manual/include/processor-box.html

<figure class="right">
	<img src="/images/processor-box.png" alt="the Processor Box">
	<figcaption class="center">
		Processor Box.
	</figcaption>
</figure>

<p>
  In Ardour terminology, a <dfn>processor</dfn> is anything which treats the signal in some way and gets plugged into a mixer
  strip. Ardour provides several builtin processors such as the fader or panners. Processors can also be <dfn>plugins</dfn>
  used for effects or as instruments, as well as sends or inserts which affect <a href="@@signal-routing">signal routing</a>.
</p>

<p>
  The arrangement of processors is arbitrary, and there is no limit to how many there can be. The Processor Box will
  automagically add a scrollbar to itself if there are more processors in it than can be shown in the given space.
</p>

<p>
  The main box in the top half of a mixer strip shows the <dfn>processor box</dfn>. Processors are shown as colored rectangles,
  with a small LED beside them that lights up when the processor is enabled. The color of the processor depends on its location
  in the sequence; processors that are <dfn>pre-fader</dfn> are colored in red, and <dfn>post-fader</dfn> processors are
  colored green (in the default theme).
</p>

<p>
  The <dfn>processor box</dfn> will always contain a blue <dfn>Fader</dfn> processor. This indicates where in the processor
  chain the main channel fader is located; this is the fader shown in the lower half of the strip. It can be enabled and
  disabled like any other processor.
</p>

<h2>Adding Processors</h2>

<p>
  Processors can be added to the chain by <kbd class="mouse">Right</kbd>-clicking in the processor list, This does three things:
</p>

<ul>
  <li>A gap is opened up to indicate the location of the click. The gap shows where any new processors will be inserted.</li>
  <li>The processor under the click is selected.</li>
  <li>An options menu is presented.</li>
</ul>

<p>
  From the menu, new processors can be inserted.
</p>

<p>
  Processors can also be dragged and dropped from the <a href="@@favorite-plugins-window"><dfn>Favorite Plugins</dfn> window</a> to an
  appropriate spot in the Processor Box.
</p>

<p class="note">
  The <dfn>Favorite Plugins</dfn> window can be populated via the <a href="@@plugin-selector">Plugin Selector</a>, or by dragging
   and dropping an existing processor from the <dfn>processor box</dfn> to the <dfn>Favorite Plugins</dfn> window.
</p>

<h2>To Reorder (Move) Processors</h2>

<p>
  Processors can be re-ordered using drag and drop. Dragging a processor allows it to be moved around within the chain, or
  copied to another processor list on another track or bus.
</p>

<h2>To Enable/Disable a Processor</h2>

<figure class=right>
<img src="/images/processor.png" alt="a typical processor" />
<figcaption class=center>A typical processor.</figcaption>
</figure>

<p>
  To the left of the name of each processor is a small LED symbol; if this is lit-up, the processor is active. 
  <kbd class=mouse>Left</kbd>-clicking on the LED symbol, or <kbd class=mouse>Middle</kbd>-clicking anywhere on the processor
  will deactivate the processor and effectively bypass it. Click again to reactivate the processor.
</p>

<p class="note">
  Some processors have their own bypass controls that are independent of the
  one that Ardour provides; this can make it appear that the plugin is
  non-responsive when its independent bypass control is active.
</p>

<h2>Selecting Processors</h2>

<p>
  A processor in the <dfn>processor box</dfn> can be selected with a
  <kbd class=mouse>Left</kbd>-click on it; it will be highlighted in red.
  Other processors can be selected at the same time by
  <kbd class=mouse>Left</kbd>-clicking on them while holding down the
  <kbd class=mod1n></kbd> key, and ranges can be selected by
  <kbd class=mouse>Left</kbd>-clicking on them while holding down the
  <kbd class=mod3n></kbd> key.
</p>

<h2>Renaming Processors</h2>

<p>
  Context-click on the processor to be removed and select
  <kbd class="menu">Rename</kbd>. In the newly opened dialog set a new name
  and click "Rename". The caption of the processor will be instantly changed in the mixer strip.
</p>

<p>
  To restore the original name which, for plugins, is typically the plugin's
  name, open the same dialog and click the button to the right of the text
  input box, then click "Rename".
</p>

<h2>Removing Processors</h2>

<p>
  Context-click on the processor to be removed, and select <kbd class="menu">Delete</kbd>; or
  <kbd class=mod3n></kbd><kbd class=mouse>Right</kbd>-click on it; or <kbd class=mouse>Left</kbd>-click on it and press the
  <kbd>Delete</kbd> key. If multiple processors are selected, they will all be deleted at the same time.
</p>