ACE Amplifier

This plugin can adjust gain by +/- 20dB anywhere in the processor box. It's typically useful in scenarios where a plugin's output needs to be adjusted, but the plugin does not provide its output level control.

Gain is the only available setting. It can be set in the generic plugin editor dialog or adjusted on the respective automation lane.

ACE Mute

This plugin can mute the signal anywhere in the processing chain as opposed to automating the mute state of the track that works on all processed audio only. Using ACE Mute in the very beginning of the signal chain means that in the muted state no signal is processed by plugins further in the processing chain.

ACE Mute has no settings. All user interaction happens in the dedicated automation lane:

Using ACE Mute
Using ACE Mute

Ardour also ships with a variation of ACE Mute called ACE Slow Mute that applies a 1 second long fade out/in before/after the muting.

Voice/Level Activate

This plugin rolls the transport when the signal level on the plugin's input exceeds a user-defined level. A common scenario where this is helpful is recording in a home studio where an instrument or a vocal mic is at a distance from the computer. Arming a track for recording, toggling recording mode, then clapping in front of a mic or plucking a string will roll the transport and start recording to a track of choice.

Voice/Level Activate
Voice/Level Activate

The only configurable setting is the input level threshold.