+<figure class="right">
+ <img src="/images/preferences.png" alt="The Preferences window">
+ <figcaption>
+ The Preferences window
+ </figcaption>
+</figure>
+
<p>
Global <dfn>preferences</dfn> control general workflow and system
configuration, and should apply to all sessions. They are located in <kbd
configuration file</dfn> in the user's home directory.
</p>
-<h2 id="general">General</h2>
+<p>
+ Preferences are conveniently grouped by category:
+</p>
+
+<ul>
+ <li><a href="#preferences-general">General</a></li>
+ <li><a href="#preferences-editor">Editor</a></li>
+ <li><a href="#preferences-mixer">Mixer</a></li>
+ <li><a href="#preferences-signal_flow">Signal Flow</a></li>
+ <li><a href="#preferences-audio">Audio</a></li>
+ <li><a href="#preferences-midi">MIDI</a></li>
+ <li><a href="#preferences-metronome">Metronome</a></li>
+ <li><a href="#preferences-metering">Metering</a></li>
+ <li><a href="#preferences-transport">Transport</a></li>
+ <li><a href="#preferences-sync">Sync</a></li>
+ <li><a href="#preferences-control_surfaces">Control Surfaces</a></li>
+ <li><a href="#preferences-midi_ports">MIDI Ports</a></li>
+ <li><a href="#preferences-plugins">Plugins</a></li>
+ <li><a href="#preferences-appearance">Appearance</a></li>
+ <li><a href="#preferences-video">Video</a></li>
+</ul>
+
+<h2 id="preferences-general">General</h2>
<ul>
<li>
<dfn>Tempo</dfn>
<ul>
<li>
- <dfn>Allow non quarte-note pulse</dfn>: by default, Ardour understands the <a
+ <dfn>Allow non quarte
r-note pulse</dfn>: by default, Ardour understands the <a
href="@@tempo-and-meter">tempo</a> as the number of quarter notes in a minute.
Checking this option allows to set the tempo based on any division of the note,
from whole to 1/128th. This is reflected in the <kbd class="menu">Edit
<li>
<strong>Save undo history</strong> sets how many commands are saved so
they are available to be undone after reopening the session. This can
- also be unckecked to keep all actions undoable, at the cost of bigger
+ also be unchecked to keep all actions undoable, at the cost of bigger
session files.
</li>
<li>
</li>
</ul>
-<h2 id="editor">Editor</h2>
+<h2 id="preferences-editor">Editor</h2>
<ul>
<li>
<li>
<dfn>Limit zooming & summary view to X minutes beyond session extents</dfn>
prevents the zoom out both in the editor and the summary, to show anything past
- the chosen time after the end marker, restraining the vision to only usefull
+ the chosen time after the end marker, restraining the vision to only useful
content.
</li>
<li>
<p>
This page allows to choose how things are done in the editor. This is a very
- flexible way for Ardour to match an existing workflow, or spped up the editing
+ flexible way for Ardour to match an existing workflow, or speed up the editing
process based on the user's most used actions.
</p>
<p>
- The <kbd class="menu">Reset to recommanded defaults</kbd> button at the bottom
+ The <kbd class="menu">Reset to recommended defaults</kbd> button at the bottom
provides a way to revert any user made change to its default value.
</p>
-<h2 id="mixer">Mixer</h2>
+<h2 id="preferences-mixer">Mixer</h2>
<ul>
<li>
available from the <strong>Mixer</strong> monitor section.
</li>
<li>
- <dfn>Solo-in-place mute cut (dB):</dfn> sets the attenuation of the
+ <dfn>Solo-in-place mute cut (dB):</dfn> sets the attenuation of
the other tracks when another track is soloed in place. This setting
is also available from the <strong>Mixer</strong> monitor section. The
default is "−inf" for −∞, meaning the other tracks are
</ul>
-<h2 id="signal_flow">Signal Flow</h2>
+<h2 id="preferences-signal_flow">Signal Flow</h2>
<ul>
<li>
</li>
</ul>
-<h2 id="audio">Audio</h2>
+<h2 id="preferences-audio">Audio</h2>
<ul>
<li>
<li>
<dfn>Replicate missing region channels</dfn>: if a track is N-channel,
and the region has fewer channels, this option copies the existing
- channel's data for this non-existant one. If left unckecked, the missing
+ channel's data for this non-existent one. If left unchecked, the missing
channels will stay silent.
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
-<h2 id="midi">MIDI</h2>
+<h2 id="preferences-midi">MIDI</h2>
<ul>
<li>
<ul>
<li>
<dfn>Initial program change:</dfn> Ardour will send a MIDI program
- change message on the <code>ardour:MMC out</code> JACK port when a session
+ change message on the <code>ardour:MMC out</code> MIDI port when a session
is loaded and whenever this field is changed. A value of -1 means don't
send any program change message.
</li>
</li>
</ul>
-<h2 id="metronome">Metronome</h2>
+<h2 id="preferences-metronome">Metronome</h2>
<ul>
<li>
</li>
</ul>
-<h2 id="metering">Metering</h2>
+<h2 id="preferences-metering">Metering</h2>
<ul>
<li>
</li>
<li>
<dfn>VU Meter standard:</dfn> selects which standard to use for the zero
- value of the vu-meters, i.e. how manu analog dBu are considered 0 on the
+ value of the vu-meters, i.e. the analog dBu value that will show as 0 on the
VU-meter.
</li>
<li>
</li>
</ul>
-<h2 id="transport">Transport</h2>
+<h2 id="preferences-transport">Transport</h2>
<ul>
<li>
</li>
</ul>
-<h2 id="sync">Sync</h2>
+<h2 id="preferences-sync">Sync</h2>
<ul>
<li>
<li>
<dfn>Enable Mclk generator</dfn> when enabled Ardour will generate a
(tempo dependant) beat clock at a rate of 24 pulses per quarter note on
- the <code>ardour:MIDI clock out</code> JACK port.
+ the <code>ardour:MIDI clock out</code> port.
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<ul>
<li>
<dfn>Enable MTC Generator</dfn> when enabled Ardour will generate MIDI
- time code on the <code>ardour:MTC out</code> JACK port.
+ time code on the <code>ardour:MTC out</code> MIDI port.
</li>
<li>
<dfn>Percentage either side of normal transport speed to transmit MTC:</dfn>
<li>
<dfn>Respond to MMC commands</dfn> when enabled Ardour will respond
to MIDI Machine Control commands received on the <code>ardour:MMC in</code>
- JACK port.
+ MIDI port.
</li>
<li>
<dfn>Send MMC commands</dfn> when enabled Ardour will send MIDI Machine
Control commands on the <code>ardour:MMC out</code>
- JACK port.
+ MIDI port.
</li>
<li>
<dfn>Inbound MMC device ID:</dfn> is the only device ID Ardour will
respond to when an MMC command is received on the <code>ardour:MMC in</code>
- JACK port.
+ MIDI port.
</li>
<li>
<dfn>Outbound MMC device ID:</dfn> is the MIDI device ID Ardour will
</li>
</ul>
-<h2 id="control_surfaces">Control Surfaces</h2>
+<h2 id="preferences-control_surfaces">Control Surfaces</h2>
<p>
This tab contains settings for <a href="@@control-surfaces">control surfaces</a>.
protocol settings</kbd> (only for Generic MIDI and Open Sound Control).
</p>
-<h2 id="midi_ports">MIDI Ports</h2>
+<h2 id="preferences-midi_ports">MIDI Ports</h2>
<ul>
<li>
</li>
</ul>
-<h2 id="plugins">Plugins</h2>
+<h2 id="preferences-plugins">Plugins</h2>
<p class="note">
The content of this preference page varies heavily between versions or Ardour:
both the platform and the build-time options can make Ardour support some types
of plugins and not others. While this documentation tries to show all possible
options, most systems will only show a subset of the options hereunder, e.g.
- AudioUnits are MacOs only…
+ AudioUnits are macOS only…
</p>
<ul>
<ul>
<li>
<dfn>Scan for Plugins</dfn> will initiate an immediate scan of the system
- for available plugins. Usefull to get a newly installed plugin recognised
+ for available plugins. Useful to get a newly installed plugin recognised
by Ardour.
</li>
</ul>
only be shown when <kbd class="mouse">double clicking</kbd> it.
</li>
<li>
- <dfn>Show Plugin Inline Display on Mixestrip by default</dfn> allows Ardour
+ <dfn>Show Plugin Inline Display on Mixer strip by default</dfn> allows Ardour
to show, in the <a href="@@audiomidi-mixer-strips">mixer strips</a>, a
visual rendering of the effect. These Inline Display are a special feature
of Ardour, so not all plugins are able to show this display. Most of Ardour's
<dfn>Don't automatically open the plugin GUI when the plugin has an inline
display mode</dfn>: this option, available only if
<kbd class="option">Automatically open the plugin GUI when adding a new plugin</kbd>
- is checked, superseeds it and hides the plugin GUI at creation if it has an
+ is checked, supercedes it and hides the plugin GUI at creation if it has an
Inline Display, like Ardour's own <code>a-*</code> plugins.
</li>
</ul>
<li>
<dfn>Scan Time Out</dfn> Specifies the default timeout for plugin
instantiation. Plugins that require more time to load will be
- blacklisted. A value of &infinity; disables the timeout.
+ blacklisted. A value of ∞ disables the timeout.
</li>
<li>
<dfn>VST Cache:</dfn> Clicking the <kbd class="menu">Clear</kbd> button
removes all VST plugins from the list of plugins available to be
- inserted into the processor box. A new VST plugins scan is then required.
+ inserted into the processor box. A new VST plugin scan is then required.
</li>
<li>
<dfn>VST Blacklist:</dfn> Clicking the <kbd class="menu">Clear</kbd>
<ul>
<li>
<dfn>Scan for [new] AudioUnit Plugins on Application Start</dfn> When
- enabled new AU plugins are searched, tested and added to the cache
- index on application start. When disabled new plugins will only be
- available after triggering a 'Scan' manually.
+ enabled, new AU plugins are searched, tested and added to the cache
+ index on application start. When disabled, new plugins will only be
+ available after triggering a 'Scan' manually.
</li>
<li>
<dfn>AU Cache:</dfn> Clicking the <kbd class="menu">Clear</kbd> button
</li>
</ul>
-<h2 id="appearance">Appearance</h2>
+<h2 id="preferences-appearance">Appearance</h2>
<ul>
<li>
<li>
<dfn>Blink Alert indicators</dfn>: when enabled, the Alert indicators (like
the <kbd class="menu">Error Log</kbd> or the <kbd class="menu">Feedback</kbd>
- button) will blink when they are active (when resp. an error or a feedback
- has been detected) When disabled, the indicators will turn red instead of
+ button) will blink when they are active (when an error or feedback
+ has been detected, respectively). When disabled, the indicators will turn red instead of
blinking.
</li>
<li>
<li>
<dfn>Use name highlight bars in region displays (requires a restart)</dfn>:
when enabled, the region name is displayed, in the editor, in its own opaque bar
- at the bottom of the region. When disabled, the region name is overlayed
+ at the bottom of the region. When disabled, the region name is overlaid
at the top of the region, possibly over audio waveforms or MIDI notes.
</li>
<li>
<dfn>Region color follows track color</dfn>: when enabled,
- the background color of regions in the editor will be displayed using the
+ the background color of regions in the editor will be displayed using
the color assigned to the track. When disabled the default region
background color will be used.
</li>
<li>
<dfn>LED meter style</dfn> if checked, the bar meters in the editor and
mixer will be styled to look like if they were made of LEDs, with a dotted
- bar. Unckeking this option makes the bars flat and continuous.
+ bar. Unchecking this option makes the bars flat and continuous.
</li>
<li>
<dfn>Waveforms color gradient depth:</dfn> determines how much gradient
<li>
<dfn>Use visibility information provided by your Window Manager/Desktop</dfn>
allows the system window manager's rules for the windows visibility to
- superseed Ardour's.
+ supercede Ardour's.
</li>
<li>
<dfn>All floating windows are dialogs</dfn>: when enabled, Ardour will
</li>
</ul>
-<h2 id="video">Video</h2>
+<h2 id="preferences-video">Video</h2>
<ul>
<li>
<ul>
<li>
<dfn>Show Video Export Info before export</dfn> Shows a warning message
- when exporting a video about licencing and offers to open the
+ when exporting a video about licensing and offers to open the
<a href="@@workflow-amp-operations#export">export video</a> section of
this manual.
</li>
<li>
<dfn>Show Video Server Startup Dialog</dfn>: when using video inside Ardour,
this video is accessed via Xjadeo from a source file through a Video Server.
- This options shows the server's startup dialog (usefull for degbugging a
- malfunctionning video).
+ This options shows the server's startup dialog (useful for debugging a
+ malfunctioning video).
</li>
<li>
<dfn>Advanced Setup (remote video server)</dfn> can be used when the setup
</li>
<li>
<dfn>Video Server URL:</dfn> Base URL of the video server delivering the video
- through the network (<code>http://IP-or-adress:port</code>).
+ through the network (<code>http://IP-or-address:port</code>).
</li>
<li>
<dfn>Video folder</dfn> is the server's local path to the document-root,
projects / ardour-manual / blobdiff