Robin Gareus
7e8bf55c0f
* consistent use of "mixer-strip" * wrap all buttons in <kbd> * fix some typos
381 lines
17 KiB
HTML
381 lines
17 KiB
HTML
|
|
<p>
|
|
Since version 5.8-290, Ardour supports for the
|
|
<a href="https://www.presonus.com/products/FaderPort-8" rel="external">Presonus FaderPort™ 8</a>.
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The FaderPort™ 8 is a production control surface with 8 touch-sensitive, motorized faders,
|
|
monochromatic digital scribble strips and more than 60 buttons with fixed labels.
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<h2>Connecting the FaderPort 8</h2>
|
|
<p>
|
|
The FaderPort 8 (FP8) comes with a USB socket on the back. Connect a
|
|
suitable USB cable from there to a USB port on your computer.
|
|
|
|
The FP8 will be automatically recognized by your operating
|
|
system, and will appear in any of the lists of possible MIDI ports
|
|
in both Ardour and other similar software.
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<p class="well">
|
|
Ardour uses the FaderPort 8 in what PreSonus calls "Studio One" or
|
|
"native" mode.
|
|
(If you would like to change the mode at any point, power on the unit while
|
|
holding down the first two Select buttons, see the FaderPort 8 manual
|
|
for further details, also note that at least Firmware version 1.01 is
|
|
required.)
|
|
<br/>
|
|
While the FaderPort provides a Mackie Control Universal (MCU) mode,
|
|
MCU does not support various elements available on the FP8.
|
|
e.g. colored buttons, and the custom mode scribble strips.
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
To connect the FP8 to Ardour, open the Preferences dialog,
|
|
select "Control Surfaces" and enable "PreSonus FaderPort 8".
|
|
Then open the "Protocol Settings" dialog for the FP8. Which
|
|
(among other things) allows to select the the MIDI ports
|
|
corresponding to the FP8.
|
|
</p>
|
|
<p>
|
|
Once you select the input and output port, Ardour will initialize
|
|
the FP8 and it will be ready to use. You only need do this
|
|
once: Once these ports are connected and your session has been
|
|
saved, the connections will be made automatically in this and other
|
|
future sessions.
|
|
<p>
|
|
<figure class="center">
|
|
<img alt="FaderPort8 Control Surface Settings Dialog"
|
|
src="/images/fp8_settings.png"/>
|
|
</figure>
|
|
|
|
<h2>Using the FaderPort 8</h2>
|
|
<p>
|
|
The FaderPort's controls can be divided into five groups:
|
|
</p>
|
|
<ul class="inside">
|
|
<li>Transport buttons</li>
|
|
<li>Session Navigation controls</li>
|
|
<li>Fader modes</li>
|
|
<li>Mix management</li>
|
|
<li>Channel strip</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
<p class="well">
|
|
In general the control mapping described in the FaderPort 8
|
|
Owner's Manual for Studio One (chapter 2) applies to Ardour as well.
|
|
There are however subtle differences where the DAWs differ.
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<p class="note">
|
|
All buttons act on release (not press), exceptions are mentioned below.
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<h3>Transport Buttons</h3>
|
|
<figure class="left">
|
|
<img alt="FaderPort8 Transport Buttons"
|
|
src="/images/fp8_transport.png"/>
|
|
</figure>
|
|
<ol class="inside">
|
|
<li><kbd class="def">Stop</kbd>: Stops the transport. Press twice to return to
|
|
session start.</li>
|
|
<li><kbd class="def">Loop</kbd>: Toggles loop playback. A loop-range needs to
|
|
be defined in the session for looping to be engaged.</li>
|
|
<li><kbd class="def">Play/Pause</kbd>: Roll/Stop the transport (note that
|
|
Ardour has no "pause" mode: Pause is equivalent to stop). During vari-speed
|
|
playback, pressing "play" resets to 100% forward speed.</li>
|
|
<li><kbd class="def">Rewind</kbd>: Rewind, roll backwards. Successive presses
|
|
or holding the button incrementally changes the speed.</li>
|
|
<li><kbd class="def">Fast Forward</kbd>: Roll forward. Successive presses or
|
|
holding the button accumulate speed.
|
|
Pressing (<kbd>Rewind</kbd> and <kbd>Fast Forward</kbd>) simultaneously
|
|
stops playback and returns the playhead to zero.</li>
|
|
<li><kbd class="def">Record</kbd>: Toggles the global record enable
|
|
setting.</li>
|
|
</ol>
|
|
<div class="clearer"></div>
|
|
|
|
<h3>Session Navigation</h3>
|
|
<p>
|
|
Session Navigation allows quick navigation and provides access to
|
|
session-wide controls. Each of the eight buttons alters the function
|
|
of the push-button encoder and the "Prev", "Next" buttons.
|
|
With exception of "Click" the seven modes are exclusive (radio buttons).
|
|
</p>
|
|
<figure class="left">
|
|
<img alt="FaderPort8 Navigation Buttons"
|
|
src="/images/fp8_navigation.png"/>
|
|
</figure>
|
|
<!-- This could be a table: | MODE | prev/next | encoder action | encoder-press action | !-->
|
|
<!-- Except a table does not flow nicely around the figure !-->
|
|
<ol class="inside">
|
|
<li><kbd class="def">Channel</kbd>: The <kbd>Prev</kbd>/<kbd>Next</kbd>
|
|
buttons select the previous/next mixer-strip. If no strip is selected,
|
|
<kbd>Next</kbd> selects the first, <kbd>Prev</kbd> the last mixer-strip in
|
|
the session. Pressing the <kbd>encoder</kbd> moves the most recently selected
|
|
mixer-strip into view on the FP8. The encoder scrolls the editor-canvas
|
|
up/down.</li>
|
|
<li><kbd class="def">Master</kbd>: The encoder controls the master-bus level.
|
|
If a session includes a monitor-section, the encoder controls monitor-out by
|
|
default. Hold the button to control the master-bus level. Press the
|
|
<kbd>encoder</kbd> to reset the gain to 0dB. The
|
|
<kbd>Prev</kbd>/<kbd>Next</kbd> navigation buttons bank the visible strips on
|
|
the FP8 by one track left/right.</li>
|
|
<li><kbd class="def">Zoom</kbd>: The encoder controls horizontal zoom of the
|
|
editor. Press the <kbd>encoder</kbd> to <em>zoom to fit</em> the session.
|
|
<kbd>Prev</kbd>/<kbd>Next</kbd> navigation buttons zoom selected track(s)
|
|
vertically (or all tracks if none are selected).</li>
|
|
<li><kbd class="def">Click</kbd>: Toggle the metronome on/off. While holding
|
|
the <kbd>Click</kbd> button, the encoder modifies the volume of the
|
|
metronome click (press the <kbd>encoder</kbd> while holding <kbd>Click</kbd>
|
|
to reset the metronome level to 0dBFS).</li>
|
|
<li><kbd class="def">Scroll</kbd>: The encoder scrolls the timeline (hold
|
|
<kbd>Shift</kbd> for finer steps). Pressing the <kbd>encoder</kbd> <em>zooms
|
|
to fit</em> the session. The <kbd>Prev</kbd>/<kbd>Next</kbd> navigation
|
|
buttons bank the visible strips on the FP8 by one track left/right.</li>
|
|
<li><kbd class="def">Section</kbd>: The <kbd>Prev</kbd>/<kbd>Next</kbd>
|
|
navigation buttons nudge the selected region by the time configured in the
|
|
nudge-clock. If no region is selected the playhead position is nudged. The
|
|
encoder always nudges the playhead position.</li>
|
|
<li><kbd class="def">Bank</kbd>: Encoder and navigation buttons scroll through
|
|
mixer-strips in banks of eight. Pressing the <kbd>encoder</kbd> moves the
|
|
most recently selected mixer-strip into view on the FP8.</li>
|
|
<li><kbd class="def">Marker</kbd>: The encoder scrolls the timeline (hold
|
|
<kbd>Shift</kbd> for finer steps). The <kbd>Prev</kbd>/<kbd>Next</kbd>
|
|
navigation buttons jump to prev/next markers. Press the <kbd>encoder</kbd>
|
|
to drop a new marker.</li>
|
|
</ol>
|
|
<p>
|
|
When combined with <kbd>Shift</kbd>, the eight buttons will access custom
|
|
functions, which can be configured in the Preference Dialog. The buttons will
|
|
light up if an action has been assigned to a button.
|
|
</p>
|
|
<div class="clearer"></div>
|
|
|
|
<h3>Shift Button</h3>
|
|
<figure class="left">
|
|
<img alt="the FaderPort8 Shift Button"
|
|
src="/images/fp8_shift_large.png"/>
|
|
</figure>
|
|
<p>
|
|
The two <kbd>Shift</kbd> buttons are identical, they're copied to provide
|
|
convenient access to the modifiers. Pressing and holding the <kbd>Shift</kbd>
|
|
button updates the lights (and colors on RGB buttons) to indicate the modified
|
|
control.
|
|
<br/>
|
|
Pressing and holding the <kbd>Shift</kbd> button for one second without
|
|
pressing any other button enters shift-lock mode. Press <kbd>Shift</kbd> again
|
|
to reset.
|
|
|
|
The <kbd>Shift</kbd> button engages directly on press. Activating an action
|
|
while the button is held will void the shift-lock mode.
|
|
</p>
|
|
<div class="clearer"></div>
|
|
|
|
<h3>Fader Modes</h3>
|
|
<p>
|
|
The eight faders on the FP8 can be assigned to various automatable
|
|
controls present in the current session. The four fader-mode buttons
|
|
change the behavior of the mixer-strip and scribble strip displays.
|
|
(Note: with the 1.01 firmware these buttons always act on press.)
|
|
</p>
|
|
<figure class="left">
|
|
<img alt="FaderPort8 Fader Mode Buttons"
|
|
src="/images/fp8_fadermode.png"/>
|
|
</figure>
|
|
<ol class="inside">
|
|
<li><kbd class="def">Track</kbd>: In Track-mode, the motorized faders display
|
|
and control a mixer-strip's signal level. The Pan/Param encoder modifies the
|
|
azimuth of the panner (hold <kbd>Shift</kbd> to control the width, if the
|
|
track's panner supports it). <kbd>Mute</kbd> and <kbd>Solo</kbd> affect the
|
|
respective mixer-strip.</li>
|
|
<li><kbd class="def">Edit Plugins</kbd>: When Edit Plug-ins mode is active, the
|
|
motorized faders will control the parameter settings. Press the <kbd>Edit
|
|
Plugins</kbd> button to view all available plugin-inserts on a strip. If
|
|
no plugins are available, <kbd>Edit Plugins</kbd> will not engage and the
|
|
FP8 automatically switches back to Track-mode. Use the <kbd>Select</kbd>
|
|
buttons under the scribble strip to pick a plugin to edit. The faders and
|
|
<kbd>Select</kbd> buttons will respectively control the parameters and toggles
|
|
of the selected plugin. Press the <kbd>Edit Plugins</kbd> button again to return
|
|
to the insert select view. (Once a plugin has been selected, it stays in edit
|
|
mode regardless of selection). If there are more than eight, the Pan/Param
|
|
encoder allows to scroll through available control-parameters.</li>
|
|
<li><kbd class="def">Sends</kbd>: In Sends mode, each of the faders is mapped
|
|
to the send-level of aux-sends of the selected track. If there are more than
|
|
eight sends on a given track, the Pan/Param encoder can scroll through them.
|
|
Send-mode follow the selection. If there are no sends on a given track, the
|
|
FP8 automatically switches back to Track-mode.</li>
|
|
<li><kbd class="def">Pan</kbd>: When Pan mode is active, the motorized faders
|
|
will display and control the panner's azimuth. The Pan/Param controls the
|
|
pan-width of the selected mixer-strip.</li>
|
|
</ol>
|
|
<p>
|
|
<kbd>Shift</kbd> + <kbd>Track</kbd> toggles timecode display on/off (middle
|
|
row of the scribble-strip).
|
|
</p>
|
|
<div class="clearer"></div>
|
|
|
|
<h3>Channel Strip</h3>
|
|
<figure class="left">
|
|
<img alt="The FaderPort8 Channel Strip"
|
|
src="/images/fp8_strip.png"/>
|
|
</figure>
|
|
<ul class="inside">
|
|
<li><strong>Touch-Sensitive Fader</strong>: The fader can be used to control
|
|
volume levels, aux send levels, panning, or plugin parameters, depending on
|
|
the fader-mode (see above).</li>
|
|
<li><kbd class="def">Mute</kbd>: Toggle the mute-control of the corresponding
|
|
mixer-strip. Mute engages on press, and disengages on release. Press and
|
|
hold the button for at least 0.5sec for momentary.</li>
|
|
<li><kbd class="def">Solo</kbd>: Toggle the solo or listen (AFL,PFL) control
|
|
of the corresponding mixer-strip. Solo engages on press, and disengages on
|
|
release. Press and hold the button for at least 500ms for momentary.</li>
|
|
<li><kbd class="def">Select</kbd>: In Track and Sends and Pan mode the Select
|
|
button select/de-select a given mixer-strip. Since selection is not limited
|
|
to a single mixer-strip, the button acts in tri-state. A mixer-strip light
|
|
indicates selection:
|
|
<ul class="inside">
|
|
<li><strong>Any Selected Track</strong>: The select button is lit with the
|
|
track's color.</li>
|
|
<li><strong>Any Not Selected Track</strong>: The select button is off
|
|
(dimly showing the track's color).</li>
|
|
<li><strong>Most Recently Selected Track</strong>: Only one track at a
|
|
time. The select button is blinks width the track's color.</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
Operations such as <kbd>Edit Plugins</kbd> or <kbd>Sends</kbd> use the
|
|
most-recently-selected track. To modify the selection, the button's action
|
|
depends on the current selection:
|
|
<ol class="inside">
|
|
<li><strong><kbd>Select</kbd> any unselected track</strong>: The track is
|
|
added to the selection and becomes the most-recently selected.</li>
|
|
<li><strong><kbd>Select</kbd> the most-recently-selected
|
|
(blinking)</strong>: Removes the track from selection (most-recent
|
|
falls back).</li>
|
|
<li><strong><kbd>Select</kbd> any other selected track</strong>: Make it
|
|
most-recently-selected track.</li>
|
|
<li><strong><kbd>Shift</kbd> + <kbd>Select</kbd> any selected
|
|
track</strong>: Deselect the track.</li>
|
|
<li><strong><kbd>Shift</kbd> + <kbd>Select</kbd> any unselected
|
|
track</strong>: Exclusively select the given track (and make it
|
|
most-recently selected).</li>
|
|
</ol>
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
<p>
|
|
While holding the <kbd>ARM</kbd> button the Select button light changes to red
|
|
and the <kbd>Select</kbd> buttons controls the record-arm of the given track.
|
|
Mixer-strips that cannot be record-armed have a dim white light.
|
|
<kbd>Shift</kbd> + <kbd>ARM</kbd> record-arms all tracks in the session.
|
|
</p>
|
|
<div class="clearer"></div>
|
|
|
|
<h3>Mix Management</h3>
|
|
<p>
|
|
These buttons allows to select which mixer-strips are spilled on the FP8
|
|
channel-strips.
|
|
</p>
|
|
<figure class="left">
|
|
<img alt="FaderPort8 Mix Management Buttons"
|
|
src="/images/fp8_mixmanage.png"/>
|
|
</figure>
|
|
<ol class="inside">
|
|
<li><kbd class="def">Audio</kbd>: View Audio Tracks only.</li>
|
|
<li><kbd class="def">VI</kbd>: Show tracks with virtual instrument
|
|
<li><kbd class="def">Bus</kbd>: Display only Busses.</li>
|
|
<li><kbd class="def">VCA</kbd>: Show VCAs.</li>
|
|
<li><kbd class="def">All</kbd>: Display all Tracks, Busses (incl master-bus)
|
|
and VCAs.</li>
|
|
</ol>
|
|
<p>
|
|
In combination with the <kbd>Shift</kbd> modifier ten total
|
|
filters are available:
|
|
</p>
|
|
<ul class="inside">
|
|
<li><kbd>Shift</kbd> + <kbd class="def">Audio</kbd> <strong>Inputs</strong>:
|
|
shows all record-armed tracks (Audio and MIDI).</li> plugins.</li>
|
|
<li><kbd>Shift</kbd> + <kbd class="def">VI</kbd> <strong>MIDI</strong>: View
|
|
all MIDI tracks.</li>
|
|
<li><kbd>Shift</kbd> + <kbd class="def">Bus</kbd> <strong>Outputs</strong>:
|
|
Show the Master and Monitor Bus.</li>
|
|
<li><kbd>Shift</kbd> + <kbd class="def">VCA</kbd> <strong>FX</strong>: Shows
|
|
Aux-Busess.</li>
|
|
<li><kbd>Shift</kbd> + <kbd class="def">All</kbd> <strong>User</strong>:
|
|
Display all currently selected mixer-strips only.</li>
|
|
</ol>
|
|
<div class="clearer"></div>
|
|
|
|
<h3>Automation Controls</h3>
|
|
<p>
|
|
The Automation Controls provide access to the currently selected mixer-strips.
|
|
The automation enable lights indicates the mode of the most recently selected
|
|
mixer-strip (blinking selection button). The action affects all selected
|
|
mixer-strips. The automation controls are currently only available in
|
|
<kbd>Track</kbd> and <kbd>Pan</kbd> fader modes where they affect the fader
|
|
and pan automation modes respectively.
|
|
</p>
|
|
<figure class="left">
|
|
<img alt="FaderPort8 Automation Buttons"
|
|
src="/images/fp8_automation.png"/>
|
|
</figure>
|
|
<ol class="inside">
|
|
<li><kbd class="def">Latch</kbd>: Currently not available in Ardour.</li>
|
|
<li><kbd class="def">Trim</kbd>: Currently not available in Ardour.</li>
|
|
<li><kbd class="def">Off</kbd>: Select "Manual" automation mode.</li>
|
|
<li><kbd class="def">Read</kbd>: Select "Play" automation mode.</li>
|
|
<li><kbd class="def">Write</kbd>: Select "Write" automation mode (note at the
|
|
end of a write pass, Ardour automatically puts the track into "Touch"
|
|
mode.</li>
|
|
<li><kbd class="def">Touch</kbd> Select "Touch" automation mode.</li>
|
|
</ol>
|
|
<div class="clearer"></div>
|
|
<p>
|
|
The Automation Controls also double as session state controls
|
|
when combined with <kbd>Shift</kbd>.
|
|
</p>
|
|
<ol class="inside">
|
|
<li><kbd>Shift</kbd> + <kbd class="def">Latch</kbd> <strong>Save</strong>:
|
|
Save the session. The button lights up red if the session is modified.</li>
|
|
<li><kbd>Shift</kbd> + <kbd class="def">Trim</kbd> <strong>Redo</strong>: Redo
|
|
a previously undone operation. The button lights up green if redo is
|
|
possible.</li>
|
|
<li><kbd>Shift</kbd> + <kbd class="def">Off</kbd> <strong>Undo</strong>: Undo
|
|
the most recent operation. The button lights up green if undo is
|
|
possible.</li>
|
|
</ol>
|
|
<p>
|
|
With <kbd>Shift</kbd>, the bottom row allows to bind three custom user
|
|
actions.
|
|
</p>
|
|
<div class="clearer"></div>
|
|
|
|
<h3>Miscellaneous</h3>
|
|
<figure class="left">
|
|
<img alt="FaderPort8 Misc Buttons"
|
|
src="/images/fp8_misc.png"/>
|
|
</figure>
|
|
<ul class="inside">
|
|
<li><kbd class="def">Solo Clear</kbd>: Reset all solo controls in the
|
|
session.</li>
|
|
<li><kbd class="def">Mute Clear</kbd>: Unmute all mixer-strips in the
|
|
session.</li>
|
|
<li><kbd class="def">Bypass</kbd>: A/B bypass toggle any plugins on all
|
|
selected mixer-strips.</li>
|
|
<li><kbd>Shift</kbd> + <kbd class="def">Bypass</kbd> <strong>Bypass
|
|
All</strong>: currently the same as "Bypass".</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
<p>
|
|
The labels of the following buttons have no direct corresponding action in
|
|
Ardour and are currently mapped to convenient functions:
|
|
</p>
|
|
<ul class="inside">
|
|
<li><kbd class="def">Macro</kbd>: Show the Editor Window.</li>
|
|
<li><kbd>Shift</kbd> + <kbd class="def">Link</kbd> <strong>Open</strong>:
|
|
Show the Import Audio Dialog.</li>
|
|
<li><kbd class="def">Link</kbd>: Switch to the Mixer Window.</li>
|
|
<li><kbd>Shift</kbd> + <kbd class="def">Link</kbd> <strong>Lock</strong>:
|
|
Lock the GUI (alike Session > Lock) to prevent accidental changes.</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
<div class="clearer"></div>
|