+
+
+ - Clocks in Ardour are used to display time values precisely. - In many cases, they are also one way to edit (change) time values, and in a few - cases, the only way. All clocks share the same basic appearance and functionality, - which is described below, but a few clocks serve particularly important roles. + Clocks in Ardour are used to display time values + precisely. In many cases, they are also one way to edit (change) time + values.
- In the transport bar of the editor window there are two clocks (on a large enough - screen), that display the current position of the playhead - and additional information related to transport control and the timeline. These - are called the transport clocks; the left one is the primary - transport clock and the right one is the secondary transport clock. + In the transport bar of the editor window there are two clocks by + default, that display the current position of the playhead and + additional information related to transport control and the timeline. + These are called the transport clocks; the left one is the + primary transport clock (always showing the playhead + position) and the right one is the secondary transport + clock.
- All the clocks in Ardour share the same powerful way of editing time. Refer to - Editing Clocks to learn how. + Having two transport clocks allows seeing the playhead position in + two different time units without having to change any settings. For + example, one can see the playhead position in both timecode units and + BBT time. The secondary transport clock can nevertheless be hidden in + the Preferences, + at Appearance > Toolbar > Display Secondary + Clock.
- Editing the time in the transport clocks will reposition the playhead in the same - way that various other editing operations will. + All the clocks in Ardour share the same powerful way of editing time. + Refer to Editing Clocks to learn how. + Editing the time in the transport clocks will reposition the playhead + in the same way that various other editing operations will.
-- On a few occasions Ardour needs to display time values to the user, but there - is no obvious way to specify what units to use. The most common case is the big - cursor that appears when dragging regions. For this and other similar cases, - Ardour will display time using the same units as the secondary clock. + The transport clocks have special attributes due to their function:
-- Having two transport clocks allows seeing the playhead position in two different - time units without having to change any settings. For example, one can see the - playhead position in both timecode units and BBT time. + Under each clock is an information panel, that offers informations about the current clock mode:
+| Mode | +Information | +
|---|---|
| Timecode / Minutes:Second / Seconds | +Source of Timecode (INT means that Ardour is its own timecode source) | +
| Bars:Beats | +Current tempo and current time signature. Clicking one of this button allows changing the value. | +
| Samples | +Sample rate (SR) and pull-up/down, as defined in the session properties. | +
- In addition to the time-unit modes, each of the two transport - clocks (again, on a sufficiently large screen) can be - independently set to display Delta to Edit Point in whatever time - units its current mode indicates. This setting means that the clock shows the - distance between the playhead and the current edit point, and it may show a - positive or negative value depending on the temporal order of these two points. - The clocks will use a different color when in this mode to avoid confusion. + In the Right-click menu, it is possible to + change the time origin, i.e. the zero-point in time, amongst :
-- To switch either (or both!) of the transport clocks into this mode, use - Edit > Preferences > Transport and select - the relevant checkboxes. -
+| Display absolute time | +The zero point is the absolute start of the timeline (ignoring the session start and any timecode offsets). | +
|---|---|
| Display delta to edit cursor | +The zero point is the Edit Point as chosen from the Edit Point selector, e.g. a selected marker. | +
| Display delta to origin marker | +The zero point is the start marker of the session. | +
- Note that when in Delta to Edit Point mode, the transport clocks - cannot be edited. +
- To show the current playhead position in a big, resizable window, activate - Window > Big Clock. The big clock is very useful - when working away from the screen but still wanting to see the playhead - position clearly (such as when working with a remote control device across - a room). The big clock will change its visual appearance to indicate when active - recording is taking place. Below on the left is a screenshot showing a fairly - large big clock window filling a good part of the display, and on the right, - the same clock during active recording. -
-
-