manual/include/edit-point-control.html

<figure class="left">
  <img src="/images/toolbar-editpoint.png" alt="Editor toolbar's Edit Point">
</figure>

<p>
  Editing operations in a Digital Audio Workstation like Ardour can be broken
  down according to how many points on the timeline are required to carry the
  operation out. Splitting a region for example, requires just one position on
  the timeline (the one where the split will happen). Cutting out a time range
  requires two positions, one for the start of the cut and one for the end.
</p>

<p>
  In Ardour the <dfn>edit point</dfn> is the location where most single-point
editing operations take place. It can be set to either of the following:
</p>

<ul>
  <li>the <dfn>Playhead</dfn> position</li>
  <li>the selected (or "active") <dfn>Marker</dfn></li>
  <li>the position of the <dfn>Mouse</dfn> (or touch) pointer</li>
</ul>

<p>
  The default edit point is the location of the pointer.
</p>

<p>
  There are two keybindings available to cycle through the edit point options.
  The most common workflow tends to involve switching back and forth between the
  playhead and mouse as the edit point. Pressing the grave accent key <kbd>`</kbd>
  switches between these two. Using <kbd class="mod1">`</kbd> cycles through
  all three choices (including the selected marker). The edit point can also be
  switched using the combo-selector just right of the snap/grid unit selector.
</p>