158 lines
6.1 KiB
Markdown
158 lines
6.1 KiB
Markdown
+++
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title = "The mixer strip"
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chapter = false
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weight = 1
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#pre = "<b>1. </b>"
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+++
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**Mixing** is the process of converting multiple Tracks into a **Stereo
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Mix** where all the instruments can be heard clearly.
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## Mixing Tools
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**Levels**, **Panning**, **Equalization** (**EQ**), and **Compression** are the main
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tools used to achieve a good Mix. In addition to these core tools, a
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wide range of Plugin effects can also be used to enhance the sound, such
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as **Reverb** and **Delay**.
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## Introducing the Mixer Strip
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The **Mixer Strip** is the vertical column that contains various
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controls related to signal flow. Each Track and Bus in Ardour has its
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own Mixer Strip. The Mixer Strip is also the main tool we will use in
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the process of Mixing our Tracks. In this chapter, we will get a general
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overview of the Mixer Strip, with each section described. We will also
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provide references to chapters containing information specific to each
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aspect of the Mixer Strip.
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## The Mixer Strip from Top to Bottom
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Mixer Strips can be accessed from both the **Editor Window** and the
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**Mixer Window** (shortcut "*Alt*" + "*M*" to toggle between the two). Mixer Strips in either
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window (Editor or Mixer) mirror each other: any actions performed on a
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Mixer Strip in the Mixer Window will be reflected in the corresponding
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Mixer Strip in the Editor Window, and vice-versa. The Editor Window and
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Mixer Window are more fully explained in the **An Overview of the
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Interface** chapter.
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In the **Editor Window**, you can see the Mixer Strip of the currently
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selected track on the left side of the window. If you don't see it, hit
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"*Shift*" + "*E*" to display the Editor Mixer Strip.
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### Overview
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Here we see the entire Mixer Strip, as it would appear in either the
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Editor Window or the Mixer Window.
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### Regular & Narrow Modes
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The Mixer Strip can be switched between the regular width and a more
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narrow width to conserve space. The very top part of the Mixer Strip,
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pictured below, switches between regular and narrow modes using the left
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button. The right button hides the Mixer Strip entirely.
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### Track Name and Routing Button
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Continuing from top to bottom, the next section of the Mixer Strip
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contains three narrow regions. The first of these regions shows the name of the Track (that's the word
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"*Audio 1*" in the image below). The next region, named "*1*" in the image below,
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is a button which allows access to the input Routing. Please see the
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**Understanding Routing** and **Recording Audio** chapters for more
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information on input Routing. The last narrow region controls phase
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reversing (we won't go into details on this topic in this tutorial).
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### Processor Box
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The large black region at the bottom of this section is the **Processor
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Box**. This is where you can add Plugins, for example. The processor box
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will always contain a blue Fader processor. This indicates where in the
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processor chain the main channel fader is located — this is the fader
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shown in the lower half of the strip. Please see **Using Plugins** and
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**Using Sends** for a detailed discussion of this area.
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The next portion of the Mixer Strip includes controls for Panning,
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Record, Mute, and Solo, among others.
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### Panning
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Panning has to do with placement of sounds anywhere between Left and Right
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speakers. Please refer to the **Panning** chapter for more information.
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### Solo
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When a Track or Bus is on **Solo**, all the other Tracks or Busses which
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are not likewise on Solo will be inaudible through the Master Bus or the
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Audition. We can also find a miniaturized Solo Button in the Track
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Mixer. Note that soloing a bus will not silence any tracks and
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vice-versa.
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When any Track or Bus is on Solo, the **Solo Indicator** in the
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Auxiliary Controls menu will flash red. Clicking the Solo Indicator
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while it is flashing will deactivate every Solo in the Session.
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### Mute
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Any Track or Bus on **Mute** will be inaudible through the Master Bus or
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the Audition. The Track Mixer also contains a miniaturized Mute Button,
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in between the Record Arm Button and the Solo Button. Right-Clicking on
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the Mute Button gives you advanced options for the behavior of the mute
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button.
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### Arm Record
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The Rec button arms the track for recording, as seen in the **Recording
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Audio** chapter.
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### Fader, Fade/Peak Meters
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The most prominent control present in a Mixer Strip is the **Fader**,
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used to adjust the overall gain for the corresponding Track or Bus. The
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**Peak Meter** shows the Peak Value of the selected track, and is
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located directly to the right of the Fader. Each Peak Meter consists of
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one **Bar Graph** in the case of a Mono Track, and two Bar Graphs in
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case of a Stereo track. The small rectangular field above the meters
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shows the highest Peak Value that has been played on that track so far.
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By clicking the right-hand button at the bottom of the Mixer Strip (it
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reads "*post*" in the image above), you will be able to select the
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**Metering Point**, for example the direct "*in*" from the sound card,
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the "*pre*" Fader signal, or the "*post*" fader signal.
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As you can see in the image below, there is a smaller version of the
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Mixer Strip in each Track, called the **Track Mixer**, which contains a
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horizontal **Fader**, a vertical **Peak Meter** as well as miniature
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buttons for **Arm Record**, **Mute**, and **Solo**. They all mirror
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those found in the Mixer Strip for that Track.
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Please refer to the chapter on **Mixing Levels** for more detailed
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instruction about using the Fader and Peak Meters.
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### Routing
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Finally, we reach the bottom of the Mixer Strip. Here we find the
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**Output Routing Button**, marked as "*master*" in the earlier
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screenshot, which is discussed in the **Understanding Routing** chapter.
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## Continuing
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Now that we've had a look at the main areas of the Mixer Strip, we can
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proceed to the **Mixing Levels** chapter to see how we can start to use
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it.
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Next: [MIXING LEVELS](../mixing-levels)
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