Add a section on the Recorder window

This commit is contained in:
Alexandre Prokoudine 2022-03-23 04:48:35 +03:00
parent e24b2ffd9f
commit 7cce6bf4ba
8 changed files with 118 additions and 67 deletions

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@ -1,31 +1,29 @@
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title = "Importing audio"
description = "Importing audio to Ardour tracks"
chapter = false
weight = 4
#pre = "<b>1. </b>"
+++
Sections of audio are known as **Regions** in Ardour. A Region can be an
entire sound file or a portion of it. Here you will learn how to import
audio files from the hard drive of your computer so they can be used in
your Ardour session.
Sections of audio are known as **Regions** in Ardour. A Region can be an entire
sound file or a portion of it. Here you will learn how to import audio files
from the hard drive of your computer so they can be used in your Ardour session.
To import an audio file into your session, you will use the *Add existing media*
dialog. Use the shortcut **Ctrl+I** to get to this window, or alternatively go
To import an audio file into your session, you will use the *Add existing media*
dialog. Use the shortcut **Ctrl+I** to get to this window, or alternatively go
to the `Session > Import` menu).
On the left side of this dialog
you will see a file browser which allows you to search your hard drive
for appropriate sound files to add (preferably, start with a common file
format, such as WAV or AIFF).
On the left side of this dialog you will see a file browser which allows you to
search your hard drive for appropriate sound files to add (preferably, start
with a common file format, such as WAV or AIFF).
![Add Media](en/Ardour5_Add_Existing_Media.png)
At the lower left corner there is a menu
which indicates how these files will be added. "*Add files as new
tracks*" will import audio files and place them on a newly created
track. "*Add files to region list*" will simply import audio files into
the Region List, without creating any new tracks. **Choose this option
At the lower left corner there is a menu which indicates how these files will be
added. "*Add files as new tracks*" will import audio files and place them on a
newly created track. "*Add files to region list*" will simply import audio files
into the Region List, without creating any new tracks. **Choose this option
now**, as we don't want Ardour to create any tracks at this point.
![Add Media](en/Ardour5_Add_Files_To_Region_List.png)
@ -37,21 +35,23 @@ large collection of Public Domain and Creative Commonslicensed samples in a
variety of sample rates and formats.
{{% /notice %}}
On the right side of the **Add existing media** dialog you will see a
section allowing you to inspect the properties of the file you selected.
Here you will see the name, number of channels, sample rate, format and
length of the sound file, along with any tags you have chosen to add to
the file.
On the right side of the **Add existing media** dialog you will see a section
allowing you to inspect the properties of the file you selected. Here you will
see the name, number of channels, sample rate, format and length of the sound
file, along with any tags you have chosen to add to the file.
The **Play** button allows you to preview the file. You can also select **Auto-play** if you would like to hear a sound file immediately as soon as you click on it in the file browser (without having to push the Play button).
The **Play** button allows you to preview the file. You can also select
**Auto-play** if you would like to hear a sound file immediately as soon as you
click on it in the file browser (without having to push the Play button).
You will notice that the option **Copy Files to Session** is checked by default. This will make a copy of the imported file(s) into the folder of the current session. This
is safer, but it uses more disk space. If you
uncheck this option (not recommended!), Ardour will use the sound file from its current location on
the hard drive. In this case, if the file is moved to a new location on
the hard drive, you will run into trouble, because Ardour won't be able
to find it the next time you open this session. **It is highly recommend
that you leave this box checked ("Copy files to session")**.
You will notice that the option **Copy Files to Session** is checked by default.
This will make a copy of the imported file(s) into the folder of the current
session. This is safer, but it uses more disk space. If you uncheck this option
(not recommended!), Ardour will use the sound file from its current location on
the hard drive. In this case, if the file is moved to a new location on the hard
drive, you will run into trouble, because Ardour won't be able to find it the
next time you open this session. **It is highly recommend that you leave this
box checked ("Copy files to session")**.
Click **OK** to proceed.
@ -62,28 +62,40 @@ The file(s) you have imported will appear listed in your Region List. The Region
![Editor List](en/Ardour4_RegionList_EditorList.png)
{{% notice tip %}}
An alternative method to access the **Add Existing Media** window is actually to Right-Click directly on the **Editor List** box. Make sure the **Regions** tab is selected. Right-Click on an empty part of the Editor List, then choose *Import to Region List* to open the same **Add Existing Media** dialog box that you have seen before.
An alternative method to access the **Add Existing Media** window is actually to
Right-Click directly on the **Editor List** box. Make sure the **Regions** tab
is selected. Right-Click on an empty part of the Editor List, then choose
*Import to Region List* to open the same **Add Existing Media** dialog box that
you have seen before.
{{% /notice %}}
![Region List](en/Ardour4_Import_To_Region_List.png)
Once you have successfully embedded your audio files in the Region List, they should all be listed there. In the screenshot below, three files were imported: "*toaster\_8*", "*short-drone-mono*", and "*wheels-mono*". The number \[2\] right after "*toaster\_8*" indicates it is a stereo file. The other files without the number \[2\] are mono files.
Once you have successfully embedded your audio files in the Region List, they
should all be listed there. In the screenshot below, three files were imported:
"*toaster\_8*", "*short-drone-mono*", and "*wheels-mono*". The number \[2\]
right after "*toaster\_8*" indicates it is a stereo file. The other files
without the number \[2\] are mono files.
![Toaster](en/Ardour4_Region_List_Stereo_File.png)
By dragging and dropping an audio file listed on the Region List onto the Main Canvas, you can insert
it in an existing track. If you drag it into an existing track, it will be added there. If you drag onto the empty space beneath existing tracks, a new track will be automatically created to accommodate it.
By dragging and dropping an audio file listed on the Region List onto the Main
Canvas, you can insert it in an existing track. If you drag it into an existing
track, it will be added there. If you drag onto the empty space beneath existing
tracks, a new track will be automatically created to accommodate it.
Release the mouse-click to complete the drag-and-drop operation. The
Region will be inserted at the exact time point where you dropped it.
Release the mouse-click to complete the drag-and-drop operation. The Region will
be inserted at the exact time point where you dropped it.
{{% notice tip %}}
If a sound file is selected in the Editor List (i.e., if it is highlighted in blue), the next time you click on that file name Ardour will think you are trying to rename the Region (the name will
become editable). More likely you were just trying to click to drag and drop the file onto a track. In order to click and drag a previously **highlighted** region from the list, you need to point and
click in the empty space right before or after the name.
If a sound file is selected in the Editor List (i.e., if it is highlighted in
blue), the next time you click on that file name Ardour will think you are
trying to rename the Region (the name will become editable). More likely you
were just trying to click to drag and drop the file onto a track. In order to
click and drag a previously **highlighted** region from the list, you need to
point and click in the empty space right before or after the name.
{{% /notice %}}
Important: always make sure you are placing Stereo Regions on Stereo
Tracks. If you drag a Stereo file onto a Mono Audio Track, only the left
channel will be used. In the screenshot below, a stereo file with very

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#pre = "<b>1. </b>"
+++
The Editor Window
-----------------
When you create a new session, Ardour opens an empty new window called
the **Editor Window**. The Editor Window is the most important window in
Ardour, as this is how you will control the program as well as see and
@ -36,22 +33,21 @@ extensively in dedicated chapters later on.
The **Transport Menu** controls include the following buttons:
- MIDI Panic
- Enable/Disable audio click (metronome)
- Rewind
- Fast forward
- Loop playback
- Play range/selection
- Play from playhead
- Stop
- Record-enable 
- Jog/shuttle controls
- MIDI Panic
- Enable/Disable audio click (metronome)
- Rewind
- Fast forward
- Loop playback
- Play range/selection
- Play from playhead
- Stop
- Record-enable 
- Jog/shuttle controls
### Clocks
![Clocks](en/Ardour6_Clocks.png)
 
The main **Clocks** are located next to the transport controls. Clocks
in Ardour can display time in 4 different formats: Time Code,
Bars:Beats, Minutes:Seconds, and Samples. Right-click on the clock to
@ -71,20 +67,21 @@ the main canvas and the different functions the cursor can have. There
are three Edit Modes in the drop-down menu: **Slide**, **Ripple**, and **Lock**. To the right of the Smart button are the
Cursor Modes:
- **Smart Mode** (shortcut *"Y"*)
- **Grab Mode** (shortcut *"G"*)
- **Range Mode** (shortcut *"R"*)
- **Cut Mode** (shortcut *"C"*)
- **Stretch Mode** (shortcut *"T"*)
- **Audition Mode**
- **Draw Mode** (shortcut *"D"*)
- **Internal Edit Mode** (shortcut *"E"*)
- **Smart Mode** (shortcut *"Y"*)
- **Grab Mode** (shortcut *"G"*)
- **Range Mode** (shortcut *"R"*)
- **Cut Mode** (shortcut *"C"*)
- **Stretch Mode** (shortcut *"T"*)
- **Audition Mode**
- **Draw Mode** (shortcut *"D"*)
- **Internal Edit Mode** (shortcut *"E"*)
Most of them are discussed in the **Working With Regions**
chapter. The last two are discussed in the **Using Automation** chapter.
Most of them are discussed in the **Working With Regions** chapter. The last two
are discussed in the **Using Automation** chapter.
The **Smart Mode** is actually a combination of Grab Mode and Range Mode. When enabled, the mouse behaves as if it is in "Range Mode" in the upper half of a region, and in "Grab Mode" in the
lower half.
The **Smart Mode** is actually a combination of Grab Mode and Range Mode. When
enabled, the mouse behaves as if it is in "Range Mode" in the upper half of a
region, and in "Grab Mode" in the lower half.
### Snap Options
@ -124,8 +121,7 @@ expand and shrink all tracks and busses vertically. Use the drop-down menu to ch
For further information on other buttons and displays on the main
interface, please refer to the [Ardour Manual](http://manual.ardour.org/ "Ardour Manual").
Main Canvas
-----------
## Main Canvas
The main canvas is just below the top rows of controls described above.
It basically comprises the **Rulers**, the space where **Tracks** and

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#pre = "<b>1. </b>"
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TODO
The _Recorder_ window is streamlined for one particular use case: recording to multiple tracks. The interface is pointedly simplified to remove all distraction.
{{< figure src="en/recorder-window-sections.png" alt="Sections of the Recorder window" >}}
There are three major sections in the Recorder window as outlined above:
1. Window-specific toolbar
2. The timeline and the tracks representation
3. Inputs control
## Window-specific toolbar
The toolbar has specific commands and information: arming and disarming all
tracks for recording, discarding the last take, automatically switching all
inputs for signal monitoring, estimation of the time you can record to the disk
until it's out of free space etc.
{{< figure src="en/recorder-toolbar.png" alt="Recorder toolbar" >}}
## The timeline and the tracks representation
The timeline only displays timecode, and the tracks view has no waveform
rendering at all. This helps with the use of system resources when recording
dozens of tracks simultaneously.
{{< figure src="en/recorder-timeline-tracks.png" alt="Recorder timeline and tracks" >}}
## Inputs control
The bottom part of the window is where you control inputs: you can both monitor
input volume and rename physical ports for convenience. To do the latter, just
click on the input port name and give a new name.
{{< figure src="en/recorder-input-renaming-dialog.png" alt="" >}}
E.g. if you have two mic inputs, one for vocal and one for guitar, naming them
accordingly will simplify picking the right one for the right track. This will
be even more convenient for audio interfaces with e.g. 18 inputs.
{{< figure src="en/recorder-input-new-names.png" alt="" >}}
## Continuing
Next: [Cue window](../cue-window)