---
-title: Controlling Ardour with OSC (Ardour 4.7 and Prior)
+layout: default
+title: OSC control for Ardour 4.7 and Prior
---
+<p class="note">
+ This page is what was available before version 5.* was added. It has
+ not been updated to make sure all 4.7 functionality is acurately
+ represented. This page will vanish soon.
+</p>
+
<p>
- <abbr title="Open Sound Control"><dfn>OSC</dfn></abbr> lets synthesizers
- and other devices communicate with Ardour. OSC devices can send commands
- relating to playback (such as play or stop), performance (such as volume,
+ <abbr title="Open Sound Control"><dfn>OSC</dfn></abbr> lets synthesizers
+ and other devices communicate with Ardour. OSC devices can send commands
+ relating to playback (such as play or stop), performance (such as volume,
play, stop, and almost any other function (such as Edit, or Undo).
</p>
-
<p>
- Ardour is probably one of the most OSC-controllable audio applications
- around, but as with all OSC-controllable apps, you can't do much without
- knowing what <dfn>messages</dfn> can be sent. This document describes the
- various categories of messages that Ardour understands. It is subject to
- change, particularly the "Actions" part below, since this relates to the
+ Ardour is probably one of the most OSC-controllable audio applications
+ around, but as with all OSC-controllable apps, you can't do much without
+ knowing what <dfn>messages</dfn> can be sent. This document describes the
+ various categories of messages that Ardour understands. It is subject to
+ change, particularly the "Actions" part below, since this relates to the
GTK GUI for Ardour rather than the backend.
</p>
<h2>Connecting to Ardour via OSC</h2>
-
<p>
- OSC support is not enabled by default, but can be turned on via
- <kbd class="menu">Edit > Preferences > Control Surfaces</kbd>.
- Once enabled, Ardour will listen on port <code>3819</code> by default.
- This port number can be changed by editing <code>$ARDOUR_CONFIG</code>
+ OSC support is not enabled by default, but can be turned on via
+ <kbd class="menu">Edit > Preferences > Control Surfaces</kbd>.
+ Once enabled, Ardour will listen on port <code>3819</code> by default.
+ This port number can be changed by editing <code>$ARDOUR_CONFIG</code>
and adding this line within the <code><Config></code> section:
</p>
<kbd class="input"><Option name="osc-port" value="<em>Your choice
<dd></dd>
<dt><kbd class="osc">/ardour/locate <em>spos</em> <em>roll</em></kbd></dt>
<dd>where <em>spos</em> is the target position in samples and
- <em>roll</em> is a bool/integer defining whether you want transport
+ <em>roll</em> is a bool/integer defining whether you want transport
to be kept rolling or not</dd>
<dt><kbd class="osc">/ardour/loop_toggle</kbd></dt>
<dd></dd>
<dt><kbd class="osc">Region/trim-to-next-region</kbd></dt><dd>Trim to Next</dd>
<dt><kbd class="osc">Region/trim-to-previous-region</kbd></dt><dd>Trim to Previous</dd>
<dt><kbd class="osc">Region/uncombine-regions</kbd></dt><dd>Uncombine</dd>
- <dt><kbd class="osc">Rulers/toggle-bbt-ruler</kbd></dt><dd>Bars & Beats</dd>
+ <dt><kbd class="osc">Rulers/toggle-bbt-ruler</kbd></dt><dd>Bars & Beats</dd>
<dt><kbd class="osc">Rulers/toggle-cd-marker-ruler</kbd></dt><dd>CD Markers</dd>
<dt><kbd class="osc">Rulers/toggle-loop-punch-ruler</kbd></dt><dd>Loop/Punch</dd>
<dt><kbd class="osc">Rulers/toggle-marker-ruler</kbd></dt><dd>Markers</dd>
<dt><kbd class="osc">Transport/Loop</kbd></dt><dd>Play Loop Range</dd>
<dt><kbd class="osc">Transport/PlayPreroll</kbd></dt><dd>Play Selection w/Preroll</dd>
<dt><kbd class="osc">Transport/PlaySelection</kbd></dt><dd>Play Selected Range</dd>
- <dt><kbd class="osc">Transport/primary-clock-bbt</kbd></dt><dd>Bars & Beats</dd>
- <dt><kbd class="osc">Transport/primary-clock-minsec</kbd></dt><dd>Minutes & Seconds</dd>
+ <dt><kbd class="osc">Transport/primary-clock-bbt</kbd></dt><dd>Bars & Beats</dd>
+ <dt><kbd class="osc">Transport/primary-clock-minsec</kbd></dt><dd>Minutes & Seconds</dd>
<dt><kbd class="osc">Transport/primary-clock-samples</kbd></dt><dd>Samples</dd>
<dt><kbd class="osc">Transport/primary-clock-timecode</kbd></dt><dd>Timecode</dd>
<dt><kbd class="osc">Transport/Record</kbd></dt><dd>Enable Record</dd>
<dt><kbd class="osc">Transport/Rewind</kbd></dt><dd>Rewind</dd>
<dt><kbd class="osc">Transport/RewindSlow</kbd></dt><dd>Rewind (Slow)</dd>
<dt><kbd class="osc">Transport/Roll</kbd></dt><dd>Roll</dd>
- <dt><kbd class="osc">Transport/secondary-clock-bbt</kbd></dt><dd>Bars & Beats</dd>
- <dt><kbd class="osc">Transport/secondary-clock-minsec</kbd></dt><dd>Minutes & Seconds</dd>
+ <dt><kbd class="osc">Transport/secondary-clock-bbt</kbd></dt><dd>Bars & Beats</dd>
+ <dt><kbd class="osc">Transport/secondary-clock-minsec</kbd></dt><dd>Minutes & Seconds</dd>
<dt><kbd class="osc">Transport/secondary-clock-samples</kbd></dt><dd>Samples</dd>
<dt><kbd class="osc">Transport/secondary-clock-timecode</kbd></dt><dd>Timecode</dd>
<dt><kbd class="osc">Transport/Stop</kbd></dt><dd>Stop</dd>
<dt><kbd class="osc">Zoom/zoom-focus-playhead</kbd></dt><dd>Zoom Focus Playhead</dd>
<dt><kbd class="osc">Zoom/zoom-focus-right</kbd></dt><dd>Zoom Focus Right</dd>
</dl>
-
projects / ardour-manual-diverged / blobdiff