manual/include/newopen-session-dialog.html

<p>
  The initial <dfn>Session</dfn> dialog, displayed at each start of Ardour, consists
  of several consecutive pages:
</p>

<h2>Open Session Page</h2>

<figure class="left">
  <img class="mini" src="/images/session_setup.png" alt="The Session Setup Dialog">
  <figcaption>
    The Session Setup Dialog
  </figcaption>
</figure>

<p>
  On this page, an <dfn>existing session</dfn> can be opened. Any <a href="@@snapshots">snapshot</a>
  of a particular session can also be accessed by clicking on the arrow next to
  the session name to display all snapshots, and then selecting one.

</p>
<p>
  If the session is not displayed in the Recent Sessions list, the <kbd
  class="menu">Other Sessions</kbd> button will bring up a file selection dialog
  to navigate the file system.
</p>
<p>
  Alternatively, a <kbd class="menu">New Session</kbd> can be created.
</p>

<h2 class="clear">New Session page</h2>

<figure class="left">
  <img class="mini" src="/images/session_new.png" alt="The New Session Dialog">
  <figcaption>
    The New Session Dialog
  </figcaption>
</figure>

<p>
  This page allows to type in the name of a session, select a folder to save it in, and
  optionally use an existing <a href="@@session-templates">template</a>. The different
  templates, both the "factory" ones and the ones created by the user, are easily
  available on the left-side panel.
</p>

<figure class="right">
  <img class="mini" src="/images/template-setup.png" alt="Template Setup dialog">
  <figcaption>
    Template Setup dialog for the Advanced template
  </figcaption>
</figure>

<p>
  Depending on the chosen template, a specific Template Setup window may be shown,
  allowing the user to fine-tune the details of the template and/or choose between
  the different options of the template.
</p>

<p>
  Templates can be huge time savers when working on similar projects, or on
  usual projects, as they allow to preset and tweak a lot of the <a
  href="@@session-properties">session properties</a>, (like the
  availability of a <a href="@@monitor-section">monitoring section</a>,
  connection to a Master Bus, etc.), and handle the creation of <a
  href="@@adding-tracks-busses-and-vcas">tracks</a> of any kind.
</p>
<p>
  The <kbd class="menu">Empty Template</kbd> preset allows to create a session
  "from scratch". Everything a session template does can be done manually
  &mdash;albeit more tediously&mdash; and the resulting sessions will not differ
  whatsoever.
</p>
<p>
  As of Ardour 5.12, which introduced the new template dialog, the factory templates are:
</p>

<table class="dl">
  <tr><th><kbd class="menu">Empty Template</kbd></th>
      <td>Creates an empty session with no tracks and no monitoring. A stereo Master Bus is created, and any track created defaults to output on this bus.</td></tr>
  <tr><th><kbd class="menu">Advanced Session</kbd></th>
      <td>Like the Empty Template, but adds the ability to easily manage the Master bus (channels, hardware connection, and track autoconnection), and the creation of a monitoring section.</td></tr>
  <tr><th><kbd class="menu">Recording Session</kbd></th>
      <td>Like the Empty Template, but allows the fast creation of a number of tracks, optionally ready to record.</td></tr>
  <tr><th><kbd class="menu">Live Band</kbd></th>
      <td>Fast tracks the creation of usual tracks for a band setup (vocals, guitars, piano, ...), and optionally adds usual effects on these tracks.</td></tr>
</table>

<p>
  Selecting a template will display its description in the right-side panel, while
  hovering over a template name will show a tooltip indicating if it is a factory
  template, or, if it is a user-created one, which version of Ardour was used to
  create it.
</p>
<p>
  Whether or not a template is used, and before the "Template Setup" dialog, the
  <a href="@@audio-midi-setup">Audio/MIDI Setup</a> will be shown.
</p>

<p>
  The New Session dialog also allows selecting session's time domain&nbsp;— either
  audio time or beat (musical) time. This defines the defaut selection of visible
  timeline rulers and units in which various markers operate in.
</p>