Shamusworld >> Repos - ardour-manual/blob - include/session-properties.html

   1 <figure class="right">
   2   <img src="/images/session_properties.png" alt="The Session Properties window">
   3   <figcaption>
   4     The Session Properties window
   5   </figcaption>
   6 </figure>
   7
   8 <p>
   9   <dfn>Session properties</dfn> control aspects of the workflow or
  10   configuration that pertain to the current session only; these settings are
  11   initially set from the template used to create the session. They can be found
  12   in <kbd class="menu">Session &gt; Properties</kbd>, and are stored in the
  13   session file.
  14 </p>
  15
  16 <p>
  17         Preferences are grouped by category:
  18 </p>
  19
  20 <ul>
  21         <li><a href="#properties-timecode">Timecode</a></li>
  22         <li><a href="#properties-sync">Sync</a></li>
  23         <li><a href="#properties-fade">Fades</a></li>
  24         <li><a href="#properties-media">Media</a></li>
  25         <li><a href="#properties-locations">Locations</a></li>
  26         <li><a href="#properties-filenames">Filenames</a></li>
  27         <li><a href="#properties-monitoring">Monitoring</a></li>
  28         <li><a href="#properties-meterbridge">Meterbridge</a></li>
  29         <li><a href="#properties-misc">Misc</a></li>
  30 </ul>
  31
  32
  33
  34
  35 <h2 id="properties-timecode">Timecode</h2>
  36
  37 <ul>
  38   <li>
  39     <dfn>Timecode Settings</dfn>
  40     <ul>
  41                         <li>
  42                                 <dfn>Timecode frames-per-second:</dfn> defines how many frames of
  43                                 timecode are in one second. This can differ from the actual frame rate
  44                                 depending on the standard used.
  45                         </li>
  46                         <li>
  47                                 <dfn>Pull-up / pull-down:</dfn> sets the speed correction to match one
  48                                 actual second, e.g. a 4.1667 pull-up matches a 24fps cinema movie to a
  49                                 25 fps PAL TV broadcast format.
  50                         </li>
  51     </ul>
  52         </li>
  53         <li>
  54                 <dfn>Ext Timecode Offsets</dfn>
  55                 <ul>
  56                         <li>
  57                                 <dfn>Slave Timecode offset:</dfn> when an external timecode source is used,
  58                                 adds or substracts the specified offset to the received timecode (MTC or LTC).
  59                         </li>
  60                         <li>
  61                                 <dfn>Timecode Generator offset:</dfn> adds the specified offset to
  62                                 the timecode generated by Ardour (so far only LTC) before sending it to
  63                                 the external synchronized system.
  64                         </li>
  65                 </ul>
  66   </li>
  67   <li>
  68                 <dfn>JACK Transport/Time Settings</dfn>
  69                 <ul>
  70                         <li>
  71                                 <dfn>Ardour is JACK Time Master (provides Bar|Beat|Tick and other information
  72                                 to JACK)</dfn> Aside from synchronizing any JACK slave, Ardour can also
  73                                 provide musical time information (Bar/Beat/Tick) for the current absolute
  74                                 position for all the JACK-aware clients (N.B. the first jack client that
  75                                 asks for this wins).
  76                         </li>
  77                 </ul>
  78   </li>
  79 </ul>
  80
  81 <h2 id="properties-sync">Sync</h2>
  82
  83 <ul>
  84         <li>
  85                 <dfn>A/V Synchronization</dfn>
  86                 <ul>
  87                         <li>
  88                                 <dfn>Use Video File's FPS Instead of Timecode Value for Timeline and Video
  89                                 Monitor</dfn> when checked, uses the timecode FPS value of the standard
  90                                 used by the video file instead of forcing the FPS set in the <a href="#properties-timecode">
  91                                 Timecode tab</a>.
  92                         </li>
  93                         <li>
  94                                 <dfn>Apply Pull-Up/Down to Video Timeline and Video Monitor (Unless using
  95                                 JACK-sync)</dfn> allows to apply the pull-up/down as set in the <a href="#properties-timecode">
  96                                 Timecode tab</a> to the <a href="@@video-timeline-and-monitoring">video
  97                                 timeline</a> as displayed in the editor and to the Video Monitor, resulting
  98                                 in a shorter/longer video in the editor and a speed-up/down in the Video
  99                                 Monitor.
 100                         </li>
 101                 </ul>
 102         </li>
 103 </ul>
 104
 105 <h2 id="properties-fade">Fades</h2>
 106
 107 <ul>
 108         <li>
 109                 <dfn>Audio Fades</dfn>
 110                 <ul>
 111                         <li>
 112                                 <dfn>Destructive crossfade length:</dfn> sets the duration of the crossfade
 113                                 Ardour automatically creates when an operation on a region is destructive,
 114                                 such as when recording in a track in tape mode.<br>
 115                                 This does not change the length of the crossfade Ardour automatically creates
 116                                 at regions boundaries on non-destructive operations (recording, slicing etc...)
 117                                 which is set to 1&nbsp;ms.
 118                         </li>
 119                         <li>
 120                                 <dfn>Declick when transport starts and stops</dfn> creates an artificial
 121                                 fade in/out when starting or stopping playback, to avoid the 'click' sound
 122                                 resulting in starting it at a non zero value.
 123                         </li>
 124                         <li>
 125                                 <dfn>Declick when monitor state changes</dfn> also creates an artificial
 126                                 fade in/out to avoid clicks when a parameter in the monitor changes.
 127                         </li>
 128                         <li>
 129                                 <dfn>Region fades active</dfn> when checked, Ardour applies the region
 130                                 <a href="@@create-region-fades-and-crossfades">crossfades</a> to each
 131                                 region's start and end. When unchecked, no fades are applied, and clicks
 132                                 may be heard at regions boundaries.
 133                         </li>
 134                         <li>
 135                                 <dfn>Region fades visible</dfn> when checked, the region fades are visible
 136                                 in the the Editor. Unchecking may increase readability for sessions made
 137                                 of a lot of tiny regions.
 138                         </li>
 139                 </ul>
 140         </li>
 141 </ul>
 142
 143 <h2 id="properties-media">Media</h2>
 144
 145 <p>
 146         Change how sound is stored on disk. These options do not change how sound is handled
 147   internally.
 148 </p>
 149
 150 <ul>
 151         <li>
 152                 <dfn>Audio File Format</dfn>
 153                 <ul>
 154                         <li>
 155                                 <dfn>Sample format:</dfn> defaults to 32-bit floating point, the same as
 156                                 the internal representation. 24 and 16-bit integer representation are
 157                                 also available, for more lightweight sessions at the cost of a reduced
 158                                 audio definition.
 159                         </li>
 160                         <li>
 161                                 <dfn>File type:</dfn> defines what format is used to store the audio
 162                                 files. The default is WAVE, and can be changed to Broadcast Wave to
 163                                 store metadata and timecodes, <abbr title="Core Audio
 164                                 Format">CAF</abbr> to overcome WAVE's limitation to 4Gb in size, RF64
 165                                 to add more channels, etc. The chosen format is usually very
 166                                 workflow-specific.
 167                         </li>
 168                 </ul>
 169         </li>
 170 </ul>
 171
 172 <h2 id="properties-locations">Locations</h2>
 173
 174 <p>
 175         These options add file locations that will be searched to find the audio and
 176   midi files used by the session. This is useful when the files have been
 177   imported into the session but not copied into the session.
 178 </p>
 179
 180 <ul>
 181         <li>
 182                 <dfn>File Locations</dfn>
 183                 <ul>
 184                         <li>
 185                                 <dfn>Search for audio files in:</dfn> allows to add a location to look
 186                                 for audio files. Adding a location is done by navigating to the
 187                                 directory where the files are stored, selecting it and clicking <kbd
 188                                 class="menu">Open</kbd>. The directory will show up in the dialog. The
 189                                 <kbd class="menu">Remove</kbd> button next to the added directory can
 190                                 be used to remove it from the search path. Multiple paths can be added
 191                                 this way.
 192                         </li>
 193                         <li>
 194                                 <dfn>Search for MIDI files in:</dfn> is exactly the same, but for MIDI files.
 195                         </li>
 196                 </ul>
 197         </li>
 198 </ul>
 199
 200 <h2 id="properties-filenames">Filenames</h2>
 201
 202 <p>
 203          This tab is used to change how Ardour names recorded regions.
 204 </p>
 205
 206 <ul>
 207         <li>
 208                 <dfn>File Naming</dfn>
 209                 <ul>
 210                         <li>
 211                                 <dfn>Prefix Track number</dfn> when checked, a unique number will
 212                                 appear on each track in the Editor window and will prefix the region
 213                                 name. If the track number is <samp>2</samp> and the region would have
 214                                 been named <samp>Gtr-1.1</samp>, with track number prefix turned on the
 215                                 region will be named <samp>2_Gtr-1.1</samp> instead. See <a
 216                                 href="@@region-naming">Region Naming</a>.
 217                         </li>
 218                         <li>
 219                                 <dfn>Prefix Take Name</dfn> when enabled, the first time a track is
 220                                 recorded it will have the specified take name. When recording is
 221                                 stopped, any trailing number on the end of the take name will be
 222                                 incremented by 1. If the specified track name doesn't have a number on
 223                                 the end, the number <samp>1</samp> will be suffixed.
 224                         </li>
 225                         <li>
 226                                 <dfn>Take name</dfn> specifies what name is prefixed if <kbd
 227                                 class="option">Prefix Take Name</kbd> is checked.
 228                         </li>
 229                 </ul>
 230         </li>
 231 </ul>
 232
 233
 234 <h2 id="properties-monitoring">Monitoring</h2>
 235
 236 <p>
 237          Provides options affecting monitoring.
 238 </p>
 239
 240 <ul>
 241         <li>
 242                 <dfn>Monitoring</dfn>
 243                 <ul>
 244                         <li>
 245                                 <dfn>Track Input Monitoring automatically follows transport state
 246                                 ("auto-input")</dfn> affects how input monitoring is handling. See <a
 247                                 href="@@monitor-setup-in-ardour">Monitor Setup in Ardour</a>
 248                         </li>
 249                         <li>
 250                                 <dfn>Use monitor section in this session</dfn> when enabled, displays
 251                                 an extra section in the Mixer window that is modelled on the similarly
 252                                 named section on large analog consoles. More information can be found
 253                                 on the <a href="@@monitor-section">Monitor Section</a> page.
 254                         </li>
 255                 </ul>
 256         </li>
 257 </ul>
 258
 259
 260 <h2 id="properties-meterbridge">Meterbridge</h2>
 261
 262 <p>
 263         This tab changes what controls are displayed in the Meterbridge that is
 264         available in the <kbd class="menu">Window &gt; Meterbridge</kbd> menu.
 265 </p>
 266
 267 <ul>
 268         <li>
 269                 <dfn>Route Display</dfn>
 270                 <ul>
 271                         <li>
 272                                 <dfn>Show Midi Tracks</dfn> displays/hides MIDI tracks (even when no
 273                                 synth, hence no audio output exists)
 274                         </li>
 275                         <li>
 276                                 <dfn>Show Busses</dfn> displays/hides <a
 277                                 href="@@track-types">Busses</a> tracks
 278                         </li>
 279                         <li>
 280                                 <dfn>Include Master Bus</dfn> displays/hides the <a
 281                                 href="@@master-bus-strip">Master Bus</a>
 282                         </li>
 283                 </ul>
 284         </li>
 285         <li>
 286                 <dfn>Button Area</dfn>
 287                 <ul>
 288                         <li>
 289                                 <dfn>Rec-enable Button</dfn> displays/hides the record arm button (for audio
 290                                 and MIDI tracks only)
 291                         </li>
 292                         <li>
 293                                 <dfn>Mute Button</dfn> displays/hides the mute button (for all
 294                                 tracks/busses types)
 295                         </li>
 296                         <li>
 297                                 <dfn>Solo Button</dfn> same for solo
 298                         </li>
 299                         <li>
 300                                 <dfn>Monitor Buttons</dfn> displays/hides the two (input and playback)<a
 301                                 href="@@monitoring">monitoring</a> buttons, selecting what is played at
 302                                 record and playback time.
 303                         </li>
 304                 </ul>
 305         </li>
 306         <li>
 307                 <dfn>Name Labels</dfn>
 308                 <ul>
 309                         <li>
 310                                 <dfn>Track Name</dfn> adds the tracks' names bellow the buttons.
 311                         </li>
 312                 </ul>
 313         </li>
 314 </ul>
 315
 316 <h2 id="properties-misc">Misc</h2>
 317
 318 <p>
 319         This tab has several things that don't fit on the other tabs.
 320 </p>
 321
 322 <ul>
 323         <li>
 324                 <dfn>MIDI Options</dfn>
 325                 <ul>
 326                         <li>
 327                                 <dfn>MIDI region copies are independent</dfn> if selected, when a MIDI
 328                                 region is copied or duplicated, the new region is not linked to the
 329                                 region it was copied from. If it is not selected, the copied regions
 330                                 are linked and any editing done on one of the linked regions changes
 331                                 all of the linked regions.
 332                         </li>
 333                         <li>
 334                                 <dfn>Policy for handling overlapping notes on the same MIDI channel:</dfn>
 335                                 Selects how Ardour reacts to possibly conflicting MIDI notes:
 336                                         <ul>
 337                                                 <li>never allow them</li>
 338                                                 <li>don't do anything in particular</li>
 339                                                 <li>replace any overlapped existing     notes</li>
 340                                                 <li>shorten the overlapped existing note</li>
 341                                                 <li>shorten     the overlapping new note</li>
 342                                                 <li>replace both overlapping notes with a       single note</li>
 343                                         </ul>
 344                         </li>
 345                 </ul>
 346         </li>
 347         <li>
 348                 <dfn>Glue to Bars and Beats</dfn>
 349                 <ul>
 350                         <li>
 351                                 <dfn>Glue new markers to bars and beats</dfn> if checked, a newly
 352                                 created marker will always be placed at the nearest musical time
 353                                 instead of right where the mouse pointer is.
 354                         </li>
 355                         <li>
 356                                 <dfn>Glue new regions to bars and beats</dfn> same as above, for regions.
 357                         </li>
 358                 </ul>
 359         </li>
 360         <li>
 361                 <dfn>Metronome</dfn>
 362                 <ul>
 363                         <li>
 364                                 <dfn>Always count-in when recording</dfn> when checked, waits for two
 365                                 bars before the actual recording begins. The Metronome will tick (even if
 366                                 disabled) during the count-in. Same as recording with <kbd
 367                                 class="menu">Transport &gt; Record w/Count-In</kbd>.
 368                         </li>
 369                 </ul>
 370         </li>
 371         <li>
 372                 <dfn>Defaults</dfn>
 373                 <ul>
 374                         <li>
 375                                 <dfn>Use these settings as defaults</dfn> clicking this buttons makes all
 376                                 the present Session Properties default, by recording them in the
 377                                 default session template.
 378                         </li>
 379                 </ul>
 380         </li>
 381
 382 </ul>
 383