375 lines
14 KiB
HTML
375 lines
14 KiB
HTML
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<figure class="right">
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<img src="/images/mixer-1-strip-numbered.png" alt="A mixer strip">
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<figcaption>
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A mixer strip
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</figcaption>
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</figure>
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<p>
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A <dfn>mixer strip</dfn> in Ardour is a vertical view of the track, from a
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mixing point of view. This view is convenient to deal with I/O, effects,
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panning/muting, gain, etc… It has a general "top to bottom" flow.
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</p>
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<p>
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The mixer strips breaks down into:
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</p>
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<ol>
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<li>Header</li>
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<li>Track name</li>
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<li>Input(s)</li>
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<li>Polarity <em>only for audio tracks</em></li>
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<li>Processor box</li>
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<li>Panner</li>
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<li>Recording options</li>
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<li>Mute/Solo</li>
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<li>Gain & Meter</li>
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<li>Control master</li>
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<li>Fader automation/mix group/metering point</li>
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<li>Output(s)</li>
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<li>Comments</li>
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</ol>
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<h2>Headers</h2>
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<p>
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At the top of the window, is the <a href="@@the-track-and-bus-group-list">group
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tabs</a> (here, <em>recm…</em>). This allows to group tracks together for
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common controls.
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</p>
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<p>
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Below are 3 buttons:
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</p>
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<ul>
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<li>
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The double arrow button allows to shrink/expand the width of the strip. <kbd
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class="mod1n"></kbd><kbd class="mod3n"></kbd><kbd class="mouse">Click</kbd> the
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button will shrink/expand all the tracks at once
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</li>
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<li>
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The color bar shows the color of the track in the editor
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</li>
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<li>
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The <kbd class="menu">X</kbd> button toggles the visibility of the track OFF. To
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turn it back ON, one can either go to the <a
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href="@@the-tracks-and-busses-list">Tracks and Busses list</a> in the Editor
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view and check the "V" column on the track's line or stay in the Mixer view and
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check the <kbd class="menu">Show</kbd> column of this strip in the <a
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href="@@strips-list">Strips list</a>.
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</li>
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</ul>
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<p>
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<kbd class="mouse">Right</kbd> clicking on the color bar will bring up a context
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menu, which is exactly the same as clicking on the Track name button.
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</p>
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<h2>Track Name</h2>
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<p>
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Clicking the Track name button will bring up a menu:
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</p>
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<table class="dl">
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<tr><th>Color…</th><td>Changes the strip/track color</td></tr>
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<tr><th>Comments…</th><td>Shows an editor to put comments about the track,
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see below the Comments button</td></tr>
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<tr><th>Inputs…</th><td>Shows the Routing grid for the inputs of the track</td></tr>
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<tr><th>Outputs…</th><td>Shows the Routing grid for the outputs of the track</td></tr>
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<tr><th>Save As Template…</th><td>Allows to save the track without its media
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content (I/O, effects,…) for later reuse</td></tr>
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<tr><th>Rename…</th><td>Changes the name of the track (effective both in the
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Mixer and the Editor)</td></tr>
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<tr><th><kbd class="option">Active</kbd></th><td>Select the active status of the track.
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An inactive track won't output any sound</td></tr>
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<tr><th><kbd class="option">Strict I/O</kbd></th><td>While in <a href="@@trackbus-signal-flow">
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Strict I/O</a> mode, a track <em>always</em> has as many output as it
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has inputs, regardless of the effects. When disabled, a stereo effect put on
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a mono track will result in a stereo output for the strip.</td></tr>
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<tr><th>Disk I/O</th><td>This submenu allows switching between recording
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pre-fader signal, post-fader signal, or with custom record and playback
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positions. Only available for tracks.</td></tr>
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<tr><th>Pin Connections…</th><td>Shows the <kbd class="menu">Pin
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Configuration</kbd> window that shows (and allows to modify) all the signal
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flows inside the track. Only available for tracks and busses with at least one
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processor in the mixer strip.</td></tr>
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<!-- <tr><th>Adjust Latency…</th><td>Shows the <kbd class="menu">Track Latency</kbd>
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dialog, that allows fine-tune the latency to the track, in samples, msec or period</td></tr> -->
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<tr><th>Patch selector…</th><td>Opens a dialog for selecting a patch provided
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by MIDNAM. Only available for MIDI tracks.</td></tr>
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<tr><th>Fan out to Busses…</th><td>Creates one bus per each output
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of a virtual instrument and connects to created busses. Only available for
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MIDI tracks where a virtual instrument has more than two audio outputs.</td></tr>
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<tr><th>Fan out to Tracks…</th><td>Creates one track per each output
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of a virtual instrument and connects to created tracks. Only available for
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MIDI tracks where a virtual instrument has more than two audio outputs.</td></tr>
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<tr><th><kbd class="option">Protect Against Denormals</kbd></th><td>Uses a trick to
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get rid of <em>denormals</em>, which are very small numbers the CPU can have
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a hard time dealing with. To be used if the CPU consumption for plugins is
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noticeably higher than expected</td></tr>
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<tr><th>Duplicate…</th><td>Copies the track to a new one, optionally with
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its playlist</td></tr>
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<tr><th>Remove</th><td>Deletes the track and its playlist</td></tr>
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</table>
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<h2>Inputs</h2>
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<p>
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The dropdown button shows the current input port(s), i.e. what's plugged to the
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"in" of the track. By default, each audio track is connected to the system
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inputs, ready for recording, as shown by the number(s). Clicking the dropdown
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Inputs button will allow to change the inputs, through a menu:
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</p>
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<table class="dl">
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<tr><th>Disconnect</th><td>Disconnects everything, i.e. the track has no input</td></tr>
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<tr><th>In <em>n</em></th><td>Those are the system inputs, e.g. to record from the
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soundcard. A mono track will have <em>In 1</em> and <em>In 2</em> separated,
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while a stereo track can have <em>In 1+2</em></td></tr>
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<tr><th><em>Track n output</em></th><td>All the outputs of compatible tracks, e.g.,
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a mono track can only receive a mono signal, a MIDI track can only receive MIDI
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signal, …</td></tr>
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<tr><th>Add Audio Port</th><td>Adds an audio input to the track, i.e. a mono audio
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track becomes a stereo one</td></tr>
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<tr><th>Add MIDI Port</th><td>Adds a MIDI input to the track. Adding it to an audio
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track makes it a mixed Audio/MIDI track. This can be useful e.g. to feed some
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plugins with a MIDI signal to control the audio, like a vocoder</td></tr>
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<tr><th>Routing Grid</th><td>Shows the <a href="@@patchbay"><kbd class="menu">Routing
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Grid</kbd> window</a>, which allows for more complex input configuration</td></tr>
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</table>
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<p>
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The <kbd class="menu">Routing Grid</kbd> can also be shown by right clicking the
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dropdown Inputs button. It allows to make the connections through a matrix, and
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connect things that are not listed in the menu above, or connect to multiple
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sources at once, reduce the number of inputs, etc…
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</p>
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<p>
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On audio tracks, is a Trim knob, as on traditional consoles. It set the base
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input level for the track, avoiding any clipping. Notice that it trims both any
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input, but (when playing back), also the level of the playlist as displayed in
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the Editor. It makes sense as while playing, the input of the track is the
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playlist, on which the mixer strip acts.
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</p>
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<p>
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On midi tracks, it is replaced by a MIDI Input button, that allows/disallows
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MIDI input on the track.
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</p>
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<h2>Polarity</h2>
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<p>
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On audio tracks only, the Polarity button(s), 1 per input, allow to reverse
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the signal, i.e. a negative value will be positive and vice-versa. This can help
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deal with phasing issues.
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</p>
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<h2 id="audio-midi-processor-box">Processor box</h2>
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<p>
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The processor box is where the effects are added. By default, one effect is
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always present: the Fader (see below). The effects can be added
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<em>pre</em>-fader and appear in brown, or <em>post</em>-fader, where they will
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appear in dark green. The signal flow is represented by lines, red for the MIDI
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and green for the audio.
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</p>
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<p>
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It is also where the <a href="@@aux-sends">Sends</a> come from, whether
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external or auxiliary.
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</p>
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<p>
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To learn more about the processor box, see <a href="@@processor-box">The
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Processor Box</a>.
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</p>
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<h2>Panner</h2>
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<p>
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The <dfn>Panner</dfn> visually displays how the sound will be distributed
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between the different outputs. They'll look and behave differently if the
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track is mono, stereo, or has multiple channels.
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</p>
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<p>
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Right clicking the Panner will show a menu:
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</p>
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<table class="dl">
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<tr><th><kbd class="option">Bypass</kbd></th><td>When checked, the panner is grayed,
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and the signal is not affected by it</td></tr>
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<tr><th>Reset</th><td>Resets the panner to its default settings, e.g. for a mono
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signal, it is centered</td></tr>
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<tr><th>Edit…</th><td>Shows a <kbd class="menu">Panner</kbd> dialog, which
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allows for fine tuning of the panner</td></tr>
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</table>
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<p>
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See <a href="@@panning">Panning</a> to learn more about how to control the panner,
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and what kind of panners are available inside Ardour.
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</p>
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<h2>Recording options</h2>
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<p>
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The most noticeable button here is the Record Enable one, with a red circle.
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When enabled, next time the Global record will be armed and playback started,
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everything that comes from the input of the track will be recorded. Right clicking
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a disabled record button allows to enable <kbd class="menu">Rec-Safe</kbd>,
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thus protecting the track against accidental recording.
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</p>
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<p>
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The buttons on the right, <kbd class="menu">In</kbd> and <kbd
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class="menu">Disk</kbd>, show what the user is listening to by lighting up,
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between the <em>In</em>put and the actual content of the playlist on
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<em>Disk</em>.
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</p>
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<p>
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They also allow to override the automatic switching by pressing them to lock
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one source or the other to be what the user is hearing.
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</p>
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<h2>Mute/Solo</h2>
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<p>
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These buttons allow to Mute (or silence) the track, or Solo them, shutting
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down the gain of the other tracks (totally by default, can be set to partially
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in the options). See <a href="@@muting-and-soloing">Muting and Soloing</a> for
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more information.
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</p>
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<p>
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Notice that by default, Solo overrides Mute, i.e. if a track is both Soloed and
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Muted, it will play. That can be changed in the preferences.
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</p>
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<p>
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The two led button above are related to solo:
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</p>
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<ul>
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<li>Solo Isolate, as the name suggests, isolates tracks or busses from the solo
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system. When tracks or busses are soloed the isolated ones will not mute.</li>
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<li>Solo Lock locks the solo into its current state (i.e. solo on or solo off).
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It will not allow the solo state to be changed until the lock is released.</li>
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</ul>
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<h2>Gain & Meter</h2>
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<p>
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On the right of this part is a <a href="@@metering-in-ardour">Meter</a>,
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displaying the level of the track's output after the fader. In can be set to
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display the signal at any point, see below <em>Metering Point</em>. Right
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clicking this meter shows a menu allowing to switch the meter type.
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</p>
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<p>
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The big Gain slider on the left allows to change the gain of the track. Its
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default OdB value is reminded with a white horizontal line, and its precise
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value is shown in a text field above it, that doubles as a way to type in a
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numeric value.
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</p>
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<p>
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The text field above the meter shows the "Peak", i.e. the maximum value that has
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been reached during playback. To avoid distortion, the value should stay below OdB,
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and if it goes above this value, the text field will turn red. Clicking on
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this field will reset the Peak value (for a new measurement or a new part of the
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track).
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</p>
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<p class="note">
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Notice that if any gain automation has been set and the
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automation state is set on "Play" (see below), then the Gain fader is driven by
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the automation, and not by the user. The Gain fader will turn grey to show it is
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inactive.
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</p>
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<h2>VCAs</h2>
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<p>
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If at least one <a href="@@control-masters-mixer-strips">VCA</a> exists, this
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button will show up, allowing the user to link this track to any control master.
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</p>
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<p>
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Clicking the button lists all the available control masters, and a menu option
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to <kbd class="menu">Unassign all</kbd>. Notice that a track can be a slave
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to as many VCAs as they are in the session, hence multiplying the number
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of VCA buttons. The displayed number is the number of the VCA,
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not the count of VCAs linked to the track. A track with no VCA assigned
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will show a unique button with a "<kbd class="menu">-vca-</kbd>" label instead
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of this number.
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</p>
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<h2>Fader automation/mix group/metering point</h2>
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<h3>Fader automation mode</h3>
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<p>
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This button allows to choose the mode used regarding automation:
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</p>
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<table class="dl">
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<tr><th>Manual</th><td><em>(default)</em> The playback won't use the fader automation
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data</td></tr>
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<tr><th>Play</th><td>Enables playback/use of fader automation data</td></tr>
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<tr><th>Write</th><td>While the transport is rolling, all fader changes will be
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recorded to the fader automation lane</td></tr>
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<tr><th>Touch</th><td>While the transport is rolling, touching the fader will initiate
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recording all fader changes until the fader is released. When the fader is not
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being touched, existing automation data will be played/used to control the gain
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level.</td></tr>
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</table>
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<h3>Mix group</h3>
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<p>
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This button displays the mix group information as does the tab in the header
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(see above). It is convenient though, as it allows to quickly switch the track
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from one group to another with a drop down menu, also allowing to affect the
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track to a non-adjacent group (which the tab won't easily allow).
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</p>
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<h3>Metering Point</h3>
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<p>
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The metering displayed in the meter is by default is 'Post', i.e. Post fader.
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It can be changed with this button to Any point of the signal flow:
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</p>
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<table class="dl">
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<tr><th>In</th><td>The input of the track</td></tr>
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<tr><th>Pre</th><td>Pre-fader</td></tr>
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<tr><th>Post</th><td>Post-fader</td></tr>
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<tr><th>Out</th><td>The output of the track</td></tr>
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<tr><th>Custom</th><td>A <em>Meter</em> processor is added to the processor box and
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can be set anywhere (by dragging and dropping) to probe the signal flow at
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that point</td></tr>
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</table>
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<h2>Output(s)</h2>
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<p>
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This button is exactly the same as the <em>Input</em> button, but applies to
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the <em>output</em> of the track.
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</p>
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<h2>Comments</h2>
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<p>
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This buttons open up a little text editor, that can be used to add some
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written notes to the track, as e.g. a particular setting. The button's caption
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is replaced by the beginning of the text, so it can be used as a "sub" name for
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the track.
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</p>
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