3 <img src="/images/processor-box.png" alt="the Processor Box">
4 <figcaption class="center">
10 In Ardour terminology, a <dfn>processor</dfn> is anything which treats the signal in some way and gets plugged into a mixer
11 strip. Ardour provides several builtin processors such as the fader or panners. Processors can also be <dfn>plugins</dfn>
12 used for effects or as instruments, as well as sends or inserts which affect <a href="@@signal-routing">signal routing</a>.
16 The arrangement of processors is arbitrary, and there is no limit to how many there can be. The Processor Box will
17 automagically add a scrollbar to itself if there are more processors in it than can be shown in the given space.
21 The main box in the top half of a mixer strip shows the <dfn>processor box</dfn>. Processors are shown as colored rectangles,
22 with a small LED beside them that lights up when the processor is enabled. The color of the processor depends on its location
23 in the sequence; processors that are <dfn>pre-fader</dfn> are colored in red, and <dfn>post-fader</dfn> processors are
24 colored green (in the default theme).
28 The <dfn>processor box</dfn> will always contain a blue <dfn>Fader</dfn> processor. This indicates where in the processor
29 chain the main channel fader is located; this is the fader shown in the lower half of the strip. It can be enabled and
30 disabled like any other processor.
33 <h2>Adding Processors</h2>
36 Processors can be added to the chain by <kbd class="mouse">Right</kbd>-clicking in the processor list, This does three things:
40 <li>A gap is opened up to indicate the location of the click. The gap shows where any new processors will be inserted.</li>
41 <li>The processor under the click is selected.</li>
42 <li>An options menu is presented.</li>
46 From the menu, new processors can be inserted.
50 Processors can also be dragged and dropped from the <a href="@@favorite-plugins-window"><dfn>Favorite Plugins</dfn> window</a> to an
51 appropriate spot in the Processor Box.
55 The <dfn>Favorite Plugins</dfn> window can be populated via the <a href="@@plugin-selector">Plugin Selector</a>, or by dragging
56 and dropping an existing processor from the <dfn>processor box</dfn> to the <dfn>Favorite Plugins</dfn> window.
59 <h2>To Reorder (Move) Processors</h2>
62 Processors can be re-ordered using drag and drop. Dragging a processor allows it to be moved around within the chain, or
63 copied to another processor list on another track or bus.
66 <h2>To Enable/Disable a Processor</h2>
69 <img src="/images/processor.png" alt="a typical processor" />
70 <figcaption class=center>A typical processor.</figcaption>
74 To the left of the name of each processor is a small LED symbol; if this is lit-up, the processor is active.
75 <kbd class=mouse>Left</kbd>-clicking on the LED symbol, or <kbd class=mouse>Middle</kbd>-clicking anywhere on the processor
76 will deactivate the processor and effectively bypass it. Click again to reactivate the processor.
80 Some processors have their own bypass controls that are independent of the one that Ardour provides; this can make it appear
81 that the plugin is non-responsive when its independent bypass control is active.
84 <h2>Selecting Processors</h2>
87 A processor in the <dfn>processor box</dfn> can be selected with a <kbd class=mouse>Left</kbd>-click on it; it will be
88 highlighted in red. Other processors can be selected at the same time by <kbd class=mouse>Left</kbd>-clicking on them while
89 holding down the <kbd class=mod1n></kbd> key, and ranges can be selected by <kbd class=mouse>Left</kbd>-clicking on them
90 while holding down the <kbd class=mod3n></kbd> key.
93 <h2>Removing Processors</h2>
96 Context-click on the processor to be removed, and select <kbd class="menu">Delete</kbd>; or
97 <kbd class=mod3n></kbd><kbd class=mouse>Right</kbd>-click on it; or <kbd class=mouse>Left</kbd>-click on it and press the
98 <kbd>Delete</kbd> key. If multiple processors are selected, they will all be deleted at the same time.