-<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 file</dfn> in the user's home directory.
</p>
+<figure class="right">
+ <img src="/images/preferences.png" alt="The Preferences window">
+ <figcaption>
+ The Preferences window
+ </figcaption>
+</figure>
+
<p>
Preferences are conveniently grouped by category:
</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="#preferences-general">General</a></li>
+ <li><a href="#preferences-appearance">Appearance</a></li>
+ <ul>
+ <li><a href="#preferences-appearance-recorder">Recorder</a></li>
+ <li><a href="#preferences-appearance-editor">Editor</a></li>
+ <li><a href="#preferences-appearance-mixer">Mixer</a></li>
+ <li><a href="#preferences-appearance-toolbar">Toolbar</a></li>
+ <li><a href="#preferences-appearance-size-and-scale">Size and Scale</a></li>
+ <li><a href="#preferences-appearance-colors">Colors</a></li>
+ <li><a href="#preferences-appearance-quirks">Quirks</a></li>
+ <li><a href="#preferences-appearance-translation">Translation</a></li>
+ </ul>
<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>
+ <ul>
+ <li><a href="#preferences-editor-snap">Snap</a></li>
+ <li><a href="#preferences-editor-modifiers">Modifiers</a></li>
+ </ul>
<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-control_surfaces">Control Surfaces</a></li>
+ <ul>
+ <li><a href="#preferences-transport-chase">Chase</a></li>
+ <li><a href="#preferences-transport-generate">Generate</a></li>
+ </ul>
<li><a href="#preferences-plugins">Plugins</a></li>
- <li><a href="#preferences-appearance">Appearance</a></li>
+ <ul>
+ <li><a href="#preferences-plugins-vst">VST</a></li>
+ <li><a href="#preferences-plugins-audio_unit">Audio Unit</a></li>
+ </ul>
+ <li><a href="#preferences-monitoring">Monitoring</a></li>
+ <li><a href="#preferences-signal_flow">Signal Flow</a></li>
+ <li><a href="#preferences-metronome">Metronome</a></li>
+ <li><a href="#preferences-control_surfaces">Control Surfaces</a></li>
+ <li><a href="#preferences-metering">Metering</a></li>
+ <li><a href="#preferences-performance">Performance</a></li>
<li><a href="#preferences-video">Video</a></li>
</ul>
-<h2 id="preferences-general">General</h2>
+<h2 class="clear" id="preferences-general">General</h2>
-<ul>
+<ul>
<li>
- <dfn>DSP CPU Utilization</dfn>
+ <dfn>Audio/MIDI Setup</dfn>
<ul>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Show Audio/MIDI Setup window</dfn> Shows the
+ <a href="@@audio-midi-setup">Audio/MIDI Setup</a> dialog.
+ </li>
<li>
- <dfn>Signal processing uses:</dfn> sets how many cpu processors can be
- used to do signal processing. It can be set to use one up to all
- processors.
+ <dfn>Try to auto-launch audio/midi engine</dfn> allows Ardour to try to
+ automatically launch the audio and MIDI system, driver and device, thus not
+ showing the <a href="@@audio-midi-setup">Audio/MIDI Setup</a> dialog. This
+ can save a little time if the system is always used the same way.
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
- <dfn>Memory Usage</dfn>
+ <dfn>Editor Undo</dfn> defines the behaviour of the Undo operations:
<ul>
<li>
- <dfn>Waveform image cache (megabytes):</dfn> sets the maximum amount of ram that
- can be used to store the images representing the waveforms in the editor. Past
- this amount, the images will be regenerated when needed, which can significantly
- decrease the system's performance.
+ <strong>Limit undo history</strong> sets how many commands can be
+ undone using <kbd class="mod1">Z</kbd> or <kbd class="menu">Edit > Undo</kbd>.
+ Unchecking will keep an endless memory of operations to undo, at the
+ expense of memory.
+ </li>
+ <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 unchecked to keep all actions undoable, at the cost of bigger
+ session files.
+ </li>
+ <li>
+ <strong>Verify removal of last capture</strong> when enabled prompts to
+ verify removal the last recording capture when
+ <kbd class="menu">Edit > Remove Last Capture</kbd> is executed.
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
- <dfn>Engine</dfn>
+ <dfn>Session Management</dfn>:
<ul>
<li>
- <dfn>Try to auto-launch audio/midi engine</dfn> allows Ardour to try to
- automatically launch the audio and MIDI system, driver and device, thus not
- showing the <a href="@@newopen-session-dialog">Audio/MIDI Setup</a> dialog. This
- can save a little time if the system is always used the same way.
+ <strong>Make periodic backups of the session file</strong> will create
+ a backup session file after changes to the timeline. The backup file is
+ the session name followed by <em>.ardour.bak</em>. The backup can be
+ used to recover from crashes when the session had not been explicitly
+ saved.
+ </li>
+ <li>
+ <strong>Default folder for new sessions:</strong> defaults the folder
+ where Ardour will create new session folders. This is used in the
+ <em>Session Setup</em> dialog displayed by
+ <kbd class="menu">Session > New</kbd>.
+ </li>
+ <li>
+ <strong>Maximum number of recent sessions:</strong> determines how
+ many of the last opened sessions shows in the <em>Recent Sessions</em>
+ dialog displayed by <kbd class="menu">Session > Recent</kbd>.
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
- <dfn>Automation</dfn>
+ <dfn>Import</dfn>:
<ul>
<li>
- <strong>Thinning factor</strong> ranges from 0 to 1000 with larger
- values sending fewer automation changes. Thinning is like lossy
- audio compression, removing data that is less likely to be noticed,
- although the more is removed, the more likely the loss will be noticed.
- The advantage to thinning is reduced CPU usage.
- </li>
- <li>
- <strong>Automation sampling interval</strong> ranges from 1 to
- 1000 ms. Determines how frequently the automation input is
- sampled. The shorter the interval the higher the accuracy but also
- the higher the CPU requirements.
+ <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>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
- <dfn>Tempo</dfn>
+ <dfn>Export</dfn>
<ul>
<li>
- <dfn>Allow non quarter-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
- Tempo</kbd> window (accessed by double clicking a tempo marker) that shows a
- "Pulse" menu when this option is checked.
+ <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>
+
+<h2 id="preferences-appearance">Appearance</h2>
+
+<ul>
<li>
<dfn>GUI Lock</dfn>
<ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
-</ul>
-
-<h3 id="session">Session</h3>
-
-<ul>
<li>
- <dfn>Undo</dfn> defines the behaviour of the Undo operations:
+ <dfn>Theme</dfn>
<ul>
<li>
- <strong>Limit undo history</strong> sets how many commands can be
- undone using <kbd class="mod1">Z</kbd> or <kbd class="menu">Edit > Undo</kbd>.
- Unchecking will keep an endless memory of operations to undo, at the
- expense of memory.
+ <dfn>Draw "flat" buttons</dfn>: when enabled, button controls
+ in the user interface will be drawn with a flat look. When disabled button
+ controls will have a slight 3D appearance.
</li>
<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 unchecked to keep all actions undoable, at the cost of bigger
- session files.
+ <dfn>Draw "boxy" buttons</dfn>: when enabled, button controls
+ in the user interface will have square corners instead of being slightly
+ rounded.
</li>
<li>
- <strong>Verify removal of last capture</strong> when enabled prompts to
- verify removal the last recording capture when
- <kbd class="menu">Edit > Remove Last Capture</kbd> is executed.
+ <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. Unchecking this option makes the bars flat and continuous.
+ </li>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Icon Set:</dfn> Changes the mouse cursor icons used to indicate
+ different tool modes in the editor. An example would be the icons used to
+ indicate whether the cursor will select a region or change the length of a
+ region.
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
- <dfn>Session Management</dfn>:
+ <dfn>Graphical User Interface</dfn>
<ul>
<li>
- <strong>Make periodic backups of the session file</strong> will create
- a backup session file after changes to the timeline. The backup file is
- the session name followed by <em>.ardour.bak</em>. The backup can be
- used to recover from crashes when the session had not been explicitly
- saved.
+ <dfn>Highlight widgets on mouseover</dfn>, when checked, makes Ardour's
+ widgets (buttons, sliders, …) slightly change color when the mouse
+ hovers them, visually indicating what a mouse action would interact with.
</li>
<li>
- <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.
+ <dfn>Show tooltips if mouse hovers over a control</dfn> when checked,
+ displays a little help bubble about the control the mouse hovers. The mouse
+ pointer needs to stay idle for about 1 sec for the tooltip to appear.
</li>
<li>
- <strong>Default folder for new sessions:</strong> defaults the folder
- where Ardour will create new session folders. This is used in the
- <em>Session Setup</em> dialog displayed by
- <kbd class="menu">Session > New</kbd>.
+ <dfn>Update clocks at TC Frame rate</dfn>: Ardour updates its clocks every
+ 100 ms. Checking this will make the clock refresh at every TimeCode
+ frame which is more responsive, at the cost of a bit more system stress.
+ </li>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Blink Rec-Arm buttons</dfn>: when enabled, the record-armed
+ buttons on tracks will blink when they are armed but not currently recording.
+ When disabled, the record-armed buttons on tracks will be outlined in red
+ instead of blinking. The global record-arm button in the
+ <a href="@@transport-bar">Transport bar</a> is unaffected.
</li>
<li>
- <strong>Maximum number of recent sessions:</strong> determines how many
- of the last opened sessions shows in the
- <em>Recent Sessions</em> dialog displayed by
- <kbd class="menu">Session > Recent</kbd>.
+ <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 an error or feedback
+ has been detected, respectively). When disabled, the indicators will turn red instead of
+ blinking.
</li>
</ul>
</li>
-</ul>
-
-<h3 id="translation">Translation</h3>
-<ul>
<li>
- <dfn>Internationalization</dfn>
+ <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>Use translations</dfn> sets if Ardour should use a translated
- version of all the messages. The default (unchecked) is English (US). When
- checked, and if a language file exists for the system language, this file
- will be used to translate Ardour.
+ <dfn>Possibly improve slow graphical performance (requires restart)</dfn>
+ 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>
+</ul>
+
+<h3 id="preferences-appearance-recorder">Recorder</h2>
+
+<ul>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Input Meter Layout</dfn>
+ <ul>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Input Meter Layout:</dfn>In Recorder mode, determines if audio
+ inputs are displayed horizontally or vertically.
+ </li>
+ </ul>
+ </li>
</ul>
+
+<h3 id="preferences-appearance-editor">Editor</h2>
-<h2 id="preferences-editor">Editor</h2>
<ul>
<li>
<dfn>General</dfn>
<ul>
<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>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>
- 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.
- </li>
- <li>
- <dfn>Zoom to mouse position when zooming with scroll wheel</dfn>: by default,
- Ardour zooms to the <a href="@@edit-point-control">edit point</a>. When this
- option is checked, and the zoom is done with <kbd class="mod1n"></kbd> + mousewheel,
- the zoom will happen at the mouse cursor position regardless of the edit point
- chosen.
+ <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 overlaid
+ at the top of the region, possibly over audio waveforms or MIDI notes.
</li>
<li>
- <dfn>Zoom with vertical drag in rulers</dfn> allows, when checked, to click
- anywhere in an empty zone of the <a href="@@ruler">ruler</a> zone and drag
- up to zoom in or down to zoom out.
+ <dfn>Region color follows track color</dfn>: when enabled,
+ 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>Double click zooms to selection</dfn> allows by double clicking, to zoom
- on the selection, both on the time and tracks axes. If the selection has been
- done with <kbd class="mod1n"></kbd> or <kbd class="mod3n"></kbd>, then this
- key should still be pressed when double clicking for this to work, otherwise
- the first click breaks the group selection.
+ <dfn>Show Region Names</dfn>: when enabled, overlays the name of
+ the region over its waveform representation, in the top-left.
</li>
- <li>
- <dfn>Update editor window during drags of the summary</dfn>: when
- enabled the contents of the editor window will redraw the tracks area
- as the selection rectangle in the <a href="@@summary">summary</a> area is
- moved or resized.
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Waveforms color gradient depth:</dfn> determines how much gradient
+ effect is applied to the inner of audio waveforms displayed in the editor.
+ Values range from 0.0, no gradient effect, to 1.0, maximum effect.
</li>
<li>
- <dfn>Auto-scroll editor window when dragging near its edges</dfn>
- when enabled will scroll the editor window automatically when dragging a
- region. This can make it easier to see where to position the region.
+ <dfn>Timeline item gradient depth:</dfn> Determines how much
+ gradient effect is applied to the backgrounds of regions displayed in the
+ editor. Values range from 0.0, no gradient effect, to 1.0, maximum effect.
</li>
<li>
- <dfn>Show gain envelopes in audio regions:</dfn> sets in which
- <a href="@@toolbox">modes</a> the gain envelope is displayed in audio regions.
- The gain envelope is superimposed over the region in the selected modes, and
- hidden otherwise for a better legibility.
+ <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>Show xrun markers in regions</dfn> puts a marker on the region(s)
- while recording, when a buffer over/underflow happens.
+ <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>
-
<li>
- <dfn>Editor Behavior</dfn>
+ <dfn>Waveforms</dfn>
<ul>
<li>
- <dfn>Move relevant automation when audio regions are moved</dfn>,
- when enabled, causes automation data to stay with a region when the
- region is moved inside the playlist. When disabled, the automation is
- not affected by movement of regions.
+ <dfn>Show waveforms in regions</dfn> when enabled shows a visual
+ representation of the region's audio waveform.
</li>
<li>
- <dfn>Ignore Y-axis click position when adding new automation-points</dfn>
- allows to create new automation points at the x-position of the mouse, without
- using the Y-position as the value, hence creating a new automation point at
- its present value.
+ <dfn>Show waveform while recording</dfn> when
+ enabled, will draw the audio waveform in regions being recorded, in near
+ real time. When disabled, only a region block will be drawn while recording,
+ reducing CPU requirements.
</li>
<li>
- <dfn>Default fade shape:</dfn> sets which <a href="@@create-region-fades-and-crossfades">
- fade shape</a> is the default.
+ <dfn>Show waveform clipping</dfn>: when enabled the waveform
+ displayed will show peaks marked in red if they exceed the clip level.
</li>
<li>
- <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.
+ <dfn>Waveform Clip Level (dBFS):</dfn> sets the level at which the
+ waveform shown in an audio region will be drawn in red to indicate
+ clipping. Setting lower than 0.0 dBFS can be useful if any tool in
+ the audio chain has problems near 0.0 dBFS.
</li>
<li>
- <dfn>Layering model:</dfn> Ardour allows <a href="@@layering-display">layering</a>
- multiple regions in the same track. This selector defines how these layers are
- managed, either manually or by placing the latest on top.
+ <dfn>Waveform scale:</dfn> when waveforms are shown in audio regions,
+ they can be displayed using a <em>linear</em> or a <em>logarithmic</em>
+ scale. See <a href="@@waveform-display">Waveform display</a>.
+ </li>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Waveform shape:</dfn> when waveforms are shown in audio regions,
+ they can be displayed using a <em>traditional</em> or a <em>rectified</em>
+ shape. See <a href="@@waveform-display">Waveform display</a>.
</li>
</ul>
</li>
-
<li>
- <dfn>Split/Separate</dfn>
+ <dfn>Editor Meters</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>
+ <dfn>Show meters in track headers</dfn>, when enabled, shows
+ a small meter in the Editor's <a href="@@audio-track-controls">track headers</a>.
+ The meter is shown on the right side area of the header and provides an
+ instant, if unprecise, view of the levels on this track/bus.
</li>
<li>
- <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>
+ <dfn>Limit track header meters to stereo</dfn>: if a track has more than
+ two outputs (e.g. with a drum plugin), limits the number of meters in the
+ track header to the first two ones. Only affects audio meters, not MIDI.
+ </li>
+ </ul>
+ </li>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>MIDI Regions</dfn>
+ <ul>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Display first MIDI bank/program as 0</dfn>: when patches and bank changes
+ are displayed in the editor, if this option is checked, the numbering will
+ be zero-based instead of one-based, i.e. banks/programs will be numbered
+ O, 1 ,2… instead of 1, 2, 3…
+ </li>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Don't display periodic (MTC, MMC) SysEx messages in MIDI Regions</dfn>:
+ 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>
-
-<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
- process based on the user's most used actions.
-</p>
-<p>
- 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="preferences-mixer">Mixer</h2>
+
+<h3 id="preferences-appearance-mixer">Mixer</h3>
<ul>
<li>
- <dfn>Solo</dfn> contains settings that affect the use of
- <a href="@@muting-and-soloing">solo, muting</a>, and
- <a href="@@panning">panning</a>.
+ <dfn>Mixer Strip</dfn>
<ul>
<li>
- <dfn>Solo controls are Listen controls</dfn>: when enabled, the
- soloed track is soloed only on the monitor bus, the master fader mix
- is not affected by the solo. This option can also be set by enabling
- pre-fader listen or after-fader listen in the <strong>Mixer</strong>
- monitor section.
+ This table enables (checked) or disables (unchecked) the display of controls
+ in the <a href="@@audiomidi-mixer-strips">mixer strip</a>. Controls whose
+ display can be toggled are:
+ <strong>Input</strong>, <strong>Phase Invert</strong>,
+ <strong>Record & Monitor</strong>, <strong>Solo Iso/Lock</strong>,
+ <strong>Output</strong>, <strong>Comments</strong> and VCA Assigns.
</li>
<li>
- <dfn>Exclusive solo</dfn> when enabled will only solo the last
- track selected for solo. Previously soloed tracks will be un-soloed.
- This setting is also available from the <strong>Mixer</strong> monitor
- section.
+ <dfn>Use narrow strips in the mixer for new strips by default</dfn> When
+ enabled, new mixer strips are created in narrow format. When disabled,
+ 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>Show solo muting</dfn> when enabled outlines the mute
- button on tracks and busses when another track is soloed.
+ <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>
+
+<h3 id="preferences-appearance-toolbar">Toolbar</h3>
+
+<ul>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Main Transport Toolbar Items</dfn>: this section allows to toggle the
+ visibility of some elements of the main toolbar:
+ <ul>
<li>
- <dfn>Soloing overrides muting</dfn> when enabled allows a track
- to be heard when it is soloed while muted. This setting is also
- available from the <strong>Mixer</strong> monitor section.
+ <dfn>Display Record/Punch Options</dfn> toggles the visibility of the
+ <a href="@@selection-and-punch-clocks#punch_controls">punch and record</a> slice of
+ the main toolbar.
</li>
<li>
- <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
- totally muted.
+ <dfn>Display Latency Compensation Info</dfn> toggles the visibility of the
+ Latency Compensation slice of the main toolbar.
</li>
<li>
- <dfn>Listen Position:</dfn> determines what is listened to when
- the solo controls are used as listen controls. The options are
- after-fader or pre-fader.
+ <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>PFL signals come from:</dfn> determines whether the
- pre-fader listen position is before or after the pre-fader processors.
+ <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>AFL signals come from:</dfn> determines whether the
- after-fader listen position is before or after the after-fader
- processors.
+ <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
+ the main toolbar.
+ </li>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Display Master Level Meter</dfn> toggles the visibility of the
+ <a href="@@other-toolbar-items#mode_selector">selection clocks</a> slice of
+ the main toolbar.
</li>
</ul>
</li>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Display Action-Buttons</dfn>
+ <ul>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Column <em>n</em></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>
+ </li>
+</ul>
+
+<h3 id="preferences-appearance-size-and-scale">Size and Scale</h3>
+<ul>
<li>
- <dfn>Master</dfn>
+ <dfn>User Interface Size and Scale</dfn>
+ <ul>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>GUI and Font scaling:</dfn> allows the display size of most of the
+ text and buttons in the user interface to be scaled up or down. May
+ require a restart to take effect.
+ </li>
+ </ul>
+ </li>
+</ul>
+
+<h3 id="preferences-appearance-colors">Colors</h3>
+
+<ul>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Colors</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.
+ <dfn>Color Theme</dfn> allows to switch between some presets bundled with
+ Ardour, changing both the palette and items colors, hence styling Ardour
+ all at once.
+ </li>
+ <li>
+ The table allows to change the color settings in Ardour by acting on three
+ parameters:
+ <ul>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Items</dfn> that allow to choose any color from the palette (see below)
+ to color a UI element. Clicking on a color sample in the <strong>Color</strong>
+ column bring up the Palette, to choose from.
+ </li>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Palette</dfn> that allows to create a set of colors that will be used
+ in the UI. Using a palette allows for better consistency, instead of
+ picking "free" colors for each UI element. Clicking on a color patch brings
+ up a full color selector, to assign this color to this patch of the palette.
+ </li>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Transparency</dfn> where possible, allows to select, with a slider,
+ the transparency of the UI element, with 0 (slider to the left) being
+ fully opaque.
+ </li>
+ </ul>
+ </li>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Restore Defaults</dfn> turns all the palette, item colors and transparency
+ back to Ardour's default base setting, in case Ardour's appearance has turned
+ into a toddler's toy.
</li>
</ul>
</li>
-
+</ul>
+
+<h3 id="preferences-appearance-quirks">Quirks</h3>
+
+<ul>
<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
- or bus are changed by the right-click context menu on a mute button.
+ <dfn>Various Workarounds for Windowing Systems</dfn>: As Ardour is available
+ on a number of platforms and windowing systems, some specific workarounds are
+ sometimes required to provide a smooth experience to the user.
<ul>
<li>
- <dfn>Mute affects pre-fader sends</dfn> when enabled pre-fader
- sends will be muted by default.
+ <dfn>Use visibility information provided by your Window Manager/Desktop</dfn>
+ allows the system window manager's rules for the windows visibility to
+ supersede Ardour's.
</li>
<li>
- <dfn>Mute affects post-fader sends</dfn> when enabled post-fader
- sends will be muted by default.
+ <dfn>All floating windows are dialogs</dfn>: when enabled, Ardour will
+ use type "Dialog" for all floating windows instead of using type
+ "Utility" for some of them. This may help usability with some
+ window managers. This setting requires a restart of Ardour to take effect.
</li>
<li>
- <dfn>Mute affects control outputs</dfn> when enabled control
- outputs are muted by default.
+ <dfn>Transient windows follow front window.</dfn>: when enabled,
+ transient windows will follow the front window when toggling between the
+ editor and mixer. This setting requires a restart of Ardour to take effect.
</li>
<li>
- <dfn>Mute affects main outputs</dfn> when enabled main outputs
- are muted by default.
+ <dfn>Float detached monitor-section window</dfn>: as the <a href="@@monitor-section">
+ monitor section</a> can be detached from the mixer, this option makes it a
+ floating window, which may be handled differently by the windowing system
+ and easier to access.
</li>
</ul>
</li>
+</ul>
+
+<h3 id="preferences-appearance-translation">Translation</h3>
+<ul>
<li>
- <dfn>Send Routing</dfn> affects <a href="@@aux-sends">aux and external sends</a>.
+ <dfn>Internationalization</dfn>
<ul>
<li>
- <dfn>Link panners of Aux and External Sends with main panner by default</dfn>
- when enabled, sends follow the channel panner. When disabled, sends can panned
- independently of the channel panner and fader. Double clicking the send in the
- processor box toggles the main panner and fader between the aux send and the
- channel.
+ <dfn>Use translations</dfn> sets if Ardour should use a translated
+ version of all the messages. The default (unchecked) is English (US). When
+ checked, and if a language file exists for the system language, this file
+ will be used to translate Ardour.
</li>
</ul>
</li>
-
-</ul>
-
-<h2 id="preferences-signal_flow">Signal Flow</h2>
-
+</ul>
+
+<h2 id="preferences-editor">Editor</h2>
+
<ul>
<li>
- <dfn>Monitoring</dfn>
- <ul>
+ <dfn>Region Information</dfn>
+ <ul>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Show xrun markers in regions</dfn> puts a marker on the region(s)
+ while recording, when a buffer over/underflow happens.
+ </li>
<li>
- <dfn>Record monitoring handled by:</dfn> determines whether Ardour provides
- monitoring of incoming audio or whether monitoring is provided by hardware.
- See <a href="@@monitoring">Monitoring</a> for more information.
+ <dfn>Show cue markers in regions</dfn> determines if cue markers,
+ that are bounded to regions, are displayed or not.
+ </li>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Show gain envelopes in audio regions:</dfn> sets in which
+ <a href="@@toolbox">modes</a> the gain envelope is displayed in audio regions.
+ The gain envelope is superimposed over the region in the selected modes, and
+ hidden otherwise for a better legibility.
</li>
+ </ul>
+ </li>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Scroll and Zoom Behaviors</dfn>
+ <ul>
<li>
- <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.
+ <dfn>Zoom to mouse position when zooming with scroll wheel</dfn>: by default,
+ Ardour zooms to the <a href="@@edit-point-control">edit point</a>. When this
+ option is checked, and the zoom is done with <kbd class="mod1n"></kbd> + mousewheel,
+ the zoom will happen at the mouse cursor position regardless of the edit point
+ chosen.
+ </li>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Zoom with vertical drag in rulers</dfn> allows, when checked, to click
+ anywhere in an empty zone of the <a href="@@ruler">ruler</a> zone and drag
+ up to zoom in or down to zoom out.
+ </li>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Double click zooms to selection</dfn> allows by double clicking, to zoom
+ on the selection, both on the time and tracks axes. If the selection has been
+ done with <kbd class="mod1n"></kbd> or <kbd class="mod3n"></kbd>, then this
+ key should still be pressed when double clicking for this to work, otherwise
+ the first click breaks the group selection.
+ </li>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Update editor window during drags of the summary</dfn>: when
+ enabled the contents of the editor window will redraw the tracks area
+ as the selection rectangle in the <a href="@@summary">summary</a> area is
+ moved or resized.
+ </li>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Auto-scroll editor window when dragging near its edges</dfn>
+ when enabled will scroll the editor window automatically when dragging a
+ region. This can make it easier to see where to position the region.
+ </li>
+ <li>
+ <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>
+ 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.
</li>
</ul>
</li>
-
<li>
- <dfn>Track and Bus Connections</dfn>
- <ul>
+ <dfn>Editor Behaviour</dfn>
+ <ul>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Move relevant automation when audio regions are moved</dfn>,
+ when enabled, causes automation data to stay with a region when the
+ region is moved inside the playlist. When disabled, the automation is
+ not affected by movement of regions.
+ </li>
<li>
- <dfn>Auto-connect main output (master or monitor) bus to physical ports</dfn>
- auto-connects the outputs to the first N physical ports. In a session without a
- <a href="@@monitor-section">monitor section</a>, the master-bus is
- connected to the system's playback ports, and if a monitor section exists,
- the monitor-bus' output are connected.
+ <dfn>Ignore Y-axis click position when adding new automation-points</dfn>
+ allows to create new automation points at the x-position of the mouse, without
+ using the Y-position as the value, hence creating a new automation point at
+ its present value.
</li>
<li>
- <dfn>Connect track inputs:</dfn> allows to choose when a new track is
- created whether its inputs will be automatically connected to the physical
- inputs of the system or not (hence the user has to manually connect it).
+ <dfn>Automation edit cancels auto hide</dfn> determines wether automation
+ lanes that have been automatically shown because of the
+ <kbd class="option">Edit > Show Automation Lane on Touch</kbd>
+ option should be kept visible if the automation has been touched.
</li>
<li>
- <dfn>Connect track and bus outputs:</dfn> allows to choose, for any new
- track or bus created, whether its output will automatically be connected
- to the master bus, directly to the physical outputs or to nothing (the
- user has to manually connect it).
+ <dfn>Default fade shape:</dfn> sets which <a href="@@create-region-fades-and-crossfades">
+ fade shape</a> is the default.
</li>
<li>
- <dfn>Use 'Strict-I/O' for new tracks or busses</dfn> determines the default
- choice for the <a href="@@trackbus-signal-flow">signal flow</a> of a newly created track or bus.
- This can be overridden in the <a href="@@adding-tracks-busses-and-vcas">
- Add Track/Bus/VCA</a> dialog
+ <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>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Layering model:</dfn> Ardour allows <a href="@@layering-display">layering</a>
+ 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 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>
-<h2 id="preferences-audio">Audio</h2>
+<h3 id="preferences-editor-snap">Snap</h3>
<ul>
<li>
- <dfn>Buffering</dfn> settings determine how many seconds of audio off of disk
- will be buffered in memory. Longer settings reduce the risk of buffer
- under-runs but consume more memory.
- <ul>
- <li>
- <dfn>Preset:</dfn> will automatically choose the values for the playback
- and recording buffer based on the chosen size of the session. The
- <strong>Custom</strong> option allows to manually select the buffers with
- the two sliders below.
+ <dfn>General Snap options:</dfn>
+ <ul>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Snap Threshold (pixels):</dfn> is the maximum distance between
+ a snap anchor and an object for Ardour to force the object to be
+ placed precisely at that anchor.
+ </li>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Approximate Grid/Ruler granularity (pixels):</dfn> Ardour tries
+ to show a reasonable number of grid lines at the current zoom level
+ and in the available screen estate. This value tells Ardour what the
+ approximate absolute distance between two closest grid lines should
+ be, so that it displays the most relevant grid scale to approximately
+ fit this distance.
+ </li>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Show "snapped cursor"</dfn> If the Edit point is not the playhead,
+ shows the currently selected Edit point as a blue line, to indicate
+ where the next editing operation will occur.
</li>
<li>
- <dfn>Playback (seconds of buffering):</dfn> sets how many seconds of
- audio Ardour will buffer during playback.
+ <dfn>Snap rubberband selection to grid</dfn> makes the highlighted
+ zone created by an area selection also snap to grid, i.e. the beginning
+ and end of the resulting selecting box will both be grid anchors.
</li>
<li>
- <dfn>Recording (seconds of buffering):</dfn> sets how many seconds of
- audio Ardour will buffer during recording.
+ <dfn>Grid switches to alternate selection for Internal Edit Tools</dfn>
+ Two levels of grid mode can coexist in Ardour, one for global regions
+ manipulations, and one for finer, in-region editing (e.g. for placing
+ MIDI events in a MIDI region). When this option is checked, entering
+ Internal Edit mode makes the grid mode switch from one mode to the other.
</li>
- </ul>
- </li>
-
- <li>
- <dfn>Denormals</dfn> are a specific type of very small numbers that
- can cause issues with CPU consumption when using some plugins in some
- circumstances.
- Ardour provides two methods of handling the issue. Trying different
- combinations of these settings may minimize CPU consumption.
- <ul>
<li>
- <dfn>Use DC bias to protect against denormals</dfn> adds a small
- constant value to numbers to move the numbers away from zero.
- </li>
- <li>
- <dfn>Processor handling:</dfn>, if the computer's hardware
- supports it, offers two methods that can be used individually or
- combined. Flush to zero and denormals are zero.
+ <dfn>Rulers automatically change to follow the Grid mode selection</dfn>
+ If enabled, changing the Grid mode also makes the relevant
+ <a href="@@ruler">ruler</a> visible, while hiding the other ones.
</li>
</ul>
</li>
-
<li>
- <dfn>Regions</dfn>
- <ul>
- <li>
- <dfn>Enable automatic analysis of audio</dfn> generates the transient
- values (used in e.g. the <a href="@@rhythm-ferret">Rhythm Ferret</a>)
- automatically. When unchecked, the transient values will be generated
- on demand.
- </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-existent one. If left unchecked, the missing
- channels will stay silent.
- </li>
- </ul>
+ <dfn>When "Snap" is enabled, snap to:</dfn>
+ Lists the different possible anchors to which an object should snap to, among:
+ <ul>
+ <li>Markers</li>
+ <li>Region Sync points</li>
+ <li>Region Starts</li>
+ <li>Region Ends</li>
+ <li>Grid</li>
+ </ul>
</li>
</ul>
+
+<h3 id="preferences-editor-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
+ process based on the user's most used actions.
+</p>
+<p>
+ 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="preferences-midi">MIDI</h2>
<ul>
<li>
<dfn>Session</dfn>
<ul>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Allow non quarter-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
+ Tempo</kbd> window (accessed by double clicking a tempo marker) that shows a
+ "Pulse" menu when this option is checked.
+ </li>
<li>
<dfn>Initial program change:</dfn> Ardour will send a MIDI program
change message on the <code>ardour:MMC out</code> MIDI port when a session
</li>
</ul>
</li>
-
<li>
<dfn>Audition</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>
</ul>
</li>
-
<li>
<dfn>MIDI Port Options</dfn>
<ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
-</ul>
-
-<h2 id="preferences-metronome">Metronome</h2>
-
-<ul>
- <li>
- <dfn>Metronome</dfn> handles the way Ardour's metronome is played when
- enabled in the <a href="@@transport-bar">Transport Bar</a>.
- <ul>
- <li>
- <dfn>Emphasis on first beat</dfn> plays a different sound when the first
- beat is played (e.g. 1/4 in 4/4, 1/3 in 3/4,…). When unchecked, all
- the beats are indistinguishable.
- </li>
- <li>
- <dfn>Use built-in default sounds</dfn> when checked, uses Ardour's own
- sounds for the metronome click. Unchecking this allows to set some custom
- sounds below.
- </li>
- <li>
- <dfn>Audio file:</dfn> selects an audio file for the beats, in any
- <a href="@@supported-file-formats">format</a> Ardour supports.
- </li>
- <li>
- <dfn>Emphasis audio file:</dfn> in conjunction with
- <kbd class="option">Emphasis on first beat</kbd>, selects an audio file
- for the first beats of each bar.
- </li>
- <li>
- <dfn>Gain level:</dfn> allows the metronome's click sounds to be boosted
- or attenuated.
- </li>
- </ul>
- </li>
-
- <li>
- <dfn>Options</dfn>
- <ul>
- <li>
- <dfn>Enable Metronome only while recording</dfn>: when enabled, the
- metronome will remain silent unless Ardour is recording.
- </li>
- </ul>
- </li>
-</ul>
-
-<h2 id="preferences-metering">Metering</h2>
-
-<ul>
- <li>
- <dfn>Metering</dfn>
- <ul>
- <li>
- <dfn>Peak hold time:</dfn> allows the meter to keep displaying the highest
- signal level for a period of time before reverting to showing the actual
- instantaneous value (unless an even higher peak occurs). The longer this
- time is, the easier it is to spot peaks, at the expense of instantaneous
- accuracy.
- </li>
- <li>
- <dfn>DPM fall-off:</dfn> describes how fast the Digital Peak Meters can
- go from a high value to a lower one. Faster values are more accurate but
- less readable.
- </li>
- <li>
- <dfn>Meter line-up level; 0 dBu:</dfn> chooses a standard for the
- conversion between dBFS (Full Scale) which represent the numeric signal
- level, and dBu which represents the analog signal level. This value is used
- to configure meter-marks and color knee-points, or set the reference levels
- for various meter-types.
- </li>
- <li>
- <dfn>IEC1/DIN Meter line-up level; 0 dBu:</dfn> sets the reference
- level for the IEC1/DIN Meter
- </li>
- <li>
- <dfn>VU Meter standard:</dfn> selects which standard to use for the zero
- value of the vu-meters, i.e. the analog dBu value that will show as 0 on the
- VU-meter.
- </li>
- <li>
- <dfn>Peak indicator threshold [dBFS]:</dfn> at that value and over, the
- signal will make the peak meter to turn red, indicating a level too high.
- </li>
- </ul>
- </li>
-
- <li>
- <dfn>Default Meter Types</dfn> sets the default meters when creating a session
- or track. These meters can be changed afterwards by
- <kbd class="mouse">right</kbd>-clicking a meter.
- <ul>
- <li>
- <dfn>Default Meter Type for Master Bus:</dfn> defines which kind of
- <a href="@@metering-in-ardour">meter</a> will be used when creating a new
- session (does not apply to the current session).
- </li>
- <li>
- <dfn>Default Meter Type for busses:</dfn> defines which kind of
- meter will be used when creating a new bus (applies to the bus created
- after changing the value).
- </li>
- <li>
- <dfn>Default Meter Type for tracks:</dfn> same as above, for tracks.
- </li>
- </ul>
- </li>
-
- <li>
- <dfn>Post Export Analysis</dfn>
- <ul>
- <li>
- <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>
-
+</ul>
+
<h2 id="preferences-transport">Transport</h2>
<ul>
<li>
<dfn>General</dfn>
<ul>
+ <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>Stop at the end of the session</dfn> causes the transport to
stop during playback when it reaches the end marker. Behavior during
when enabled will reduce the unpleasant increase in perceived volume
that occurs when fast-forwarding or rewinding through some kinds of audio.
</li>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Rewind/Fast-forward buttons change direction immediately</dfn>
+ sets wether Rewind and Fast-forward transport operations
+ (<kbd class="menu">Transport > Forward/Rewind</kbd>) changes the
+ playback direction and speed abruptly, or gradually.
+ </li>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Allow auto-return after rewind/ffwd operations</dfn>
+ if <a href="@@other-toolbar-items#playhead_options">Auto return</a>is engaged, sets wether
+ it applies to rewind and fast-forward operations.
+ </li>
<li>
<dfn>Preroll:</dfn> sets the duration of the preroll for playing and
recording when using a preroll. Can be a musical duration (in bars) or a
duration in seconds.
</li>
</ul>
- </li>
-
+ </li>
<li>
<dfn>Looping</dfn>
<ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
-
<li>
<dfn>Dropout (xrun) Handling</dfn>
<ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Plugins</dfn>
+ <ul>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Silence plugins when the transport is stopped</dfn> when stopping
+ playback or recording, if this option is checked, the plugins that still
+ emit sound (reverbs, etc…) will be stopped. If unchecked, the plugins
+ will continue playing after the transport stop.
+ </li>
+ </ul>
+ </li>
+</ul>
+<h3 id="preferences-transport-chase">Chase</h3>
+
+<ul>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>MIDI Machine Control (MMC)</dfn>
+ <ul>
+ <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>
+ 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>
+ MIDI port.
+ </li>
+ </ul>
+ </li>
<li>
<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>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.
+ <dfn>Show Transport Master Window</dfn> Opens the Transport masters
+ window, where all the timecode sources are shown to be selected
+ and/or synchronized; same as clicking <kbd class="menu">Window >
+ Transport Masters</kbd>
</li>
<li>
<dfn>Match session video frame rate to external timecode</dfn>
</li>
</ul>
-<h3 id="ltc">LTC</h3>
+<h3 id="preferences-transport-generate">Generate</h3>
<ul>
-
<li>
<dfn>Linear Timecode (LTC) Generator</dfn>
<ul>
If this option is checked, the two options below are active:
</li>
<li>
- <dfn>Send LTC while stopped</dfn>, when enabled Ardour will
- continue to send LTC information even while the transport (playhead) is
- not moving.
+ <dfn>Send LTC while stopped</dfn>, (only available when the previous
+ <em>Enable LTC generator</em> is on) when enabled Ardour will
+ continue to send LTC information even while the transport (playhead)
+ is not moving.
</li>
<li>
<dfn>LTC generator level [dBFS]:</dfn> specifies the peak volume of
</li>
</ul>
</li>
-</ul>
-
-<h3 id="sync_midi">MIDI</h3>
-
-<ul>
- <li>
- <dfn>MIDI Beat Clock (Mclk) Generator</dfn>
- <ul>
- <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> port.
- </li>
- </ul>
- </li>
-
<li>
<dfn>MIDI Time Code (MTC) Generator</dfn>
<ul>
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>
- MIDI time code generation will be disabled when the transport speed is
- greater than normal speed plus this percentage or less than normal minus
- this percentage.
- </li>
- </ul>
- </li>
-
- <li>
- <dfn>MIDI Machine Control (MMC)</dfn>
- <ul>
- <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>
- MIDI port.
- </li>
- <li>
+ <dfn>Max MTC varispeed (%):</dfn>
+ MIDI time code generation will be disabled when the transport speed is
+ greater than normal speed plus this percentage or less than normal minus
+ this percentage.
+ </li>
+ </ul>
+ </li>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>MIDI Machine Control (MMC)</dfn>
+ <ul>
+ <li>
<dfn>Send MMC commands</dfn> when enabled Ardour will send MIDI Machine
Control commands on the <code>ardour:MMC out</code>
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>
- MIDI port.
- </li>
- <li>
+ <li>
<dfn>Outbound MMC device ID:</dfn> is the MIDI device ID Ardour will
use when it sends MMC commands.
</li>
</ul>
</li>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>MIDI Beat Clock (Mclk) Generator</dfn>
+ <ul>
+ <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> port.
+ </li>
+ </ul>
+ </li>
</ul>
-<h2 id="preferences-control_surfaces">Control Surfaces</h2>
-
-<p>
- This tab contains settings for <a href="@@control-surfaces">control surfaces</a>.
-</p>
-<p>
- It lists all the Control Surface protocols Ardour knows. To enable a
- <dfn>Control Surface Protocol</dfn>, the <kbd class="option">Enable</kbd> checkbox
- next to its name should be ticked. Editing the settings related to this protocol
- can be done by double-clicking its name or clicking the <kbd class="menu">Show
- protocol settings</kbd> (only for Generic MIDI and Open Sound Control).
-</p>
-
-
<h2 id="preferences-plugins">Plugins</h2>
<p class="note">
</li>
</ul>
</li>
-
<li>
<dfn>General</dfn>
<ul>
popup window showing plugin scan progress is displayed for indexing
(cache load) and discovery (detect new plugins).
</li>
- <li>
- <dfn>Silence plugins when the transport is stopped</dfn> when stopping
- playback or recording, if this option is checked, the plugins that still
- emit sound (reverbs, etc…) will be stopped. If unchecked, the plugins
- will continue playing after the transport stop.
- </li>
<li>
<dfn>Make new plugins active</dfn> when enabled, any plugin added to a track
will be in active mode. If unchecked, the plugins will be added in inactive
mode by default, hence have no processing effect on the track/bus.
</li>
- <li>
- <dfn>Limit automatable parameters per plugin</dfn>: as some plugins
- (synthesizers, …) have a lot of parameters, and those parameters
- can be automated by Ardour, checking this will limit the number of parameters
- that are listed as automatable, hence making the lists shorter and the GUI
- more responsive.
- </li>
</ul>
</li>
-
<li>
<dfn>LV1/LV2</dfn>
<ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
-
<li>
<dfn>Plugin GUI</dfn>
<ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
-
<li>
<dfn>Instrument</dfn>
<ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
-
<li>
<dfn>Statistics</dfn>
<ul>
</li>
</ul>
-<h3 id="vst">VST</h3>
+<h3 id="preferences-plugins-vst">VST</h3>
<ul>
<li>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
-
<li>
<dfn>VST 2.x</dfn>
<ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
-
<li>
<dfn>VST 3</dfn>
<ul>
</li>
</ul>
-<h3 id="audio_unit">Audio Unit</h3>
+<h3 id="preferences-plugins-audio_unit">Audio Unit</h3>
<ul>
<li>
</li>
</ul>
-<h2 id="preferences-appearance">Appearance</h2>
+<h2 id="preferences-monitoring">Monitoring</h2>
<ul>
<li>
- <dfn>Graphics Acceleration</dfn>
+ <dfn>Monitoring</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>
- 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.
+ <dfn>Record monitoring handled by:</dfn> determines whether Ardour provides
+ monitoring of incoming audio or whether monitoring is provided by hardware.
+ See <a href="@@monitoring">Monitoring</a> for more information.
+ </li>
+ <li>
+ <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>
-
<li>
- <dfn>Graphical User Interface</dfn>
+ <dfn>Solo</dfn> contains settings that affect the use of
+ <a href="@@muting-and-soloing">solo, muting</a>, and
+ <a href="@@panning">panning</a>.
<ul>
<li>
- <dfn>Highlight widgets on mouseover</dfn>, when checked, makes Ardour's
- widgets (buttons, sliders, …) slightly change color when the mouse
- hovers them, visually indicating what a mouse action would interact with.
+ <dfn>Solo controls are Listen controls</dfn>: when enabled, the
+ soloed track is soloed only on the monitor bus, the master fader mix
+ is not affected by the solo. This option can also be set by enabling
+ pre-fader listen or after-fader listen in the <strong>Mixer</strong>
+ monitor section.
</li>
<li>
- <dfn>Show tooltips if mouse hovers over a control</dfn> when checked,
- displays a little help bubble about the control the mouse hovers. The mouse
- pointer needs to stay idle for about 1 sec for the tooltip to appear.
+ <dfn>Exclusive solo</dfn> when enabled will only solo the last
+ track selected for solo. Previously soloed tracks will be un-soloed.
+ This setting is also available from the <strong>Mixer</strong> monitor
+ section.
</li>
<li>
- <dfn>Update clocks at TC Frame rate</dfn>: Ardour updates its clocks every
- 100 ms. Checking this will make the clock refresh at every TimeCode
- frame which is more responsive, at the cost of a bit more system stress.
+ <dfn>Show solo muting</dfn> when enabled outlines the mute
+ button on tracks and busses when another track is soloed.
</li>
<li>
- <dfn>Blink Rec-Arm buttons</dfn>: when enabled, the record-armed
- buttons on tracks will blink when they are armed but not currently recording.
- When disabled, the record-armed buttons on tracks will be outlined in red
- instead of blinking. The global record-arm button in the
- <a href="@@transport-bar">Transport bar</a> is unaffected.
+ <dfn>Soloing overrides muting</dfn> when enabled allows a track
+ to be heard when it is soloed while muted. This setting is also
+ available from the <strong>Mixer</strong> monitor section.
</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 an error or feedback
- has been detected, respectively). When disabled, the indicators will turn red instead of
- blinking.
+ <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
+ totally muted.
+ </li>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Listen Position:</dfn> determines what is listened to when
+ the solo controls are used as listen controls. The options are
+ after-fader or pre-fader.
+ </li>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>PFL signals come from:</dfn> determines whether the
+ pre-fader listen position is before or after the pre-fader processors.
</li>
<li>
- <dfn>GUI and Font scaling:</dfn> allows the display size of most of the
- text and buttons in the user interface to be scaled up or down. May
- require a restart to take effect.
+ <dfn>AFL signals come from:</dfn> determines whether the
+ after-fader listen position is before or after the after-fader
+ processors.
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
-<h3 id="appearance_editor">Editor</h3>
+<h2 id="preferences-signal_flow">Signal Flow</h2>
<ul>
<li>
- <dfn>General</dfn>
+ <dfn>Master</dfn>
<ul>
<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 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 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.
+ <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>Waveforms</dfn>
+ <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
+ or bus are changed by the right-click context menu on a mute button.
<ul>
<li>
- <dfn>Show waveforms in regions</dfn> when enabled shows a visual
- representation of the region's audio waveform.
- </li>
- <li>
- <dfn>Show waveform while recording</dfn> when
- enabled, will draw the audio waveform in regions being recorded, in near
- real time. When disabled, only a region block will be drawn while recording,
- reducing CPU requirements.
- </li>
- <li>
- <dfn>Show waveform clipping</dfn>: when enabled the waveform
- displayed will show peaks marked in red if they exceed the clip level.
+ <dfn>Mute affects pre-fader sends</dfn> when enabled pre-fader
+ sends will be muted by default.
</li>
<li>
- <dfn>Waveform Clip Level (dBFS):</dfn> sets the level at which the
- waveform shown in an audio region will be drawn in red to indicate
- clipping. Setting lower than 0.0 dBFS can be useful if any tool in
- the audio chain has problems near 0.0 dBFS.
+ <dfn>Mute affects post-fader sends</dfn> when enabled post-fader
+ sends will be muted by default.
</li>
<li>
- <dfn>Waveform scale:</dfn> when waveforms are shown in audio regions,
- they can be displayed using a <em>linear</em> or a <em>logarithmic</em>
- scale. See <a href="@@waveform-display">Waveform display</a>.
+ <dfn>Mute affects control outputs</dfn> when enabled control
+ outputs are muted by default.
</li>
<li>
- <dfn>Waveform shape:</dfn> when waveforms are shown in audio regions,
- they can be displayed using a <em>traditional</em> or a <em>rectified</em>
- shape. See <a href="@@waveform-display">Waveform display</a>.
+ <dfn>Mute affects main outputs</dfn> when enabled main outputs
+ are muted by default.
</li>
</ul>
</li>
-
<li>
- <dfn>Editor Meters</dfn>
+ <dfn>Send Routing</dfn> affects <a href="@@aux-sends">aux and external sends</a>.
<ul>
<li>
- <dfn>Show meters in track headers</dfn>, when enabled, shows
- a small meter in the Editor's <a href="@@audio-track-controls">track headers</a>.
- The meter is shown on the right side area of the header and provides an
- instant, if unprecise, view of the levels on this track/bus.
- </li>
- <li>
- <dfn>Limit track header meters to stereo</dfn>: if a track has more than
- two outputs (e.g. with a drum plugin), limits the number of meters in the
- track header to the first two ones. Only affects audio meters, not MIDI.
+ <dfn>Link panners of Aux and External Sends with main panner by default</dfn>
+ when enabled, sends follow the channel panner. When disabled, sends can panned
+ independently of the channel panner and fader. Double clicking the send in the
+ processor box toggles the main panner and fader between the aux send and the
+ channel.
</li>
</ul>
</li>
-
<li>
- <dfn>MIDI Regions</dfn>
+ <dfn>Audio Regions</dfn>
<ul>
- <li>
- <dfn>Display first MIDI bank/program as 0</dfn>: when patches and bank changes
- are displayed in the editor, if this option is checked, the numbering will
- be zero-based instead of one-based, i.e. banks/programs will be numbered
- O, 1 ,2… instead of 1, 2, 3…
+ <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-existent one. If left unchecked, the missing
+ channels will stay silent.
</li>
+ </ul>
+ </li>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Track and Bus Connections</dfn>
+ <ul>
<li>
- <dfn>Don't display periodic (MTC, MMC) SysEx messages in MIDI Regions</dfn>:
- if checked, will hide these control messages from the MIDI regions for better
- legibility.
+ <dfn>Auto-connect main output (master or monitor) bus to physical ports</dfn>
+ auto-connects the outputs to the first N physical ports. In a session without a
+ <a href="@@monitor-section">monitor section</a>, the master-bus is
+ connected to the system's playback ports, and if a monitor section exists,
+ the monitor-bus' output are connected.
</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.
+ <dfn>Connect track inputs:</dfn> allows to choose when a new track is
+ created whether its inputs will be automatically connected to the physical
+ inputs of the system or not (hence the user has to manually connect it).
+ </li>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Connect track and bus outputs:</dfn> allows to choose, for any new
+ track or bus created, whether its output will automatically be connected
+ to the master bus, directly to the physical outputs or to nothing (the
+ user has to manually connect it).
</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.
+ <dfn>Use 'Strict-I/O' for new tracks or busses</dfn> determines the default
+ choice for the <a href="@@trackbus-signal-flow">signal flow</a> of a newly created track or bus.
+ This can be overridden in the <a href="@@adding-tracks-busses-and-vcas">
+ Add Track/Bus/VCA</a> dialog
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
-<h3 id="appearance_mixer">Mixer</h3>
+<h2 id="preferences-metronome">Metronome</h2>
<ul>
<li>
- <dfn>Mixer Strip</dfn>
+ <dfn>Metronome</dfn> handles the way Ardour's metronome is played when
+ enabled in the <a href="@@transport-bar">Transport Bar</a>.
<ul>
<li>
- This table enables (checked) or disables (unchecked) the display of controls
- in the <a href="@@audiomidi-mixer-strips">mixer strip</a>. Controls whose
- display can be toggled are:
- <strong>Input</strong>, <strong>Phase Invert</strong>,
- <strong>Record & Monitor</strong>, <strong>Solo Iso/Lock</strong>,
- <strong>Output</strong>, <strong>Comments</strong> and VCA Assigns.
+ <dfn>Emphasis on first beat</dfn> plays a different sound when the first
+ beat is played (e.g. 1/4 in 4/4, 1/3 in 3/4,…). When unchecked, all
+ the beats are indistinguishable.
</li>
<li>
- <dfn>Use narrow strips in the mixer for new strips by default</dfn> When
- enabled, new mixer strips are created in narrow format. When disabled,
- 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.
+ <dfn>Use built-in default sounds</dfn> when checked, uses Ardour's own
+ sounds for the metronome click. Unchecking this allows to set some custom
+ sounds below.
</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>.
+ <dfn>Audio file:</dfn> selects an audio file for the beats, in any
+ <a href="@@supported-file-formats">format</a> Ardour supports.
+ </li>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Emphasis audio file:</dfn> in conjunction with
+ <kbd class="option">Emphasis on first beat</kbd>, selects an audio file
+ for the first beats of each bar.
+ </li>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Gain level:</dfn> allows the metronome's click sounds to be boosted
+ or attenuated.
+ </li>
+ </ul>
+ </li>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Options</dfn>
+ <ul>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Enable Metronome only while recording</dfn>: when enabled, the
+ metronome will remain silent unless Ardour is recording.
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
-<h3 id="toolbar">Toolbar</h3>
+
+<h2 id="preferences-control_surfaces">Control Surfaces</h2>
+
+<p>
+ This tab contains settings for <a href="@@control-surfaces">control surfaces</a>.
+</p>
+<p>
+ It lists all the Control Surface protocols Ardour knows. To enable a
+ <dfn>Control Surface Protocol</dfn>, the <kbd class="option">Enable</kbd> checkbox
+ next to its name should be ticked. Editing the settings related to this protocol
+ can be done by double-clicking its name or clicking the <kbd class="menu">Show
+ protocol settings</kbd> (only for Generic MIDI and Open Sound Control).
+</p>
+
+<h2 id="preferences-metering">Metering</h2>
<ul>
<li>
- <dfn>Main Transport Toolbar Items</dfn>: this section allows to toggle the
- visibility of some elements of the main toolbar:
+ <dfn>Metering</dfn>
<ul>
<li>
- <dfn>Display Record/Punch Options</dfn> toggles the visibility of the
- <a href="@@selection-and-punch-clocks#punch_controls">punch and record</a> slice of
- the main toolbar.
+ <dfn>Peak hold time:</dfn> allows the meter to keep displaying the highest
+ signal level for a period of time before reverting to showing the actual
+ instantaneous value (unless an even higher peak occurs). The longer this
+ time is, the easier it is to spot peaks, at the expense of instantaneous
+ accuracy.
</li>
<li>
- <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.
+ <dfn>DPM fall-off:</dfn> describes how fast the Digital Peak Meters can
+ go from a high value to a lower one. Faster values are more accurate but
+ less readable.
</li>
<li>
- <dfn>Display Latency Compensation Info</dfn> toggles the visibility of the
- Latency Compensation slice of the main toolbar.
+ <dfn>Meter line-up level; 0 dBu:</dfn> chooses a standard for the
+ conversion between dBFS (Full Scale) which represent the numeric signal
+ level, and dBu which represents the analog signal level. This value is used
+ to configure meter-marks and color knee-points, or set the reference levels
+ for various meter-types.
</li>
<li>
- <dfn>Display Secondary Clock</dfn> toggles the visibility of the
- <a href="@@transport-clocks">secondary clocks</a> slice of
- the main toolbar.
+ <dfn>IEC1/DIN Meter line-up level; 0 dBu:</dfn> sets the reference
+ level for the IEC1/DIN Meter
</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>VU Meter standard:</dfn> selects which standard to use for the zero
+ value of the vu-meters, i.e. the analog dBu value that will show as 0 on the
+ VU-meter.
</li>
<li>
- <dfn>Display Monitor Section Info</dfn> toggles the visibility of the
- Monitor Info slice of the main toolbar.
+ <dfn>Peak indicator threshold [dBFS]:</dfn> at that value and over, the
+ signal will make the peak meter to turn red, indicating a level too high.
</li>
+ </ul>
+ </li>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Default Meter Types</dfn> sets the default meters when creating a session
+ or track. These meters can be changed afterwards by
+ <kbd class="mouse">right</kbd>-clicking a meter.
+ <ul>
<li>
- <dfn>Display Navigation Timeline</dfn> toggles the visibility of the
- <a href="@@mini-timeline">navigation/mini timeline</a> slice of
- the main toolbar.
+ <dfn>Default Meter Type for Master Bus:</dfn> defines which kind of
+ <a href="@@metering-in-ardour">meter</a> will be used when creating a new
+ session (does not apply to the current session).
</li>
<li>
- <dfn>Display Master Level Meter</dfn> toggles the visibility of the
- <a href="@@other-toolbar-items#mode_selector">selection clocks</a> slice of
- the main toolbar.
+ <dfn>Default Meter Type for busses:</dfn> defines which kind of
+ meter will be used when creating a new bus (applies to the bus created
+ after changing the value).
+ </li>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Default Meter Type for tracks:</dfn> same as above, for tracks.
</li>
</ul>
</li>
-
<li>
- <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.
+ <dfn>Region Analysis</dfn>
+ <ul>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Enable automatic analysis of audio</dfn> generates the transient
+ values (used in e.g. the <a href="@@rhythm-ferret">Rhythm Ferret</a>)
+ automatically. When unchecked, the transient values will be generated
+ on demand.
+ </li>
+ </ul>
</li>
</ul>
-<h3 id="theme">Theme</h3>
+<h2 id="preferences-performance">Performance</h2>
-<ul>
+<ul>
<li>
- <dfn>Theme</dfn>
+ <dfn>DSP CPU Utilization</dfn>
<ul>
<li>
- <dfn>Draw "flat" buttons</dfn>: when enabled, button controls
- 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
- bar. Unchecking this option makes the bars flat and continuous.
- </li>
- <li>
- <dfn>Waveforms color gradient depth:</dfn> determines how much gradient
- effect is applied to the inner of audio waveforms displayed in the editor.
- Values range from 0.0, no gradient effect, to 1.0, maximum effect.
+ <dfn>Signal processing uses:</dfn> sets how many cpu processors can be
+ used to do signal processing. It can be set to use one up to all
+ processors.
</li>
+ </ul>
+ </li>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>CPU/FPU Denormals</dfn> are a specific type of very small numbers that
+ can cause issues with CPU consumption when using some plugins in some
+ circumstances. Ardour provides two methods of handling the issue.
+ Trying different combinations of these settings may minimize CPU consumption.
+ <ul>
<li>
- <dfn>Timeline item gradient depth:</dfn> Determines how much
- gradient effect is applied to the backgrounds of regions displayed in the
- editor. Values range from 0.0, no gradient effect, to 1.0, maximum effect.
- </li>
+ <dfn>Use DC bias to protect against denormals</dfn> adds a small
+ constant value to numbers to move the numbers away from zero.
+ </li>
<li>
- <dfn>Icon Set:</dfn> Changes the mouse cursor icons used to indicate
- different tool modes in the editor. An example would be the icons used to
- indicate whether the cursor will select a region or change the length of a
- region.
+ <dfn>Processor handling:</dfn>, if the computer's hardware
+ supports it, offers two methods that can be used individually or
+ combined. Flush to zero and denormals are zero.
</li>
</ul>
</li>
-</ul>
-
-<h3 id="colors">Colors</h3>
-
-<ul>
<li>
- <dfn>Colors</dfn>
+ <dfn>Disk I/O Buffering</dfn> settings determine how many seconds of
+ audio off of disk will be buffered in memory. Longer settings reduce
+ the risk of buffer under-runs but consume more memory.
<ul>
<li>
- <dfn>Color Theme</dfn> allows to switch between some presets bundled with
- Ardour, changing both the palette and items colors, hence styling Ardour
- all at once.
+ <dfn>Preset:</dfn> will automatically choose the values for the playback
+ and recording buffer based on the chosen size of the session. The
+ <strong>Custom</strong> option allows to manually select the buffers with
+ the two sliders below.
</li>
<li>
- The table allows to change the color settings in Ardour by acting on three
- parameters:
- <ul>
- <li>
- <dfn>Items</dfn> that allow to choose any color from the palette (see below)
- to color a UI element. Clicking on a color sample in the <strong>Color</strong>
- column bring up the Palette, to choose from.
- </li>
- <li>
- <dfn>Palette</dfn> that allows to create a set of colors that will be used
- in the UI. Using a palette allows for better consistency, instead of
- picking "free" colors for each UI element. Clicking on a color patch brings
- up a full color selector, to assign this color to this patch of the palette.
- </li>
- <li>
- <dfn>Transparency</dfn> where possible, allows to select, with a slider,
- the transparency of the UI element, with 0 (slider to the left) being
- fully opaque.
- </li>
- </ul>
+ <dfn>Playback (seconds of buffering):</dfn> sets how many seconds of
+ audio Ardour will buffer during playback.
</li>
<li>
- <dfn>Restore Defaults</dfn> turns all the palette, item colors and transparency
- back to Ardour's default base setting, in case Ardour's appearance has turned
- into a toddler's toy.
+ <dfn>Recording (seconds of buffering):</dfn> sets how many seconds of
+ audio Ardour will buffer during recording.
</li>
</ul>
</li>
-</ul>
-
-<h3 id="quirks">Quirks</h3>
-
-<ul>
<li>
- <dfn>Various Workarounds for Windowing Systems</dfn>: As Ardour is available
- on a number of platforms and windowing systems, some specific workarounds are
- sometimes required to provide a smooth experience to the user.
+ <dfn>Memory Usage</dfn>
<ul>
<li>
- <dfn>Use visibility information provided by your Window Manager/Desktop</dfn>
- allows the system window manager's rules for the windows visibility to
- supercede Ardour's.
+ <dfn>Waveform image cache (megabytes):</dfn> sets the maximum amount of ram that
+ can be used to store the images representing the waveforms in the editor. Past
+ this amount, the images will be regenerated when needed, which can significantly
+ decrease the system's performance.
</li>
+ </ul>
+ </li>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Automation</dfn>
+ <ul>
<li>
- <dfn>All floating windows are dialogs</dfn>: when enabled, Ardour will
- use type "Dialog" for all floating windows instead of using type
- "Utility" for some of them. This may help usability with some
- window managers. This setting requires a restart of Ardour to take effect.
- </li>
+ <strong>Thinning factor</strong> ranges from 0 to 1000 with larger
+ values sending fewer automation changes. Thinning is like lossy
+ audio compression, removing data that is less likely to be noticed,
+ although the more is removed, the more likely the loss will be noticed.
+ The advantage to thinning is reduced CPU usage.
+ </li>
<li>
- <dfn>Transient windows follow front window.</dfn>: when enabled,
- transient windows will follow the front window when toggling between the
- editor and mixer. This setting requires a restart of Ardour to take effect.
+ <strong>Automation sampling interval</strong> ranges from 1 to
+ 1000 ms. Determines how frequently the automation input is
+ sampled. The shorter the interval the higher the accuracy but also
+ the higher the CPU requirements.
</li>
- <li>
- <dfn>Float detached monitor-section window</dfn>: as the <a href="@@monitor-section">
- monitor section</a> can be detached from the mixer, this option makes it a
- floating window, which may be handled differently by the windowing system
- and easier to access.
+ </ul>
+ </li>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Automatables</dfn>
+ <ul>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>Limit automatable parameters per plugin</dfn>: as some plugins
+ (synthesizers, …) have a lot of parameters, and those parameters
+ can be automated by Ardour, checking this will limit the number of parameters
+ that are listed as automatable, hence making the lists shorter and the GUI
+ more responsive.
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
-
<li>
<dfn>Video Monitor</dfn>
<ul>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
+
projects / ardour-manual / commitdiff
