<scripttype=text/javascript>varbaseurl="https://prokoudine.github.io/ardour-tutorial/en"</script><scripttype=text/javascriptsrc=/ardour-tutorial/js/search.js?1649710814></script></div><sectionid=homelinks><ul><li><aclass=paddinghref=/ardour-tutorial/en/><iclass="fas fa-home"></i> Home</a></li></ul></section><divclass=highlightable><ulclass=topics><lidata-nav-id=/ardour-tutorial/en/introduction/title=Introductionclass=dd-item><ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/introduction/><b>1. </b>Introduction</a><ul><lidata-nav-id=/ardour-tutorial/en/introduction/conventions/title=Conventionsclass=dd-item><ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/introduction/conventions/>Conventions</a></li><lidata-nav-id=/ardour-tutorial/en/introduction/what-is-digital-audio/title="What is digital audio?"class=dd-item><ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/introduction/what-is-digital-audio/>What is digital audio?</a></li></ul></li><lidata-nav-id=/ardour-tutorial/en/getting-started/title="Getting started"class=dd-item><ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/getting-started/><b>2. </b>Getting started</a><ul><lidata-nav-id=/ardour-tutorial/en/getting-started/starting-ardour-on-ubuntu/title="Starting Ardour"class=dd-item><ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/getting-started/starting-ardour-on-ubuntu/>Starting Ardour</a></li><lidata-nav-id=/ardour-tutorial/en/getting-started/overview-of-the-interface/title="Overview of the Interface"class=dd-item><ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/getting-started/overview-of-the-interface/>Overview of the Interface</a><ul><lidata-nav-id=/ardour-tutorial/en/getting-started/overview-of-the-interface/editor-window/title="Editor window"class=dd-item><ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/getting-started/overview-of-the-interface/editor-window/>Editor window</a></li><lidata-nav-id=/ardour-tutorial/en/getting-started/overview-of-the-interface/mixer-window/title="Mixer window"class=dd-item><ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/getting-started/overview-of-the-interface/mixer-window/>Mixer window</a></li><lidata-nav-id=/ardour-tutorial/en/getting-started/overview-of-the-interface/recorder-window/title="Recorder window"class=dd-item><ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/getting-started/overview-of-the-interface/recorder-window/>Recorder window</a></li><lidata-nav-id=/ardour-tutorial/en/getting-started/overview-of-the-interface/cue-window/title="Cue window"class=dd-item><ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/getting-started/overview-of-the-interface/cue-window/>Cue window</a></li></ul></li><lidata-nav-id=/ardour-tutorial/en/getting-started/creating-tracks-and-busses/title="Creating tracks and busses"class=dd-item><ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/getting-started/creating-tracks-and-busses/>Creating tracks and busses</a></li><lidata-nav-id=/ardour-tutorial/en/getting-started/importing-audio/title="Importing audio"class=dd-item><ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/getting-started/importing-audio/>Importing audio</a></li><lidata-nav-id=/ardour-tutorial/en/getting-started/setting-up-the-timeline/title="Setting up the timeline"class=dd-item><ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/getting-started/setting-up-the-timeline/>Setting up the timeline</a></li></ul></li><lidata-nav-id=/ardour-tutorial/en/recording-audio/title=Recordingclass=dd-item><ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/recording-audio/><b>3. </b>Recording</a><ul><lidata-nav-id=/ardour-tutorial/en/recording-audio/recording-audio/title="Recording audio"class=dd-item><ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/recording-audio/recording-audio/>Recording audio</a></li><lidata-nav-id=/ardour-tutorial/en/recording-audio/understanding-routing/title="Understanding routing"class=dd-item><ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/recording-audio/understanding-routing/>Understanding routing</a></li><lidata-nav-id=/ardour-tutorial/en/recording-audio/routing-between-applications/title="Routing between applications"class=dd-item><ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/recording-audio/routing-between-applications/>Routing between applications</a></li></ul></li><lidata-nav-id=/ardour-tutorial/en/editing-sessions/title="Editing sessions"class=dd-item><ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/editing-sessions/><b>4. </b>Editi
parent"><ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/mixing-sessions/><b>5. </b>Mixing sessions</a><ul><lidata-nav-id=/ardour-tutorial/en/mixing-sessions/the-mixer-strip/title="The mixer strip"class=dd-item><ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/mixing-sessions/the-mixer-strip/>The mixer strip</a></li><lidata-nav-id=/ardour-tutorial/en/mixing-sessions/mixing-levels/title="Mixing levels"class=dd-item><ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/mixing-sessions/mixing-levels/>Mixing levels</a></li><lidata-nav-id=/ardour-tutorial/en/mixing-sessions/panning/title=Panningclass=dd-item><ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/mixing-sessions/panning/>Panning</a></li><lidata-nav-id=/ardour-tutorial/en/mixing-sessions/using-plugins/title="Using plugins"class="dd-item active"><ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/mixing-sessions/using-plugins/>Using plugins</a></li><lidata-nav-id=/ardour-tutorial/en/mixing-sessions/using-sends/title="Using sends"class=dd-item><ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/mixing-sessions/using-sends/>Using sends</a></li><lidata-nav-id=/ardour-tutorial/en/mixing-sessions/dynamics/title=Dynamicsclass=dd-item><ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/mixing-sessions/dynamics/>Dynamics</a></li><lidata-nav-id=/ardour-tutorial/en/mixing-sessions/equalizing/title=Equalizingclass=dd-item><ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/mixing-sessions/equalizing/>Equalizing</a></li><lidata-nav-id=/ardour-tutorial/en/mixing-sessions/using-automation/title="Using automation"class=dd-item><ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/mixing-sessions/using-automation/>Using automation</a></li></ul></li><lidata-nav-id=/ardour-tutorial/en/exporting-sessions/title="Exporting sessions"class=dd-item><ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/exporting-sessions/><b>6. </b>Exporting sessions</a><ul><lidata-nav-id=/ardour-tutorial/en/exporting-sessions/exporting-a-region/title="Exporting regions"class=dd-item><ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/exporting-sessions/exporting-a-region/>Exporting regions</a></li><lidata-nav-id=/ardour-tutorial/en/exporting-sessions/exporting-a-range/title="Exporting a range"class=dd-item><ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/exporting-sessions/exporting-a-range/>Exporting a range</a></li><lidata-nav-id=/ardour-tutorial/en/exporting-sessions/exporting-a-session/title="Exporting a session"class=dd-item><ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/exporting-sessions/exporting-a-session/>Exporting a session</a></li></ul></li><lidata-nav-id=/ardour-tutorial/en/saving-sessions/title="Saving sessions"class=dd-item><ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/saving-sessions/><b>7. </b>Saving sessions</a><ul><lidata-nav-id=/ardour-tutorial/en/saving-sessions/saving-a-session/title="Saving a session"class=dd-item><ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/saving-sessions/saving-a-session/>Saving a session</a></li><lidata-nav-id=/ardour-tutorial/en/saving-sessions/saving-a-snapshot/title="Saving a snapshot"class=dd-item><ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/saving-sessions/saving-a-snapshot/>Saving a snapshot</a></li><lidata-nav-id=/ardour-tutorial/en/saving-sessions/saving-a-template/title="Saving a template"class=dd-item><ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/saving-sessions/saving-a-template/>Saving a template</a></li></ul></li><lidata-nav-id=/ardour-tutorial/en/appendices/title=Appendicesclass=dd-item><ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/appendices/><b>8. </b>Appendices</a><ul><lidata-nav-id=/ardour-tutorial/en/appendices/further-help/title="Further help"class=dd-item><ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/appendices/further-help/>Further help</a></li><lidata-nav-id=/ardour-tutorial/en/appendices/glossary/title=Glossaryclass=dd-item><ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/appendices/glossary/>Glossary</a></li><lidata-nav-id=/ardour-tutorial/en/appendices/links/title=Linksclass=dd-item><ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/appendices/links/>Links</a></li><lidata-nav-id=/ardour-tutorial/en/appendices/credits/title=Creditsclass=dd-item><ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/appendices/credits/>Credits</a></li><lidata-nav-id=/ardour-tutorial/en/appendices/license/title=Licenseclass=dd-item><ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/appendices/license/>License</a></li></ul></li></ul><sectionid=shortcuts><h3>More</h3><ul><li><aclass=pa
<spanclass=links><ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/>Home</a> > <ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/mixing-sessions/>Mixing sessions</a> > Using plugins</span></div><divclass=progress><divclass=wrapper><navid=TableOfContents><ul><li><ahref=#processor-box>Processor Box</a></li><li><ahref=#adding-a-plugin-to-a-track-or-a-bus>Adding a Plugin to a Track or a Bus</a></li><li><ahref=#editing-plugin-parameters>Editing Plugin Parameters</a></li><li><ahref=#bypassing-plugins>Bypassing Plugins</a></li><li><ahref=#pre-fader-vs-post-fader>Pre-Fader vs Post-Fader</a></li><li><ahref=#plugin-formats>Plugin Formats</a></li><li><ahref=#continuing>Continuing</a></li></ul></nav></div></div></div></div><divid=head-tags></div><divid=body-inner><h1>Using plugins</h1><p><em>Plugins</em> can be used to enhance or transform the sound of individual tracks.</p><p>They can be applied directly to a single track, or to a group of tracks using
a <em>send</em>. Later in this tutorial, we will discuss some plugins specific to the
Mixing process, such as <em>Compressors</em>, <em>Limiters</em>, <em>Parametric Equalizers</em>,
<em>Reverbs</em> and others.</p><h2id=processor-box>Processor Box</h2><p>In Ardour terminology, a <em>processor</em> is anything which gets plugged
arbitrary, and there is no limit to how many there can be.</p><p><imgsrc=en/Ardour4_Mixer_Strip_2.pngalt="mixer strip 2"></p><p>The main space shown in the screenshot above is the <strong>processor box</strong>. The blue
box fader is in fact a <em>processor</em> that comes by default inside the processor
box. It represents the fader that you use to control the track’s volume. All
Processors are shown as colored rectangles, with a small “LED” beside them that
lights up when the processor is enabled. The colour of the processor depends on
its location in the sequence; processors that are pre-fader are colored in red,
and post-fader processors are colored green.</p><h2id=adding-a-plugin-to-a-track-or-a-bus>Adding a Plugin to a Track or a Bus</h2><p>Plugins can be added by right-clicking in the processor box of the track or
bus. A menu of options is presented. From the menu, new processors can be
inserted.</p><p><imgsrc=en/Ardour4_Plugins_1.pngalt=plugins1></p><p>The <em>Plugin Selector</em> is a convenient way to browse and choose plugins:</p><p><imgsrc=en/Ardour4_Plugins_2.pngalt=plugins2></p><p>From the <em>Plugin Selector</em>, you can search them by name, type, or other
criteria available from the drop-down menu. For example, we will add the
reverb plugin called “ACE Reverb”:</p><p><imgsrc=en/ardour7-select-ace-reverb.pngalt="pSelecting ACE Reverb"></p><p>Once selected, click <strong>Add</strong> and the plugin will show up in the bottom list of
“Plugins to be connected”. Then click <strong>Insert Plugin(s)</strong> and they will show
up in the processor box.</p><p><imgsrc=en/ardour7-ace-reverb-added-to-processor-box.pngalt="plugins reverb"></p><h2id=editing-plugin-parameters>Editing Plugin Parameters</h2><p>Double-click a plugin to edit its parameters. In this example, we double click
the “Freeverb” green box and get this window:</p><p><imgsrc=en/ardour7-ace-reverb-settings.pngalt="freeverb settings"></p><p>Here you can control reverb parameters such as Room Size, Damping,
sounds contained in the track.</p><h2id=bypassing-plugins>Bypassing Plugins</h2><p>To bypass the plugin, press the <em>Bypass</em> button in the plugin settings
window, or simply click the “LED” of the plugin in the processor box.
with and without the plugin.</p><p><imgsrc=en/ardour7-ace-reverb-bypass-in-mixer-strip.pngalt=bypass></p><p>Bypassed plugins are shown with the LED turned off.</p><p>Right-clicking the plugins will give a menu with several options, including
<em>Delete</em>.</p><h2id=pre-fader-vs-post-fader>Pre-Fader vs Post-Fader</h2><p>You have a choice whether you would like to add your plugin before or
after the fader rectangle in the <strong>processor box</strong>. Pre-fader plugins
are inserted in the signal path <em>before</em> the fader, so that the fader
controls the level of the signal coming out of the plugin. Post-Fader
Plugins are inserted <em>after</em> the fader: the fader controls the level of
the signal going into the plugin. For some plugins, Pre- or Post-fader
at the Ardour discussion forum).</p><h2id=plugin-formats>Plugin Formats</h2><p>For those interested in learning more about plugin formats, here’s a quick
overview:</p><p><strong>LADSPA plugins</strong> are a somewhat obsolete plugin format mainly used on Linux.</p><p><strong>LV2</strong> is an extensible successor to LADSPA. LV2 plugins are available on
Linux, Windows, and macOS, should respective developers choose to build them
for these systems.</p><p><strong>AU plugins</strong> are the native plugin format for macOS and will only work in
that operating system.</p><p><strong>VST plugins</strong> is a fairly common on both Windows and macOS. Some VST plugins
can be used on Linux, however they may not function correctly, or even cause
Ardour to crash. Using these plugins requires manually <strong>Compiling</strong> the Ardour
application, a task which is outside the scope of this manual.</p><p>More information about using plugins with Ardour can be found
<ahref=http://manual.ardour.org/working-with-plugins/>in the user manual</a>.</p><h2id=continuing>Continuing</h2><p>In this chapter, we learned how to add a plugin to a single track. This is
useful if that track needs a specific plugin, but if you have a plugin which is
used for many tracks at the same time, you should continue to the next chapter
about using sends. You can also continue to the various, plugin-specific
chapters such as <em>Dynamics</em> and <em>Equalizing</em>.</p><p>Next: <ahref=../using-sends>USING SENDS</a></p><footerclass=footline></footer></div></div><divid=navigation></div></section><divstyle=left:-1000px;overflow:scroll;position:absolute;top:-1000px;border:none;box-sizing:content-box;height:200px;margin:0;padding:0;width:200px><divstyle=border:none;box-sizing:content-box;height:200px;margin:0;padding:0;width:200px></div></div><scriptsrc=/ardour-tutorial/js/clipboard.min.js?1649710814></script>
