X-Git-Url: http://shamusworld.gotdns.org/cgi-bin/gitweb.cgi?a=blobdiff_plain;ds=sidebyside;f=_manual%2F15_editing-and-arranging%2F09_create-region-fades-and-crossfades.html;fp=_manual%2F15_editing-and-arranging%2F09_create-region-fades-and-crossfades.html;h=77df958dd70636f1c773cc45134c0f4f5b7caafb;hb=33c301104caebd44a7aa6fd09d563fc8f622764d;hp=59e7010f1a25f6807629144dfeb6e2cafaeaeccd;hpb=2781be76838eb059d23935d47f2b0f418a65dd35;p=ardour-manual-diverged diff --git a/_manual/15_editing-and-arranging/09_create-region-fades-and-crossfades.html b/_manual/15_editing-and-arranging/09_create-region-fades-and-crossfades.html index 59e7010..77df958 100644 --- a/_manual/15_editing-and-arranging/09_create-region-fades-and-crossfades.html +++ b/_manual/15_editing-and-arranging/09_create-region-fades-and-crossfades.html @@ -2,122 +2,121 @@ layout: default title: Create Region Fades and Crossfades --- -

Every Region has a fade-in and fade-out. By default, the region fade -is very short, and serves to de-click the transitions at the start and -end of the region. By adjusting the regions fade length, a more -gradual transition can be accomplished.

+ +

Add images--an image is worth more than 1,000 words

+

+ Every Region has a fade-in and fade-out. By default, the region fade + is very short, and serves to de-click the transitions at the start and + end of the region. By adjusting the regions fade length, a more + gradual transition can be accomplished. +

Region Fades

-

Region fades are possible at the beginning and end of -all audio regions. In object mode, a grip appears at the top left and -top right of an audio region when the cursor hovers over it. Placing -the cursor over the top of the grip displays the region fade cursor -tip. Click and drag the grip left or right in the timeline to -adjust the length of the fade.
+

+ Region fades are possible at the beginning and end of + all audio regions. In object mode, a grip appears at the top left and + top right of an audio region when the cursor hovers over it. Placing + the cursor over the top of the grip displays the region fade cursor + tip. Click and drag the grip left or right in the timeline to + adjust the length of the fade.

+

Crossfades

-

Crossfades refer to the behavior when you want to make -a smooth transition (mix) from one audio region to another on the same -track. Historically, this was done by splicing 2 pieces of analog -tape together, and this concept was carried forward into digital -editing. Each track is a sequence of sound files (regions). If -two regions are butted against each other, there needs to be a method -to splice them smoothly together. The crossfade allows one region -to fade smoothly out, while the next region fades smoothly in, like 2 -pieces of tape that have been cut at and angle, and overlapped.
+

+ Crossfades refer to the behavior when you want to make + a smooth transition (mix) from one audio region to another on the same + track. Historically, this was done by splicing 2 pieces of analog + tape together, and this concept was carried forward into digital + editing. Each track is a sequence of sound files (regions). If + two regions are butted against each other, there needs to be a method + to splice them smoothly together. The crossfade allows one region + to fade smoothly out, while the next region fades smoothly in, like 2 + pieces of tape that have been cut at and angle, and overlapped. +

+ +

+ But Ardour uses a more refined "layered" editing model, and + therefore it is possible for multiple regions to be stacked on a single + location with arbitrary overlaps between different layers. For + this reason, crossfades must be implemented differently. We can't + assume that a crossfade is an entitry that exists between 2 regions; + instead each region must have its own associated crossfades at each + end, and the topmost region must always crossfade down to the + underlying region(s), if any. +

+ +

+ Ardour solves this problem by putting a crossfade at the beginning + and end of every region. The fades of the bottom-most region are + first rendered, and then each region is rendered on top of the one + below it, with fades at the end of each region providing a crossfade to + the region(s) beneath it.

-

But Ardour uses a more refined "layered" editing model, and -therefore it is possible for multiple regions to be stacked on a single -location with arbitrary overlaps between different layers. For -this reason, crossfades must be implemented differently. We can't -assume that a crossfade is an entitry that exists between 2 regions; -instead each region must have its own associated crossfades at each -end, and the topmost region must always crossfade down to the -underlying region(s), if any.
+ +

+ It is important to understand that region fades are crossfades. When one region has + another region or multiple regions beneath its fade area, then you will + hear the topmost region fade-out be mirrored as a fade-in on the + underlying region(s). The grip for the topmost region will allow + changing the length and type of the crossfade into the underlying + region(s). In this way you can create a complicated series of + crossfades, and then layer another region atop the others, and fade + into that complicated series.

-

Ardour solves this problem by putting a crossfade at the beginning -and end of every region. The fades of the bottom-most region are -first rendered, and then each region is rendered on top of the one -below it, with fades at the end of each region providing a crossfade to -the region(s) beneath it.
+

An image here would probably help.

+ +

+ If a region doesn't have any region(s) under it, then the region is + crossfaded to silence; for convenience we call this a "fade" + rather than a crossfade.

-

It is important to understand that region fades are crossfades. When one region has -another region or multiple regions beneath its fade area, then you will -hear the topmost region fade-out be mirrored as a fade-in on the -underlying region(s). The grip for the topmost region will allow -changing the length and type of the crossfade into the underlying -region(s). In this way you can create a complicated series of -crossfades, and then layer another region atop the others, and fade -into _that_ complicated series. An image here would -probably help.
+ +

Fade Shapes

+

+ To activate/deactivate or change the shape of a region's fade-in or + fade-out, hover the cursor over the region fade grip till the cursor tip + indicates region fade editing and context-click to bring up a context + menu. In the context menu there is a list of options for the + region fade. Activate/Deactivate enables and + disables the region fade.

-

If a region doesn't have any region(s) under it, then the region is -crossfaded to silence; for convenience we call this a "fade" -rather than a crossfade.
+ +

+ Because each fade is also a crossfade, it has an inverse fade shape + for the audio beneath the fade. It is important to know how the + shapes differ, and which are most suitable for various editing tasks.

-

Fade Shapes
-

-

To activate/deactivate or change the shape of a region's fadein or -fade-out, hover the cursor over the regionfade grip till the cursor tip -indicates region fade editing and context-click to bring up a context -menu. In the context menu there is a list of options for the -regionfade. Activate/Deactivate enables and -disables the regionfade.
+ +

+ The different types of fades are:

-

Because each fade is also a crossfade, it has an inverse fade shape -for the audio beneath the fade. It is important to know how the -shapes differ, and which are most suitable for various editing tasks.
+ +

+
Linear
+
A simple linear coefficient decrease, and its mathematical inverse. A Linear fade starts attentuating quickly and then cuts off even more abruptly at lower levels. When used as a crossfade, the signals are each -6dB attenuated at the midpoint. This is the correct crossfade to use with highly-correlated signals for a smooth transition.
+
Constant Power
+
The constant power curve starts fading slowly and then cuts off abruptly. When used as a crossfade between 2 audio regions, the signals are symetrically attenuated, and they each reach -3dB at the midpoint. This is the correct crossfade to use when you want to splice audio in the general (uncorrelated) case.
+
Symmetric
+
The Symmetric fade starts slowly, then attenuates significantly before transitioning to a slower fade-out near the end of the fade. When used as a crossfade, the Symmetric curve is not mathematically correct like the Equal Power or Linear curves, but it provides a slower fade-out at low volumes. This is sometimes useful when editing two entire works of music together so that the transition is more gradual.
+
Fast
+
The Fast curve is a linear decibel fade; It sounds like a perfectly smooth fader or knob moved to silence. This shape is excellent as a general-purpose fade-in. When used as a crossfade, the inverse fade curve maintains constant power but is therefore non-symmetric; so its use is limited to those cases where the user finds it appropriate.
+
Slow
+
The Slow curve is a modified linear decibel fade. The initial curve starts more gradually so that it has a less abrupt transition near unity. After that, it sounds like a perfectly smooth fader or knob moved to silence. This shape is excellent as a general-purpose fade-out. When used as a crossfade, the inverse fade curve maintains constant power but is therefore non-symmetric; so its use is limited to those cases where the user finds it appropriate.
+
+ +

+ Although these fade shapes serve specific purposes, any of the shapes is usable in certain situations. The final decision is an artistic choice rather than a rigidly prescribed one.

-

The different types of fades are:
+ +

+ These fade curves are developed to provide a range of common uses, and + are developed with the least possible amount of changes in the "slope" + of the line. This provides artifact-free crossfades. Some + DAWs provide complicated fade editors with parametric "spline" controls + of the fade curves. While it might be interesting to develop a + fade curve with a faster cutoff, the mathematical difference between + this and simply shortening the fade is vanishingly small; the + amount of effort to shorten the fade is much easier than fooling around with a + crossfade editor dialog.

- -

Although these fade shapes serve specific purposes, you might find that -any of the shapes is usable in your situation. The final decision -is an artistic choice rather than a

-
-

These fade curves are developed to provide a range of common uses, and -are developed with the least possible amount of changes in the "slope" -of the line. This provides artifact-free crossfades. Some -DAWs provide complicated fade editors with parametric "spline" controls -of the fade curves. While it might be interesting to develop a -fade curve with a faster cutoff, the mathematical difference between -this and simply shortening the fade is vanishingly small; and the -amount of effort to shorten the fade is much easier than messing with a -crossfade editor dialog.

+