<scripttype=text/javascript>varbaseurl="https://prokoudine.github.io/ardour-tutorial/en"</script><scripttype=text/javascriptsrc=/ardour-tutorial/js/search.js?1648605488></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
parent"><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 active"><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>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-the-meter/title="Setting up the meter"class=dd-item><ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/editing-sessions/setting-up-the-meter/>Setting up the meter</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><ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/editing-sessions/working-with-regions/>Working with regions</a></li><lidata-nav-id=/ardour-tutorial/en/editing-sessions/further-region-operations/title="Further region operations"class=dd-item><ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/editing-sessions/further-region-operations/>Further region operations</a></li><lidata-nav-id=/ardour-tutorial/en/editing-sessions/changing-edit-modes/title="Changing edit modes"class=
<spanclass=links><ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/>Home</a> > <ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/getting-started/>Getting started</a> > <ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/getting-started/overview-of-the-interface/>Overview of the Interface</a> > Editor window</span></div><divclass=progress><divclass=wrapper><navid=TableOfContents><ul><li><ahref=#editor-specific-toolbar>Editor-specific toolbar</a><ul><li><ahref=#edit-modes-and-cursor-modes>Edit Modes and Cursor Modes</a></li><li><ahref=#snap-options>Snap Options</a></li><li><ahref=#track-view-and-zoom-options>Track View and Zoom Options</a></li></ul></li><li><ahref=#timeline>Timeline</a></li><li><ahref=#tracks-and-busses>Tracks and Busses</a></li><li><ahref=#project-overview>Project Overview</a></li><li><ahref=#editor-mixer>Editor Mixer</a></li><li><ahref=#editor-list>Editor List</a></li><li><ahref=#continuing>Continuing</a></li></ul></nav></div></div></div></div><divid=head-tags></div><divid=body-inner><h1>Editor window</h1><p>When you create a new session, Ardour opens an empty new window called the
this is where you arrange track, import and edit media on the timeline, and
control plugin automation for creative effects and mixing.</p><p>Let’s take a look at main parts of the <em>Editor</em> window:</p><figure><imgsrc=en/editor-window-sections.pngalt="Editor window sections"></figure><p>Here they are:</p><ol><li>Editor-specific toolbar</li><li>Timeline</li><li>Tracks and busses</li><li>Project overview</li><li>Editor mixer strip</li><li>Regions, Tracks/Busses, Snapshots, Groups, Ranges, Marks</li></ol><p>Let’s overview them quickly.</p><h2id=editor-specific-toolbar>Editor-specific toolbar</h2><h3id=edit-modes-and-cursor-modes>Edit Modes and Cursor Modes</h3><p><imgsrc=en/ardour7-edit-modes-cursor-modes.pngalt="Edit Modes"></p><p>The <em>Edit Modes</em> and <em>Cursor Modes</em> controls define the behavior of the main
canvas and the different functions the cursor can have. There are three edit
modes in the drop-down menu: <em>Slide</em>, <em>Ripple</em>, and <em>Lock</em>. We will discuss them
in the <ahref=../../../editing-sessions/>Editing sessions</a> chapter.</p><p>To the right of the <strong>Smart</strong> button are the <em>Cursor Modes</em>:</p><ul><li><em>Smart</em> mode (<strong>Y</strong> shortcut)</li><li><em>Grab</em> mode (<strong>G</strong> shortcut)</li><li><em>Range</em> mode (<strong>R</strong> shortcut)</li><li><em>Cut</em> mode (<strong>C</strong> shortcut)</li><li><em>Stretch</em> mode (<strong>T</strong> shortcut)</li><li><em>Audition</em> mode</li><li><em>Draw</em> mode (<strong>D</strong> shortcut)</li><li><em>Internal Edit</em> mode (<strong>E</strong> shortcut)</li></ul><p>Most of them are discussed in the <ahref=../../../editing-sessions/working-with-regions/>Working With
Regions</a> section. The last two are
discussed in the <strong>Using Automation</strong> chapter.</p><p>The <em>Smart</em> mode is actually a combination of <em>Grab</em> mode and <em>Range</em> mode. When
enabled, the mouse behaves as if it is in <em>Range</em> mode in the upper half of a
region, and in <em>Grab</em> mode in the lower half.</p><h3id=snap-options>Snap Options</h3><p><imgsrc=en/ardour7-snap-options-and-nudge-controls.pngalt=Snap></p><p>The <em>Snap Options</em> toolbar allows selecting visible grid units that affect
snapping when editing regions and, in case of MIDI regions, their contents.
Please see the sections on
<ahref=../../../editing-sessions/setting-up-the-meter/>Setting Up the Meter</a>,
<ahref=../../../editing-sessions/using-ranges/>Using Ranges</a> and
<ahref=../../../editing-sessions/working-with-regions/>Working With Regions</a> for more
details.</p><h3id=track-view-and-zoom-options>Track View and Zoom Options</h3><p><imgsrc=en/ardour7-view-and-zoom-options.pngalt="Zoom Options"></p><p>The far right part of the toolbar has track view and zoom options.</p><p>Track view options allow selecxting how many tracks to display at the same time,
and you can also shrink or expand the vertical zoom of selected tracks and
busses.</p><p>Zoom options allow incrementally zooming in and out, as well as zooming out to
show the entire project horizontally.</p><divclass="notices tip"><p>Use the shortcuts <strong>=</strong> (the equal sign on your main keyboard) for zooming, and
<strong>-</strong> (the dash key on your main keyboard) for zooming out.</p></div><p>The drop-down menu controls the <em>zoom focus</em>. It defines the focus point of
zooming operations. Try zooming in and out with a different zoom focus each
time. For example, choosing <em>Playhead</em> will cause zoom to behave in relation to
the position of the <em>Playhead</em>. <em>Mouse</em> will take your current mouse position as
the reference, and so on.</p><h2id=timeline>Timeline</h2><p>Right-click on the names of rulers and you will see a menu with all the
<ahref=../../setting-up-the-timeline/>Setting up the Timeline</a> and
<ahref=../../../editing-sessions/setting-up-the-meter/>Setting Up the Meter</a> chapters.</p><p><imgsrc=en/Ardour6_Overview_Rulers.pngalt="Ardour Overview Rulers"></p><h2id=tracks-and-busses>Tracks and Busses</h2><p>Just below the rulers is where tracks and busses are displayed. In the example
below, you can see one bus called <em>Master</em> and one track called <em>MyTrack</em>.
<em>MyTrack</em> also contains one region which represents an audio file with a drawing
of its waveform. More information on tracks and busses can be found in the
<ahref=../../creating-tracks-and-busses/>Creating a Track or Bus</a> chapter.</p><p><imgsrc=en/Ardour6_Track.pngalt="Ardour Track"></p><h2id=project-overview>Project Overview</h2><p>This is a bird’s-eye view of the entire session.</p><figure><imgsrc=en/ardour7-overview-panel.pngalt="Project overview"></figure><p>There are two major use cases here:</p><ol><li><p>Navigating around the project. Just grab the rectangle and drag it around to
pan over the entire project.</p></li><li><p>Tweaking zoom and position of the visible part of the project. Grab the left
or the right side of the visible rectangle’s border and drag it inwards or
outwards to zoom in or out respectively.</p></li></ol><h2id=editor-mixer>Editor Mixer</h2><p>The Editor Mixer is located at the left of the <em>Editor</em> window. It displays the
mixer strip of the currently selected track or bus. It’s mainly used to control
the volume, plugins, and routing for the track or the bus to which it
corresponds. You can toggle to view or hide the <em>Editor Mixer</em> by clicking on
the menu <code>View > Show Editor Mixer</code> (<strong>Shift + E</strong> shortcut). This Mixer is
covered in the <ahref=../mixing-sessions/the-mixer-strip/>Using the Mixer Strip</a>
chapter.</p><figure><imgsrc=en/Ardour6_Editor_Mixer.pngalt="Editor Mixer"height=50%></figure><h2id=editor-list>Editor List</h2><p>The space on the right of Ardour’s <em>Editor</em> window can have 7 different
functions, depending on which tab is currently selected: <em>Tracks & Busses</em>,
<em>Sources</em>, <em>Regions</em>, <em>Clips</em>, <em>Snapshots</em>, <em>Track & Bus Groups</em>, and <em>Ranges &
Marks</em>.</p><p><imgsrc=en/ardour7-sources-list.pngalt="Sources List"></p><ul><li><em>Tracks & Busses</em> provides an overview of all tracks and busses in the
project, including the invisible ones. This tab is covered in the
<em>Arranging Tracks</em> chapter</li><li><em>Sources</em> lists all files on the disk imported to the session.</li><li><em>Regions</em> is a list of all takes in the session. You can reuse both sources
and regions by dragging them onto the canvas. More information on Regions can be
found in the <em>Working With Regions</em> chapter.</li><li><em>Snapshots</em> are versions of the same session saved at particular moments in
time, they are discussed in the <em>Saving Snapshots</em> chapter.</li><li><em>Ranges and Marks</em> is an overview of all markers in the project, with an easy
UI to edit them.</li></ul><h2id=continuing>Continuing</h2><p>Next up is the <em>Mixer</em> window where you focus on how the mix of different
