manual/include/processor-box.html

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<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="@@plugin-manager"><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-manager">Plugin Manager</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. Clicking on it
will deactivate the processor and effectively bypass it.
</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>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>