<scripttype=text/javascript>varbaseurl="https://prokoudine.github.io/ardour-tutorial/en"</script><scripttype=text/javascriptsrc=/ardour-tutorial/js/search.js?1650838070></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
parent"><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 active"><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>Editing sessions</a><ul><lidata-nav-id=/ardour-tutorial/en/editing-sessions/non-destructive-editing/title="Non-destructive editing"class=dd-item><ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/editing-sessions/non-destructive-editing/>Non-destructive editing</a></li><lidata-nav-id=/ardour-tutorial/en/editing-sessions/arranging-tracks/title="Arranging tracks"class=dd-item><ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/editing-sessions/arranging-tracks/>Arranging tracks</a></li><lidata-nav-id=/ardour-tutorial/en/editing-sessions/setting-up-time-signature/title="Setting up time signature"class=dd-item><ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/editing-sessions/setting-up-time-signature/>Setting up time signature</a></li><lidata-nav-id=/ardour-tutorial/en/editing-sessions/using-ranges/title="Using ranges"class=dd-item><ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/editing-sessions/using-ranges/>Using ranges</a></li><lidata-nav-id=/ardour-tutorial/en/editing-sessions/working-with-regions/title="Working with regions"class=dd-item><
<spanclass=links><ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/>Home</a> > <ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/getting-started/>Getting started</a> > Setting up the timeline</span></div><divclass=progress><divclass=wrapper><navid=TableOfContents><ul><li><ahref=#primary-and-secondary-clocks>Primary and Secondary Clocks</a></li><li><ahref=#snap-modes>Snap Modes</a></li><li><ahref=#timeline>Timeline</a></li><li><ahref=#continuing>Continuing</a></li></ul></nav></div></div></div></div><divid=head-tags></div><divid=body-inner><h1>Setting up the timeline</h1><p>Once you import some audio files to Ardour, play them back and start
familiarizing yourself with the user interface, you might want finetuning
various parts of the user interface for your needs. The timeline settings are
one of the obvious options there, because what you want to see on the timeline
largely depends on the kind of material you work on.</p><p>Users creating audio plays, documentaries, reportages or soundscapes may wish
to use minutes and seconds for units, while those recording bands or producing
electronic music will most likely use bars and beats. Video producers will
find a frames-per-second timecode handy, while those wishing for extreme
precision may even want to use samples. All of these can be viewed in Ardour
and used as a means to organize your regions and edits.</p><p>Let’s talk about setting up clocks, snapping, and timeline rulers.</p><h2id=primary-and-secondary-clocks>Primary and Secondary Clocks</h2><p>There are two clocks near the top of the <em>Editor</em> window which can display the
time in a number of formats: <em>Timecode</em>, <em>Bars:Beats</em>, <em>Minutes:Seconds</em>, and
<em>Samples</em>. Right-click to change the format of each of the two clocks.</p><figure><imgsrc=en/Ardour6_Clock_Units.pngalt="Clock Units"></figure><p>These are called the transport clocks. The left one is the primary transport
Clock</em> checkbox.</p><p>Please check the Ardour manual for more information on
<ahref=http://manual.ardour.org/ardours-interface/using-ardour-clock-displays/>clocks</a>.</p><h2id=snap-modes>Snap Modes</h2><p>Snapping settings are located just below the clocks to the right. They control
<em>Timecode</em>, <em>Minutes and Seconds</em>, <em>CD frames</em>, and more.</p><figure><imgsrc=en/Ardour6_Snap_Options_and_Nudge_Controls.pngalt=Snap></figure><p>When <em>No Grid</em> quantization preset is selected, there is no grid displayed on
the tracks/busses canvas. In that case, with snapping off, nothing will snap.
And with snapping enabled, regions and notes will only snap to location markers.</p><h2id=timeline>Timeline</h2><p>The <em>timeline</em> is located below the snapping settings, just above the main
canvas. By right-clicking on the timeline labels (i.e., right-click on the
left-side area where the words “Timecode, Bar:Beats, Meter” etc are displayed),
you can set the check boxes to show or hide the different types of time
information.</p><figure><imgsrc=en/ardour7-timeline-rulers.pngalt=Timeline></figure><dl><dt><strong>Minutes/Seconds</strong></dt><dd>To view minutes and seconds on the timeline, right-click the timeline labels
and select <em>Mins:Secs</em>.</dd><dt><strong>Bars/Beats</strong></dt><dd>To view bars and beats on the timeline, right-click the timeline and
select <em>Bars & Beats</em>.</dd><dd>It is possible to set a time signature and tempo for the entire Ardour
session. For more information on this, please see the <em>Setting Up The
Time Signature</em> chapter.</dd><dt><strong>Timecode</strong></dt><dd>To work with SMPTE video timecode, first you need to set the <em>timecode
fps</em> (frames per second). This can be found in the timecode tab of the
<em>Session Properties</em> window (<code>Session > Properties</code> in menu or the <strong>Alt+O</strong>
shortcut).</dd></dl><figure><imgsrc=en/Ardour6_Timecode.pngalt=Timecode></figure><p>Once you have done that, make sure you make the <em>Timecode</em> ruler visible
by right-clicking in the timeline and checking the <em>Timecode</em> box.</p><h2id=continuing>Continuing</h2><p>Now that you’ve set up the timeline, continue on to the chapter on
creating tracks and busses to add one or more tracks to your session.</p><p>Next: <ahref=../creating-a-track-or-bus>CREATING A TRACK OR BUS</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?1650838070></script>
