manual/include/status-bar.html

<img src="/images/status-bar.png" alt="The Status Bar">

<p>The status bar is an informative bar at the top of the window, showing:</p>

<table class="dl">
	<tr><th>File:</th><td>the file format used in the session, including when recording</td></tr>
	<tr><th>TC:</th><td>is the timecode, i.e. the number of frames per second used by the session (for videos)</td></tr>
	<tr><th>Audio:</th><td>gives the sample rate used in the session, and the latency computed from the buffer size</td></tr>
	<tr><th>Buffers:</th><td>describe how much data is buffered, see below</td></tr>
	<tr><th>DSP:</th><td>for Digital Sound Processing, shows how much of the CPU is used by Ardour and its plugins</td></tr>
	<tr><th>PkBld:</th><td><em>(only shows up while creating peaks)</em> displays the number of peak files left to create</td></tr>
	<tr><th>X:</th><td>shows the number of xruns since Ardour's launch, see below</td></tr>
	<tr><th>Disk:</th><td>reports the remaining hard disk space as the time that can be recorded with the current session setting</td></tr>
	<tr><th>Wall Clock</th><td>showing the system time (especially useful in full screen mode)</td></tr>
	<tr><th>Log button</th><td>that indicates if Ardour has encountered any warning or error.</td></tr>
</table>

<p>
  Right clicking anywhere on the Status Bar allows to choose which of this information we want displayed, through a checkbox menu.
</p>
<p>
  The buffers are labelled as <kbd class="menu">p</kbd> for playback and <kbd class="menu">c</kbd> for capture. If the
  system is fast enough, these buffers should be 100% full at all times, showing the system has time to precompute
  all the data before delivering it to the audio system. A buffer constantly under 20% is a sign of an underpowered
  computer system or of too much processing.
</p>
<p>
  An Xrun (short for buffer over- or under-run) happens when the system has been forced to skip audio frames, e.g. if the latency
  asked is too short for the computing power of the machine. It usually results in clicks, pops and crackles if it happens while recording.
</p>
<p>
  The log button turns yellow when a warning is shown, and red when an error occurs. Clicking the log button gives access to the log.
</p>