-There are cases that Ardour cannot reasonably cater to with core functionality alone, either because they're session specific -or user specific edge cases. +There are cases that Ardour cannot reasonably cater to with core functionality alone, either because they're session-specific +or user-specific edge cases.
Examples for these include voice-activate (record-arm specific tracks and roll transport depending on signal levels), rename all regions after a specific timecode, launch an external application when a certain track is soloed, generate automation curves or simply provide a quick shortcut for a custom batch operation.
-Cases like this call for means to extend the DAW without actually changing the DAW itself. This is where scripting comes in. +Handling cases like these requires extending the DAW without actually changing the DAW itself. This is where scripting comes in.
-"Scripting" refers to tasks that could alternatively be executed step-by-step by a human operator. +"Scripting" refers to automating tasks that would normally be done interactively by a human operator.
Lua is a tiny and simple language which is easy to learn, yet allows for comprehensive solutions. -Lua is also a glue language it allows to tie existing component in Ardour together in unprecedented ways, -and most importantly Lua is one of the few scripting-languages which can be safely used in a real-time environment. +Lua also allows tying existing Ardour components together in unprecedented ways, +and most importantly Lua is one of the few scripting languages which can be safely used in a real-time environment.
A good introduction to Lua is the book Programming in Lua. The first edition is -available online, but if you have the means buy a copy of the book, it not only helps to support the Lua project, but provides -for a much nicer reading and learning experience. +available online for free, but if you have the means we recommend you buy a copy of the book - it helps support the Lua project and provides +a much nicer reading and learning experience.