manual/include/track-modes.html

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<p>
Audio tracks in Ardour have a <dfn>mode</dfn> which affects how they behave
when recording:
</p>
<table class="dl">
<tr>
<th>Layered</th>
<td>
Tracks in <dfn>layered mode</dfn> will record
non-destructively&nbsp;&mdash; new data is written to new files, and when
overdubbing, new regions will be layered on top of existing ones. This is
the recommended mode for most workflows. When recording with the
<dfn>layered mode</dfn>, Ardour only does input monitoring.
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Non-Layered</th>
<td>
Tracks using <dfn>non-layered mode</dfn> will record
non-destructively&mdash;new data is written to new files, but when
overdubbing, the existing regions are trimmed so that there are no
overlaps. This does not affect the previously recorded audio data, and
trimmed regions can be expanded again at will. Non-layered mode can be
very useful for spoken word material, especially in combination with
<a href="@@pushpull-trimming">push/pull trimming</a>. When recording with
the <dfn>non-layered mode</dfn>, Ardour only does input monitoring.
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Sound on Sound</th>
<td>
Tracks using <dfn>Sound on Sound mode</dfn> will record
non-destructively&nbsp;&mdash; new data is written to new files, but when
overdubbing, new regions will be layered on top of existing ones in
non-opaque mode which means both existing and new material will be played
back after the recording is over. This is convenient for a variety of use
cases, such as adding MIDI Control Change events on top of recorded live
performance. When recording in the <dfn>sound-on-sound mode</dfn>, Ardour
does cue monitoring.
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p>
Results of recording in layered and non-layered modes are visually the same.
However, with the sound-on-sound mode lower layers are visible under upper
layers, because in that case new regions with overdubs are created with
disabled <em>Opaque</em> setting.
</p>
<figure class="right">
<img src="/images/region-layering-modes-overlaid.png" alt="Layered, non-layered, and sound-on-sound modes" width="75%" >
<figcaption>
Layered, non-layered, and sound-on-sound modes in overlaid view
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>
To illustrate the difference, here is the screenshot of the same tracks, but
this time&nbsp;&mdash; in <em>Stacked</em> track mode (rather than
<em>Overlaid</em> as on the screenshot above).
</p>
<figure class="right">
<img src="/images/region-layering-modes-stacked.png" alt="Layered, non-layered, and sound-on-sound modes in stacked view" width="75%" >
<figcaption>
Layered, non-layered, and sound-on-sound modes in stacked view
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>
The overdub is an opaque region on top of the original content for the
<em>Layered</em> mode. For the <em>Non-Layered</em> mode, it completely
replaces the matching part of the original content. And for the
<em>Sound on Sound</em> mode, it's a transparent region on top of the original
content.
</p>
<p>
The switch between layered, non-layered, and sound-on-sound modes is a global
setting available in the main toolbar right below the buttons enabling
Punch In and Punch Out.
</p>
<figure class="left">
<img class="hdimage" src="/images/layering-switch.png" alt="Layering switch">
<figcaption>
Layering switch
</figcaption>
</figure>