2 title: Audio/MIDI Mixer Strips
5 <img class="right" src="/images/mixer-1-strip-numbered.png" alt="A mixer strip">
8 A <dfn>mixer strip</dfn> in Ardour is a vertical view of the track, from a mixing point of view.
9 This view is convenient to deal with I/O, effects, panning/muting, gain, etc... It has a general
13 The mixer strips breaks down into :
19 <li>Polarity <em>only for audio tracks</em></li>
20 <li>Processor box</li>
22 <li>Recording options</li>
24 <li>Gain & Meter</li>
25 <li>Control master</li>
26 <li>Fader automation/mix group/metering point</li>
35 At the top of the window, is the <a href="/working-with-tracks/track-and-bus-groups/">group tabs</a> (here, <em>recm...</em>).
36 This allows to group tracks together for common controls.
39 Bellow are 3 buttons :
43 The double arrow button allows to shrink/expand the width of the strip. <kbd
44 class="mod1"></kbd><kbd class="mod3"></kbd><kbd class="mouse">Click</kbd> the button will shrink/expand all
48 The color bar shows the color of the track in the editor
51 The <kbd class="menu">X</kbd> button toggles the visibility of the track OFF. To turn it back ON,
52 one can either go to the <a href="/ardours-interface/editor-lists/tracks-and-busses-list/">Tracks and Busses list</a>
53 in the Editor view and check the "V" column on the track's line or stay in the Mixer view
54 and check the <kbd class="menu">Show</kbd> column of this strip in the
55 <a href="/ardours-interface/the-strips-list/">Strips list</a>.
59 <kbd class="mouse">Right</kbd> clicking on the color bar will bring up a context menu, which is exactly the same as clicking on the Track name button.
65 Clicking the Track name button will bring up a menu :
68 <dt>Color...</dt><dd>Changes the strip/track color</dd>
69 <dt>Comments...</dt><dd>Shows an editor to put comments about the track, see bellow the Comments button</dd>
70 <dt>Inputs...</dt><dd>Shows the Routing grid for the inputs of the track</dd>
71 <dt>Outputs...</dt><dd>Shows the Routing grid for the outputs of the track</dd>
72 <dt>Save As Template...</dt><dd>Allows to save the track without its media content (I/O, effects,...) for later reuse</dd>
73 <dt>Rename...</dt><dd>Changes the name of the track (effective both in the Mixer and the Editor)</dd>
74 <dt><kbd class="option"></kbd>Active</dt><dd>Select the active status of the track. An inactive track won't output any sound</dd>
75 <dt><kbd class="option"></kbd>Strict I/O</dt><dd>While in <a href="/signal-routing/signal-flow/">Strict I/O</a> mode, a track <em>always</em> 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.</dd>
76 <dt>Pin Connections...</dt><dd>Shows the <kbd class="menu">Pin Configuration</kbd> window, that shows (and allows to modify) all the signal flows inside the track</dd>
77 <dt>Adjust Latency...</dt><dd>Shows the <kbd class="menu">Track Latency</kbd> dialog, that allows fine-tune the latency to the track, in samples, msec or period</dd>
78 <dt><kbd class="option"></kbd>Protect Against Denormals</dt><dd>Uses a trick to get rid of <em>denormals</em>, 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</dd>
79 <dt>Duplicate...</dt><dd>Copies the track to a new one, optionnaly with its playlist</dd>
80 <dt>Remove</dt><dd>Deletes the track and its playlist</dd>
86 The dropdown button shows the current input port(s), i.e. what's plugged to the "in" of the track.
87 By default, each audio track is connected to the system inputs, ready for recording,
88 as shown by the number(s).
89 Clicking the dropdown Inputs button will allow to change the inputs, through a menu:
92 <dt>Disconnect</dt><dd>Disconnects everything, i.e. the track has no input</dd>
93 <dt>In <em>n</em></dt><dd>Those are the system inputs, e.g. to record from the soundcard. A mono track will have <em>In 1</em> and <em>In 2</em> separated, while a stereo track can have <em>In 1+2</em></dd>
94 <dt><em>Track n output</em></dt><dd>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, ...</dd>
95 <dt>Add Audio Port</dt><dd>Adds an audio input to the track, i.e. a mono audio track becomes a stero one</dd>
96 <dt>Add MIDI Port</dt><dd>Adds a MIDI input to the track. Adding it to an audio track makes it a mixed Audio/MIDI track. This can be usefull e.g. to feed some plugins with a MIDI signal to control the audio, like a vocoder</dd>
97 <dt>Routing Grid</dt><dd>Shows the <a href="/signal-routing/Patchbay/"><kbd class="menu">Routing Grid</kbd> window</a>, which allows for more complex input configuration</dd>
100 The <kbd class="menu">Routing Grid</kbd> can also be shown by right clicking the dropdown Inputs button.
101 It allows to make the connections through a matrix, and connect things that are not listed in the menu above,
102 or connect to multiple sources at once, reduce the number of inputs, etc...
105 On audio tracks, is a Trim knob, as on traditional consoles.
106 It set the base input level for the track, avoiding any clipping. Notice that it
107 trims both any input, but (when playing back), also the level of the playlist as
108 displayed in the Editor. It makes sense as while playing, the input of the track is
109 the playlist, on which the mixer strip acts.
112 On midi tracks, it is replaced by a MIDI Input button, that allows/disallows
113 MIDI input on the track.
120 On audio tracks only, the Polarity button(s), 1 per input, allow to reverse
121 the signal, i.e. a negative value will be positive and vice-versa. This can
122 help deal with phasing issues.
125 <h2>Processor box</h2>
128 The processor box is where the effects are added. By default, one effect is always
129 present : the Fader (see bellow). The effects can be added <em>pre</em>-fader and appear in brown,
130 or <em>post</em>-fader, where they will appear in dark green. The signal flow is represented by lines,
131 red for the MIDI and green for the audio.
134 It is also where the <a href="/signal-routing/aux-sends/">Sends</a> come from, wether external or auxiliary.
137 To learn more about the processor box, see <a href="/working-with-plugins/processor-box/">The Processor Box</a>.
143 The <dfn>Panner</dfn> visually displays how the sound will be distributed between the different outputs.
144 They'll look and behave differently if the track is mono, stereo, or has multiple channels.
147 Right clicking the Panner will show a menu:
150 <dt><kbd class="option"></kbd>Bypass</dt><dd>When checked, the panner is grayed, and the signal is not affected by it</dd>
151 <dt>Reset</dt><dd>Resets the panner to its default settings, e.g. for a mono signal, it is centered</dd>
152 <dt>Edit...</dt><dd>Shows a <kbd class="menu">Panner</kbd> dialog, which allows for fine tuning of the panner</dd>
155 See <a href="/mixing/panning/">Panning</a> to learn more about how to control the panner,
156 and what kind of panners are available inside Ardour.
159 <h2>Recording options</h2>
162 The most noticeable button here is the Record Enable one, with a red circle. When
163 enabled, next time the Global record will be armed and playback started, everything that
164 comes from the input of the track will be recorded. Right clicking a disabled record
165 button allows to enable <kbd class="menu">Rec-Safe</kbd>, thus protecting the track
166 against accidental recording.
169 The buttons on the right, <kbd class="menu">In</kbd> and <kbd class="menu">Disk</kbd>,
170 show what the user is listening to by lighting up, between the <em>In</em>put and the
171 actual content of the playlist on <em>Disk</em>.
174 They also allow to override the automatic switching by pressing them to lock one
175 source or the other to be what the user is hearing.
181 These buttons allow to Mute (or silence) the track, or Solo them, shutting down the
182 gain of the other tracks (totally by default, can be set to partially in the options).
183 See <a href="/mixing/muting-and-soloing/">Muting and Soloing</a>
184 for more information.
187 Notice that by default, Solo overrides Mute, i.e. if a track is both Soloed and Muted, it will
188 play. That can be changed in the preferences.
191 The two led button above are related to solo :
194 <li>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.</li>
195 <li>Solo Lock locks the solo into its current state (ie solo on or solo off). It will not allow the solo state to be changed until the lock is released.</li>
198 <h2>Gain & Meter</h2>
201 On the right of this part is a <a href="/meters/">Meter</a>, displaying the level of the track's
202 output after the fader. In can be set to display the signal at any point, see below <em>Metering Point</em>.
203 Right clicking this meter shows a menu allowing to switch the meter type.
206 The big Gain slider on the left allows to change the gain of the track. Its default O dB
207 value is reminded with a white horizontal line, and its precise value is shown
208 in a text field above it, that doubles as a way to type in a numeric value.
211 The text field above the meter shows the "Peak", i.e. the mawimum value that has been
212 reached during playback. To avoid distortion, the value should stay bellow O dB, and
213 if it goes above this value, the text field will turn red. Clicking on this field
214 will reset the Peak value (for a new measurement or a new part of the track).
218 Notice that if any gain automation has been set and the automation state is set on "Play"
219 (see below), then the Gain fader is driven by the automation, and not by the user. The Gain fader will
220 turn grey to show it's inactive.
223 <h2>Control master</h2>
226 If at least one control master exists, this button will show up, allowing the user
227 to link this track to any control master.
230 Clicking the button lists all the available control masters, and a menu option to
231 <kbd class="menu">Unassign all</kbd>. Notice that a track can have be a slave to as many
232 control masters as they are in the session, hence multiplying the number of C.M. buttons.
233 The displayed number is the number of the Control Master, not the count of C.M. linked
234 to the track. A track with no control master assigned will show a unique button with a
235 "<kbd class="menu">-vca-</kbd>" label instead of this number.
238 <h2>Fader automation/mix group/metering point</h2>
240 <h3>Fader automation mode</h3>
242 This button allows to choose the mode used regarding automation:
245 <dt>Manual</dt><dd><em>(default)</em> The playback won't use the fader automation data</dd>
246 <dt>Play</dt><dd>Enables playback/use of fader automation data</dd>
247 <dt>Write</dt><dd>While the transport is rolling, all fader changes will be recorded to the fader automation lane</dd>
248 <dt>Touch</dt><dd>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.</dd>
253 This button displays the mix group information as does the tab in the header (see above).
254 It is convenient though, as it allows to quickly switch the track from one
255 group to another with a drop down menu, also allowing to affect the track to
256 a non-adjascent group (which the tab won't easily allow).
259 <h3>Metering Point</h3>
261 The metering displayed in the meter is by default is 'Post', i.e. Post fader.
262 It can be changed with this button to Any point of the signal flow :
265 <dt>In</dt><dd>The input of the track</dd>
266 <dt>Pre</dt><dd>Pre-fader</dd>
267 <dt>Post</dt><dd>Post-fader</dd>
268 <dt>Out</dt><dd>The output of the track</dd>
269 <dt>Custom</dt><dd>A <em>Meter</em> processor is added to the processor box an can be set anywhere (by dragging and dropping) to probe the signal flow at that pointat the point</dd>
275 This button is exactly the same as the <em>Input</em> button, but applies to the <em>output</em>
283 This buttons open up a little text editor, that can be used to add some written notes to the track,
284 as e.g. a particular setting. The button's caption is replaced by the beginning of the text, so
285 it can be used as a "sub"name for the track.