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+<p>
+ Ardour can be used in many different ways, from extremely simple to
+ extremely complex. Many projects will be handled using the following
+ kind of <dfn>workflow</dfn>.
+</p>
+
+<h2>Stage 1: Creating Your Project</h2>
+<p>
+ The first step is to create a new <dfn>session</dfn>, or open an
+ existing one. A session consists of a folder containing a session file
+ that defines all the information about the session. All media files used
+ by the session can be stored within the session folder.
+</p>
+<p>
+ More details on sessions can be found in
+<a href="/working-with-sessions/">Working With Sessions</a>.
+</p>
+
+<h2>Stage 2: Creating and Importing Audio and MIDI data</h2>
+<p>
+ Once you have a session, you will want to add some audio and/or MIDI
+ material to it, which can be done in one of 3 ways:
+</p>
+<ul>
+ <li><dfn>Record</dfn> incoming audio or MIDI data, either via audio or MIDI hardware
+ connected to your computer, or from other applications.</li>
+ <li><dfn>Create</dfn> new MIDI data using the mouse and/or various dialogs</li>
+ <li><dfn>Import</dfn> existing media files into the session</li>
+</ul>
+<p>
+ <dfn>MIDI recordings</dfn> consist of performance data ("play note X at
+ time T") rather than actual sound. As a result, they are more flexible
+ than actual audio, since the precise sound that they will generate when
+ played depends on where you send the MIDI to.<br />
+ Two different synthesizers may produce very different sound in response
+ to the same incoming MIDI data.
+</p>
+<p>
+ <dfn>Audio recordings</dfn> can be made from external instruments with
+ electrical outputs (keyboards, guitars etc.) or via microphones from
+ acoustic instruments.
+</p>
+<p>
+ Ardour uses the <dfn>JACK Audio Connection Kit</dfn> for all audio and
+ MIDI I/O, which means that recording audio/MIDI from other applications
+ is fundamentally identical to recording audio/MIDI from your audio/MIDI
+ hardware.
+</p>
+
+<h2>Stage 3: Editing and Arranging</h2>
+<p>
+ Once you have some material within the session, you can start to arrange
+ it in time. This is done in one of the two main windows of Ardour, the
+ <dfn>Editor</dfn> window.
+</p>
+<p>
+ Your audio/MIDI data appears in chunks called <dfn>regions</dfn>, which
+ are arranged into horizontal lanes called <dfn>tracks</dfn>. Tracks are
+ stacked vertically in the Editor window. You can copy, shorten, move,
+ and delete regions without changing the actual data stored in the session
+ at all — Ardour is a <dfn>non-destructive</dfn> editor. (Almost)
+ nothing that you do while editing will ever modify the files stored on
+ disk (except the session file itself).
+</p>
+<p>
+ You can also carry out many <dfn>transformations</dfn> to the contents
+ of regions, again without altering anything on disk. You can alter,
+ move, and delete MIDI notes, and remove silence from audio regions, for
+ example.
+</p>
+
+<h2>Stage 4: Mixing and Adding Effects</h2>
+<p>
+ Once you have the arrangement of your session mostly complete, you will
+ typically move on to the <dfn>mixing</dfn> phase. Mixing is a broad term
+ to cover the way the audio signals that your session generates during
+ playback and processed and added together into a final result that you
+ actually hear. It can involve altering the relative levels of various
+ parts of the session, adding effects that improve or transform certain
+ elements, and others that bring the sound of the whole session to a new
+ level.
+</p>
+<p>
+ Ardour will allow you to <dfn>automate</dfn> changes to any mixing
+ parameters (such as volume, panning, and effects controls) - it will
+ record the changes you make over time, using a mouse or keyboard or some
+ external control device, and can play back those changes later. This is
+ very useful because often the settings you need will vary in one part of
+ a session compared to another — rather than using a single setting
+ for the volume, you may need increases followed by decreases (for example,
+ to track the changing volume of a singer). Using automation can make all
+ of this relatively simple.
+</p>
+
+<h2>Stage 5: Export</h2>
+<p>
+ Once you are really satisfied with the arrangement and mix of your
+ session, you will typically want to produce a single audio file that
+ contains a ready-to-listen to version of the work. Ardour will allow you to
+ <dfn>export</dfn> audio files in a variety of formats (simultaneously in
+ some cases). This exported file would typically be used in creating a CD,
+ or be the basis for digital distribution of the work.
+</p>
+<p>
+ Of course sometimes you will want to do export material that isn't finished
+ yet, for example to give a copy to someone else to try to mix on their own
+ system. Ardour will allow you to export as much of a session as you want, at
+ any time, in any supported format.
+</p>
+
+
projects / ardour-manual / blobdiff