<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>
The GUI can also be locked with <kbd class="menu">Session > Lock</kbd>. When
locked, a dialog will display a "Click to unlock" button.
</li>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>System Screensaver Mode:</dfn>can be used to prevent the
+ screensaver to be launched by the system, either while recording
+ (e.g. for long and unattended recording session), when Ardour is
+ simply started, or never (the screensaver is then able to start).
+ </li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
saved.
</li>
<li>
- <strong>Always copy imported files</strong> selects, and then disables
- changes to, the <em>Copy files to session</em> option in the
- <a href="@@import-dialog">Add Existing Media</a> dialog.
+ <strong>Drag and drop import always copies files to session</strong>
+ selects, and then disables changes to, the <em>Copy files to session</em>
+
option in the <a href="@@import-dialog">Add Existing Media</a> dialog.
</li>
<li>
<strong>Default folder for new sessions:</strong> defaults the folder
</ul>
<h2 id="preferences-editor">Editor</h2>
-
<ul>
<li>
<dfn>General</dfn>
<ul>
- <li>
- <dfn>Snap rubberband to grid</dfn> when
- enabled uses the grid when <a href="@@select-regions">selecting regions</a>
- with a rubberband rectangle.
- </li>
<li>
<dfn>Prompt for new marker names</dfn> when enabled, popup a dialog
when a new <a href="@@working-with-markers">marker</a> is created. This allows
markers to be named as they are created.
</li>
<li>
- <dfn>Allow dragging of the playhead</dfn>, when enabled, allows
- dragging the playhead with the mouse in the <strong>Editor</strong> window.
- </li>
- <li>
- <dfn>Playhead dragging speed (%):</dfn> chooses how fast the canvas
+ <dfn>Auto-scroll speed when dragging playhead:</dfn> chooses how fast the canvas
scrolls when dragging the playhead outside of the visible canvas.
</li>
<li>
- <dfn>Limit zooming & summary view to X minutes beyond session extents</dfn>
+ <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 useful
content.
The gain envelope is superimposed over the region in the selected modes, and
hidden otherwise for a better legibility.
</li>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Show xrun markers in regions</dfn> puts a marker on the region(s)
+ while recording, when a buffer over/underflow happens.
+ </li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
- <dfn>Editor Behaviour</dfn>
+ <dfn>Editor Behavior</dfn>
<ul>
<li>
<dfn>Move relevant automation when audio regions are moved</dfn>,
fade shape</a> is the default.
</li>
<li>
- <dfn>Regions in edit groups are edited together:</dfn> sets
+ <dfn>Regions in active edit groups are edited together:</dfn> sets
the criteria to see if editing actions apply to tracks grouped together
in an group.
</li>
multiple regions in the same track. This selector defines how these layers are
managed, either manually or by placing the latest on top.
</li>
+ </ul>
+ </li>
+
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Split/Separate</dfn>
+ <ul>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>After a Separate operation, in Range mode:</dfn> determines what
+ should become of the Range selection after a Separate operations:
+ <ul>
+ <li>Clear the Range Selection: nothing is selected anymore</li>
+ <li>Preserve the Range Selection: the range selection is kept</li>
+ <li>Force-Select the regions under the range: the regions that
+ were in the range selection are selected in Grab/Object mode</li>
+ </ul>
+ </li>
<li>
- <dfn>After splitting selected regions, select:</dfn> determines which,
- if any, regions are selected after a split operation. The options are no
- regions, the regions created by the split, and if more than one region
- was selected to start with, the existing selection and the new regions.
+ <dfn>After a Split operation, in Object mode:</dfn> determines which,
+ if any, regions are selected after a split operation. The options are:
+ <ul>
+ <li>Clear the Region Selection: nothing is selected anymore</li>
+ <li>Select only the newly-created regions BEFORE the split point:
+ </li>if regions have been affected by the split, then the regions
+ created by the split before the split point is selected
+ <li>Select only the newly-created regions BEFORE the split point:
+ same as above, for the regions created after the split point</li>
+ <li>Select the newly-created regions: sum of the two above, i.e. all
+ the regions that are created as a result of the split are selected.</li>
+ <li>Preserve the existing selection, AND select all newly-created regions:
+ same as above (all the parts that have been created by the split) plus
+ the unaffected regions that were selected before the split.</li>
+ </ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="modifiers">Modifiers</h3>
-
<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 speed up the editing
</ul>
</li>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Master</dfn>
+ <ul>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Enable master-bus output gain control</dfn> adds a gain-stage to
+ the master-bus and a Loudness Analyzer & Normalizer button that
+ calculates the Loudness (LUFS) of the session (or a range selection),
+ and normalizes the loudness according to various standards.
+ </li>
+ </ul>
+ </li>
+
<li>
<dfn>Default Track / Bus Muting Options</dfn> sets the muting options
for a newly created tracks or bus. The mute options for an existing track
See <a href="@@monitoring">Monitoring</a> for more information.
</li>
<li>
- <dfn>Tape machine mode</dfn> when enabled defaults new audio tracks to
- tape machine mode. See <a href="@@track-types">Track Types</a> for more
- information.
+ <dfn>Auto Input does 'Talkback'</dfn> when enabled, the
+ <kbd class="option">Transport > Auto Input</kbd> option also sets
+ the tracks to monitor its audio input when transport is not rolling.
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<h2 id="preferences-midi">MIDI</h2>
<ul>
- <li>
- <dfn>Buffering</dfn>
- <ul>
- <li>
- <dfn>MIDI read-ahead time (seconds):</dfn> defines how much time of MIDI data
- must be read in advance by Ardour and put in the buffer. More time means more
- stability while playing back, at the expense of more time to buffer the data.
- This should be set to a low value for a reasonably capable machine.
- </li>
- </ul>
- </li>
-
<li>
<dfn>Session</dfn>
<ul>
note is sent as MIDI as if Ardour was playing it withe the session, so the
processors and signal routing will be applied.
</li>
+
+ </ul>
+ </li>
+
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Virtual Keyboard</dfn>
+ <ul>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Virtual Keyboard Layout:</dfn> selects which (if any) computer
+ keyboard layout is used to be mapped on the keys of the musical
+ keyboard of the Virtual Keyboard (<kbd class="menu">Window > Virtual Keyboard</kbd>).
+ </li>
+
+ </ul>
+ </li>
+
+ <li>
+ <dfn>MIDI Port Options</dfn>
+ <ul>
<li>
- <dfn>Midi Audition Synth (LV2):</dfn> allows to select in the list of LV2
- instruments, which one will be used to audition MIDI when e.g. in the
- <a href="@@import-dialog">import dialog</a>.
+ <dfn>MIDI input follows MIDI track selection</dfn> allows Ardour to automatically
+ connect the MIDI input to the selected track. Selecting a different MIDI
+ track results in Ardour disconnecting the MIDI device from the former track
+ and connecting it to the newly selected one, so that the MIDI device is
+ always connected to the selected track. Which MIDI device will follow
+ selection can be chosen below.
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<dfn>Post Export Analysis</dfn>
<ul>
<li>
- <dfn>Save loudness analysis as image file</dfn> allows, when the
+ <dfn>Save loudness analysis as image file after export</dfn> allows, when the
<kbd class="option">Analyze Exported Audio</kbd> is checked in the
<a href="@@export-dialog">Export dialog</a>, to save the analysis graph
as a file named <code>session.png</code> alongside the exported audio
file(s) (in the same folder).
</li>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Save Mixer screenshot after export</dfn> creates and exports
+ a graphical image of the Mixer window as a file named
+ <code>session-mixer.png</code> alongside the exported audio file(s)
+ (in the same folder).
+ </li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
record-enable engaged after transport is stopped. Does not affect track
level record-enable which is never changed on stop.
</li>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Reset default speed on stop</dfn> when the
+ <a href="@@transport-bar">Shuttle speed control</a> is in <em>wheel</em>
+ mode, i.e. the transport speed can be constantly changed, enabling this
+ option makes these changes temporary, and the transport speed reset
+ each time the transport is stopped.
+ </li>
<li>
<dfn>Disable per-track record disarm while rolling</dfn>, when
enabled, will not allow the any track's record-enable to be disarmed
starts playing the loop but stop then cancels loop playback.
</li>
<li>
- <dfn>Do seamless looping</dfn> removes any clicks that might
- otherwise be audible when the transport moves from the end of the loop
- range back to the beginning.
+ <dfn>Loop Fades:</dfn> when the transport moves from the end of the loop
+ range back to the beginning, clicks might be audible. This parameter
+ allows for adding fades (in, out or cross-) to prevent those clicks.
</li>
</ul>
</li>
recording at the location of the xrun. This marks where possible xruns
might produce audible glitches.
</li>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Reset x-runs counter when starting to record</dfn>, when enabled,
+ sets the x-run counter in the <a href="@@status-bar">Status bar</a>
+ to 0 each time a recording is started, hence showing only the relevant
+ number of x-run while recording.
+ </li>
</ul>
</li>
-</ul>
-
-<h2 id="preferences-sync">Sync</h2>
-
-<ul>
+
<li>
- <dfn>External Synchronization</dfn>
+ <dfn>Transport Masters</dfn>
+ <p>
+ This section defines which time source(s) Ardour should use (LTC, MTC, JACK or MIDI),
+ and the options linked to this transport master.
+ </p>
+
<ul>
- <li>
- <dfn>External timecode source</dfn> determines which external source to
- use when Ardour is using an external
- <a href="@@working-with-synchronization">synchronization</a> source.
- Depending on the timecode source chosen, the additional preference options
- below are available.
- </li>
- <li>
- <dfn>Match session video frame rate to external timecode</dfn>
- controls the value of the video frame rate <em>while chasing</em>
- an external timecode source. When enabled, the session video frame rate will be
- changed to match that of the selected external timecode source. When disabled,
- the session video frame rate will not be changed to match that of the selected
- external timecode source. Instead, the frame rate indication in the main clock
- will flash red and Ardour will convert between the external timecode standard
- and the session standard.
- </li>
- <li>
- <dfn>Sync-lock timecode to clock (disable drift compensation)</dfn>
- When enabled, Ardour will never varispeed when slaved to external
- timecode. Sync Lock indicates that the selected external timecode
- source shares clock-sync (Black & Burst, Wordclock, etc) with
- the audio interface. This options disables drift compensation.
- The transport speed is fixed at 1.0. Vari-speed LTC will be ignored
- and cause drift. When disabled, Ardour will compensate for potential
- drift regardless if the timecode sources shares clock sync.
- </li>
- <li>
- <dfn>Lock to 29.9700 fps instead of 30000/1001</dfn>, when
- enabled, will force Ardour to assume the external timecode source
- uses 29.97 fps instead of 30000/1001.
- SMPTE 12M-1999 specifies 29.97 df as 30000/1001. The spec
- further mentions that drop-frame timecode has an accumulated error
- of -86 ms over a 24 hour period. Drop-frame timecode would
- compensate exactly for an NTSC color frame rate of 30 × 0.9990 (i.e.
- 29.970000). That is not the actual rate. However, some vendors use
- that rate—despite it being against the specs—because the
- variant of using exactly 29.97 fps has zero timecode drift.
- </li>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Keep rolling if sync is lost</dfn>, when checked, forces Ardour to
+ keep its transport speed even if a transport master signal is lost.
+ Unchecking this option makes Ardour stop transport if it looses the
+ signal.
+ </li>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Match session video frame rate to external timecode</dfn>
+ controls the value of the video frame rate <em>while chasing</em>
+ an external timecode source. When enabled, the session video frame rate will be
+ changed to match that of the selected external timecode source. When disabled,
+ the session video frame rate will not be changed to match that of the selected
+ external timecode source. Instead, the frame rate indication in the main clock
+ will flash red and Ardour will convert between the external timecode standard
+ and the session standard.
+ </li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="ltc">LTC</h3>
<ul>
- <li>
- <dfn>Linear Timecode (LTC) Reader</dfn>
- <ul>
- <li>
- <dfn>LTC incoming port:</dfn> specifies which physical incoming port of
- the system will provide the LTC signal.
- </li>
- </ul>
- </li>
<li>
<dfn>Linear Timecode (LTC) Generator</dfn>
the generated LTC signal in dbFS. A good value is 0dBu=−18dbFS
in an EBU calibrated system.
</li>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>LTC Output Port:</dfn> selects to which port (if any) the
+ LTC generator will be connected by default.
+ </li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
protocol settings</kbd> (only for Generic MIDI and Open Sound Control).
</p>
-<h2 id="preferences-midi_ports">MIDI Ports</h2>
-
-<ul>
- <li>
- <dfn>MIDI Port Options</dfn>
- <ul>
- <li>
- <dfn>MIDI input follows MIDI track selection</dfn> allows Ardour to automatically
- connect the MIDI input to the selected track. Selecting a different MIDI
- track results in Ardour disconnecting the MIDI device from the former track
- and connecting it to the newly selected one, so that the MIDI device is
- always connected to the selected track. Which MIDI device will follow
- selection can be chosen below.
- </li>
- </ul>
- </li>
-
- <li>
- <dfn>MIDI Inputs</dfn> This is a list of all the MIDI devices connected as
- inputs (capture devices) to Ardour. For each devices, there are 3 checkboxes:
- <ul>
- <li>
- <dfn>Music Data</dfn> if checked, Ardour will consider this device as a source
- for musical data input (notes, etc…)
- </li>
- <li>
- <dfn>Control Data</dfn> if checked, Ardour will consider this device as a source
- for control data input (play/stop, etc…)
- </li>
- <li>
- <dfn>Follow selection</dfn> if the above
- <kbd class="option">MIDI input follows MIDI track selection</kbd> is
- checked, Ardour will make this device follow track selection.
- </li>
- </ul>
- </li>
-
- <li>
- <dfn>MIDI Outputs</dfn> This is a list of all the MIDI devices connected as
- outputs (playback devices) to Ardour. For each devices, there are 2 checkboxes:
- <ul>
- <li>
- <dfn>Music Data</dfn> if checked, Ardour will consider this device as a target
- for musical data output (notes, etc…)
- </li>
- <li>
- <dfn>Control Data</dfn> if checked, Ardour will take this device as a target
- for control data output (play/stop, etc…)
- </li>
- </ul>
- </li>
-</ul>
<h2 id="preferences-plugins">Plugins</h2>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
+
+ <li>
+ <dfn>LV1/LV2</dfn>
+ <ul>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Conceal LADSPA (LV1) Plugins if matching LV2 exists</dfn> When
+ enabled, gives precedence to the LV2 (more up-to-date) version of
+ a plugin over its LV1 version, if both exists.
+ </li>
+ </ul>
+ </li>
<li>
<dfn>Plugin GUI</dfn>
display mode</dfn>: this option, available only if
<kbd class="option">Automatically open the plugin GUI when adding a new plugin</kbd>
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.
+ Inline Display, like Ardour's own <code>ACE *</code> plugins.
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
+
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Statistics</dfn>
+ <ul>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Reset Statistics</dfn>: clears the statistics used to determine
+ the most used and most recently used plugins.
+ </li>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Plugin chart (use-count) length:</dfn> In the Mixer view's
+ <a href="@@favorite-plugins-window">favorite plugins</a> section,
+ determines how many plugins are displayed when in <em>Top-10 Plugins</em>
+ mode.
+ </li>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Plugin recent list length:</dfn> Same as above,
+ when in <em>Recent Plugins</em> mode.
+ </li>
+ </ul>
+ </li>
</ul>
<h3 id="vst">VST</h3>
instantiation. Plugins that require more time to load will be
blacklisted. A value of ∞ disables the timeout.
</li>
+ </ul>
+ </li>
+
+ <li>
+ <dfn>VST 2.x</dfn>
+ <ul>
<li>
- <dfn>VST Cache:</dfn> Clicking the <kbd class="menu">Clear</kbd> button
+ <dfn>VST 2 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 plugin scan is then required.
</li>
<li>
- <dfn>VST Blacklist:</dfn> Clicking the <kbd class="menu">Clear</kbd>
+ <dfn>VST 2 Blacklist:</dfn> Clicking the <kbd class="menu">Clear</kbd>
button makes blacklisted VST plugins available to be added to the processor
box.
</li>
<li>
- <dfn>Linux VST Path:</dfn> Clicking the <kbd class="menu">Edit</kbd> button
+ <dfn>Linux VST2 Path:</dfn> Clicking the <kbd class="menu">Edit</kbd> button
pops up a dialog to manage the directories that will be searched for Linux
VST plugins. When modified, Ardour will offer to scan those paths for plugins.
</li>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
+
+ <li>
+ <dfn>VST 3</dfn>
+ <ul>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>VST 3 Cache:</dfn> Same as above, for VST 3
+ </li>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>VST 3 Blacklist:</dfn> Same as above, for VST 3
+ </li>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Additional VST3 Path:</dfn> The VST 3 specs clearly define where
+ the host application should look for plugins. Although Ardour provides a
+ way to search other directories for plugin, it is out of spec and not
+ recommanded.
+ </li>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Conceal VST2 Plugin if matching LV3 exists</dfn> When
+ enabled, gives precedence to the VST3 (more up-to-date) version of
+ a plugin over its VST2 version, if both exists.
+ </li>
+ </ul>
+ </li>
</ul>
<h3 id="audio_unit">Audio Unit</h3>
<li>
<dfn>Graphics Acceleration</dfn>
<ul>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Disable Graphics Hardware Acceleration (requires restart)</dfn>
+ Ardour uses hardware accelerated UI rendering by default for speed.
+ Sometimes though, a buggy driver can cause this to make the system slow or
+ unstable. Checking this will make Ardour draw its UI without
+ hardware acceleration, in software, improving stability and responsiveness
+ on those buggy systems at the expense of speed.
+ </li>
<li>
<dfn>Possibly improve slow graphical performance (requires restart)</dfn>
- Ardour uses hardware accelerated gradient creation by default for speed.
- Sometimes though, a buggy driver can cause this to make the system slow or
- unstable. Checking this will make Ardour draw its own gradients without
- hardware acceleration, improving stability and responsiveness on those
- buggy systems.
+ Wherever gradients appear in the UI, Ardour uses hardware accelerated
+ gradients creation. Checking this will make Ardour draw its own gradients without
+ hardware acceleration for stability on systems with buggy drivers.
</li>
</ul>
</li>
the color assigned to the track. When disabled the default region
background color will be used.
</li>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Show Region Names</dfn>: when enabled, overlays the name of
+ the region over its waveform representation, in the top-left.
+ </li>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Track name ellipsis mode:</dfn> when the track header is not
+ wide enough to display the track's name in full, selects how the
+ name will be shorten between:
+ <ul>
+ <li><em>Ellipsize start of name</em> will show only the end of the name</li>
+ <li><em>Ellipsize middle of name</em> will show only the start and end of the name</li>
+ <li><em>Ellipsize end of name</em> will show only the start of the name</li>
+ </ul>
+ </li>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Add a visual gap below Audio Regions:</dfn> selects whether or
+ not the audio regions fit the height of the track or leave a gap at
+ the bottom, either small or large.
+ </li>
</ul>
</li>
if checked, will hide these control messages from the MIDI regions for better
legibility.
</li>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Show velocity horizontally inside notes</dfn>: when on, each note
+ of a MIDI region (in <em>Sustained</em> mode) displays its velocity
+ (0-127) with a darker fill proportional to its value.
+ </li>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Use colors to show note velocity</dfn>: if checked, makes the
+ saturation of the notes color proportional to its velocity, hence making
+ a more veloce note more intense in color.
+ </li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
they are created in wide format. Existing mixer strips width can be toggled
with the width control at the top left of the mixer strip.
</li>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Limit inline-mixer-strip controls per plugin :</dfn> Whether or
+ not, and how many, controls each plugin can show in the mixer strip.
+ These mixer-strip controls are added by checking <em>plugin context-menu
+ > Controls > □ control parameter</em>.
+ </li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
the main toolbar.
</li>
<li>
- <dfn>Display Monitor Options</dfn> toggles the visibility of the
+ <dfn>Display Monitoring Options</dfn> toggles the visibility of the
<a href="@@other-toolbar-items#monitor-options">monitor options</a> slice of
the main toolbar.
</li>
<li>
- <dfn>Display Selection Clock</dfn> toggles the visibility of the
- <a href="@@selection-and-punch-clocks#selection_clocks">selection clocks</a> slice of
- the main toolbar.
+ <dfn>Display Latency Compensation Info</dfn> toggles the visibility of the
+ Latency Compensation slice of the main toolbar.
</li>
<li>
<dfn>Display Secondary Clock</dfn> toggles the visibility of the
<a href="@@transport-clocks">secondary clocks</a> slice of
the main toolbar.
</li>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Display Selection Clock</dfn> toggles the visibility of the
+ <a href="@@selection-and-punch-clocks#selection_clocks">selection clocks</a> slice of
+ the main toolbar.
+ </li>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Display Monitor Section Info</dfn> toggles the visibility of the
+ Monitor Info slice of the main toolbar.
+ </li>
<li>
<dfn>Display Navigation Timeline</dfn> toggles the visibility of the
<a href="@@mini-timeline">navigation/mini timeline</a> slice of
</li>
<li>
- <dfn>Lua Action Script Button Visibility</dfn> enables or disables the visibility
- of the
four columns of <a href="@@other-toolbar-items#mode_selector">Lua script buttons</a>.
+ <dfn>Display Action-Buttons</dfn> enables or disables the visibility
+ of the
six possible columns of <a href="@@other-toolbar-items#mode_selector">Lua script buttons</a>.
Each columns contains two user-assignable buttons.
</li>
</ul>
in the user interface will be drawn with a flat look. When disabled button
controls will have a slight 3D appearance.
</li>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Draw "boxy" buttons</dfn>: when enabled, button controls
+ in the user interface will have square corners instead of being slightly
+ rounded.
+ </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
projects / ardour-manual / commitdiff