<li>Side chain inputs are not affected by strict i/o</li>
</ul>
-<h2>Customizing the Signal Flow</h2>
+<h2>Customizing the Signal Flow : The Pin Connection window</h2>
+
<p>
The signal flow though the mixer can be customized at every processor node via "Pin Configuration" in the context menu of every processor.
-User customization override all automatic (flexible/strict i/o mode) inferred output port settings for the given processor.
-Non-customized plugins downstream will follow suit depending on the selected route mode. e.g. adding an additional output to a plugin on a track set to strict-i/o will trickle down the process chain until the output and result in the addition of an output port. This is useful for example in case of a mono to stereo reverb.
+User customization override all automatic (flexible/strict i/o mode) inferred output port settings </p>
+<p>
+ The Pin Connection window is made of three vertical sections:
+</p>
+<ul>
+ <li>an I/O config column</li>
+ <li>an interactive diagram</li>
+ <li>a sidechain column.</li>
+</ul>
+<p>
+ By default, the I/O config is set to <em>Automatic</em>, i.e. the <kbd class="menu">Manual Config</kbd> led light is turned off.
+ In this mode, the diagram will display the standard input/outputs for this plugin, i.e. the number of ports (input/outputs) is
+ equal to the number of pins on the plugin, and a 1:1 connection is automatically created.
+</p>
+<p>
+ Adding new instances of the plugin allows to apply this plugin to more inputs or outputs. E.g., a mono effect can be applied
+ to each channel of a <em>n</em>-channels track by adding as many instances of the plugins as there are input channels (i.e. ports). This
+ happens automatically when adding e.g. a mono effect to a stereo track:
+</p>
+<ul>
+ <li>Ardour creates two instances of the plugin,</li>
+ <li>the plugin gets a (2x1) label in the processor box</li>
+ <li>its 2 input ports are each connected to 1 pin of an instance</li>
+ <li>each mono output pin of the plugin is connected to 1 output port.</li>
+</ul>
+</p>
+<p>
+ Output channels can also, in Manual Config mode, be added or removed, be them audio or MIDI.
+</p>
+
+<p class="note">
+ Notice that using the Pin Connection overrides the I/O config setting (Flexible vs Strict). A processor <em>can</em>,
+ even in Strict I/O mode, have a different number of outputs than inputs. Non-customized plugins downstream
+ will follow suit depending on the selected route mode. e.g. adding an additional output to a plugin on a
+ track set to strict-i/o will trickle down the process chain until the output and result in the addition of
+ an output port. This is useful for example in case of a mono to stereo reverb.
</p>
<p>
-One can also bypass plugin instances with a 'trhu' connection. This connection is latency compensated. One example is separate Left/Right channel Equalization using two mono plugins on a stereo track:
+ The diagram allows to plug together the I/O ports with the plugin pins and other I/O ports, provided they are compatible (MIDI vs audio), just by
+ dragging/dropping the end connectors on one another.
+ A dotted connector's line is a "<em>thru</em>" line, that is directly connecting an output to an input without connecting to a pin on
+ the plugin, hence without any audio modification. Those "thru" connections are latency compensated with regards to those being affected by the plugin,
+ in order to avoid phasing issues. One example is separate Left/Right channel Equalization using two mono plugins on a stereo track:
+</p>
+<img src="/images/left_right_eq.png" alt="Separate left/right Eq">
+
+<p>
+ The only way to add inputs to a processor is via <a href="/signal-routing/sidechaining/">Sidechaining</a> from another signal.
+ This is done by "tapping" the signal from another track/bus at any point.
+</p>
+<p>
+ Adding a sidechain signal in Ardour is as simple as enabling the <kbd class="menu">Sidechain</kbd> button,
+ and choosing an <kbd class="menu">Audio</kbd> or <kbd class="menu">MIDI</kbd> sidechain in the
+ <kbd class="menu">Add Sidechain Input</kbd> lower right hand section.
+ A new dropdown menu appears, that displays a list of the tracks/bus available to be sidechained, or
+ for a more complex setup (e.g. sidechaining from hardware directly), the <a href="/signal-routing/Patchbay/">Routing Grid</a>
+ (also accessible with a <kbd class="mouse">Right</kbd>-click on the dropdown menu).
+</p>
+<p>
+ The sidechain ports can then be connected, as other inputs, to a pin of the plugin, or an output port for a "thru".
</p>
-<p class="center"><img src="/images/left_right_eq.png" alt="separate left/right Eq" /></p>
projects / ardour-manual / blobdiff