manual/include/working-with-ardour-built-plugin-editors.html

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<p>
The plugin editor can be shown by double-clicking on the plugin within the
<a href="@@processor-box">processor box</a>.
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A new window will appear showing the editor/GUI for the plugin.
</p>
<figure class="right">
<img class="mini" style="width:400px;" src="/images/example-plugin.png" alt="A generic plugin Editor (A-Eq)">
<figcaption>
A generic plugin editor (ACE Compressor)
<ol>
<li>Parameters</li>
<li>Description</li>
<li>CPU Profile</li>
<li>Analysis graph</li>
</ol>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Generic Plugin Editor</h2>
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<p>
If a plugin does not have its own GUI, Ardour will construct a
<dfn>generic plugin editor</dfn> from a small set of common control
elements. Ardour will do this even for plugins that have their
own, if <kbd class="menu">Edit &gt; Preferences &gt;
GUI &gt; Use Plugins' own interface instead of Ardour's</kbd> is disabled.
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</p>
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<p>
The generic UI can be temporarily switched to by <kbd class="mouse">right</kbd> clicking on
a processor and selecting <kbd class="menu">Edit with generic controls</kbd>.
This is necessary in order to access the <a href="@@automation">plugin
automation controls</a>.
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</p>
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<p>
In the generic UI, any controller can be reset to its default state by
<kbd class=mod3n></kbd><kbd class=mouse>Left</kbd>-clicking on it.
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</p>
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<h2>Description</h2>
<p>
This is a rarely used section that displays the contents of the description
metadata of a plugin.
</p>
<h2>CPU Profile</h2>
<p>
This section displays CPU time measurements for the currently opened plugin.
For more information, please see the documentation on the
<a href="/troubleshooting/plugin-dsp-load/">Plugin DSP Load window</a>.
</p>
<h2>Analysis Graph</h2>
<p>
At the bottom of the generic plugin editor, clicking the arrow displays the
<dfn>Analysis Graph</dfn>.
</p>
<p>
This graph displays:
</p>
<ul>
<li>the <span style="background-color:black; color:white;">transfer function</span> in white,</li>
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<li>the <span style="background-color:black; color:red;">phase response</span> in red (optional),</li>
<li>the <span style="background-color:black; color:green;">post effect spectrum</span> in green.</li>
</ul>
<p>
The <dfn>transfer function</dfn> plots the output amplitude of the plugin (considered
as a "black box") against its input amplitude, along the audio spectrum.
</p>
<p>
The <dfn>phase response</dfn>, that can be switched on or off using the
<kbd class="option">Show phase</kbd> checkbox, plots the phase of the
plugins output against its input phase, along the audio spectrum. The scale is
shown in <span style="background-color:black; color:yellow;">yellow</span> on
the right.
</p>
<p>
The green spectrum plots the <dfn>output signal spectrum</dfn>, after the plugin
(for tracks that have a signal on).
</p>
<p>
The <kbd class="menu">dB scale</kbd> selector in the bottom left allows to
change the vertical scale of the graphs.
</p>
<h2>MIDI instruments specificities</h2>
<figure>
<img src="/images/instrument_plugins-keyboard.png" alt="The MIDI keyboard in instruments plugins">
<figcaption>
The MIDI keyboard in instruments plugins
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>
The generic UI provides, for all MIDI instruments plugins, a keyboard, that can
be used either with the mouse, or by using a QWERTY keyboard as a piano. Both the
channel and the velocity can be set above the keyboard.
</p>