<p>
In Ardour, work is done in two main windows: the <dfn>Editor</dfn> and the
- <dfn>Mixer</dfn>.
+ <dfn>Mixer</dfn>. A third view, the <dfn>Recorder</dfn>, is dedicated to
+ the recording process.
</p>
<figure style="width:100%;">
<area shape="rect" coords="336,0,600,8" href="@@status-bar" />
<area shape="rect" coords="0,8,68,28" href="@@transport-bar" />
<area shape="rect" coords="68,8,108,28" href="@@selection-and-punch-clocks" />
- <area shape="rect" coords="108,8,144,28" href="@@other-toolbar-items#monitor-options" />
- <area shape="rect" coords="144,8,196,28" href="@@other-toolbar-items#latency-compensation-info" />
+ <area shape="rect" coords="108,8,196,28" href="@@other-toolbar-items#latency-compensation-info" />
<area shape="rect" coords="196,8,228,28" href="@@other-toolbar-items#playhead_options" />
<area shape="rect" coords="228,8,348,28" href="@@transport-clocks" />
<area shape="rect" coords="348,8,368,28" href="@@other-toolbar-items#status_indicators" />
<area shape="rect" coords="336,0,600,8" href="@@status-bar" />
<area shape="rect" coords="0,8,68,28" href="@@transport-bar" />
<area shape="rect" coords="68,8,108,28" href="@@selection-and-punch-clocks" />
- <area shape="rect" coords="108,8,144,28" href="@@other-toolbar-items#monitor-options" />
- <area shape="rect" coords="144,8,196,28" href="@@other-toolbar-items#latency-compensation-info" />
+ <area shape="rect" coords="108,8,196,28" href="@@other-toolbar-items#latency-compensation-info" />
<area shape="rect" coords="196,8,228,28" href="@@other-toolbar-items#playhead_options" />
<area shape="rect" coords="228,8,348,28" href="@@transport-clocks" />
<area shape="rect" coords="348,8,368,28" href="@@other-toolbar-items#status_indicators" />
<area shape="rect" coords="432,28,474,324" href="@@control-masters-mixer-strips" />
<area shape="rect" coords="263,33,333,324" href="@@audiomidi-busses-mixer-strips" />
<area shape="rect" coords="121,33,263,324" href="@@audiomidi-mixer-strips" />
- <area shape="rect" coords="474,28,514,324" href="foldback-strip" />
- <area shape="rect" coords="333,33,343,324" href="adding-tracks-busses-and-vcas" />
+ <area shape="rect" coords="474,28,514,324" href="@@foldback-strip" />
+ <area shape="rect" coords="333,33,343,324" href="@@adding-tracks-busses-and-vcas" />
</map>
<figcaption>
- The Editor and Mixer windows. Click on a section to access its description.
+ The Editor and Mixer windows. Clicking on a section accesses its
+ description.
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>
- The Editor and the Mixer share the same toolbar (the top of the window). The sections displayed in this toolbar can be customized to the user's workflow, by checking options in <kbd class="menu">Preferences > Appearance > Toolbar</kbd>.
+ The Editor, Mixer and Recorder share the same toolbar (the top of the
+ window). The sections displayed in this toolbar can be customized to
+ the user's workflow, by checking options in <kbd class="menu">Preferences
+ > Appearance > Toolbar</kbd>.
</p>
<p>
Switching between the Editor and the Mixer windows is done:
</p>
<ul>
- <li>with the <a href="@@other-toolbar-items#mode_selector">Mode Selector buttons</a> in the upper right</li>
+ <li>with the <a href="@@other-toolbar-items#mode_selector">Mode Selector
+ buttons</a> in the upper right</li>
<li>with the <kbd class="mod2">M</kbd> shortcut</li>
- <li>with the menu <kbd class="menu">Window > Editor <em>(or Mixer)</em> > Show</kbd>.</li>
+ <li>with the menu <kbd class="menu">Window > Editor <em>(or Mixer)</em>
+ > Show</kbd>.</li>
</ul>
<p>
Both windows can be visible at the same time (e.g. for a multi-monitor
- setup) using <kbd class="menu">Window > Editor <em>(or Mixer)</em> > Detach</kbd> option in the same submenu.
+ setup) using <kbd class="menu">Window > Editor <em>(or Mixer)</em>
+ > Detach</kbd> option in the same submenu.
</p>
<h2>The Editor</h2>
To learn more about the process of mixing, see <a href="@@basic-mixing">Mixing</a>.
</p>
+<h2>The Recorder</h2>
+
+<p>
+ The <dfn>Recorder</dfn> window is a very specialized view that provides
+ a compact view of all track's record and monitor status, and a simplified
+ timeline that keeps everything in view at once. Most of the information
+ that is shown in this mode is already available in Mixer or Editor mode,
+ but the Recorder aims at having everything in sight and under control
+ while tracking a performance.
+</p>
+<p>
+ The Recorder is covered in great detail in <a href="@@recorder">its own
+ page</a>.
+</p>
+
--- /dev/null
+
+<figure class="center">
+ <img style="width:50%;" src="/images/record_window.png" alt="The Recorder window">
+ <figcaption>
+ The Recorder window. <i>(<a href="/images/record_window.png">full-size image</a>)</i>
+ </figcaption>
+</figure>
+
+<p>
+ Although all the process of recording an audio or MIDI performance can
+ be done in any mode, the <dfn>Recorder</dfn> provides a synoptic view of
+ most parameters and actions related to capturing this performance, hence
+ giving more confidence in the final result.
+</p>
+<p class="note">
+ The Recorder is another view on settings, parameters, and actions
+ that can be set or called in other modes. Any change done in the Recorder
+ is instantly reflected in e.g. the Editor, and vice versa.
+</p>
+<p>
+ The Recorder, being a mode, sports the same <a href="@@main-menu">main
+ menu</a>, <a href="@@status-bar">status bar</a>, and <a href="@@transport-bar">
+ toolbar</a> as the Editor and Mixer. It adds a secondary toolbar, a
+ simplified session view, reminiscent of the Editor, and a global input
+ panel.
+</p>
+
+<h2>The Secondary Toolbar</h2>
+
+<p>
+ The subsections below describe the secondary toolbar from left to right.
+</p>
+
+<h3>Last Take Manager</h3>
+
+<figure class="left">
+ <img alt="The Last Take Manager" src="/images/recorder_last-take.png">
+ <figcaption>
+ The Last Take Manager
+ </figcaption>
+</figure>
+
+<p>
+ This manager displays information about the last (or current) take :
+</p>
+<ul>
+ <li>
+ A <em>duration display</em>, that shows the duration of the last (or
+ current) recording. It is always displayed as <samp>hours:minutes:seconds:tenths</samp>,
+ regardless of the <a href="@@transport-clocks">Transport clocks</a>
+ display settings.
+ </li>
+ <li>
+ An x-run counter, an x-run being a buffer under(or over)flow. Each
+ time such an x-run occurs, an artifact is recording, that can be
+ audible or not, but is a red flag for the recording quality.
+ </li>
+ <li>
+ A <kbd>Discard Last Take</kbd> button, that deletes the last
+ finished recording(s), effectively removing the audio file(s) from
+ the hard drive, hence destructive.
+ </li>
+</ul>
+<p>
+ This last button cannot be used while recording, the transport must be
+ stopped. It also has no concept of history, and repeatedly
+ clicking it wont discard previous takes from last to first, in order to
+ prevent destroying good takes. Lastly, it does not reset the playhead
+ position, as the <kbd class="menu">Transport > Stop and Forget
+ Capture</kbd> menu would.
+</p>
+
+<h3>Global Arm</h3>
+
+<figure class="left">
+ <img alt="The Global Arm options" src="/images/recorder_global-arm.png">
+ <figcaption>
+ The Global Arm options
+ </figcaption>
+</figure>
+
+<p>
+ Like the <em>Monitor Options</em> below, these buttons apply to all
+ the tracks at once.
+</p>
+<p>
+ It is a convenient shortcut to arm (<kbd>All</kbd>)/disarm (<kbd>None</kbd>)
+ all the tracks for recording.
+</p>
+
+<h3 class="clear">Monitoring Options</h3>
+
+<figure class="left">
+ <img alt="The Monitoring options" src="/images/input-mode-buttons.png">
+ <figcaption>
+ The Monitoring options
+ </figcaption>
+</figure>
+
+<p>
+ These buttons allow switching the monitoring mode globally, for all the
+ tracks at once. The monitoring mode allows to decide what the user wants
+ to be listening to, between:
+</p>
+<ul>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>All In</dfn>: all the tracks play what is on their <em>In</em>puts,
+ </li>
+ <li>
+ <dfn>All Disk</dfn>: all the tracks play the actual content of the
+ playlist on <em>Disk</em>,
+ </li>
+ <li>
+ or <dfn>both</dfn>: also called "cue monitoring" if both buttons are
+ engaged, a combination of the two modes above, where all the track
+ play existing data from disk while also listening to the input
+ signal. This is particularly useful for MIDI tracks, where one can
+ hear a performance/new material while listening to the playback of
+ existing material in the track.
+ </li>
+</ul>
+<p>
+ The <kbd class="menu">Auto Input</kbd> switch allows Ardour to auto-select
+ what is played, which is:
+</p>
+<ul>
+ <li>When not playing: all tracks are on <em>In</em> (to listen to any connected source)</li>
+ <li>When playing, all tracks are on <em>Disk</em> (to play whatever was recorded on those tracks)</li>
+ <li>When recording, on rec-enabled tracks: <em>In</em> and on non rec-enabled ones: <em>Disk</em></li>
+</ul>
+
+ If Auto Input is disabled, then you will hear the Input being
+ monitored whenever a track is armed, even if you aren't actually
+ recording. If Auto Input is _enabled_, then you will hear playback
+ when the transport is rolling, and the tracks will only switch to
+ Input when the master-record arm is engaged (so you are actually
+ recording).
+
+<h3>Disk space and Reset Peaks</h3>
+
+<figure class="left">
+ <img alt="Disk space & Reset Peaks" src="/images/recorder_disk-and-reset.png">
+ <figcaption>
+ Disk space & Reset Peaks
+ </figcaption>
+</figure>
+
+<ul>
+ <li>
+ <em>Disk space</em> shows how many time or recoding is available on
+ the current hard drive (i.e. the hard drive where the session is
+ located), by accounting the bit depth, sampling rate, and number of
+ armed tracks. The result is either an duration, or
+ <samp>>24h</samp> if it exceeds 24 hours.
+ </li>
+ <li>
+ <em>Reset Peak Hold</em> clears the memory of the highest recording level
+ in the meters located in the bottom input panel, and displayed with a
+ green line.
+ </li>
+</ul>
+
+<h2>Tracks</h2>
+
+<p>
+ The Simplified Session View is a view of the session, specifically
+ tailored for the purpose of recording, that is similar to the Editor
+ (or the <a href="@@summary">Summary</a>) with notable differences,
+ among which:
+</p>
+<ul>
+ <li>
+ it always encompasses the whole session in the time axis,
+ </li>
+ <li>
+ the regions are displayed as blocks, not waveforms,
+ </li>
+ <li>
+ no editing, like moving or resizing regions, is possible
+ </li>
+ <li>
+ each track (or lane) has a fixed and narrow height
+ </li>
+</ul>
+<p>
+ All those differences are consequences of the aim of this view, which
+ is to keep thing not too busy and clear in a recording context. The
+ most important settings related to the recording process are easily
+ available and to facilitate the work of the operator.
+</p>
+
+<h3>Simplified Session View</h3>
+
+<figure>
+ <img alt="A track in the Recorder" src="/images/recorder_lane.png">
+ <figcaption>
+ A track in the Recorder
+ </figcaption>
+</figure>
+
+<p>
+ Each lane is made of (from left to right):
+</p>
+<ul>
+ <li>
+ A zone showing <a href="@@track-and-bus-groups">grouping</a>, as in the
+ Editor, with the same functions and menus.
+ </li>
+ <li>
+ A <kbd style="color:red;">●</kbd> rec-arm button. When armed,
+ the entire button will turn pink, and change to bright red as soon
+ as the transport is rolling and the track is recording. <kbd
+ class="mouse">Right</kbd>-clicking will allow to en/disable
+ <em>Rec-safe</em>, protecting the track against accidental
+ recording.
+ </li>
+ <li>
+ An <kbd>Input</kbd> button displaying the connected input(s) of the
+ track. It is the same button as the <em>Input</em> button shown in
+ the <a href="@@audiomidi-mixer-strips">Mixer strip</a>, and behaves
+ exactly the same way (<kbd class="mouse">Left</kbd>-clicking to
+ show the input menu, <kbd class="mouse">Right</kbd>-clicking shows
+ the input connection matrix).
+ </li>
+ <li>
+ A <kbd>P</kbd> playlist button displaying the connected input(s) of
+ the track. Again, it is the same button as the one shown in the <a
+ href="@@audio-track-controls">Editor's track header</a>, and
+ behaves exactly the same way (<kbd
+ class="mouse">Left</kbd>-clicking to show the playlist menu).
+ </li>
+ <li>
+ A <kbd>Track Name</kbd> label, displaying the track's name.<kbd
+ class="mouse">Double</kbd>-clicking allows to edit (rename) the
+ track.
+ </li>
+ <li>
+ Two <kbd>In</kbd> and <kbd>Disk</kbd> buttons allowing to set this
+ particular track's monitoring option, as described above.
+ </li>
+ <li>
+ <em>N</em> level meters showing the input level of the track, as in
+ the <a href="@@audio-track-controls">Editor's track header</a>,
+ <em>N</em> being the number of input channels of the track.
+ </li>
+ <li>
+ A <kbd style="background:yellow;"><em>n</em></kbd> numbered
+ button, using the <a href="@@track-color">track's color</a> as
+ background color. Numbering can be useful when using OSC, a MIDI
+ controller, or when recording multiple performances at once.
+ </li>
+ <li>
+ An overview of the track's content, with solid blocks representing
+ regions. The region's color is the track color, except while
+ recording where the recorded regions are displayed in red.
+ </li>
+</ul>
+<p>
+ Like in the Editor or Mixer, a <a
+ href="@@adding-tracks-busses-and-vcas">new track, bus or VCA</a> can
+ be created by either <kbd class="mouse">double</kbd> or <kbd
+ class="mouse">right</kbd>-clicking on an empty place in the track
+ list.
+</p>
+
+<h3>The Global Input Panel</h3>
+
+<p>
+ This panel lists all the audio and MIDI system inputs.
+</p>
+
+<figure>
+ <img alt="An audio input" src="/images/recorder_input-panel.png">
+ <figcaption>
+ An audio input
+ </figcaption>
+</figure>
+
+<p>
+ The inputs are displayed either vertically or horizontally based on the
+ <a href="@@preferences#preferences-appearance-recorder">Preferences</a>.
+</p>
+<p>
+ If an input is used by a track that is armed for recording, it sports
+ a red frame.
+</p>
+<p>
+ The controls on each input are:
+</p>
+<ul>
+ <li>
+ a <kbd>(1)</kbd> button indicating how many tracks are fed by this
+ input. Clicking this button will show only those tracks.
+ </li>
+ <li>
+ a <kbd>+</kbd> button, allowing to create a track that will be
+ automatically connected to this input. The type of track (MIDI or
+ aurio) depends on the input type.
+ </li>
+ <li>
+ a <kbd>PFL</kbd> button, or <em>Pre-Fader Listen</em>, active only
+ if <kbd class="option">Use monitor section in this session</kbd> is
+ checked in the <a
+ href="@@session-properties#properties-monitoring">Session
+ Properties</a>. When active, sends the soloed signal to the <a
+ href="@@monitor-section">Monitor</a>.
+ </li>
+ <li>
+ a <kbd>Input's Name</kbd> button. Inputs can be named or renamed at
+ will, to ease the recognition of e.g. one microphone in a
+ multi-track recording, like a multi-instrumentalist performance, by
+ clicking the button. Ardour stores this name for the device, so any
+ later session using this input will show this label.
+ </li>
+</ul>
+
+<p>
+ The right hand side of the input depends on the kind of input, either
+ audio or MIDI. For an audio track:
+</p>
+<ul>
+ <li>
+ a live level-meter for this input that shows the current level of
+ the audio signal. A green line marks the <em>Peak Hold</em>, i.e.
+ the maximum level reached on this input.
+ </li>
+ <li>
+ a continuous waveform, showing the input state during the last 5 seconds.
+ </li>
+</ul><p>
+ For an MIDI track:
+</p>
+<ul>
+ <li>
+ a channel indicator, the channel numbers lighting up as events come
+ in to show channel activity.
+ </li>
+ <li>
+ a MIDI monitor, showing the last four MIDI events.
+ </li>
+</ul>
projects / ardour-manual / commitdiff
