Update Setting Up The Timeline

content/getting-started/setting-up-the-timeline/index.en.md

@@ -5,80 +5,93 @@ weight = 5
 #pre = "<b>1. </b>"
 +++
 
-Because different users will want to use Ardour for different tasks, the
+Once you import some audio files to Ardour, play them back and start
-way time is measured in the application can be changed.
+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
+Users creating audio plays, documentaries, reportages or soundscapes may wish
-**Minutes** and **Seconds**, for example, while those recording bands or
+to use minutes and seconds for units, while those recording bands or producing
-producing electronic music will most likely use **Bars** and **Beats**.
+electronic music will most likely use bars and beats. Video producers will
-Video producers will find a frames-per-second **Timecode** handy, while
+find a frames-per-second timecode handy, while those wishing for extreme
-those wishing for extreme precision may even want to use **Samples**.
+precision may even want to use samples. All of these can be viewed in Ardour
-All of these can be viewed in Ardour and used as a means to organize
+and used as a means to organize your regions and edits.
-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
+## Primary and Secondary Clocks
-display the time in a number of formats: *Timecode*, *Bars:Beats*,
+
-*Minutes:Seconds* and *Samples*. Right-click to change the format of
+There are two clocks near the top of the _Editor_ window which can display the
-each of the two clocks.
+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
+These are called the transport clocks. The left one is the primary transport
-transport clock and the right one is the secondary transport clock. The
+clock and the right one is the secondary transport clock. The advantage of
-advantage of having two transport clocks is that you see the playhead
+having two transport clocks is that you see the playhead position in two
-position in two different time units without having to change any
+different time units without having to change any settings.
-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.
+{{< figure src="en/ardour7-navigation-timeline.png" alt="Navigation timeline" >}}
-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
+Check the Ardour manual for more information on
-chosen.
+[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
+When _No Grid_ quantization preset is selected, there is no grid displayed on
-the Tracks. When *Grid* is selected, Regions will "snap" to the nearest
+the tracks/busses canvas. In that case, with snapping off, nothing will snap.
-**Grid Point**. When *Magnetic* is selected, Regions can be moved freely
+And with snapping enabled, regions and notes will only snap to location markers.
-but will "snap" to a Grid Point when they are moved very close to one.
 
-The middle **Units** menu is used to select what the Grid Points will
+## Timeline
-be, such as Beats, Bars, Marks, Minutes, Seconds, various aspects of the
-SMPTE Timecode, or the edges of Regions. 
 
-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
+![Timeline](en/ardour7-timeline-rulers.png)
-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/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
+**Bars/Beats**
-
+: To view Bars and Beats on the Timeline, right-click the Timeline and
-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
+**Timecode**
-
+: To work with SMPTE video Timecode, first you need to set the **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)*.*