---
layout: default
title: Editor Tab
menu_title: Editor Tab
---

<p>
  This tab contains settings that affect behavior in the <dfn>Editor</dfn>
  window when <a href="/editing-and-arranging">Editing and Arranging</a>.
</p>

<img src="/files/a4/a4_preferences_editor.png" alt="preferences
editor tab"/>

<ul>
  <li>
    <p>
      <strong>Allow dragging of the playhead</strong>, when enabled, allows
      dragging the playhead with the mouse in the <strong>Editor</strong> window.
    </p>
  </li>
  <li>
    <p>
      <strong>Move relevant automation when audio regions are moved</strong>,
      when enabled, causes automation data to stay with a region when the
      region is moved inside the playlist. When disabled, the automation is
      not affected by movement of regions.
    </p>
  </li>
  <li>
    <p>
      <strong>Show meters on tracks in the editor</strong>, when enabled, shows
      a small meter in the <strong>Editor</strong> window with each track. The
      meter is shown in the left side area along with the track name and buttons.
    </p>
  </li>
  <li>
    <p>
      <strong>Display master-meter in the toolbar</strong> when enabled displays
      a small copy of the master bus meter in the toolbar.
    </p>
  </li>
  <li>
    <p>
      <strong>Default fade shape:</strong> sets which
      <a href="/editing-and-arranging/create-region-fades-and-crossfades/">
	fade shape</a> is the default.
    </p>
  </li>
  <li>
    <p>
      <strong>Regions in active edit groups are edited together:</strong> sets
      the criteria to see if editing actions apply to tracks grouped together
      in an active group.
    </p>
  </li>
  <li>
    <p>
      <strong>Make rubberband selection rectangle snap to the grid</strong> when
      enabled uses the grid when
      <a href="/editing-and-arranging/select-regions/">selecting regions</a>
      with a rubberband rectangle.
    </p>
  </li>
  <li>
    <p>
      <strong>Show waveforms in regions</strong> when enabled shows a visual
      representation of the region's audio waveform. Changes to this setting
      take affect after restarting Ardour.
    </p>
  </li>
  <li>
    <p>
      <strong>Show gain envelopes in audio regions:</strong> sets the criteria
      for displaying the gain envelope in audio regions.
    </p>
  </li>
  <li>
    <p>
      <strong>Waveform scale:</strong> when waveforms are shown in audio region
      they can be displayed using a <em>linear</em> or a <em>logarithmic</em>
      scale.
      See <a href="/working-with-tracks/controlling-track-appearance/waveform-display/">
	Waveform disply</a>.
    </p>
  </li>
  <li>
    <p>
      <strong>Waveform shape:</strong> when waveforms are shown in audio region
      they can be displayed using a <em>traditional</em> or a <em>rectified</em>
      shape.
      See <a href="/working-with-tracks/controlling-track-appearance/waveform-display/">
	Waveform disply</a>.
    </p>
  </li>
  <li>
    <p>
      <strong>Waveform Clip Level (dBFS):</strong> sets the level at which the
      waveform shown in an audio region will be drawn in red to indicate
      clipping. Setting lower than 0.0&nbsp;dBFS can be useful if any tool in
      the audio chain has problems near 0.0&nbsp;dBFS.
    </p>
  </li>
  <li>
    <p>
      <strong>Show waveform for audio while it is being recorded</strong> when
      enabled, will draw the audio waveform in regions being recorded.  When
      disabled only a region block will be drawn while recording reducing CPU
      requirements.
    </p>
  </li>
  <li>
    <p>
      <strong>Show zoom toolbar</strong> when enabled shows a toolbar for
      zoom functions.  When disabled the zoom commands are still available
      with keyboard short-cuts and the View menu. Changes to this setting
      take affect after restarting Ardour.
    </p>
  </li>
  <li>
    <p>
      <strong>Update editor window during drags of the summary</strong> when
      enabled the contents of the editor window will redraw the tracks area
      as the selection rectangle in the summary area is moved or resized. The
      summary area is at the bottom of the editor and shows an overview of all
      regions on the timelime.
    </p>
  </li>
  <li>
    <p>
      <strong>Name new markers</strong> when enabled, popup a dialog when a new
      <a href="/working-with-markers/">marker</a> is created. This allows
      markers to be named as they are created.
    </p>
  </li>
  <li>
    <p>
      <strong>Auto-scroll editor window when dragging near its edges</strong>
      when enabled will scroll the editor window automatically when dragging a
      region. This can make it easier to see where to position the region.
    </p>
  </li>
  <li>
    <p>
      <strong>After splitting selected regions, select</strong> determines which,
      if any, regions are selected after a split operation. The options are no
      regions, the regions created by the split, and if more than one region
      was selected to start with, the existing selection and the new regions.
      Changes to this setting take affect after restarting Ardour.
    </p>
  </li>
</ul>