- Ardour can be used in many different ways, from extremely simple to - extremely complex. Many projects will be handled using the following - kind of workflow. + Ardour can be used in many different ways, from extremely simple to extremely + complex. Many projects can be handled using the following kind of + workflow:
-- The first step is to create a new session, 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. + The first step is to create a new session, 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 + are usually stored within the session folder.
-- More details on sessions can be found in -Working With Sessions. + +
+ More details on sessions can be found in Sessions + chapter.
-- 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: + Once a session has been created, it will be necessary to add some audio + and/or MIDI material to it—which can be done in one of 3 ways:
+
- MIDI recordings 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.
- Two different synthesizers may produce very different sound in response
- to the same incoming MIDI data.
+ MIDI recordings 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 the MIDI data is sent to. Two different synthesizers may produce very
+ different sounds in response to the same incoming MIDI data.
Audio recordings can be made from external instruments with - electrical outputs (keyboards, guitars etc.) or via microphones from - acoustic instruments. + electrical outputs (keyboards, guitars, etc.), or via microphones or other sound capturing equipment.
+- Ardour uses the JACK Audio Connection Kit 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. + Ardour can use the JACK Audio Connection Kit for all audio and MIDI + I/O, making recording audio/MIDI from other applications fundamentally identical + to recording audio/MIDI from audio/MIDI hardware.
- 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 - Editor window. + Once there is material within the session, it can be arranged in time. This + is done in one of the two main windows of Ardour: the Editor + window.
+- Your audio/MIDI data appears in chunks called regions, which - are arranged into horizontal lanes called tracks. 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 non-destructive editor. (Almost) - nothing that you do while editing will ever modify the files stored on - disk (except the session file itself). + Audio/MIDI data appears in chunks called regions, which are + arranged into horizontal lanes called tracks. Tracks are stacked + vertically in the Editor window. Regions can be copied, shortened, moved, and + deleted without changing the actual data stored in the session at + all—Ardour is a non-destructive editor. (Almost) nothing + done while editing will ever modify the files stored on disk (with the + exception of the session file itself).
+ ++ Many transformations can be done to the contents of regions, again + without altering anything on disk. It is possible to alter, move, delete and + remove silence from audio regions, for example. +
+- You can also carry out many transformations 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. + MIDI regions can also be copied, moved, shortened, or deleted without altering + the MIDI files, though any edit like adding, suppressing or moving notes + inside a region results in a modification of the underlying MIDI file.
- Once you have the arrangement of your session mostly complete, you will - typically move on to the mixing 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. + Once the arrangement of the session is mostly complete, the next step is the + mixing phase. Mixing is a broad term to cover the way the audio + signals that the session generates during playback are processed and added + together into a final result that is actually heard. 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.
+- Ardour will allow you to automate 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. + Ardour allows automation of changes to any mixing parameters (such + as volume, panning, and effects controls)—it will record the changes + made 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 needed will vary in one part of a session compared to + another—rather than using a single setting for the volume of a track, + it may need increases followed by decreases (for example, to track the + changing volume of a singer). Using automation can make all of this + relatively easy.
- 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 - export 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. + Once the arrangement and mix of the session is finalized, a single audio file + that contains a ready-to-listen to version of the work is usually desired. + Ardour allows the exporting of 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.
+- 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. + Of course it is sometimes desirable to export material that isn't finished + yet—for example, to give a copy to another party to mix on their own + system. Ardour allows exporting as much of a session as desired, at any + time, in any supported format.
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