2 Audio tracks in Ardour have a <dfn>mode</dfn> which affects how they behave
7 <td>Tracks in <dfn>layered mode</dfn> will record non-destructively —
8 new data is written to new files, and when overdubbing, new regions will be
9 layered on top of existing ones. This is the recommended mode for most
12 <tr><th>Non-Layered</th>
13 <td>Tracks using <dfn>non-layered mode</dfn> will record
14 non-destructively—new data is written to new files, but when
15 overdubbing, the existing regions are trimmed so that there are no overlaps.
16 This does not affect the previously recorded audio data, and trimmed regions
17 can be expanded again at will. Non-layered mode can be very useful for spoken
18 word material, especially in combination with
19 <a href="@@pushpull-trimming">push/pull trimming</a>.
21 <tr><th>Sound on Sound</th>
22 <td>Tracks using <dfn>sound-on-sound mode</dfn> will record
23 non-destructively — new data is written to new files, but when
24 overdubbing, new regions will be layered on top of existing ones in non-opaque
25 mode which means both existing and new material will be played back after
26 the recording is over. This is convenient for a variety of use cases, such as
27 adding MIDI Control Change events on top of recorded live performance.
32 Results of recording in layered and non-layered modes are visually the same.
33 However, with the sound-on-sound mode lower layers are visible under upper
34 layers, because in that case new regions with overdubs are created with
35 disabled <em>Opaque</em> setting.
38 <figure class="right">
39 <img src="/images/region-layering-modes-overlaid.png" alt="Layered, non-layered, and sound-on-sound modes" width="75%" >
41 Layered, non-layered, and sound-on-sound modes in overlaid view
46 To illustrate the difference, here is the screenshot of the same tracks, but
47 this time — in <em>Stacked</em> track mode (rather than
48 <em>Overlaid</em> as on the screenshot above).
51 <figure class="right">
52 <img src="/images/region-layering-modes-stacked.png" alt="Layered, non-layered, and sound-on-sound modes in stacked view" width="75%" >
54 Layered, non-layered, and sound-on-sound modes in stacked view
59 The overdub is an opaque region on top of the original content for the
60 <em>Layered</em> mode. For the <em>Non-Layered</em> mode, it completely
61 replaces the matching part of the original content. And for the
62 <em>Sound on Sound</em> mode, it's a transparent region on top of the original
67 The switch between layered, non-layered, and sound-on-sound modes is a global
68 setting available in the main toolbar right below the buttons enabling
69 Punch In and Punch Out.
73 <img src="/images/layering-switch.png" alt="Layering switch" width="50%">