3 <img src="/images/new_main_clocks.png" alt="The transport clocks in Ardour">
5 The transport clocks in Ardour
10 <dfn>Clocks</dfn> in Ardour are used to display time values
11 precisely. In many cases, they are also one way to edit (change) time
15 In the transport bar of the editor window there are two clocks by
16 default, that display the current position of the playhead and
17 additional information related to transport control and the timeline.
18 These are called the <dfn>transport clocks</dfn>; the left one is the
19 <dfn>primary transport clock</dfn> (always showing the playhead
20 position) and the right one is the <dfn>secondary transport
24 Having two transport clocks allows seeing the playhead position in
25 two different time units without having to change any settings. For
26 example, one can see the playhead position in both timecode units and
27 BBT time. The secondary transport clock can nevertheless be hidden in
29 href="@@preferences#preferences-appearance-toolbar">Preferences</a>,
30 at <kbd class="menu">Appearance > Toolbar > Display Secondary
34 All the clocks in Ardour share the same powerful way of editing time.
35 Refer to <a href="@@editing-clocks">Editing Clocks</a> to learn how.
36 Editing the time in the transport clocks will reposition the playhead
37 in the same way that various other editing operations will.
41 The transport clocks have special attributes due to their function:
44 <h2>Information panel</h2>
46 Under each clock is an information panel, that offers informations about the current <a href="@@editing-clocks#clock-modes">clock mode</a>:
57 <th>Timecode / Minutes:Second / Seconds</th>
58 <td>Source of Timecode (<samp>INT</samp> means that Ardour is its own timecode source)</td>
62 <td>Current tempo and current time signature. Clicking one of this button allows changing the value.</td>
66 <td>Sample rate (<samp>SR</samp>) and pull-up/down, as defined in the <a href="@@session-properties#properties-timecode">session properties</a>.</td>
73 In the <kbd class="mouse">Right</kbd>-click menu, it is possible to
74 change the time origin, i.e. the zero-point in time, amongst :
79 <th><dfn>Display absolute time</dfn></th>
80 <td>The zero point is the absolute start of the timeline (ignoring the session start and any timecode offsets).</td>
83 <th><dfn>Display delta to edit cursor</dfn></th>
84 <td>The zero point is the Edit Point as chosen from the <a href="@@edit-point-control">Edit Point selector</a>, e.g. a selected marker.</td>
87 <th><dfn>Display delta to origin marker</dfn></th>
88 <td>The zero point is the <em>start</em> marker of the session.</td>
94 The transport clock may display a positive or negative value
95 depending on the temporal order of the chosen zero value and the
99 The clocks will use a different color when in <em>delta to
100 edit</em> or <em>delta to origin</em> mode to avoid confusion.
103 Also, when in the two later modes, the value of the clock can not