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" +++ -Because different users will want to use Ardour for different tasks, the -way time is measured in the application can be changed. +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. -Users creating audio plays, documentaries, reportages or soundscapes may wish to use -**Minutes** and **Seconds**, for example, 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. +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. -Primary and Secondary Clocks ----------------------------- +Let's talk about setting up clocks, snapping, and timeline rulers. -There are two clocks near the top of the **Editor Window** which can -display the time in a number of formats: *Timecode*, *Bars:Beats*, -*Minutes:Seconds* and *Samples*. Right-click to change the format of -each of the two clocks. +## Primary and Secondary Clocks + +There are two clocks near the top of the _Editor_ window which can display the +time in a number of formats: *Timecode*, *Bars:Beats*, *Minutes:Seconds*, and +*Samples*. Right-click to change the format of each of the two clocks. ![Clock Units](en/Ardour6_Clock_Units.png) -These are called the transport clocks. The left one is the primary -transport clock and the right one is the secondary transport clock. The -advantage of having two transport clocks is that you see the playhead -position in two different time units without having to change any -settings. +These are called the transport clocks. The left one is the primary transport +clock and the right one is the secondary transport clock. The advantage of +having two transport clocks is that you see the playhead position in two +different time units without having to change any settings. -To the right of these two clocks you see the "mini-timeline", also called "navigation timeline". Check the Ardour Manual for more informaion on [clocks](http://manual.ardour.org/ardours-interface/using-ardour-clock-displays/) and the [mini-timeline](https://manual.ardour.org/ardours-interface/mini-timeline/). +If you never need the second clock, you can disable it entirely. Go to +`Edit > Preferences > Appearance > Toolbar` and disable the _Display Secondary +Clock_ checkbox. -Snap Modes ----------- +To the right of these two clocks you can see the _mini-timeline_, also called +_Navigation Timeline_. It's a convenient way to be reminded of cues and location +markers, especially when you are in the _Recorder_ window where the timeline +doesn't have those rulers. -The **Snap Mode** menus are found just below the Clocks to the right. -They control the amount **Quantization** of the time grid, i.e., the -amount of "snap" an audio **Region** has to the type of grid you have -chosen. +{{< figure src="en/ardour7-navigation-timeline.png" alt="Navigation timeline" >}} + +Check the Ardour manual for more information on +[clocks](http://manual.ardour.org/ardours-interface/using-ardour-clock-displays/) +and the +[mini-timeline](https://manual.ardour.org/ardours-interface/mini-timeline/). + +## Snap Modes + +Snapping settings are located just below the clocks to the right. They control +the _quantization_ of the time grid, i.e., to which units the timeline grid is +divided and to what extent audio regions and MIDI notes get snapped when +snapping is enabled. E.g. you can snap to whole seconds when you drag an audio +region around or you could snap to 1/16 of a bar when creating or editing MIDI +notes. + +There is one global switch, _Snap_, and then a drop-down list of grid +quantization presets: _Bar_, _1/4 note_, _1/8 note_ etc., _Triplets_, +_Timecode_, _Minutes and Seconds_, _CD frames_, and more. ![Snap](en/Ardour6_Snap_Options_and_Nudge_Controls.png) -When *No Grid* is selected, Regions may be moved freely around within -the Tracks. When *Grid* is selected, Regions will "snap" to the nearest -**Grid Point**. When *Magnetic* is selected, Regions can be moved freely -but will "snap" to a Grid Point when they are moved very close to one. +When _No Grid_ 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. -The middle **Units** menu is used to select what the Grid Points will -be, such as Beats, Bars, Marks, Minutes, Seconds, various aspects of the -SMPTE Timecode, or the edges of Regions.  +## Timeline -Timeline --------- +The _timeline_ 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. -The **Timeline** is located below the Snap Mode menus, 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. +![Timeline](en/ardour7-timeline-rulers.png) -![Timeline](en/Ardour6_Overview_Rulers.png) - -### Minutes/Seconds - -To view Minutes and Seconds on the Timeline, right-click the Timeline labels +**Minutes/Seconds** +: To view Minutes and Seconds on the Timeline, right-click the Timeline labels and select **Mins:Secs**. -### Bars/Beats - -To view Bars and Beats on the Timeline, right-click the Timeline and +**Bars/Beats** +: To view Bars and Beats on the Timeline, right-click the Timeline and select **Bars & Beats**. - -It is possible to set a **Meter** and **Tempo** for the entire Ardour +: It is possible to set a **Meter** and **Tempo** for the entire Ardour session, as well as to change them at different points in the same session. For more information on this, please see the **Setting Up the Meter** chapter. -### Timecode - -To work with SMPTE video Timecode, first you need to set the **Timecode +**Timecode** +: To work with SMPTE video Timecode, first you need to set the **Timecode fps** (Frames per Second). This can be found in the Timecode tab of the Session Properties window (menu `Session > Properties` or the **Alt + O** shortcut)*.*