From: Ed Ward Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2017 17:33:34 +0000 (+0100) Subject: Adding documentation about the Mixer Strips X-Git-Url: http://shamusworld.gotdns.org/cgi-bin/gitweb.cgi?a=commitdiff_plain;h=feaa3b828a5f4502dbe62f0663141a3d1391d15d;p=ardour-manual Adding documentation about the Mixer Strips --- diff --git a/_manual/02_introducing-ardour/03_basic-gui-operations/02_selection-techniques.html b/_manual/02_introducing-ardour/03_basic-gui-operations/02_selection-techniques.html new file mode 100644 index 0000000..cf569ed --- /dev/null +++ b/_manual/02_introducing-ardour/03_basic-gui-operations/02_selection-techniques.html @@ -0,0 +1,57 @@ +--- +layout: default +title: Selection Techniques +--- + +

+ Ardour follows the conventions used by most other computer software + (including other DAWs) for selecting objects in the + GUI. +

+ +

Selecting individual objects

+

+ Clicking on an object (sometimes on a particular part of its + on-screen representation) will select the object, and deselect other + similar objects. +

+ +

Selecting multiple (similar) objects

+

+ A left click on an object toggles its + selected status, so using left + on a series of objects will select (or deselect) each one of them. You can + construct completely arbitrary selections with this technique. +

+ +

Selecting a range of objects

+

+ In cases where the idea of "select all objects between this one and that + one" makes sense, you can select one object and then click + left on another to select both of them as + well as all objects in between. +

+ +

Time range selection

+

+ To select a time range in the Editor, + click Left and drag the mouse. + A Left drag then lets you create other + ranges and a left click extends a range + to cover a wider area. +

+ +

Selection Undo

+

+ The set of objects (including time range) that are selected at any one + time is known as the selection. + Each time you select or deselect an object, the new selection is stored in an + undo/redo stack. + This stack is cleared each time the content of the timeline changes. + If you have built up a complex selection and then accidentally cleared it, + choosing Edit > Undo Selection Change will restore your + previous selection. + If you then decide that you had in fact made the correct change, choosing + Edit > Redo Selection Change will take you back + to where you were before you chose Edit > Undo Selection Change. +

diff --git a/_manual/02_introducing-ardour/03_basic-gui-operations/03_tooltips.html b/_manual/02_introducing-ardour/03_basic-gui-operations/03_tooltips.html new file mode 100644 index 0000000..45699cd --- /dev/null +++ b/_manual/02_introducing-ardour/03_basic-gui-operations/03_tooltips.html @@ -0,0 +1,19 @@ +--- +layout: default +title: Tooltips +--- + +

+ By default, Ardour will show helpful tooltips about + the purpose and use of each GUI element if you position the pointer + over it and hover there for a short while. + These little pop-up messages can be a good way to discover the + purpose of many aspects of the GUI. +

+

+ Pop-ups can be distracting for experienced users, who may opt to + disable them via Edit > Preferences > GUI > + Show tooltip if mouse hovers over a control. +

+ diff --git a/_manual/02_introducing-ardour/03_basic-gui-operations/04_undoredo-for-editing-.html b/_manual/02_introducing-ardour/03_basic-gui-operations/04_undoredo-for-editing-.html new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4b03fdf --- /dev/null +++ b/_manual/02_introducing-ardour/03_basic-gui-operations/04_undoredo-for-editing-.html @@ -0,0 +1,36 @@ +--- +layout: default +title: Undo/Redo for Editing +--- + +

+ While editing, it happens that you apply an unintended change, or make + a choice one that you later decide was wrong. All changes to the + arrangement of session components (regions, control points) along the + timeline can be undone (and redone if necessary). +

+

+ The default keybindings are Z for Undo and + R for Redo. These match the conventions of most + other applications that provide undo/redo. +

+

+ Changes are also saved to the session history file, so that + undo/redo is possible even if you close the session and reopen it later, + even if you quit Ardour in between. +

+

+ The maximum number of changes that can be undone can be configured under + Edit > Preferences > Misc > Undo. + The maximum number of changes stored in the history file is a separate + parameter, and can also be set in the same place. +

+ +

+ In addition to the normal undo (which works only on actions that change + the timeline), there is a visual undo which will revert any + command that affects the display of the editor window. Its shortcut is + Z. + There is also an undo for selection. See + Selection Techniques for more information. +

diff --git a/_manual/02_introducing-ardour/03_basic-gui-operations/05_using-the-mouse.html b/_manual/02_introducing-ardour/03_basic-gui-operations/05_using-the-mouse.html new file mode 100644 index 0000000..10f1c25 --- /dev/null +++ b/_manual/02_introducing-ardour/03_basic-gui-operations/05_using-the-mouse.html @@ -0,0 +1,126 @@ +--- +layout: default +title: Using the Mouse +--- + +

Clicking

+

+ Throughout this manual, the term click refers to the act of pressing + and releasing the Left mouse button. This action is used to select objects, activate + buttons, turn choices on and off, pop up menus and so forth.
+ On touch surfaces, it also corresponds to a single, one-finger tap on + the GUI. +

+ +

Right Clicking

+

+ The term right-click refers to the act of pressing and releasing + the Right mouse button. + This action is used to pop up context menus (hence the term + "context click", which you will also see). It is also used by default in + combination with the shift key to delete objects within the editor + window. +

+

+ Some mice designed for use with Mac OS X may have only one button. By + convention, pressing and holding the Control key while clicking is + interpreted as a right-click by many application.. +

+ +

Middle Clicking

+

+ A middle-click refers to the act of pressing and releasing the + Middle mouse button. Not all all mice have a middle click button + (see the Mouse chapter for + details). Sometimes the scroll wheel acts as a clickable middle button. + This action is used for time-constrained region copying and mapping MIDI + bindings. +

+

+ Internally, your operating system may identify the mouse buttons as + Button1, Button2, and + Button3, respectively. It may be possible to + invert the order of buttons to accommodate left-handed users, or to re-assign + them arbitrarily. This manual assumes the canonical order. +

+ +

Double Clicking

+

+ A double click refers to two rapid press/release cycles on the + leftmost mouse button. The time interval between the two actions that + determines whether this is seen as two clicks or one double click is + controlled by your system preferences, not by Ardour. +

+ +

Dragging

+

+ A drag primarily refers to the act of pressing the leftmost + mouse button, moving the mouse with the button held down, and then + releasing the button. On touch surfaces, this term also corresponds to + a single one-finger touch-move-release action. +

+

+ Ardour also uses the middle mouse button for certain kinds of drags, + which will be referred to as middle-drag. +

+ +

Modifiers

+

+ There are many actions in Ardour that can be carried out using a mouse + button in combination with a modifier key. When the manual + refers to Left, it means that you should first + press the key, carry out a left click + while is held down, and then finally release the key. +

+

+ Available modifiers depend on your platform: +

+

Linux Modifiers

+ +

+ The following section is almost certainly wrong. Will need to be checked + and rewritten asap. +

+

+ Mod2 typically corresponds to the NumLock key on many systems. + On most Linux systems, there are no keys that will function as modifiers + Mod3, Mod4 or Mod5 by default, but they can be setup using + xmodmap(1). This can be rather useful. +

+ +

OS X Modifiers

+ + +

Scroll Wheel

+

+ Ardour can make good use of a scroll wheel on your mouse, which can be + utilized for a variety of purposes. Scroll wheels generate vertical + scroll events, ⇑ (ScrollUp) and + ⇓ (ScrollDown). Some also emit horizontal + events, ⇐ (ScrollLeft) and + ⇒ (ScrollRight). +

+

+ When appropriate, Ardour will differentiate between these two different + scroll axes. Otherwise it will interpret ScrollDown and ScrollLeft as + equivalent and similarly interpret ScrollUp and ScrollRight as equivalent. +

+

+ Typically, scroll wheel input is used to adjust + continuous controls such as faders and knobs, or to scroll + vertically or horizontally inside a window. +

+ diff --git a/_manual/02_introducing-ardour/03_basic-gui-operations/06_cut-and-paste-operations.html b/_manual/02_introducing-ardour/03_basic-gui-operations/06_cut-and-paste-operations.html new file mode 100644 index 0000000..01d8571 --- /dev/null +++ b/_manual/02_introducing-ardour/03_basic-gui-operations/06_cut-and-paste-operations.html @@ -0,0 +1,35 @@ +--- +layout: default +title: Cut and Paste Operations +--- + +

+ The clipboard is a holder for various kinds of objects (regions, + control events, plugins) that is used during cut-and-paste + operations. +

+ +

Cut

+

+ A cut operation removes selected objects and places them in the + clipboard. The existing contents of the clipboard are overwriten.
+ The default key binding is x. +

+ +

Copy

+

+ A copy of the selected objects are placed in clipboard. There is + no effect on the selected objects themselves. The existing contents of the + clipboard are overwritten.
+ The default key binding is c. +

+ +

Paste

+

+ The current contents of the clipboard are pasted (inserted) + into the session, using the current edit point as the + destination. The contents of the clipboard remain unchanged — you + can paste the same item multiple times.
+ The default key binding is v. +

+ diff --git a/_manual/02_introducing-ardour/03_basic-gui-operations/07_deleting-objects.html b/_manual/02_introducing-ardour/03_basic-gui-operations/07_deleting-objects.html new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e88c09a --- /dev/null +++ b/_manual/02_introducing-ardour/03_basic-gui-operations/07_deleting-objects.html @@ -0,0 +1,38 @@ +--- +layout: default +title: Deleting Objects +--- + +

+ Within the Editor window (and to some extent within the Mixer window too), + there are several techniques for deleting objects (regions, + control points, and more). +

+ +

Using the mouse and keyboard

+

+ Select the object(s) and then press the Del key. + This does not put the deleted object(s) into the cut + buffer, so they cannot be pasted elsewhere. +

+ +

Using normal cut and paste shortcuts

+

+ Select the object(s) and then press x. This puts + the deleted object(s) into the cut buffer so that they could be pasted + elsewhere. +

+ +

Using just the mouse

+

+ By default, Shift Right will delete the + clicked-upon object. Like the Del key, this does not + put the deleted object(s) into the cut buffer. +

+

+ The modifier and mouse button used for this can be controlled via + Edit > Preferences > User Interaction > + Delete using .... Any modifier and mouse button combination can + be used. +

+ diff --git a/_manual/05_ardours-interface/01_main-menu/02_Transport-menu.html b/_manual/05_ardours-interface/01_main-menu/02_Transport-menu.html index e82e7d4..0bdc935 100644 --- a/_manual/05_ardours-interface/01_main-menu/02_Transport-menu.html +++ b/_manual/05_ardours-interface/01_main-menu/02_Transport-menu.html @@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ title: The Transport Menu
Play Selection
Only plays the selected part of the session, be it a range or selected regions
Play Selection w/Preroll
As the previous menu, except it starts the playback 1/2 bar before the beginning of the selection
Start/Continue/Stop
FIXME
-
Play from Edit Point and Return
Starts the playback at the Edit point, and when stopped, goes back to the orginial location
+
Play from Edit Point and Return
Starts the playback at the Edit point, and when stopped, goes back to the orginial location
Play Loop Range
If a Loop range is defined, play it and loop until stopped
Start Recording
This is a shortcut to trigger the global recording, and start playback at once
Stop and Forget Capture
Stops the recording, removes the newly created material, and goes back to the original position
diff --git a/_manual/05_ardours-interface/05_the-mixer/04_audio-midi-mixer-strips.html b/_manual/05_ardours-interface/05_the-mixer/04_audio-midi-mixer-strips.html new file mode 100644 index 0000000..59ae1e6 --- /dev/null +++ b/_manual/05_ardours-interface/05_the-mixer/04_audio-midi-mixer-strips.html @@ -0,0 +1,286 @@ +--- +title: Audio/MIDI Mixer Strips +--- + +A mixer strip + +

+ A mixer strip in Ardour is a vertical view of the track, from a mixing point of view. + This view is convenient to deal with I/O, effects, panning/muting, gain, etc... It has a general + "top to bottom" flow. +

+

+ The mixer strips breaks down into : +

+
    +
  1. Header
    2. +
  2. Track name
    3. +
  3. Input(s)
    4. +
  4. Polarity only for audio tracks
    5. +
  5. Processor box
    6. +
  6. Panner
    7. +
  7. Recording options
    8. +
  8. Mute/Solo
    9. +
  9. Gain & Meter
    10. +
  10. Control master
    11. +
  11. Fader automation/mix group/metering point
    12. +
  12. Output(s)
    13. +
  13. Comments
    14. +
+ + +

Headers

+ +

+ At the top of the window, is the group tabs (here, recm...). + This allows to group tracks together for common controls. +

+

+ Bellow are 3 buttons : +

+ +

+ Right clicking on the color bar will bring up a context menu, which is exactly the same as clicking on the Track name button. +

+ +

Track Name

+ +

+ Clicking the Track name button will bring up a menu : +

+
+
Color...
Changes the strip/track color
+
Comments...
Shows an editor to put comments about the track, see bellow the Comments button
+
Inputs...
Shows the Routing grid for the inputs of the track
+
Outputs...
Shows the Routing grid for the outputs of the track
+
Save As Template...
Allows to save the track without its media content (I/O, effects,...) for later reuse
+
Rename...
Changes the name of the track (effective both in the Mixer and the Editor)
+
Active
Select the active status of the track. An inactive track won't output any sound
+
Strict I/O
While in Strict I/O mode, a track always has as many output as it has inputs, regardless of the effects. When disabled, a stereo effect put on a mono track will result in a stereo output for the strip.
+
Pin Connections...
Shows the Pin Configuration window, that shows (and allows to modify) all the signal flows inside the track
+
Adjust Latency...
Shows the Track Latency dialog, that allows fine-tune the latency to the track, in samples, msec or period
+
Protect Against Denormals
Uses a trick to get rid of denormals, which are very small numbers the CPU can have a hard time dealing with. To be used if the CPU consumption for plugins is noticeably higher than expected
+
Duplicate...
Copies the track to a new one, optionnaly with its playlist
+
Remove
Deletes the track and its playlist
+
+ +

Inputs

+ +

+ The dropdown button shows the current input port(s), i.e. what's plugged to the "in" of the track. + By default, each audio track is connected to the system inputs, ready for recording, + as shown by the number(s). + Clicking the dropdown Inputs button will allow to change the inputs, through a menu: +

+
+
Disconnect
Disconnects everything, i.e. the track has no input
+
In n
Those are the system inputs, e.g. to record from the soundcard. A mono track will have In 1 and In 2 separated, while a stereo track can have In 1+2
+
Track n output
All the outputs of compatible tracks, e.g., a mono track can only receive a mono signal, a MIDI track can only receive MIDI signal, ...
+
Add Audio Port
Adds an audio input to the track, i.e. a mono audio track becomes a stero one
+
Add MIDI Port
Adds a MIDI input to the track. Adding it to an audio track makes it a mixed Audio/MIDI track. This can be usefull e.g. to feed some plugins with a MIDI signal to control the audio, like a vocoder
+
Routing Grid
Shows the Routing Grid window, which allows for more complex input configuration
+
+

+ The Routing Grid can also be shown by right clicking the dropdown Inputs button. + It allows to make the connections through a matrix, and connect things that are not listed in the menu above, + or connect to multiple sources at once, reduce the number of inputs, etc... +

+

+ On audio tracks, is a Trim knob, as on traditional consoles. + It set the base input level for the track, avoiding any clipping. Notice that it + trims both any input, but (when playing back), also the level of the playlist as + displayed in the Editor. It makes sense as while playing, the input of the track is + the playlist, on which the mixer strip acts. +

+

+ On midi tracks, it is replaced by a MIDI Input button, that allows/disallows + MIDI input on the track. +

+ + +

Polarity

+ +

+ On audio tracks only, the Polarity button(s), 1 per input, allow to reverse + the signal, i.e. a negative value will be positive and vice-versa. This can + help deal with phasing issues. +

+ +

Processor box

+ +

+ The processor box is where the effects are added. By default, one effect is always + present : the Fader (see bellow). The effects can be added pre-fader and appear in brown, + or post-fader, where they will appear in dark green. The signal flow is represented by lines, + red for the MIDI and green for the audio. +

+

+ It is also where the Sends come from, wether external or auxiliary. +

+

+ To learn more about the processor box, see The Processor Box. +

+ +

Panner

+ +

+ The Panner visually displays how the sound will be distributed between the different outputs. + They'll look and behave differently if the track is mono, stereo, or has multiple channels. +

+

+ Right clicking the Panner will show a menu: +

+
+
Bypass
When checked, the panner is grayed, and the signal is not affected by it
+
Reset
Resets the panner to its default settings, e.g. for a mono signal, it is centered
+
Edit...
Shows a Panner dialog, which allows for fine tuning of the panner
+
+

+ See Panning to learn more about how to control the panner, + and what kind of panners are available inside Ardour. +

+ +

Recording options

+ +

+ The most noticeable button here is the Record Enable one, with a red circle. When + enabled, next time the Global record will be armed and playback started, everything that + comes from the input of the track will be recorded. Right clicking a disabled record + button allows to enable Rec-Safe, thus protecting the track + against accidental recording. +

+

+ The buttons on the right, In and Disk, + show what the user is listening to by lighting up, between the Input and the + actual content of the playlist on Disk. +

+

+ They also allow to override the automatic switching by pressing them to lock one + source or the other to be what the user is hearing. +

+ +

Mute/Solo

+ +

+ These buttons allow to Mute (or silence) the track, or Solo them, shutting down the + gain of the other tracks (totally by default, can be set to partially in the options). + See Muting and Soloing + for more information. +

+

+ Notice that by default, Solo overrides Mute, i.e. if a track is both Soloed and Muted, it will + play. That can be changed in the preferences. +

+

+ The two led button above are related to solo : +

+ + +

Gain & Meter

+ +

+ On the right of this part is a Meter, displaying the level of the track's + output after the fader. In can be set to display the signal at any point, see below Metering Point. + Right clicking this meter shows a menu allowing to switch the meter type. +

+

+ The big Gain slider on the left allows to change the gain of the track. Its default O dB + value is reminded with a white horizontal line, and its precise value is shown + in a text field above it, that doubles as a way to type in a numeric value. +

+

+ The text field above the meter shows the "Peak", i.e. the mawimum value that has been + reached during playback. To avoid distortion, the value should stay bellow O dB, and + if it goes above this value, the text field will turn red. Clicking on this field + will reset the Peak value (for a new measurement or a new part of the track). +

+ +

+ Notice that if any gain automation has been set and the automation state is set on "Play" + (see below), then the Gain fader is driven by the automation, and not by the user. The Gain fader will + turn grey to show it's inactive. +

+ +

Control master

+ +

+ If at least one control master exists, this button will show up, allowing the user + to link this track to any control master. +

+

+ Clicking the button lists all the available control masters, and a menu option to + Unassign all. Notice that a track can have be a slave to as many + control masters as they are in the session, hence multiplying the number of C.M. buttons. + The displayed number is the number of the Control Master, not the count of C.M. linked + to the track. A track with no control master assigned will show a unique button with a + "-vca-" label instead of this number. +

+ +

Fader automation/mix group/metering point

+ +

Fader automation mode

+

+ This button allows to choose the mode used regarding automation: +

+
+
Manual
(default) The playback won't use the fader automation data
+
Play
Enables playback/use of fader automation data
+
Write
While the transport is rolling, all fader changes will be recorded to the fader automation lane
+
Touch
While the transport is rolling, touching the fader will initiate recording all fader changes until the fader is released. When the fader is not being touched, existing automation data will be played/used to control the gain level.
+
+ +

Mix group

+

+ This button displays the mix group information as does the tab in the header (see above). + It is convenient though, as it allows to quickly switch the track from one + group to another with a drop down menu, also allowing to affect the track to + a non-adjascent group (which the tab won't easily allow). +

+ +

Metering Point

+

+ The metering displayed in the meter is by default is 'Post', i.e. Post fader. + It can be changed with this button to Any point of the signal flow : +

+
+
In
The input of the track
+
Pre
Pre-fader
+
Post
Post-fader
+
Out
The output of the track
+
Custom
A Meter processor is added to the processor box an can be set anywhere (by dragging and dropping) to probe the signal flow at that pointat the point
+
+ +

Output(s)

+ +

+ This button is exactly the same as the Input button, but applies to the output + of the track. +

+ + +

Comments

+ +

+ This buttons open up a little text editor, that can be used to add some written notes to the track, + as e.g. a particular setting. The button's caption is replaced by the beginning of the text, so + it can be used as a "sub"name for the track. +

diff --git a/_manual/05_ardours-interface/05_the-mixer/04_the-master-strip.html b/_manual/05_ardours-interface/05_the-mixer/05_the-master-strip.html similarity index 100% rename from _manual/05_ardours-interface/05_the-mixer/04_the-master-strip.html rename to _manual/05_ardours-interface/05_the-mixer/05_the-master-strip.html diff --git a/_manual/05_ardours-interface/05_the-mixer/05_monitoring.html b/_manual/05_ardours-interface/05_the-mixer/06_monitoring.html similarity index 100% rename from _manual/05_ardours-interface/05_the-mixer/05_monitoring.html rename to _manual/05_ardours-interface/05_the-mixer/06_monitoring.html diff --git a/source/images/mixer-1-strip-numbered.png b/source/images/mixer-1-strip-numbered.png new file mode 100644 index 0000000..81b18f4 Binary files /dev/null and b/source/images/mixer-1-strip-numbered.png differ