diff --git a/content/getting-started/creating-tracks-and-busses/index.en.md b/content/getting-started/creating-tracks-and-busses/index.en.md index 33d2558..cb99b08 100644 --- a/content/getting-started/creating-tracks-and-busses/index.en.md +++ b/content/getting-started/creating-tracks-and-busses/index.en.md @@ -5,10 +5,21 @@ weight = 3 #pre = "1. " +++ -## What is an audio track? +## What are tracks? -An _audio track_ is a place where you can drag a _region_ from your region -list and where you can record sounds coming from an outside source. +A track typically represents a part played with one instrument or sung with +voice. That part can start in the very beginning and finish at the very end of +a song. Or there can be multiple occurences of that instrument/voice within a +song, in which case there will likely be multiple _regions_, or _clips_, +inside a track. + +A region is just a portion of audio or MIDI data. For example, a 'Lead guitar' +track can have several regions, one per each solo. Meanwhile, a 'Drums' track +could be just one huge MIDI region spanning the entire song. + +An _audio_ track is usually self-contained as it has all the data to play back +music. A _MIDI_ track, however, is comprised of instructions that need to be +interpreted and executed to provide actual sound to listen to. A region represents an audio clip, i.e., one of your sound files or just a portion of a sound file. In the image below, the horizontal strip areas marked @@ -18,16 +29,19 @@ contained within *MyTrack*). {{< figure alt="Tracks" src="en/Ardour6_Tracks.png" >}} -## What is a bus? +## What are busses? A _bus_ is similar to a track except that it does not contain its own regions. You cannot record directly into a bus or drag regions into it. However, you can add plugins to a bus and then feed the output of multiple tracks into that bus (see below for details). +A MIDI bus is similar to an audio bus: no regions, just processing incoming +stream of data and outputting processed data. + The area marked _Master_ in your session is an example of a bus. Typically every session has a _Master_ bus. All the audio to be exported from your -session will be sent to the Master Bus. +session will be sent to the Master bus. ## How are tracks and busses used? @@ -42,14 +56,13 @@ you would call '*drum bus*'. Then, if you decide that all your drum tracks are too loud, you can quickly adjust the level of the '*drum bus*' rather than adjusting each separate track that feeds into it. -Another use of a Bus would be to have a common reverberation plugin, so that any +Another use of a bus would be to have a common reverberation plugin, so that any audio track which requires the reverb effect could be routed to a single bus. ## Adding tracks and busses **Right-click** in the empty area beneath any existing tracks and busses. -Alternatively, click on the menu `Track > Add track, Bus, or VCA...` (shortcut -**Ctrl + Shift + N**). The following window will appear: +Alternatively, click on the menu `Track > Add track, Bus, or VCA...` (**Ctrl+Shift+N** shortcut). The following window will appear: {{< figure alt="Add track" src="en/Ardour6_Add_Track_or_Bus.png" >}} @@ -58,7 +71,7 @@ This tutorial will only cover audio tracks and busses. (see the [Ardour manual](http://manual.ardour.org/working-with-tracks/track-types/) for details on all track types or their brief explanation in a section below). -Choose _Audio tracks_ or _Audio busses_ to specify whether you want to create +Choose _Audio tracks_ or _Audio busses_ to specify whether you want to create audio tracks or busses. The _Add_ numeric input box lets you specify how many tracks (or busses) you would @@ -72,6 +85,9 @@ to import a clip from an existing song and place it on this track, choose _Stereo_. The choice made here will also affect which plugins you can use on the track (mono tracks cannot use stereo plugins and vice versa). +When you create a new MIDI track, the name is automatically taken from +whatever virtual instrument you pick by default. + The _Position_ menu lets you choose where you want the new track or bus to be placed: first, last, before or after the selection. @@ -88,14 +104,7 @@ dialog open)** instead. ## Other types of tracks and busses When adding tracks and busses to your project, you'll see more options -available. Here is a quick overview of them. - -**MIDI tracks** are similar to audio tracks: they have regions with MIDI data, -they can have multiple plugins in a processor box, e.g. a software synthesizer -or a sampler followed by a delay plugin followed by an EQ plugin. - -**MIDI busses** are similar to audio busses, but they can only transform -incoming MIDI data. +available. **Foldback busses** are meant for stage monitoring mixes where you might want giving each performer a customized mix that goes right into their earpiece.