not be heard. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| O | whether the region is opaque; |
| | opaque regions ‘block’ regions |
| | below them from being heard, |
| | whereas ‘transparent’ regions |
| | have their contents mixed with |
| | whatever is underneath. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
Hovering the mouse pointer over a column heading shows a tool-tip which
can be handy to remember what the columns are for.
A handy feature of the region list is that its regions can be dragged
and dropped into a suitable track in the session.
.. rubric:: 23.2 - The Tracks and Busses List
:name: the-tracks-and-busses-list
:class: clear
This lists the tracks and busses that are present in the session. The
list order reflects the order in the editor, and track or bus names can
be dragged-and-dropped in the editor list to re-order them in the
editor. The columns in the list represent the following:
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| V | whether the track or bus is |
| | visible; they can be hidden, in |
| | which case they will still play, |
| | but just not be visible in the |
| | editor; this can be useful for |
| | keeping the display uncluttered. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| A | whether the track or bus is |
| | active; inactive tracks will not |
| | play, and will not consume any |
| | CPU. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| I | for MIDI tracks, whether the MIDI |
| | input is enabled; this dictates |
| | whether MIDI data from the |
| | track's input ports will be |
| | passed through the track. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| R | whether the track is |
| | record-enabled. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| RS | whether the track is record safe; |
| | a record safe track cannot be |
| | armed for recording, to protect |
| | against a mistake. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| M | whether the track is muted. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| S | track solo state. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| SI | track solo-isolated state. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| SS | solo safe state. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
Each icon in these columns can be clicked to toggle the track/bus state,
which is a very fast way to set multiple tracks/busses state at once.
As with the region list, hovering the mouse pointer over a column
heading shows a tool-tip which can be handy to remember what the columns
are for.
.. rubric:: 23.3 - The Snapshot List
:name: the-snapshot-list
:class: clear
This list gives the snapshots that exist of this session. Clicking on a
snapshot name will load that snapshot.
See `Snapshots <#snapshots>`__ for more information on snapshots.
.. rubric:: 23.4 - The Track and Bus Group List
:name: the-track-and-bus-group-list
:class: clear
This shows the track/bus groups that exist in the session. These groups
allow related tracks to share various properties (such as mute or record
enable state). For full details, see the section called `Track and Bus
Groups <#the-track-and-bus-group-list>`__.
The columns in this list are as follows:
+------+--------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Col | the colour that the group uses for its tab in the editor. |
+------+--------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Name | the group name. |
+------+--------------------------------------------------------------------+
| V | whether the tracks and busses in the group are visible. |
+------+--------------------------------------------------------------------+
| On | whether the group is enabled. |
+------+--------------------------------------------------------------------+
| G | ticked if the constituents of the group are sharing gain settings. |
+------+--------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Rel | ticked if shared gains are relative. |
+------+--------------------------------------------------------------------+
| M | ticked if the constituents share mute status. |
+------+--------------------------------------------------------------------+
| S | ticked if the constituents share solo status. |
+------+--------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Rec | ticked if the constituents share record-enable status. |
+------+--------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Mon | whether the constituents share monitor settings. |
+------+--------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Sel | whether the constituents are selected together. |
+------+--------------------------------------------------------------------+
| A | whether the constituents share active status. |
+------+--------------------------------------------------------------------+
.. rubric:: 23.5 - The Ranges and Marks Lists
:name: the-ranges-and-marks-lists
:class: clear
The Ranges & Marks List is a tab in the Editor Lists area on the right
of the Editor window. If the editor list area isn't visible it can be
enabled by checking View > Show Editor List. The Ranges & Marks list can
be used as a single point of control for all range and location markers
(including the punch and loop ranges), or as a supplement to other
methods of working with them.
.. rubric:: Common elements
:name: common-elements
Each section has a set of editable `clock widgets <#editing-clocks>`__
which display the location of a marker, or the start, end, and duration
times of a range, respectively.
The Use PH buttons allows to set the corresponding clock to the current
playhead position. A Middle click on any of the clocks will move the
playhead to that location. Both functions are also available from the
clock context menus.
Right clicking on any of the clocks brings up a context menu that allows
changing of the display between Timecode, Bars:Beats, Minutes:Seconds,
and Samples.
The — (subtract) button in front of each user-defined range or marker in
the list allows that particular item to be removed. The name fields of
custom ranges and markers can be edited.
The Hide checkboxes make markers and ranges invisible on the respective
ruler to reduce visual clutter; the markers remain active however, and
can be used normally.
Selecting Lock prevents the respective marker from being moved until
unlocked. Where applicable, Glue fixes the marker position relative to
the current musical position expressed in bars and beats, rather than
the absolute time. This will make the respective marker follow changes
in the tempo map.
At the bottom of the list are buttons to add new markers or ranges.
.. rubric:: List sections
:name: list-sections
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Loop/Punch Ranges | This list shows the current loop |
| | and punch range settings. Since |
| | these are built-in ranges, they |
| | cannot be renamed or removed. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Markers (Including CD Index) | This section lists the session's |
| | markers. By ticking CD, Ardour is |
| | instructed to create a CD track |
| | index from this marker, which |
| | will be included in the TOC or |
| | CUE file when exporting. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Ranges (Including CD Track | This is the list of ranges |
| Ranges) | (including CD track ranges). |
| | Ticking CD will convert the range |
| | to a CD track, which will again |
| | be included in exported TOC or |
| | CUE files. This is relevant for |
| | Disk-At-Once recordings that may |
| | contain audio data between |
| | tracks. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
.. rubric:: 24 - Favorite Plugins Window
:name: favorite-plugins-window
:class: clear
.. figure:: /images/favorite-plugins.png
:alt: The Favorite Plugins window.
The Favorite Plugins window.
The Favorite Plugins window is on the top-left side of the Mixer Window.
Like other elements in that window it has variable height and can be
hidden by dragging it to zero-height. If it is not visible, the
top-handle can be grabbed and dragged down to reveal it.
Plugin names that have a right facing triangle next to them have presets
associated with them; clicking on the triangle will cause all presets
associated with the plugin to show in the list.
.. rubric:: Features
:name: features
.. figure:: /images/mixer-to-fav-dnd.png
:alt: Dragging a plugin to the window.
Dragging a plugin to the window.
The Favorite Plugins window provides easy access to frequently used
plugins:
- Plugins can be dragged from the window to any track or bus `processor
box <#processor-box>`__, which will add the plugin to that track or
bus at the given position.
- The list includes user-presets for the plugins. Dragging a preset to
a given track or bus will load that preset after adding the plugin.
- Double-clicking on a plugin or preset adds the given plugin to all
selected tracks/busses pre-fader. Other insert positions are
available from the context menu (right click).
- Dragging a plugin from a track into the window will add it to the
list and optionally create a new preset from the current settings.
The horizontal line in the list shows the spot where the plugin will
land.
- The context-menu allows the deletion of presets or removal of the
plugin from the list.
- Plugins in the list can be re-ordered using drag & drop. The custom
order is saved.
When favorites are added with the `Plugin Manager <#plugin-manager>`__,
they are appended to the bottom of the list.
.. rubric:: 25 - Strips list
:name: strips-list
:class: clear
The Strips List is a quick way to manage big sessions, with lots of
tracks, where the mixer would otherwise be too crowded.
It is a list of all the tracks, busses and VCA in the session, with a
tick to allow for hiding or showing them. This visibility status also
affects the Editor view, and is exactly the same as toggling the V
checkbox in the `Tracks and Busses <#the-tracks-and-busses-list>`__
panel of the Editor List.
Dragging and dropping tracks inside the Strips List allows to reorganise
the tracks in the session, both in the Mixer and the Editor. Clicking a
track scrolls the Mixer to show this track.
It is possible, by right clicking, to act on multiple tracks at once:
- Show All
- Hide All
- Show All Audio Tracks
- Hide All Audio Tracks
- Show All Audio Busses
- Hide All Audio Busses
- Show All MIDI Tracks
- Hide All MIDI Tracks
The + button under the list is a shortcut to create a new track, bus or
VCA, as in clicking Track > Add Track, Bus or VCA….
.. rubric:: 26 - Groups list
:name: groups-list
:class: clear
The Groups List allows to quickly manage the
`groups <#the-track-and-bus-group-list>`__ of the session, and make use
of them.
Each group has a Show checkbox to quickly toggle their visibility.
Clicking an already selected group allows to rename it.
The context menu, reached by right clicking a group, allows for multiple
mixing actions:
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Create New Group From… | Creates a new group based on some |
| | track properties. The choice is: |
| | |
| | - Selection… to create a group |
| | of all selected tracks |
| | - Record Enabled… to create a |
| | group of all the tracks that |
| | are record enabled |
| | - Soloed… to create a group of |
| | all the soloed tracks |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Create New Group with Master | Acts exactly as the previous |
| From… | choice, but also creates a |
| | Control Master tied to these |
| | tracks. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Assign Selection to Control | Allows to link all the selected |
| Master… | tracks to a chosen Control |
| | Master, whether or not they |
| | belong to a group. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Assign Record Enabled to Control | Allows to link all the record |
| Master… | armed tracks to a chosen Control |
| | Master. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Assign Soloed to Control Master… | Allows to link all the soloed |
| | tracks to a chosen Control |
| | Master. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Enable All Groups | Enable all the groups, i.e. their |
| | selected properties are |
| | synchronized. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Disable All Groups | Disable all the groups, i.e. |
| | changing a property in a track |
| | won't affect the others. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
When a group is selected, right clicking it adds the following menu
entries:
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Create New Group with Master | Acts exactly as the previous |
| From… | choice, but also creates a |
| | Control Master tied to these |
| | tracks. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Edit Group… | Shows the Track/bus Group |
| | `window <#the-track-and-bus-group |
| | -list>`__. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Collect Group | Rearranges the tracks/busses |
| | order to visually group together |
| | the tracks belonging to the same |
| | group. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Remove Group | Deletes the group (but not the |
| | tracks/busses belonging to this |
| | group). |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Assign Group to Control Master… | Allows to link all the tracks in |
| | the group to a chosen VCA. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Add/Remove Subgroup Bus | Creates/removes a new bus |
| | connected to the Master, and send |
| | the output of all the tracks in |
| | the group to this new bus. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Add New Aux Bus (pre/post-fader) | Creates a new bus connected to |
| | the Master, and create `Aux |
| | Sends <#aux-sends>`__ (pre or |
| | post-fader) in all the tracks in |
| | the group to this new bus. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
The + button under the list allows the creation of an (empty) group,
while the − button deletes the selected group (but not the tracks in
this group).
.. rubric:: 27 - Mixer Strips
:name: mixer-strips
:class: clear
.. rubric:: 27.1 - Audio/MIDI Mixer Strips
:name: audiomidi-mixer-strips
:class: clear
.. figure:: /images/mixer-1-strip-numbered.png
:alt: A mixer strip
A mixer strip
A mixer strip in Ardour is a vertical view of the track, from a mixing
point of view. This view is convenient to deal with I/O, effects,
panning/muting, gain, etc… It has a general "top to bottom" flow.
The mixer strips breaks down into:
#. Header
#. Track name
#. Input(s)
#. Polarity *only for audio tracks*
#. Processor box
#. Panner
#. Recording options
#. Mute/Solo
#. Gain & Meter
#. Control master
#. Fader automation/mix group/metering point
#. Output(s)
#. Comments
.. rubric:: Headers
:name: headers
At the top of the window, is the `group
tabs <#the-track-and-bus-group-list>`__ (here, *recm…*). This allows to
group tracks together for common controls.
Bellow are 3 buttons:
- The double arrow button allows to shrink/expand the width of the
strip. Click the button will shrink/expand all the tracks at once
- The color bar shows the color of the track in the editor
- The X button toggles the visibility of the track OFF. To turn it back
ON, one can either go to the `Tracks and Busses
list <#the-tracks-and-busses-list>`__ in the Editor view and check
the "V" column on the track's line or stay in the Mixer view and
check the Show column of this strip in the `Strips
list <#strips-list>`__.
Right clicking on the color bar will bring up a context menu, which is
exactly the same as clicking on the Track name button.
.. rubric:: Track Name
:name: track-name
Clicking the Track name button will bring up a menu:
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Color… | Changes the strip/track color |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Comments… | Shows an editor to put comments |
| | about the track, see below the |
| | Comments button |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Inputs… | Shows the Routing grid for the |
| | inputs of the track |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Outputs… | Shows the Routing grid for the |
| | outputs of the track |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Save As Template… | Allows to save the track without |
| | its media content (I/O, |
| | effects,…) for later reuse |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Rename… | Changes the name of the track |
| | (effective both in the Mixer and |
| | the Editor) |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Active | Select the active status of the |
| | track. An inactive track won't |
| | output any sound |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Strict I/O | While in `patchbayStrict |
| | I/O <#trackbus-signal-flow>`__ |
| | mode, a track *always* has as |
| | many output as it has inputs, |
| | regardless of the effects. When |
| | disabled, a stereo effect put on |
| | a mono track will result in a |
| | stereo output for the strip. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Pin Connections… | Shows the Pin Configuration |
| | window, that shows (and allows to |
| | modify) all the signal flows |
| | inside the track |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Adjust Latency… | Shows the Track Latency dialog, |
| | that allows fine-tune the latency |
| | to the track, in samples, msec or |
| | period |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Protect Against Denormals | Uses a trick to get rid of |
| | *denormals*, which are very small |
| | numbers the CPU can have a hard |
| | time dealing with. To be used if |
| | the CPU consumption for plugins |
| | is noticeably higher than |
| | expected |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Duplicate… | Copies the track to a new one, |
| | optionally with its playlist |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Remove | Deletes the track and its |
| | playlist |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
.. rubric:: Inputs
:name: inputs
The dropdown button shows the current input port(s), i.e. what's plugged
to the "in" of the track. By default, each audio track is connected to
the system inputs, ready for recording, as shown by the number(s).
Clicking the dropdown Inputs button will allow to change the inputs,
through a menu:
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Disconnect | Disconnects everything, i.e. the |
| | track has no input |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| In *n* | Those are the system inputs, e.g. |
| | to record from the soundcard. A |
| | mono track will have *In 1* and |
| | *In 2* separated, while a stereo |
| | track can have *In 1+2* |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| *Track n output* | All the outputs of compatible |
| | tracks, e.g., a mono track can |
| | only receive a mono signal, a |
| | MIDI track can only receive MIDI |
| | signal, … |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Add Audio Port | Adds an audio input to the track, |
| | i.e. a mono audio track becomes a |
| | stereo one |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Add MIDI Port | Adds a MIDI input to the track. |
| | Adding it to an audio track makes |
| | it a mixed Audio/MIDI track. This |
| | can be useful e.g. to feed some |
| | plugins with a MIDI signal to |
| | control the audio, like a vocoder |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Routing Grid | Shows the `Routing Grid |
| | window <#patchbay>`__, which |
| | allows for more complex input |
| | configuration |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
The Routing Grid can also be shown by right clicking the dropdown Inputs
button. It allows to make the connections through a matrix, and connect
things that are not listed in the menu above, or connect to multiple
sources at once, reduce the number of inputs, etc…
On audio tracks, is a Trim knob, as on traditional consoles. It set the
base input level for the track, avoiding any clipping. Notice that it
trims both any input, but (when playing back), also the level of the
playlist as displayed in the Editor. It makes sense as while playing,
the input of the track is the playlist, on which the mixer strip acts.
On midi tracks, it is replaced by a MIDI Input button, that
allows/disallows MIDI input on the track.
.. rubric:: Polarity
:name: polarity
On audio tracks only, the Polarity button(s), 1 per input, allow to
reverse the signal, i.e. a negative value will be positive and
vice-versa. This can help deal with phasing issues.
.. rubric:: Processor box
:name: processor-box
The processor box is where the effects are added. By default, one effect
is always present: the Fader (see below). The effects can be added
*pre*-fader and appear in brown, or *post*-fader, where they will appear
in dark green. The signal flow is represented by lines, red for the MIDI
and green for the audio.
It is also where the `Sends <#aux-sends>`__ come from, whether external
or auxiliary.
To learn more about the processor box, see `The Processor
Box <#processor-box>`__.
.. rubric:: Panner
:name: panner
The Panner visually displays how the sound will be distributed between
the different outputs. They'll look and behave differently if the track
is mono, stereo, or has multiple channels.
Right clicking the Panner will show a menu:
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Bypass | When checked, the panner is |
| | grayed, and the signal is not |
| | affected by it |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Reset | Resets the panner to its default |
| | settings, e.g. for a mono signal, |
| | it is centered |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Edit… | Shows a Panner dialog, which |
| | allows for fine tuning of the |
| | panner |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
See `Panning <#panning>`__ to learn more about how to control the
panner, and what kind of panners are available inside Ardour.
.. rubric:: Recording options
:name: recording-options
The most noticeable button here is the Record Enable one, with a red
circle. When enabled, next time the Global record will be armed and
playback started, everything that comes from the input of the track will
be recorded. Right clicking a disabled record button allows to enable
Rec-Safe, thus protecting the track against accidental recording.
The buttons on the right, In and Disk, show what the user is listening
to by lighting up, between the *In*\ put and the actual content of the
playlist on *Disk*.
They also allow to override the automatic switching by pressing them to
lock one source or the other to be what the user is hearing.
.. rubric:: Mute/Solo
:name: mutesolo
These buttons allow to Mute (or silence) the track, or Solo them,
shutting down the gain of the other tracks (totally by default, can be
set to partially in the options). See `Muting and
Soloing <#muting-and-soloing>`__ for more information.
Notice that by default, Solo overrides Mute, i.e. if a track is both
Soloed and Muted, it will play. That can be changed in the preferences.
The two led button above are related to solo:
- Solo Isolate, as the name suggests, isolates tracks or busses from
the solo system. When tracks or busses are soloed the isolated ones
will not mute.
- Solo Lock locks the solo into its current state (i.e. solo on or solo
off). It will not allow the solo state to be changed until the lock
is released.
.. rubric:: Gain & Meter
:name: gain-meter
On the right of this part is a `Meter <#metering-in-ardour>`__,
displaying the level of the track's output after the fader. In can be
set to display the signal at any point, see below *Metering Point*.
Right clicking this meter shows a menu allowing to switch the meter
type.
The big Gain slider on the left allows to change the gain of the track.
Its default OdB value is reminded with a white horizontal line, and its
precise value is shown in a text field above it, that doubles as a way
to type in a numeric value.
The text field above the meter shows the "Peak", i.e. the maximum value
that has been reached during playback. To avoid distortion, the value
should stay below OdB, and if it goes above this value, the text field
will turn red. Clicking on this field will reset the Peak value (for a
new measurement or a new part of the track).
Notice that if any gain automation has been set and the automation state
is set on "Play" (see below), then the Gain fader is driven by the
automation, and not by the user. The Gain fader will turn grey to show
it is inactive.
.. rubric:: VCAs
:name: vcas
If at least one `VCA <#control-masters-mixer-strips>`__ exists, this
button will show up, allowing the user to link this track to any control
master.
Clicking the button lists all the available control masters, and a menu
option to Unassign all. Notice that a track can be a slave to as many
VCAs as they are in the session, hence multiplying the number of VCA
buttons. The displayed number is the number of the VCA, not the count of
VCAs linked to the track. A track with no VCA assigned will show a
unique button with a "-vca-" label instead of this number.
.. rubric:: Fader automation/mix group/metering point
:name: fader-automationmix-groupmetering-point
.. rubric:: Fader automation mode
:name: fader-automation-mode
This button allows to choose the mode used regarding automation:
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Manual | *(default)* The playback won't |
| | use the fader automation data |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Play | Enables playback/use of fader |
| | automation data |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Write | While the transport is rolling, |
| | all fader changes will be |
| | recorded to the fader automation |
| | lane |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Touch | While the transport is rolling, |
| | touching the fader will initiate |
| | recording all fader changes until |
| | the fader is released. When the |
| | fader is not being touched, |
| | existing automation data will be |
| | played/used to control the gain |
| | level. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
.. rubric:: Mix group
:name: mix-group
This button displays the mix group information as does the tab in the
header (see above). It is convenient though, as it allows to quickly
switch the track from one group to another with a drop down menu, also
allowing to affect the track to a non-adjacent group (which the tab
won't easily allow).
.. rubric:: Metering Point
:name: metering-point
The metering displayed in the meter is by default is 'Post', i.e. Post
fader. It can be changed with this button to Any point of the signal
flow:
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| In | The input of the track |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Pre | Pre-fader |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Post | Post-fader |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Out | The output of the track |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Custom | A *Meter* processor is added to |
| | the processor box and can be set |
| | anywhere (by dragging and |
| | dropping) to probe the signal |
| | flow at that point |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
.. rubric:: Output(s)
:name: outputs
This button is exactly the same as the *Input* button, but applies to
the *output* of the track.
.. rubric:: Comments
:name: comments
This buttons open up a little text editor, that can be used to add some
written notes to the track, as e.g. a particular setting. The button's
caption is replaced by the beginning of the text, so it can be used as a
"sub" name for the track.
.. rubric:: 27.2 - Audio/MIDI Busses Mixer Strips
:name: audiomidi-busses-mixer-strips
:class: clear
.. figure:: /images/bus-mixer-strip.png
:alt: A bus mixer strip
A bus mixer strip
An Ardour bus can be considered a virtual track, as in a track that
doesn't have a playlist (so, no regions). Its use is to "group" some
audio signals to be treated the same way. One simple use case is to
group all the audio tracks containing the different drums of a drum kit.
Routing all the drum tracks' outputs to a bus allows, once the different
levels amongst the drums have been set, to adjust the global level of
the drum kit in the mix.
Bus usage goes way beyond this simple example though: busses, as tracks,
can receive plugins for common audio treatment, and be routed themselves
as needed. This makes for a very useful tool that is very commonly used
both for musical purposes and computing ones: instead of using e.g. ten
discrete delay plugins on ten different tracks, busses are often used as
receivers of `sends <#aux-sends>`__, and only one delay plugin is used
on this bus, reducing the processing power needed.
Audio Busses vs MIDI Busses
Ardour supports two types of busses: Audio and MIDI. A MIDI bus differs
from an audio bus just by:
- its input (which is midi, as shown by the red signal lines in the
processor box) instead of *n* audio
- the fact that an instrument can be placed on it at creation time,
whereas it can't easily be done for an audio bus
- as for tracks, the MIDI bus doesn't have a trim knob or invert phase
button(s).
MIDI busses provide a particularly efficient workflow for virtual drum
kits where the arrangement uses different MIDI tracks. Moreover, busses
with both Audio and MIDI inputs are well suited for vocoders and similar
plugins, where a MIDI signal controls an audio one.
Adding any audio input to a MIDI bus transforms it into an audio bus.
.. rubric:: Description
:name: description
Busses look and behave exactly like tracks, so they share nearly `all of
their controls <#audiomidi-mixer-strips>`__. The differences are:
- as the busses don't have a playlist (and cannot host any media), they
can't be recorded on. The recording controls are not present
- an Aux button replaces these controls.
Clicking the Aux button makes every track that sends a signal to this
bus through `Aux sends <#aux-sends>`__ blink in turquoise. Right
clicking this button brings up a menu:
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Assign all tracks (prefader) | Creates an Aux Send in every |
| | track, to this bus. The send is |
| | placed just before the fader |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Assign all tracks and busses | Creates an Aux Send in every |
| (prefader) | track and every bus, to this bus. |
| | The send is placed just before |
| | the fader |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Assign all tracks (postfader) | Same as above, but the send is |
| | placed just after the fader |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Assign all tracks and busses | Same as above, with tracks and |
| (postfader) | busses |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Assign selected tracks (prefader) | Same as for all tracks, but only |
| | applies to the selected tracks |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Assign selected tracks and busses | Same as for all tracks and |
| (prefader) | busses, but only applies to the |
| | selected tracks and busses |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Assign selected tracks | Same as above, but the send is |
| (postfader) | placed just after the fader |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Assign selected tracks and busses | Same as above, with tracks and |
| (postfader) | busses |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Set sends gain to -inf | For all the sends to this bus, |
| | put the send fader to −∞ so no |
| | signal is sent |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Set sends gain to 0dB | For all the sends to this bus, |
| | put the send fader at the default |
| | position, 0dB (100% of th signal |
| | is sent) |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
.. rubric:: Connecting a track to a bus
:name: connecting-a-track-to-a-bus
Depending on the user's workflow and the way busses are used, two
possibilities exists:
.. rubric:: Connecting a track to a bus via its outputs
:name: connecting-a-track-to-a-bus-via-its-outputs
.. figure:: /images/connecting_bus_output.png
:alt: Connecting a bus through a track's outputs
Connecting a bus through a track's outputs
Connecting the output(s) of a track to the input(s) of the bus sends
*all* the audio/MIDI to the bus. In the mixer strip, select (at the
bottom) the OUTPUT button (often, by default, "Master"), and in the
list, choose the input of a bus. Note that only the bus able to receive
this output will show up, e.g. a mono bus won't be able to be connected
to the output of a stereo track).
Obviously, doing so will (by default) disconnect the output from the
Master's input, which means all the audio/MIDI will be routed to the
bus. For more complex routing, the OUTPUT button allows to show the
Routing Grid that allows to plug the output of the track to multiple
outputs at once, be it busses, tracks, Master… The button will then
reflect these multiple connections by showing a *\*number\**, number
being the number of connections made in the routing grid.
.. rubric:: Connecting a track to a bus via Sends
:name: connecting-a-track-to-a-bus-via-sends
.. figure:: /images/connecting_bus_send.png
:alt: Connecting a bus through a send
Connecting a bus through a send
This allows not to interrupt the natural flow of the signal, i.e. the
track will still output to what its connected to (e.g. Master). The
signal is "tapped" at the point of insertion of the send, to be sent to
the bus, by right clicking where in the signal flow the signal should be
tapped, and selecting New Aux Send… > name_of_the_bus.
By left-clicking the send meter, it is possible to adjust the amount of
signal sent to the bus. This is often the way tracks are connected to an
effect bus, like a Delay bus.
Busses can be plugged to other busses, through outputs or sends. Both
example workflows discussed previously, i.e. busses for grouping tracks
and busses for effects, can both coexist, as e.g. a "grouping" drum bus
can have a send to a reverb bus, and be connected to a compressor bus.
.. rubric:: 27.3 - VCA Mixer Strips
:name: control-masters-mixer-strips
:class: clear
.. figure:: /images/vca-numbered.png
:alt: A VCA mixer strip
A VCA mixer strip
Although track/bus `groups <#the-track-and-bus-group-list>`__ offer a
certain kind of grouped-control over gain, solo, mute and more,
traditional mixing consoles have long had group master channels ("VCAs")
which allows to combine both a single fader to control the group level
while also allowing to easily adjust the relative levels inside the
group. For large projects, this can make mixing much easier to control.
Ardour implements those VCAs in a way that allows to use either or both
of the conventions used on different traditional consoles for combining
multiple masters:
- Nest VCAs (VCA 2 controls VCA 1 etc.)
- Chain VCAs (VCA 1 and VCA 2 both control track or bus *N*)
.. rubric:: Description of the VCAs
:name: description-of-the-vcas
A VCA strip is made of (from top to bottom in the screenshot):
#. Number of the VCA
#. X button: Allows to hide the VCA strip. Left clicking this button
toggles the exclusive visibility of the tracks connected to this VCA
#. Name button
#. M: mutes the VCA, S: solos the VCA
#. Level meter: allows to adjust the level of the VCA
#. ~vca~: a VCA button to optionally connect to another VCA
Right-clicking the name button shows a context menus comprised of:
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Rename | Renames the VCA |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Color… | Changes the color of the VCA |
| | button in the tracks connected to |
| | this one |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Drop All Slaves | Deletes all connections to this |
| | VCA, i.e. no tracks are |
| | controlled by this VCA anymore |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Remove | Deletes this VCA |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
.. rubric:: Connecting to a VCA strip
:name: connecting-to-a-vca-strip
.. figure:: /images/connecting_to_vca.png
:alt: Connecting to a VCA
Connecting to a VCA
Connecting a track/bus/VCA to a VCA is as simple as clicking the VCA
button that appears on any mixer strip under the main fader and choosing
the VCA to connect to.
The VCA button only shows up in mixer strips when at least one VCA
exists, i.e., a VCA must be created *before* connecting tracks to it.
Clicking the VCA button shows all the VCAs in the session, and any or
all of this VCA can be checked to link them to the track, making this
track controlled by multiple VCAs. The track will then show multiple
buttons. Disconnecting a VCA from a track is done by unchecking this VCA
in the list that pops up, or clicking Unassign All to disconnect from
all VCAs at once.
.. rubric:: 27.4 - Master Bus Strip
:name: master-bus-strip
:class: clear
.. figure:: /images/master-strip.png
:alt: The Master strip in the mixer
The Master strip in the mixer
The Master strip in Ardour is very similar to the other busses mixer
strips. The list of differences is (from top to bottom):
- There is no color affected to the master strip
- The master strip cannot be hidden, so there is not X in the top right
- It is by definition always solo, so no Solo, Iso or Lock buttons. It
is replaced by a button to show the Monitoring section if `the
session has one <#monitoring-tab>`__
- It cannot belong to a mix group, so the button is removed.
The Master bus strip is *always* fixed, at the right end of the mixer,
regardless of the scrolling position.
.. rubric:: 28 - Editor Tracks
:name: track-controls
:class: clear
.. rubric:: 28.1 - Audio Track Controls
:name: audio-track-controls
:class: clear
.. figure:: /images/typical-audio-track-controls.png
:alt: An audio track header section
An audio track header section
At the top-left of the controls is the name of the track, which can be
edited by double-clicking on it. The new name must be unique within the
session.
Underneath the name is the track's main level fader. Changing it will
affect the whole track :
- dragging will change the fader's value as per the mouse's position
- clicking will set the fader to −∞
- clicking will reset the fader to its original 0dB position.
On the right-hand side of the headers are level meters for the outputs
of the track (1 level per output).
The control buttons are:
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| ● (Record) | The button with the pink circle |
| | arms the track for recording. |
| | When armed, the entire button |
| | will turn pink, and change to |
| | bright red as soon as the |
| | transport is rolling and the |
| | track is recording. Right |
| | clicking will allow to en/disable |
| | Rec-safe, protecting the track |
| | against accidental recording. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| M (Mute) | Mutes the track. Right clicking |
| | displays a menu which dictates |
| | what particular parts of the |
| | track should be muted. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| S (Solo) | Soloes the track. The behaviour |
| | of the solo system is described |
| | in detail in the section `Muting |
| | and |
| | Soloing <#muting-and-soloing>`__. |
| | Right clicking will allow to |
| | en/disable Solo isolate and Solo |
| | safe. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| P (Playlist) | Opens a playlist menu when |
| | clicked. The menu offers various |
| | operations related to the track's |
| | `playlist <#playlists>`__. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| A (Automation) | Opens the automation menu for the |
| | track. For details see |
| | `Automation <#automation>`__. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| G (Group) | Allows to assign the track to an |
| | existing or a new group. For |
| | details see `Track and bus |
| | groups <#track-and-bus-groups>`__ |
| | . |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
.. rubric:: 28.2 - MIDI Track Controls
:name: midi-track-controls
:class: clear
A typical MIDI track header looks like this:
.. figure:: /images/typical-midi-track-controls.png
:alt: A MIDI track header
A MIDI track header
To show the full set of MIDI track controls, the `track
height <#track-height>`__ must be increased beyond the default. MIDI
tracks show only a few of the control elements when there is
insufficient vertical space.
A MIDI track has the same basic controls as an `audio
track <#audio-track-controls>`__, with the addition of three extra
elements:
#. Some meters for the track's outputs (MIDI in red, Audio in green)
#. The Scroomer, a zoom and scroll controller for the midi notes range
#. When the track is tall enough, the External MIDI Device selection
dropdown appears.
Also, right clicking the ● (record) button shows the `Step
Entry <#step-entry>`__ dialog instead of controlling the rec-safe.
.. rubric:: The Scroomer
:name: the-scroomer
The Scroomer performs a couple of functions:
- The scrollbar controls the range of pitches that are visible on the
track, as visualized by the piano keyboard. Dragging the body of the
scrollbar up and down displays higher or lower pitches.
- Dragging the scrollbar handles zooms in and out and increases or
decreases the range of visible pitches.
- Double clicking the scrollbar auto-adjusts the zooms to make the
range of visible pitches fit the actual content of the track.
- Clicking on the piano plays the corresponding MIDI note for
reference.
.. rubric:: Channel and patch selection
:name: channel-and-patch-selection
.. rubric:: The Channel Selector
:name: the-channel-selector
.. figure:: /images/midi_channel_control.png
:alt: The MIDI channel control window
:figclass: mini
The MIDI channel control window
A MIDI track's data may span any number of the 16 available MIDI
channels, and sometimes it is useful to view only a subset of those
channels; different instruments may, for example, be put on different
channels. In the context menu (right click), the Channel Selector allows
to control the MIDI channel(s) that will be visible in the editor.
This window also gives control over which channel(s) will be recorded,
and which will be played back, choosing between:
- All channels
- Only selected channels —Ardour then proposes to choose amongst the 16
channels which are to be recorded/played
- Force all to one channel —Ardour then 'routes' all the channels to
one user selectable channel.
.. rubric:: The Patch Selector
:name: the-patch-selector
:class: clear
.. figure:: /images/patch_selector.png
:alt: The Patch Selector window
:figclass: mini
The Patch Selector window
The Patch Selector window is an easy way to set which instrument will be
used on any of the MIDI channels. Although patches can be changed at any
time using a `patch change <#patch-change>`__, this dialog provides an
easy and convenient way to preview patches in software and hardware
instruments. It integrates fully with Ardour's support for MIDNAM (patch
definition files), so Ardour can display named programs/patches for both
General MIDI synths and those with MIDNAM files.
The window itself makes it easy to choose a channel, a bank number,
optionally choosing a bank number through its MSB and LSB numbers (CC#00
and CC#32) for large banks, then choosing an instrument.
The keyboard at the bottom of the window allows for a quick preview of
the selected instrument, either automatically (using the buttons on top
of the keyboard) or manually by either clicking a note or using the
computer keyboard as a piano keyboard.
To edit the contents of a MIDI track see `MIDI Editing <#edit-midi>`__.
.. rubric:: 28.3 - Bus Controls
:name: bus-controls
:class: clear
.. figure:: /images/typical-bus-controls.png
:alt: A bus header section
A bus header section
The bus' header is very similar to the `audio track
header <#audio-track-controls>`__, minus :
- the playlist button, as a bus doesn't have any playlists or regions
by itself, it is only a pipe to route audio or midi through
- the record button, for the same reason.
For more information about the bus concept, see `Understanding basic
concepts <#understanding-basic-concepts-and-terminology>`__.
.. rubric:: 29 - Track and Bus Groups
:name: track-and-bus-groups
:class: clear
Tracks and busses can be put into groups. Members of a group can share
various settings—useful for managing tracks that are closely related to
each other. Examples might include tracks that contain
multiple-microphone recordings of a single source (an acoustic guitar,
perhaps, or a drum kit).
.. figure:: /images/track-in-group.png
:alt: Track headers for a group
Track headers for a group
Tracks and busses can be grouped in various ways. In the editor window,
a track's controls might look like the adjacent image.
The green tab to the left of the track header indicates that this track
is in a group called Fred. These tabs can be dragged to add adjacent
tracks to a group.
.. rubric:: Create New Groups
:name: create-new-groups
There are several ways to create groups for tracks and busses:
- Right-clicking on the group tab and using one of the Create… options
there. A group can be created with no members, or one that starts
with the currently selected tracks, or record-enabled tracks, or
soloed tracks.
- Alternatively, clicking the g button on a track header to open the
Group menu. The menu lists the available groups. Selecting one of
these groups will add the track or bus to that group. The menu also
allows creating a new group.
- Finally, the `Groups list <#groups-list>`__ has a plus (+) button at
the bottom of the list that can be clicked on to create a new group.
.. rubric:: Remove Groups
:name: remove-groups
Context-clicking on a group tab and selecting Remove Group from the menu
removes it. Removing a group does *not* remove the members of a group.
Groups can also be removed by selecting them in the `Groups
list <#groups-list>`__ and then pressing the minus (−) button at the
bottom of the list.
.. rubric:: Add/Remove Tracks and Busses From a Group
:name: addremove-tracks-and-busses-from-a-group
Clicking the g button displays a menu with a list of the available
groups. Selecting one of these groups adds the track or bus to that
group. Selecting No Group removes it.
Alternatively, a group tab can be dragged to add or remove tracks from
the group.
.. rubric:: Activate/Deactivate Groups via the Group Tab
:name: activatedeactivate-groups-via-the-group-tab
Clicking on a group tab toggles the group between being active and
inactive. An inactive group has no effect when editing its members. An
active group will share its configured properties across its members.
Tabs for disabled groups are coloured grey.
.. rubric:: Modify Group Properties
:name: modify-group-properties
.. figure:: /images/route-group-dialogue.png
:alt: The Track/bus Group dialog
The Track/bus Group dialog
Edit the properties of a group is done by right-clicking on its tab and
choosing Edit Group…. This opens the track/bus group dialog, which is
also used when creating new groups.
.. rubric:: Group Color
:name: group-color
Clicking on the color selector button changes a group's color. This
affects the color of the group's tab in the editor and mixer windows.
The color does *not* affect the color of the group members unless the
shared Color property is enabled.
.. rubric:: Shared Properties
:name: shared-properties
Gain means that the track faders will be synced to always have the same
value; Relative means that the gain changes are applied relative to each
member's current value. If, for example, there are two tracks in a group
with relative gain sharing, and their faders are set to −3 dB and −1 dB,
a change of the first track to a gain of −6 dB will result in the second
track having a gain of −4 dB (the *difference* of the gains remains the
same).
`Muting <#bus-controls>`__, `Soloing <#bus-controls>`__, `record
enable <#audio-track-controls>`__, `active
state <#the-tracks-and-busses-list>`__, `color <#track-color>`__ and
`monitoring <#monitoring>`__ are all straightforward. They simply mean
that all member tracks or busses will share the same settings in these
respects.
Selection means that if a region is selected or deselected on one member
track, `corresponding regions <#corresponding-regions-selection>`__ on
other member tracks will be similarly selected. Since region editing
operations are applied to all currently selected regions, this is the
way to make edits apply across all tracks in the group.
.. rubric:: Group Tab Context Menu
:name: group-tab-context-menu
Context-clicking on the group tab offers a further menu of group-related
actions.
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Create a New Group | create a new group |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Create New Group from… | create a new group and |
| | automatically add … |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Selected | all currently selected tracks and |
| | busses |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Rec-enabled | all currently record-enabled |
| | tracks |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Soloed | all currently soloed tracks and |
| | busses |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Collect Group | moves all the member tracks so |
| | that they are together in the |
| | editor window |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Remove Group | removes the group (and only the |
| | group, not its members). |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Add New Subgroup Bus | creates a bus (giving it the name |
| | of the group) and connects the |
| | output of each member to the new |
| | bus. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Add New Aux Bus | adds a bus and gives each member |
| | a send to that bus. There are two |
| | options for this, specifying |
| | whether the sends should be |
| | placed pre- or post-fader. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Fit to Window | will zoom the member tracks so |
| | that they fill the editor window. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Enable All Groups | makes all group active, including |
| | any hidden groups. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Disable All Groups | makes all groups inactive, |
| | including any hidden groups. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
.. rubric:: 30 - Monitor Section
:name: monitor-section
:class: clear
.. figure:: /images/monitoring-strip.png
:alt: The Monitoring strip
The Monitoring strip
The Monitor section is an optional feature that provides Control
Room/Monitor Speaker outputs. It can be activated for the current
session in the `Session > Properties window <#monitoring-tab>`__ by
enabling the Use monitor section in this session option in the
Monitoring tab. By default the Monitor Section is fed with audio from
the Master Bus, but depending on solo mode and other functions such as
Auditioning, other audio sources may be temporarily heard instead.
The Monitor section appears on the right hand side of the Mixer, and
comprises:
#. Detach/attach control. This separates the Monitor section into its
own floating window
#. Status indicators for important functions
#. Solo behaviour selection
#. Show, hide and status of the Monitor Sections inline processors
#. Level controls for solo functionality
#. Level control for Monitor Dim
#. Individual monitor path controls
#. Mute, Dim and Mono functions for the monitor outputs
#. Monitor level control
#. Monitor output routing
.. rubric:: Status Indicators
:name: status-indicators
The Status indicators, two of which also appear in `the Transport tool
bar <#about-ardours-interface>`__, flash to indicate when that function
is in operation:
- Soloing: This indicates when one or more tracks or busses are
currently being soloed. See `Muting and
Soloing <#muting-and-soloing>`__. Clicking on this indicator cancels
all currently soloed channels or busses
- Auditioning: This indicates when an audio file is being listened to
directly, e.g. when using the import dialogue, or using the Audition
context menu in the `Regions List <#the-region-list>`__. Clicking
this indicator cancels the current audition
- Isolated: This indicates when one or more tracks or busses are solo
isolated. See `Muting and Soloing <#muting-and-soloing>`__. Clicking
on this indicator cancels any current isolation.
.. rubric:: Solo behaviour selection
:name: solo-behaviour-selection
The SiP, PFL and AFL controls inter-cancel with each other and select
the desired Solo mode. Excl. Solo and Solo Mute then modify the modes
behaviour. See `Muting and Soloing <#muting-and-soloing>`__. The current
mode is indicated by the illuminated 'LED' on the button.
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| SiP | This selects *Solo In Place* as |
| | the current solo mode and cancels |
| | the previous mode. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| PFL | This selects *Pre Fade Listen* as |
| | the current solo mode and cancels |
| | the previous mode. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| AFL | This selects *After Fade Listen* |
| | as the current solo mode and |
| | cancels the previous mode. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Excl. Solo | This enables or disables the |
| | *Exclusive Solo* option. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Solo » Mute | This enables or disables the |
| | *Solo Mute* option. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
Changing the solo mode (SiP, PFL or AFL) will update the labels on the
mixer strips' solo controls accordingly.
.. rubric:: The Processors button
:name: the-processors-button
Clicking the Processors button show or hides the Monitor Sections
processor box. This is used in the same way as processor boxes present
in `tracks <#audiomidi-mixer-strips>`__ and
`busses <#audiomidi-busses-mixer-strips>`__. It can be used to insert
plugins, e.g. a room correction EQ or a specific metering type.
As this processing is local to the Monitor Section it is only applied to
audio that is ultimately available at the monitor outputs.
.. rubric:: Solo level controls
:name: solo-level-controls
These controls set the level of the audio when a channel or bus solo is
engaged.
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Solo Boost | This is the level that will be |
| | added to the current main monitor |
| | level when a track or bus is |
| | soloed, providing a convenient |
| | boost in level for the isolated |
| | signal. The rotary control has a |
| | range of 0dB to +10dB and can be |
| | set at any point between these |
| | two values. A drop down menu with |
| | pre-defined values is also |
| | provided for convenience. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| SiP Cut | Only relevant to Solo in Place |
| | mode. This sets the level that |
| | all muted tracks or busses will |
| | be muted by. By default it is |
| | -&infinity; i.e. the non soloed |
| | tracks are totally inaudible. The |
| | level can be raised to make the |
| | other tracks audible, though |
| | dimmed. This is also sometimes |
| | referred to *Solo in Front*. The |
| | rotary control has a range of |
| | -inf to +0dB and can be set at |
| | any point between these two |
| | values. A drop down menu with |
| | pre-defined values is also |
| | provided for convenience. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
.. rubric:: Dim level control
:name: dim-level-control
The Dim level control sets the amount by which the monitoring will be
reduced when a Dim button is engaged. The rotary control has a range of
-20dB to 0dB and can be set at any point between these two values. A
drop down menu with pre-defined values is also provided for convenience.
.. rubric:: Monitor path controls
:name: monitor-path-controls
Each of the individual paths through the Monitor Section, (e.g. L and R
for stereo), can be controlled individually. Four functions are
available:
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Mute | Mutes the selected path(s) |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Dim | Reduces the selected path(s) |
| | level by the amount set with the |
| | Dim level control |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Solo | Solos the selected channel(s) |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Inv | Inverts the selected channel(s) |
| | polarity |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
.. rubric:: Global Monitor controls
:name: global-monitor-controls
Those buttons directly affect the output of the monitoring section:
- Mono: sums all of the paths to a single mono signal and applies it to
all Monitor Section outputs.
- Dim: Reduces overall monitor level by the amount set with the Dim
level control.
- Mute: Mutes all monitoring.
.. rubric:: Global Monitor level
:name: global-monitor-level
This control sets the level for Monitor Section output. The rotary
control has a range of -inf to +6dB and can be set at any point between
these two values. A drop down menu with pre-defined values is also
provided for convenience.
.. rubric:: Monitoring Output routing
:name: monitoring-output-routing
Clicking on this button shows a menu that allows quick and convenient
routing of the Monitor Section's outputs to audio hardware outputs, e.g.
to feed control room monitors. It also has an option to open Ardour's
routing matrix, where more detailed connectivity is available if routing
to something other than hardware is required.
.. rubric:: Part IV - Sessions & Tracks
:name: sessions-tracks
:class: clear
.. rubric:: 31 - Sessions
:name: sessions
:class: clear
.. rubric:: 31.1 - What's in a Session?
:name: whats-in-a-session
:class: clear
The Session is the fundamental document type that is created and
modified by the Ardour workstation. A Session is a folder on a computer
filesystem that contains all the items that pertain to a particular
project or "recording/editing/mixing session".
The Session folder includes these files and folders:
- ``session_name.ardour`` the main session snapshot
- ``*.ardour``, any additional snapshots
- ``session_name.ardour.bak``, the auto-backup snapshot
- ``session_name.history``, the undo history for the session
- ``instant.xml``, which records the last-used zoom scale and other
metadata
- ``interchange/``, a folder which holds the raw audio and MIDI files
(whether imported or recorded)
- ``export/``, a folder which contains any files created by the Session
> Export function
- ``peaks/``, a folder which contains waveform renderings of all audio
files in the session
- ``analysis/``, a folder which contains transient and pitch
information of each audio file that has been analysed
- ``dead sounds/``, a folder which contains sound files which Ardour
has detected are no longer used in the session (during a Session >
Clean-up > Clean-up Unused Sources operation, will be purged by Flush
Waste Basket, see `Cleaning Up Sessions <#cleaning-up-sessions>`__)
A session combines some setup information (such as audio and MIDI
routing, musical tempo & meter, timecode synchronization, etc.) with one
or more Tracks and Buses, and all the Regions and Plug-Ins they contain.
.. rubric:: 31.2 - Where Are Sessions Stored?
:name: where-are-sessions-stored
:class: clear
Sessions are stored in a single folder on the computer's filesystem. The
first time Ardour is run, it will ask for the default location for this
folder, with the initial choice being the current user's home folder.
After the first-run dialog, the default location can still be changed at
any time via Edit > Preferences > Misc > Session Management. A
particular (different) location for a session can also be specified when
creating it, in the `New Session dialog <#newopen-session-dialog>`__.
.. rubric:: 31.3 - New/Open Session Dialog
:name: newopen-session-dialog
:class: clear
The initial Session dialog, displayed at each start of Ardour, consists
of several consecutive pages:
.. rubric:: Open Session Page
:name: open-session-page
.. figure:: /images/session_setup.png
:alt: The Session Setup Dialog
:figclass: mini
The Session Setup Dialog
On this page, an existing session can be opened. Any
`snapshot <#snapshots>`__ of a particular session can also be accessed
by clicking on the arrow next to the session name to display all
snapshots, and then selecting one.
If the session is not displayed in the Recent Sessions list, the Other
Sessions button will bring up a file selection dialog to navigate the
file system.
Alternatively, a New Session can be created.
.. rubric:: New Session page
:name: new-session-page
:class: clear
.. figure:: /images/session_new.png
:alt: The New Session Dialog
:figclass: mini
The New Session Dialog
.. figure:: /images/template_setup.png
:alt: One of the Template Setup Dialogs
:figclass: mini
One of the Template Setup Dialogs
This page allows to type in the name of a session, select a folder to
save it in, and optionally use an existing
`template <#session-templates>`__.
The different templates, both the "factory" ones and the ones created by
the user, are easily available on the left-side panel. Depending on the
chosen template, a specific Template Settings window may be shown,
allowing the user to fine-tune the details of the template and/or choose
between the different options of the template.
Templates can be huge time savers when working on similar projects, or
on usual projects, as they allow to preset and tweak a lot of the
`session properties <#session-properties-dialog>`__, (like the
availability of a `monitoring section <#monitor-section>`__, connection
to a Master Bus, etc.), and handle the creation of
`tracks <#adding-tracks-busses-and-vcas>`__ of any kind.
The Empty Template preset allows to create a session "from scratch".
Everything a session template does can be done manually —albeit more
tediously— and the resulting sessions will not differ whatsoever.
As of Ardour 5.12, which introduced the new template dialog, the factory
templates are:
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Empty Template | Creates an empty session with no |
| | tracks and no monitoring. A |
| | stereo Master Bus is created, and |
| | any track created defaults to |
| | output on this bus. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Advanced Session | Like the Empty Template, but adds |
| | the ability to easily manage the |
| | Master bus (channels, hardware |
| | connection, and track |
| | autoconnection), and the creation |
| | of a monitoring section. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Recording Session | Like the Empty Template, but |
| | allows the fast creation of a |
| | number of tracks, optionally |
| | ready to record. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Live Band | Fast tracks the creation of usual |
| | tracks for a band setup (vocals, |
| | guitars, piano, ...), and |
| | optionally adds usual effects on |
| | these tracks. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
Selecting a template will display its description in the right-side
panel, while hovering over a template name will show a tooltip
indicating if it is a factory template, or, if it is a user-created one,
which version of Ardour was used to create it.
Whether or not a template is used, and before the "Template Setup"
dialog, the Audio/MIDI Setup will be shown.
.. rubric:: Audio/MIDI Setup
:name: audiomidi-setup
:class: clear
.. figure:: /images/Audio-MIDI_Setup.png
:alt: The Audio/MIDI Setup Dialog
:figclass: mini
The Audio/MIDI Setup Dialog
This window exposes the different audio options to be used by Ardour for
the current work session, for hardware and software and is made of:
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Audio System | Depending on the operating |
| | system, Ardour can possibly use |
| | different audio systems, e.g. on |
| | Linux, both ALSA and JACK are |
| | available. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Driver | On Mac OS X this will typically |
| | be CoreAudio. On Linux usually |
| | this will be either FFADO or |
| | ALSA, depending on whether or not |
| | a firewire device is used. |
| | Advanced users on all platforms |
| | may also use NetJack which |
| | provides network audio I/O. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Device | The selector should show all |
| | available interfaces provided by |
| | the driver above and which are |
| | capable of duplex operation. |
| | When using an Intel Mac running |
| | OS X and the builtin audio |
| | interface, its separate input and |
| | output devices must be |
| | `merged <#using-more-than-one-aud |
| | io-device>`__ |
| | first into a single "aggregate |
| | device" before Ardour will be |
| | able to use it. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Sample Rate | The selector will allow to select |
| | from any sample rate supported by |
| | the device selected above it. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Buffer Size | The size of the buffer used by |
| | the audio interface can be |
| | adjusted to allow for either |
| | lower latency, or lower CPU usage |
| | and higher latency. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Input/Output Channels | Specifies the number of hardware |
| | channels to use. The default is |
| | all available channels. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Hardware Input/Output Latency | Specify the hardware delay in |
| | samples for precise latency |
| | compensation. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Calibrate | This button runs a semi-automated |
| | guided process to obtain precise |
| | hardware latency measurements for |
| | the above option. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| MIDI System | Selects the MIDI driver to use. |
| | On Mac OS X, this will be |
| | CoreMIDI. On Linux, it can be |
| | changed between two legacy ALSA |
| | drivers or the (preferred) new |
| | JACK+ALSA implementation. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
.. rubric:: 31.4 - Renaming a Session
:name: renaming-a-session
:class: clear
Using the Session > Rename menu allows to give the session a new name. A
dialog will appear asking for the new one.
This operation does **not** make a new session folder—the existing
session folder and relevant contents are renamed. If the session was not
saved before a rename operation, it will be saved automatically and then
renaming will continue.
Ardour's Session > Save As operation will not make a new copy of the
session folder and its contents. All it does is create a new session
file.
.. rubric:: 31.5 - Session Metadata
:name: metadata
:class: clear
.. rubric:: Session Metadata
:name: session-metadata
.. figure:: /images/edit-session-metadata.png
:alt: The session metadata editor
The session metadata editor
Sessions can have various items of metadata attached to them, and saved
in the session file. These metadata are filled by the user via Session >
Metadata > Edit Metadata….
These metadata will be exported as tags in the audio and video files
that support it, as long as the right option is chosen at the
`export <#export-dialog>`__ stage. All the video format can retain a
subset of the metadata if the Include Session Metadata is checked in the
`export video <#workflow-amp-operations>`__ window, while only the
Ogg-Vorbis (tagged) and FLAC (tagged) audio format will be exported with
the metadata (as Vorbis comment).
Ardour can also reuse the metadata from another session file in the
current session, with Session > Metadata > Import Metadata…. This menu
brings up a file selector, asking for the source ardour session file to
extract the data from. This can be handy when reusing a lot of
information (Author, Artist Name, etc…) or working on multiple tracks of
the same media.
.. rubric:: 31.6 - Backup and Sharing of Sessions
:name: backup-and-sharing-of-sessions
:class: clear
An Ardour session is stored in a single folder on the computer's
filesystem. This makes backup very easy: any tool capable of backing up
a folder can be used to backup a session. The location of a session is
picked when it is created —by default it will be in the default session
location, which can be altered via Edit > Preferences > General >
Session.
The single folder approach also makes sharing a project easy. Simply
copy the session folder (onto a storage device, or across a network) and
another Ardour user (on any platform) will be able to use it.
There is one complication in both cases: a session may reference media
files that are stored outside of the session folder, if the user has
opted not to select Session > Import > Copy to Session during import.
Backing up a session with embedded files will not create a copy of the
session containing those files. To bring those external files to the
session folder, the `Session > Clean-up > Bring all media into session
folder menu <#cleaning-up-sessions>`__ can be used.
.. rubric:: Using the dedicated Zip/Archive Current Session tool
:name: using-the-dedicated-ziparchive-current-session-tool
.. figure:: /images/archive-session.png
:alt: The Zip/Archive Current Session window
The Zip/Archive Current Session window
The Zip/Archive Current Session tool is located in the File > Archive…
menu.
It allows to create a single file containing everything useful in the
session, to share it or back it up, conveniently compressed to a
session-archive which is a zip-file (tar.xz to be specific) containing
all the audio, MIDI, plugin-settings,... and the currently active
session. Ardour can also extract those bundles (Session > Open…).
As opposed to zipping the entire session-folder manually,
#. the session-archive only contains the current session-snapshot and
only files which are used
#. externally referenced files are included in the archive.
The window shows the following options:
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Archive Name | The name of the archive file, |
| | defaulting to the name of the |
| | session followed by the date and |
| | time |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| a dropdown extension selector | allowing to choose between |
| | different kind or compressed |
| | archive file types |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Target directory/folder | defining where in the filesystem |
| | the archive file will be |
| | generated |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Audio Compression | a dropdown menu allowing to |
| | compress the audio files |
| | themselves by using an |
| | audio-tailored compression |
| | format, more on that below |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Exclude unused audio sources | a checkbox to drop every audio |
| | that is in the session, but not |
| | actually used in the editor |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
The Audio Compression selection accepts any of:
- None
- FLAC 16bit
- FLAC 24bit
Encoding the audio sources to FLAC allows for a good size reduction of
the session. It should be noted though that FLAC is a fixed-point
format, meaning that if the audio in the session is in a floating-point
format, this conversion will lose some information on the samples values
that are rounded, though usually, this lost information cannot be
perceived. Choosing "*None*" for Audio Compression does not compress the
audio to FLAC, hence preserving the floating-point data at the cost of a
bigger file size. Notice also that converting to FLAC automatically
normalizes the audio.
Using the Exclude unused audio sources option allows to only keep the
files actually used in the session, which can be useful to leave any
unused take or reference material out of the backup, reducing the
archive's global file size.
.. rubric:: 32 - Tracks
:name: tracks
:class: clear
.. rubric:: 32.1 - Track Types
:name: track-types
:class: clear
Ardour offers three track types depending on the type of data they
contain, and differentiates between three track modes, depending on
their recording behaviour.
.. rubric:: Track types
:name: track-types-1
An Ardour track can be of type audio or MIDI, depending on the data that
the track will primarily record and play back. *However, either type of
track can pass either type of data.* Hence, for example, one might have
a MIDI track that contains an instrument plugin; such a track would
record and play back MIDI data from disk but would produce audio, since
the instrument plugin would turn MIDI data into audio data.
Nevertheless, when adding tracks to a session, its content is typically
known, and Ardour offers three choices:
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Audio | An Audio Track is created with a |
| | user-specified number of inputs. |
| | The number of outputs is defined |
| | by the master bus channel count |
| | (for details see `Channel |
| | Configuration <#channelconfigurat |
| | ion>`__ |
| | below). This is the type of track |
| | to use when planning to work with |
| | existing or newly recorded audio. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| MIDI | A MIDI track is created with a |
| | single MIDI input, and a single |
| | MIDI output. This is the type of |
| | track to use when planning to |
| | record and play back MIDI. There |
| | are several methods to enable |
| | playback of a MIDI track: add an |
| | instrument plugin to the track, |
| | connect the track to a software |
| | synthesizer, or connect it to |
| | external MIDI hardware. |
| | If an instrument plugin is added, |
| | the MIDI track outputs audio |
| | alongside MIDI data. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Audio/MIDI | There are a few notable plugins |
| | that can usefully accept both |
| | Audio and MIDI data (Reaktor is |
| | one, and various "auto-tune" like |
| | plugins are another). It can be |
| | tricky to configure this type of |
| | track manually, so Ardour allows |
| | to select this type specifically |
| | for use with such plugins. It is |
| | *not* generally the right choice |
| | when working normal MIDI tracks, |
| | and a dialog will warn of this. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
.. rubric:: Track Modes
:name: trackmodes
Audio tracks in Ardour have a mode which affects how they behave when
recording:
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Normal | Tracks in normal mode will record |
| | non-destructively—new data is |
| | written to new files, and when |
| | overdubbing, new regions will be |
| | layered on top of existing ones. |
| | This is the recommended mode for |
| | most workflows. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Non-Layered | Tracks using non-layered mode |
| | will record non-destructively—new |
| | data is written to new files, but |
| | when overdubbing, the existing |
| | regions are trimmed so that there |
| | are no overlaps. This does not |
| | affect the previously recorded |
| | audio data, and trimmed regions |
| | can be expanded again at will. |
| | Non-layered mode can be very |
| | useful for spoken word material, |
| | especially in combination with |
| | `push/pull |
| | trimming <#pushpull-trimming>`__. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Tape | Tape-mode tracks do |
| | **destructive** recording: all |
| | data is recorded to a single file |
| | and if a section of existing data |
| | is overdub, the existing data is |
| | destroyed irrevocably—there is no |
| | undo. Fixed crossfades are added |
| | at every punch in and out point. |
| | This mode can be useful for |
| | certain kinds of re-recording |
| | workflows, but is not suggested |
| | for normal use. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
.. figure:: /images/a3_nonlayered_example.png
:alt: Normal and non-layered overdubbing comparision
Normal and non-layered overdubbing comparision
The screenshot on the right shows the subtle difference between an
overdub in normal mode (upper track) and one in non-layered mode (lower
track). Both tracks were created using identical audio data.
The upper track shows a new region which has been layered on top of the
the existing (longer) region. It can be seen by the region name strips.
The lower track has split the existing region in two, trimmed each new
region to create space for the new overdub, and inserted the overdub
region in between.
.. rubric:: Channel Configuration
:name: channelconfiguration
Ardour tracks can have any number of inputs and any number of outputs,
and the number of either can be changed at any time (subject to
restrictions caused by any plugins in a track). However it is useful to
not have to configure this sort of thing for the most common cases, and
so the `Add Tracks <#adding-tracks-busses-and-vcas>`__ dialog allows to
select "Mono", "Stereo" and few other typical multichannel presets
The name of the preset describes the number of input channels of the
track or bus.
If Ardour is configured to automatically connect new tracks and busses,
the number of outputs will be determined by the number of inputs of the
master `bus <#understanding-basic-concepts-and-terminology>`__, to which
the track outputs will be connected.
For example, with a two-channel master bus, a Mono track has one input
and two outputs; a Stereo track has two inputs and two outputs.
If Edit > Preferences > Signal Flow > Track and Bus Connections is set
to manual, then tracks will be left disconnected by default and there
will be as many outputs as there are inputs. It is up to the user to
connect them as desired. This is not a particularly useful way to work
unless something fairly unusual is done with signal routing and
processing. It is almost always preferable to leave Ardour make
connections automatically, even if some changes are manually done later.
.. rubric:: 32.2 - Adding Tracks, Busses and VCAs
:name: adding-tracks-busses-and-vcas
:class: clear
.. figure:: /images/add-track-or-bus.png
:alt: The Add Track/Bus/VCA dialog.
:figclass: mini
The Add Track/Bus/VCA dialog.
A track, bus or VCA can be added to a session by either:
- Choosing Track > Add Track, Bus or VCA….
- Right-clicking in an empty part of the track controls area.
- Clicking the Plus (+) button underneath the list of tracks in the
mixer.
Any of these actions will open the Add Track/Bus/VCA dialog.
The list of available track templates (both factory and user-created
ones) in the left panel allows to choose the `track(s)
type <#track-types>`__ (e.g. Audio, MIDI, bus, VCA etc.). Some templates
can do even more, like the factory-provided Live Band that automatically
creates a number of usual tracks for a common band setup. See `New
Session <#newopen-session-dialog>`__ for more information about
templates.
The common templates have parameters to tweak:
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Add | Selects the number of tracks, |
| | busses or VCAs to create. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Name | Defines the name of the new |
| | track(s). If multiple tracks are |
| | created, or if a track with the |
| | same name already exists, a space |
| | and number will be happened at |
| | the end (e.g.: Audio 1, Audio |
| | 2…). |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Configuration | This menu allows to choose from a |
| | number of route templates, which |
| | determine the number of input |
| | ports and optionally contain |
| | plugins and other mixer strip |
| | configuration. The most common |
| | choices here are *mono* and |
| | *stereo*. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Instrument | This option is only available for |
| | MIDI tracks and busses and allows |
| | the selection of a default |
| | instrument from the list of |
| | available plugins. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Group | Tracks and busses can be assigned |
| | groups so that a selected range |
| | of operations are applied to all |
| | members of a group at the same |
| | time (selecting record enable, or |
| | editing, for example). This |
| | option assigns the new track/bus |
| | to an existing group, or create a |
| | new group. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Pin Mode | Defines how the number of output |
| | responds to adding a plugin with |
| | a different number of outputs |
| | than the track itself. In *Strict |
| | I/O* mode, plugins cannot alter |
| | the track's channel count, while |
| | in *Flexible I/O* mode, it will |
| | automatically adapt to the I/O of |
| | its plugins. See `Signal |
| | flow <#trackbus-signal-flow>`__ |
| | to learn more about those |
| | options. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Record mode | This option is only available for |
| | audio tracks and affects how it |
| | behaves when recording. See |
| | `Track Modes <#track-types>`__ |
| | for details. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Position | Defines where in the track list |
| | is the track created. The default |
| | is *Last*, i.e. after all the |
| | tracks and busses, and can also |
| | be *First*, *Before Selection* |
| | (to place it just above the |
| | selected track) or *After |
| | selection*. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
Multiple tracks of different types can be created by using the Add
selected items (and leave dialog open) button, which, used in
conjunction with the Add field, allows for a very efficient and fast way
to create a base track setup.
New tracks appear in both the editor and mixer windows. The editor
window shows the timeline, with any recorded data, and the mixer shows
just the processing elements of the track (its plugins, fader and so
on).
.. rubric:: Removing Tracks and Busses
:name: removing-tracks-and-busses
Removing tracks and busses, is done by selecting them, right-clicking
and choosing Remove from the menu. A warning dialog will pop up, as
track removal cannot be undone; this option should be used with care!
.. rubric:: 32.3 - Controlling Track Ordering
:name: controlling-track-ordering
:class: clear
Ardour does not impose any particular ordering of tracks and busses in
either the editor or mixer windows. The default arrangements are as
follows:
- In the Editor window, the Master bus will always be on top unless
hidden. Tracks and busses will appear in their initial order, from
top to bottom. The monitor section (if used) is never visible in the
editor window.
- In the Mixer window, the tracks and busses will be displayed in their
initial order, from left to right. The Master bus is always on the
far right and occupies its own pane, so that it is always visible no
matter how many other mixer strips are present. If a Monitor section
is used, it shows up at the right edge of the mixer window; it can
also be torn off into a separate window.
.. rubric:: Reordering Tracks
:name: reordering-tracks
The track ordering of the Editor and Mixer is synchronized: if a track
is reordered in one window, the ordering in the other window will
follow.
.. rubric:: Reordering in the Editor Window
:name: reordering-in-the-editor-window
Reordering is done by selecting the tracks to be moved, then using Track
> Move Selected Tracks Up (shortcut: ↑) or Track > Move Selected Tracks
Down (shortcut: ↓).
Alternatively, the `Tracks & Busses panel of the Editor
Lists <#the-tracks-and-busses-list>`__ can be used, if visible. Here,
tracks and busses can be freely dragged-and-dropped into any desired
order.
.. rubric:: Reordering in the Mixer Window
:name: reordering-in-the-mixer-window
Within the `Strips List <#strips-list>`__ pane at the top left of the
Mixer window, tracks and busses can be freely dragged-and-dropped into
any desired order.
.. rubric:: "Collecting" Group Members
:name: collecting-group-members
Tracks and Busses that are members of a group can be reordered so that
they display contiguously within the Editor and Mixer windows, by
Right-clicking on the group tab and choosing Collect.
.. rubric:: Ordering of New Tracks
:name: ordering-of-new-tracks
When `adding new tracks <#adding-tracks-busses-and-vcas>`__, the Insert:
field allows to determine their placement. New tracks will be placed
*Last* by default, so after the rightmost (in the mixer) or bottom-most
(in the editor) selected track. If no tracks are selected, new tracks
will be added at the end, regardless of the choice.
Because new tracks are automatically selected, they can be quickly
reordered in the editor window via the keyboard shortcuts after adding
them.
.. rubric:: Track Ordering and Remote Control IDs
:name: track-ordering-and-remote-control-ids
Every track and bus in Ardour is assigned a remote control ID. When a
`control surface <#control-surfaces>`__ or any other remote control is
used to control Ardour, these IDs are used to identify which track(s) or
buss(es) are the intended target of incoming commands.
Remote IDs are assigned to tracks and busses in the order that they
appear in the mixer window from left to right, starting from #1; manual
assignment of remote IDs is not possible. The master bus and monitor
section can be accessed by name.
.. rubric:: 32.4 - Track Context Menu
:name: track-context-menu
:class: clear
Within the editor window, context-clicking (right click) on either a
region or empty space within a track displays the track context menu.
The context menu provides easy access to many track-level operations.
If a region is clicked, the first item in the menu is the name of the
region. If a `layered region <#layering-display>`__ is clicked, the next
item in the menu is Choose Top. If selected, a dialog appears that
allows to change the vertical order of layers at that point. See
`Layering Display <#layering-display>`__ for more details.
The rest of the track context menu is structured as follows:
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Play | |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Play from Edit Point | Plays from the location of the |
| | current `Edit |
| | Point <#edit-point-control>`__. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Play from Start | Plays from the start of the |
| | session |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Play Region | Plays the duration of the session |
| | from the start of the earliest |
| | selected region to the end of the |
| | latest selected region |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Select | |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Select All in Track | Selects all the regions and |
| | automation points in the current |
| | track |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Select All Objects | Selects all the regions and |
| | automation points in the session |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Invert Selection in Track | Select the previously unselected |
| | regions, and deselect the |
| | previously selected ones *only* |
| | in the current track |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Invert Selection | Select the previously unselected |
| | regions, and deselect the |
| | previously selected ones |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Set Range to Loop Range | Creates a range selection on the |
| | selected tracks, based on the |
| | selected loop markers, and |
| | switches to `Range Mode |
| | tool <#toolbox>`__ |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Set Range to Punch Range | Same as above, based on the |
| | selected punch markers |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Set Range to Selected Regions | Same as above, based on the |
| | selected regions (i.e. from the |
| | start of the earliest region to |
| | the end of the latest one) |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Select All After Edit Point | Select all the regions and |
| | automation points that exist |
| | after the Edit Point, even if the |
| | region starts before it. If some |
| | tracks are selected, only selects |
| | on these tracks. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Select All Before Edit Point | Same as above, but before the |
| | Edit point (i.e. to the left of |
| | it) |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Select All After Playhead | Same as above, but considering |
| | the Playhead, regardless of the |
| | Edit Point choice |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Select All Before Playhead | Same as above, with the Playhead |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Select All Between Playhead and | Selects all the regions between |
| Edit Point | the Playhead and the Edit Point |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Select All Within Playhead and | Same as above, but the regions |
| Edit Point | must be totally included between |
| | the Playhead and Edit Point |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Select Range Between Playhead and | Creates a Range between the |
| Edit Point | Playhead and the Edit Point |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Edit | |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Cut | Deletes the current selection, |
| | but puts it in memory ready to be |
| | pasted |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Copy | Copies the current selection to |
| | memory |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Paste | Pastes the memory at the `Edit |
| | Point <#edit-point-control>`__, |
| | after a Cut or Copy operation |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Align | Aligns the sync point of all |
| | selected regions to the Edit |
| | Point |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Align Relative | Same as above, but considers |
| | multiple regions as a block and |
| | aligns the whole block, not each |
| | regions |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Insert Selected Region | If a region is selected in `the |
| | Region |
| | List <#the-region-list>`__, |
| | inserts it in the track |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Insert Existing Media | Inserts an external media file in |
| | the track, same as `the Session > |
| | Insert Media |
| | menu <#adding-pre-existing-materi |
| | al>`__ |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Nudge | |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Nudge Entire Track Later | Moves all the region to the right |
| | by the amount shown in the `nudge |
| | timer <#nudge-controls>`__ |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Nudge Track After Edit Point | Same as above, but only for |
| Later | regions that begin after the Edit |
| | Point |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Nudge Entire Track Earlier | Same as above, to the left |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Nudge Track After Edit Point | Same as above, to the left |
| Earlier | |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| (un)Freeze | Consolidates all the regions in |
| | the track into one *frozen* |
| | region which can be handled as a |
| | normal, single region. This |
| | operation can be undone at any |
| | time with the same sub-menu. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
.. rubric:: 33 - Controlling Track Appearance
:name: controlling-track-appearance
:class: clear
Ardour offers many options for controlling the appearance of tracks,
including color, height, waveform style and more. These can all be found
in the Edit > Preferences > Editor menu.
.. rubric:: 33.1 - Layering Display
:name: layering-display
:class: clear
.. figure:: /images/track-layer-dialog.png
:alt: The Track layering menu
The Track layering menu
Ardour allows arbitrary layering of regions—there can any number of
regions at a given position. By default, the regions are overlaid in the
editor window, to save vertical space.
However, this display mode can be confusing for tracks with many
overdubs, because its not obvious in which order the overdubs are
layered. Although there are other methods of moving particular regions
to the top of an overlapping set, and although Ardour also has playlists
to manage `takes <#playlist-usecases>`__ a bit more efficiently than
just continually layering, there are times when being able to clearly
see all regions in a track without any overlaps is reassuring and
useful.
The example below shows a track with a rather drastic overdub situation,
viewed in normal overlaid mode:
.. figure:: /images/overlaps_layered.png
:alt: Overlapping regions in *overlaid* mode
Overlapping regions in *overlaid* mode
This display can be changed by right clicking on the track header,
showing the menu displayed above. There are two choices for layers, and
overlaid is currently selected. Clicking on stacked, the track display
changes to:
.. figure:: /images/layers_stacked.png
:alt: Overlapping regions in *stacked* mode
Overlapping regions in *stacked* mode
Regions can still be moved around as usual, and can be dragged so that
they overlay each other again, but when the mouse button is released,
things will flip back to them all being stacked cleanly. The number of
lanes for the track is determined by the maximum number of regions
existing in any one spot throughout the track, so if a track has 10
overdubs stacked up in one spot, it will end up with 10 lanes.
Obviously, using a large track height works much better for this than a
small one.
.. rubric:: 33.2 - Track Color
:name: track-color
:class: clear
New tracks in Ardour are assigned a random color from a pastel color
palette, so they should never end up being particularly bright or
particularly dark.
.. rubric:: Changing the color of specific tracks
:name: changing-the-color-of-specific-tracks
Changing the color of a track is done by selecting the track(s) and
right clicking on the track header of one of them then from the context
menu, selecting Color and picking a hue in the color dialog. Every
selected track will be re-colored.
If only one track is changed, right clicking on that track's header will
be enough to select it, saving the extra mouse click.
.. rubric:: Changing the color of all tracks in a group
:name: changing-the-color-of-all-tracks-in-a-group
Tracks that belong to a `track/bus
group <#the-track-and-bus-group-list>`__ can share a common color by
enabling the Color option for the group. With this enabled, any color
change will be propagated to all group members.
The group color can also be explicitly changed by context-clicking on
the group tab in the Mixer, selecting Edit Group… and then clicking on
the Color selector in the displayed dialog.
.. rubric:: 33.3 - Track Height
:name: track-height
:class: clear
At some stage of the production, a quick overview over as many tracks as
possible may be required, or a detailed view into just a few, or a
combination of the two. To facilitate this, the height can be configured
individually for each track in the editor window, or globally.
.. rubric:: Resizing one or a few tracks
:name: resizing-one-or-a-few-tracks
A right click on a track header will display the Height menu, and allow
to choose from a list of standard sizes. All selected tracks will be
redrawn using that height.
Alternatively, moving the pointer to the bottom edge of a track header
will change the cursor to a two-way vertical arrow shape. Left-dragging
dynamically resizes all selected tracks.
.. rubric:: Resizing all the tracks
:name: resizing-all-the-tracks
The three rightmost items of the `Zoom Controls <#zoom-controls>`__, in
the toolbar, allow to quickly resize multiple tracks' heights at once,
or to display a selected number of tracks in the editor, or all the
selected ones, etc.
.. rubric:: Fitting to the Editor Window
:name: fitting-to-the-editor-window
Fitting one or many tracks to the Editor window can be done by selecting
the tracks to display and choosing Track > Height > Fit Selection
(Vertical) or using the keyboard shortcut, f. Ardour adjusts the track
heights and view so that the selected tracks completely fill the
vertical space available, unless the tracks cannot be fitted even at the
smallest possible size.
The Visual Undo (default shortcut: Z) can be used to revert this
operation.
.. rubric:: 33.4 - Waveform display
:name: waveform-display
:class: clear
The display of waveforms (or, more correctly, peak envelopes, since the
actual waveform is only visible at the highest zoom levels) is
configurable via the Edit > Preferences > Appearance > Editor dialog, to
support different use cases and user preferences. The following options
are available:
Show waveforms in regions
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` <#monitor-section>`__
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` <#control-masters-mixer-strips>`__
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` <#audiomidi-busses-mixer-strips>`__
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