1722 lines
64 KiB
HTML
1722 lines
64 KiB
HTML
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<p>
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Global <dfn>preferences</dfn> control general workflow and system
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configuration, and should apply to all sessions. They are located in <kbd
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class="menu">Edit > Preferences</kbd> and stored in Ardour's <dfn>user
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configuration file</dfn> in the user's home directory.
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</p>
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<figure class="right">
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<img src="/images/preferences.png" alt="The Preferences window">
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<figcaption>
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The Preferences window
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</figcaption>
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</figure>
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<p>
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Preferences are conveniently grouped by category:
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</p>
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<ul>
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<li><a href="#preferences-general">General</a></li>
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<li><a href="#preferences-appearance">Appearance</a></li>
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<ul>
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<li><a href="#preferences-appearance-recorder">Recorder</a></li>
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<li><a href="#preferences-appearance-editor">Editor</a></li>
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<li><a href="#preferences-appearance-mixer">Mixer</a></li>
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<li><a href="#preferences-appearance-toolbar">Toolbar</a></li>
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<li><a href="#preferences-appearance-size-and-scale">Size and Scale</a></li>
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<li><a href="#preferences-appearance-colors">Colors</a></li>
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<li><a href="#preferences-appearance-quirks">Quirks</a></li>
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<li><a href="#preferences-appearance-translation">Translation</a></li>
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</ul>
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<li><a href="#preferences-editor">Editor</a></li>
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<ul>
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<li><a href="#preferences-editor-snap">Snap</a></li>
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<li><a href="#preferences-editor-modifiers">Modifiers</a></li>
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</ul>
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<li><a href="#preferences-midi">MIDI</a></li>
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<li><a href="#preferences-transport">Transport</a></li>
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<ul>
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<li><a href="#preferences-transport-chase">Chase</a></li>
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<li><a href="#preferences-transport-generate">Generate</a></li>
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</ul>
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<li><a href="#preferences-plugins">Plugins</a></li>
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<ul>
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<li><a href="#preferences-plugins-vst">VST</a></li>
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<li><a href="#preferences-plugins-audio_unit">Audio Unit</a></li>
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</ul>
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<li><a href="#preferences-monitoring">Monitoring</a></li>
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<li><a href="#preferences-signal_flow">Signal Flow</a></li>
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<li><a href="#preferences-metronome">Metronome</a></li>
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<li><a href="#preferences-control_surfaces">Control Surfaces</a></li>
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<li><a href="#preferences-metering">Metering</a></li>
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<li><a href="#preferences-performance">Performance</a></li>
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<li><a href="#preferences-video">Video</a></li>
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</ul>
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<h2 class="clear" id="preferences-general">General</h2>
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<ul>
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<li>
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<dfn>Audio/MIDI Setup</dfn>
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<ul>
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<li>
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<dfn>Show Audio/MIDI Setup window</dfn> Shows the
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<a href="@@audio-midi-setup">Audio/MIDI Setup</a> dialog.
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</li>
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<li>
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<dfn>Try to auto-launch audio/midi engine</dfn> allows Ardour to try to
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automatically launch the audio and MIDI system, driver and device, thus not
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showing the <a href="@@audio-midi-setup">Audio/MIDI Setup</a> dialog. This
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can save a little time if the system is always used the same way.
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</li>
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</ul>
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</li>
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<li>
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<dfn>Editor Undo</dfn> defines the behaviour of the Undo operations:
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<ul>
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<li>
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<strong>Limit undo history</strong> sets how many commands can be
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undone using <kbd class="mod1">Z</kbd> or <kbd class="menu">Edit > Undo</kbd>.
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Unchecking will keep an endless memory of operations to undo, at the
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expense of memory.
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</li>
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<li>
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<strong>Save undo history</strong> sets how many commands are saved so
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they are available to be undone after reopening the session. This can
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also be unchecked to keep all actions undoable, at the cost of bigger
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session files.
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</li>
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<li>
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<strong>Verify removal of last capture</strong> when enabled prompts to
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verify removal the last recording capture when
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<kbd class="menu">Edit > Remove Last Capture</kbd> is executed.
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</li>
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</ul>
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</li>
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<li>
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<dfn>Session Management</dfn>:
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<ul>
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<li>
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<strong>Make periodic backups of the session file</strong> will create
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a backup session file after changes to the timeline. The backup file is
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the session name followed by <em>.ardour.bak</em>. The backup can be
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used to recover from crashes when the session had not been explicitly
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saved.
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</li>
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<li>
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<strong>Default folder for new sessions:</strong> defaults the folder
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where Ardour will create new session folders. This is used in the
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<em>Session Setup</em> dialog displayed by
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<kbd class="menu">Session > New</kbd>.
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</li>
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<li>
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<strong>Maximum number of recent sessions:</strong> determines how
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many of the last opened sessions shows in the <em>Recent Sessions</em>
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dialog displayed by <kbd class="menu">Session > Recent</kbd>.
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</li>
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</ul>
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</li>
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<li>
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<dfn>Import</dfn>:
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<ul>
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<li>
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<strong>Drag and drop import always copies files to session</strong>
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selects, and then disables changes to, the <em>Copy files to session</em>
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option in the <a href="@@import-dialog">Add Existing Media</a> dialog.
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</li>
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</ul>
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</li>
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<li>
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<dfn>Export</dfn>
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<ul>
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<li>
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<dfn>Save loudness analysis as image file after export</dfn> allows, when the
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<kbd class="option">Analyze Exported Audio</kbd> is checked in the
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<a href="@@export-dialog">Export dialog</a>, to save the analysis graph
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as a file named <code>session.png</code> alongside the exported audio
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file(s) (in the same folder).
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</li>
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<li>
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<dfn>Save Mixer screenshot after export</dfn> creates and exports
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a graphical image of the Mixer window as a file named
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<code>session-mixer.png</code> alongside the exported audio file(s)
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(in the same folder).
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</li>
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</ul>
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</li>
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</ul>
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<h2 id="preferences-appearance">Appearance</h2>
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<ul>
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<li>
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<dfn>GUI Lock</dfn>
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<ul>
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<li>
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<dfn>Lock timeout (seconds):</dfn>locks the <abbr title="Graphical User
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Interface">GUI</abbr> after this many idle seconds (zero being 'never lock').
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The GUI can also be locked with <kbd class="menu">Session > Lock</kbd>. When
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locked, a dialog will display a "Click to unlock" button.
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</li>
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<li>
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<dfn>System Screensaver Mode:</dfn>can be used to prevent the
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screensaver to be launched by the system, either while recording
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(e.g. for long and unattended recording session), when Ardour is
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simply started, or never (the screensaver is then able to start).
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</li>
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</ul>
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</li>
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<li>
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<dfn>Theme</dfn>
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<ul>
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<li>
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<dfn>Draw "flat" buttons</dfn>: when enabled, button controls
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in the user interface will be drawn with a flat look. When disabled button
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controls will have a slight 3D appearance.
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</li>
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<li>
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<dfn>Draw "boxy" buttons</dfn>: when enabled, button controls
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in the user interface will have square corners instead of being slightly
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rounded.
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</li>
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<li>
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<dfn>LED meter style</dfn> if checked, the bar meters in the editor and
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mixer will be styled to look like if they were made of LEDs, with a dotted
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bar. Unchecking this option makes the bars flat and continuous.
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</li>
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<li>
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<dfn>Icon Set:</dfn> Changes the mouse cursor icons used to indicate
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different tool modes in the editor. An example would be the icons used to
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indicate whether the cursor will select a region or change the length of a
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region.
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</li>
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</ul>
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</li>
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<li>
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<dfn>Graphical User Interface</dfn>
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<ul>
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<li>
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<dfn>Highlight widgets on mouseover</dfn>, when checked, makes Ardour's
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widgets (buttons, sliders, …) slightly change color when the mouse
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hovers them, visually indicating what a mouse action would interact with.
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</li>
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<li>
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<dfn>Show tooltips if mouse hovers over a control</dfn> when checked,
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displays a little help bubble about the control the mouse hovers. The mouse
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pointer needs to stay idle for about 1 sec for the tooltip to appear.
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</li>
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<li>
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<dfn>Update clocks at TC Frame rate</dfn>: Ardour updates its clocks every
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100 ms. Checking this will make the clock refresh at every TimeCode
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frame which is more responsive, at the cost of a bit more system stress.
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</li>
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<li>
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<dfn>Blink Rec-Arm buttons</dfn>: when enabled, the record-armed
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buttons on tracks will blink when they are armed but not currently recording.
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When disabled, the record-armed buttons on tracks will be outlined in red
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instead of blinking. The global record-arm button in the
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<a href="@@transport-bar">Transport bar</a> is unaffected.
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</li>
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<li>
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<dfn>Blink Alert indicators</dfn>: when enabled, the Alert indicators (like
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the <kbd class="menu">Error Log</kbd> or the <kbd class="menu">Feedback</kbd>
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button) will blink when they are active (when an error or feedback
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has been detected, respectively). When disabled, the indicators will turn red instead of
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blinking.
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</li>
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</ul>
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</li>
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<li>
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<dfn>Graphics Acceleration</dfn>
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<ul>
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<li>
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<dfn>Disable Graphics Hardware Acceleration (requires restart)</dfn>
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Ardour uses hardware accelerated UI rendering by default for speed.
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Sometimes though, a buggy driver can cause this to make the system slow or
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unstable. Checking this will make Ardour draw its UI without
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hardware acceleration, in software, improving stability and responsiveness
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on those buggy systems at the expense of speed.
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</li>
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<li>
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<dfn>Possibly improve slow graphical performance (requires restart)</dfn>
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Wherever gradients appear in the UI, Ardour uses hardware accelerated
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gradients creation. Checking this will make Ardour draw its own gradients without
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hardware acceleration for stability on systems with buggy drivers.
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</li>
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</ul>
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</li>
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</ul>
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<h3 id="preferences-appearance-recorder">Recorder</h2>
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<ul>
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<li>
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<dfn>Input Meter Layout</dfn>
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<ul>
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<li>
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<dfn>Input Meter Layout:</dfn>In Recorder mode, determines if audio
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inputs are displayed horizontally or vertically.
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</li>
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</ul>
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</li>
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</ul>
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<h3 id="preferences-appearance-editor">Editor</h2>
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<ul>
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<li>
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<dfn>General</dfn>
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<ul>
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<li>
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<dfn>Use name highlight bars in region displays (requires a restart)</dfn>:
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when enabled, the region name is displayed, in the editor, in its own opaque bar
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at the bottom of the region. When disabled, the region name is overlaid
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at the top of the region, possibly over audio waveforms or MIDI notes.
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</li>
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<li>
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<dfn>Region color follows track color</dfn>: when enabled,
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the background color of regions in the editor will be displayed using
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the color assigned to the track. When disabled the default region
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background color will be used.
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</li>
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<li>
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<dfn>Show Region Names</dfn>: when enabled, overlays the name of
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the region over its waveform representation, in the top-left.
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</li>
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<li>
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<dfn>Waveforms color gradient depth:</dfn> determines how much gradient
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effect is applied to the inner of audio waveforms displayed in the editor.
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Values range from 0.0, no gradient effect, to 1.0, maximum effect.
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</li>
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<li>
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<dfn>Timeline item gradient depth:</dfn> Determines how much
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gradient effect is applied to the backgrounds of regions displayed in the
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editor. Values range from 0.0, no gradient effect, to 1.0, maximum effect.
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</li>
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<li>
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<dfn>Track name ellipsis mode:</dfn> when the track header is not
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wide enough to display the track's name in full, selects how the
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name will be shorten between:
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<ul>
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<li><em>Ellipsize start of name</em> will show only the end of the name</li>
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<li><em>Ellipsize middle of name</em> will show only the start and end of the name</li>
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<li><em>Ellipsize end of name</em> will show only the start of the name</li>
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</ul>
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</li>
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<li>
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<dfn>Add a visual gap below Audio Regions:</dfn> selects whether or
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not the audio regions fit the height of the track or leave a gap at
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the bottom, either small or large.
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</li>
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</ul>
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</li>
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<li>
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<dfn>Waveforms</dfn>
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<ul>
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<li>
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<dfn>Show waveforms in regions</dfn> when enabled shows a visual
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representation of the region's audio waveform.
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</li>
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<li>
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<dfn>Show waveform while recording</dfn> when
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enabled, will draw the audio waveform in regions being recorded, in near
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real time. When disabled, only a region block will be drawn while recording,
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reducing CPU requirements.
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</li>
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<li>
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<dfn>Show waveform clipping</dfn>: when enabled the waveform
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displayed will show peaks marked in red if they exceed the clip level.
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</li>
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<li>
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<dfn>Waveform Clip Level (dBFS):</dfn> sets the level at which the
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waveform shown in an audio region will be drawn in red to indicate
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clipping. Setting lower than 0.0 dBFS can be useful if any tool in
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the audio chain has problems near 0.0 dBFS.
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</li>
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<li>
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<dfn>Waveform scale:</dfn> when waveforms are shown in audio regions,
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they can be displayed using a <em>linear</em> or a <em>logarithmic</em>
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scale. See <a href="@@waveform-display">Waveform display</a>.
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</li>
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<li>
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<dfn>Waveform shape:</dfn> when waveforms are shown in audio regions,
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they can be displayed using a <em>traditional</em> or a <em>rectified</em>
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shape. See <a href="@@waveform-display">Waveform display</a>.
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</li>
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</ul>
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</li>
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<li>
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<dfn>Editor Meters</dfn>
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<ul>
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<li>
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<dfn>Show meters in track headers</dfn>, when enabled, shows
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a small meter in the Editor's <a href="@@audio-track-controls">track headers</a>.
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The meter is shown on the right side area of the header and provides an
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instant, if unprecise, view of the levels on this track/bus.
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</li>
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<li>
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<dfn>Limit track header meters to stereo</dfn>: if a track has more than
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two outputs (e.g. with a drum plugin), limits the number of meters in the
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track header to the first two ones. Only affects audio meters, not MIDI.
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</li>
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</ul>
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</li>
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<li>
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<dfn>MIDI Regions</dfn>
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<ul>
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<li>
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<dfn>Display first MIDI bank/program as 0</dfn>: when patches and bank changes
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are displayed in the editor, if this option is checked, the numbering will
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be zero-based instead of one-based, i.e. banks/programs will be numbered
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O, 1 ,2… instead of 1, 2, 3…
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</li>
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<li>
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<dfn>Don't display periodic (MTC, MMC) SysEx messages in MIDI Regions</dfn>:
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if checked, will hide these control messages from the MIDI regions for better
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legibility.
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</li>
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<li>
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<dfn>Show velocity horizontally inside notes</dfn>: when on, each note
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of a MIDI region (in <em>Sustained</em> mode) displays its velocity
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(0-127) with a darker fill proportional to its value.
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</li>
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<li>
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<dfn>Use colors to show note velocity</dfn>: if checked, makes the
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saturation of the notes color proportional to its velocity, hence making
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a more veloce note more intense in color.
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</li>
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</ul>
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</li>
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</ul>
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<h3 id="preferences-appearance-mixer">Mixer</h3>
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<ul>
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<li>
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<dfn>Mixer Strip</dfn>
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<ul>
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<li>
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This table enables (checked) or disables (unchecked) the display of controls
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in the <a href="@@audiomidi-mixer-strips">mixer strip</a>. Controls whose
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display can be toggled are:
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<strong>Input</strong>, <strong>Phase Invert</strong>,
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<strong>Record & Monitor</strong>, <strong>Solo Iso/Lock</strong>,
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<strong>Output</strong>, <strong>Comments</strong> and VCA Assigns.
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</li>
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<li>
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<dfn>Use narrow strips in the mixer for new strips by default</dfn> When
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enabled, new mixer strips are created in narrow format. When disabled,
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they are created in wide format. Existing mixer strips width can be toggled
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with the width control at the top left of the mixer strip.
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</li>
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<li>
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<dfn>Limit inline-mixer-strip controls per plugin :</dfn> Whether or
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not, and how many, controls each plugin can show in the mixer strip.
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These mixer-strip controls are added by checking <em>plugin context-menu
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> Controls > □ control parameter</em>.
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</li>
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</ul>
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</li>
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</ul>
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<h3 id="preferences-appearance-toolbar">Toolbar</h3>
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<ul>
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<li>
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<dfn>Main Transport Toolbar Items</dfn>: this section allows to toggle the
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visibility of some elements of the main toolbar:
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<ul>
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<li>
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<dfn>Display Record/Punch Options</dfn> toggles the visibility of the
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<a href="@@selection-and-punch-clocks#punch_controls">punch and record</a> slice of
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the main toolbar.
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</li>
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<li>
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<dfn>Display Latency Compensation Info</dfn> toggles the visibility of the
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Latency Compensation slice of the main toolbar.
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</li>
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<li>
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<dfn>Display Secondary Clock</dfn> toggles the visibility of the
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<a href="@@transport-clocks">secondary clocks</a> slice of
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the main toolbar.
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</li>
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<li>
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<dfn>Display Selection Clock</dfn> toggles the visibility of the
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<a href="@@selection-and-punch-clocks#selection_clocks">selection clocks</a> slice of
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the main toolbar.
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</li>
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<li>
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<dfn>Display Monitor Section Info</dfn> toggles the visibility of the
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Monitor Info slice of the main toolbar.
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</li>
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<li>
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<dfn>Display Navigation Timeline</dfn> toggles the visibility of the
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<a href="@@mini-timeline">navigation/mini timeline</a> slice of
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the main toolbar.
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</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Display Master Level Meter</dfn> toggles the visibility of the
|
|
<a href="@@other-toolbar-items#mode_selector">selection clocks</a> slice of
|
|
the main toolbar.
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Display Action-Buttons</dfn>
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Column <em>n</em></dfn> enables or disables the visibility
|
|
of the six possible columns of <a href="@@other-toolbar-items#mode_selector">Lua script buttons</a>.
|
|
Each columns contains two user-assignable buttons.
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
<h3 id="preferences-appearance-size-and-scale">Size and Scale</h3>
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>User Interface Size and Scale</dfn>
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>GUI and Font scaling:</dfn> allows the display size of most of the
|
|
text and buttons in the user interface to be scaled up or down. May
|
|
require a restart to take effect.
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
<h3 id="preferences-appearance-colors">Colors</h3>
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Colors</dfn>
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Color Theme</dfn> allows to switch between some presets bundled with
|
|
Ardour, changing both the palette and items colors, hence styling Ardour
|
|
all at once.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
The table allows to change the color settings in Ardour by acting on three
|
|
parameters:
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Items</dfn> that allow to choose any color from the palette (see below)
|
|
to color a UI element. Clicking on a color sample in the <strong>Color</strong>
|
|
column bring up the Palette, to choose from.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Palette</dfn> that allows to create a set of colors that will be used
|
|
in the UI. Using a palette allows for better consistency, instead of
|
|
picking "free" colors for each UI element. Clicking on a color patch brings
|
|
up a full color selector, to assign this color to this patch of the palette.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Transparency</dfn> where possible, allows to select, with a slider,
|
|
the transparency of the UI element, with 0 (slider to the left) being
|
|
fully opaque.
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Restore Defaults</dfn> turns all the palette, item colors and transparency
|
|
back to Ardour's default base setting, in case Ardour's appearance has turned
|
|
into a toddler's toy.
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
<h3 id="preferences-appearance-quirks">Quirks</h3>
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Various Workarounds for Windowing Systems</dfn>: As Ardour is available
|
|
on a number of platforms and windowing systems, some specific workarounds are
|
|
sometimes required to provide a smooth experience to the user.
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Use visibility information provided by your Window Manager/Desktop</dfn>
|
|
allows the system window manager's rules for the windows visibility to
|
|
supersede Ardour's.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>All floating windows are dialogs</dfn>: when enabled, Ardour will
|
|
use type "Dialog" for all floating windows instead of using type
|
|
"Utility" for some of them. This may help usability with some
|
|
window managers. This setting requires a restart of Ardour to take effect.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Transient windows follow front window.</dfn>: when enabled,
|
|
transient windows will follow the front window when toggling between the
|
|
editor and mixer. This setting requires a restart of Ardour to take effect.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Float detached monitor-section window</dfn>: as the <a href="@@monitor-section">
|
|
monitor section</a> can be detached from the mixer, this option makes it a
|
|
floating window, which may be handled differently by the windowing system
|
|
and easier to access.
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
<h3 id="preferences-appearance-translation">Translation</h3>
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Internationalization</dfn>
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Use translations</dfn> sets if Ardour should use a translated
|
|
version of all the messages. The default (unchecked) is English (US). When
|
|
checked, and if a language file exists for the system language, this file
|
|
will be used to translate Ardour.
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
<h2 id="preferences-editor">Editor</h2>
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Region Information</dfn>
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Show xrun markers in regions</dfn> puts a marker on the region(s)
|
|
while recording, when a buffer over/underflow happens.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Show cue markers in regions</dfn> determines if cue markers,
|
|
that are bounded to regions, are displayed or not.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Show gain envelopes in audio regions:</dfn> sets in which
|
|
<a href="@@toolbox">modes</a> the gain envelope is displayed in audio regions.
|
|
The gain envelope is superimposed over the region in the selected modes, and
|
|
hidden otherwise for a better legibility.
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Scroll and Zoom Behaviors</dfn>
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Zoom to mouse position when zooming with scroll wheel</dfn>: by default,
|
|
Ardour zooms to the <a href="@@edit-point-control">edit point</a>. When this
|
|
option is checked, and the zoom is done with <kbd class="mod1n"></kbd> + mousewheel,
|
|
the zoom will happen at the mouse cursor position regardless of the edit point
|
|
chosen.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Zoom with vertical drag in rulers</dfn> allows, when checked, to click
|
|
anywhere in an empty zone of the <a href="@@ruler">ruler</a> zone and drag
|
|
up to zoom in or down to zoom out.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Double click zooms to selection</dfn> allows by double clicking, to zoom
|
|
on the selection, both on the time and tracks axes. If the selection has been
|
|
done with <kbd class="mod1n"></kbd> or <kbd class="mod3n"></kbd>, then this
|
|
key should still be pressed when double clicking for this to work, otherwise
|
|
the first click breaks the group selection.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Update editor window during drags of the summary</dfn>: when
|
|
enabled the contents of the editor window will redraw the tracks area
|
|
as the selection rectangle in the <a href="@@summary">summary</a> area is
|
|
moved or resized.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Auto-scroll editor window when dragging near its edges</dfn>
|
|
when enabled will scroll the editor window automatically when dragging a
|
|
region. This can make it easier to see where to position the region.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Auto-scroll speed when dragging playhead:</dfn> chooses how fast the canvas
|
|
scrolls when dragging the playhead outside of the visible canvas.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Limit zooming & summary view to X minutes beyond session extents:</dfn>
|
|
prevents the zoom out both in the editor and the summary, to show anything past
|
|
the chosen time after the end marker, restraining the vision to only useful
|
|
content.
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Editor Behaviour</dfn>
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Move relevant automation when audio regions are moved</dfn>,
|
|
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.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Ignore Y-axis click position when adding new automation-points</dfn>
|
|
allows to create new automation points at the x-position of the mouse, without
|
|
using the Y-position as the value, hence creating a new automation point at
|
|
its present value.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Automation edit cancels auto hide</dfn> determines wether automation
|
|
lanes that have been automatically shown because of the
|
|
<kbd class="option">Edit > Show Automation Lane on Touch</kbd>
|
|
option should be kept visible if the automation has been touched.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Default fade shape:</dfn> sets which <a href="@@create-region-fades-and-crossfades">
|
|
fade shape</a> is the default.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Regions in active edit groups are edited together:</dfn> sets
|
|
the criteria to see if editing actions apply to tracks grouped together
|
|
in an group.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Layering model:</dfn> Ardour allows <a href="@@layering-display">layering</a>
|
|
multiple regions in the same track. This selector defines how these layers are
|
|
managed, either manually or by placing the latest on top.
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Split/Separate</dfn>
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>After a Separate operation, in Range mode:</dfn> determines what
|
|
should become of the Range selection after a Separate operations:
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>Clear the Range Selection: nothing is selected anymore</li>
|
|
<li>Preserve the Range Selection: the range selection is kept</li>
|
|
<li>Force-Select the regions under the range: the regions that
|
|
were in the range selection are selected in Grab/Object mode</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>After a Split operation, in Object mode:</dfn> determines which,
|
|
if any, regions are selected after a split operation. The options are:
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>Clear the Region Selection: nothing is selected anymore</li>
|
|
<li>Select only the newly-created regions BEFORE the split point:
|
|
</li>if regions have been affected by the split, then the regions
|
|
created by the split before the split point is selected
|
|
<li>Select only the newly-created regions BEFORE the split point:
|
|
same as above, for the regions created after the split point</li>
|
|
<li>Select the newly-created regions: sum of the two above, i.e. all
|
|
the regions that are created as a result of the split are selected.</li>
|
|
<li>Preserve the existing selection, AND select all newly-created regions:
|
|
same as above (all the parts that have been created by the split) plus
|
|
the unaffected regions that were selected before the split.</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
<h3 id="preferences-editor-snap">Snap</h3>
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>General Snap options:</dfn>
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Snap Threshold (pixels):</dfn> is the maximum distance between
|
|
a snap anchor and an object for Ardour to force the object to be
|
|
placed precisely at that anchor.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Approximate Grid/Ruler granularity (pixels):</dfn> Ardour tries
|
|
to show a reasonable number of grid lines at the current zoom level
|
|
and in the available screen estate. This value tells Ardour what the
|
|
approximate absolute distance between two closest grid lines should
|
|
be, so that it displays the most relevant grid scale to approximately
|
|
fit this distance.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Show "snapped cursor"</dfn> If the Edit point is not the playhead,
|
|
shows the currently selected Edit point as a blue line, to indicate
|
|
where the next editing operation will occur.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Snap rubberband selection to grid</dfn> makes the highlighted
|
|
zone created by an area selection also snap to grid, i.e. the beginning
|
|
and end of the resulting selecting box will both be grid anchors.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Grid switches to alternate selection for Internal Edit Tools</dfn>
|
|
Two levels of grid mode can coexist in Ardour, one for global regions
|
|
manipulations, and one for finer, in-region editing (e.g. for placing
|
|
MIDI events in a MIDI region). When this option is checked, entering
|
|
Internal Edit mode makes the grid mode switch from one mode to the other.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Rulers automatically change to follow the Grid mode selection</dfn>
|
|
If enabled, changing the Grid mode also makes the relevant
|
|
<a href="@@ruler">ruler</a> visible, while hiding the other ones.
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>When "Snap" is enabled, snap to:</dfn>
|
|
Lists the different possible anchors to which an object should snap to, among:
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>Markers</li>
|
|
<li>Region Sync points</li>
|
|
<li>Region Starts</li>
|
|
<li>Region Ends</li>
|
|
<li>Grid</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
<h3 id="preferences-editor-modifiers">Modifiers</h3>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
This page allows to choose how things are done in the editor. This is a very
|
|
flexible way for Ardour to match an existing workflow, or speed up the editing
|
|
process based on the user's most used actions.
|
|
</p>
|
|
<p>
|
|
The <kbd class="menu">Reset to recommended defaults</kbd> button at the bottom
|
|
provides a way to revert any user made change to its default value.
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<h2 id="preferences-midi">MIDI</h2>
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Session</dfn>
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Allow non quarter-note pulse</dfn>: by default, Ardour understands the <a
|
|
href="@@tempo-and-meter">tempo</a> as the number of quarter notes in a minute.
|
|
Checking this option allows to set the tempo based on any division of the note,
|
|
from whole to 1/128th. This is reflected in the <kbd class="menu">Edit
|
|
Tempo</kbd> window (accessed by double clicking a tempo marker) that shows a
|
|
"Pulse" menu when this option is checked.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Initial program change:</dfn> Ardour will send a MIDI program
|
|
change message on the <code>ardour:MMC out</code> MIDI port when a session
|
|
is loaded and whenever this field is changed. A value of -1 means don't
|
|
send any program change message.
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Audition</dfn>
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Sound MIDI notes as they are selected in the editor</dfn> will play
|
|
any selected or added MIDI note when in Draw or Internal Edit modes. The
|
|
note is sent as MIDI as if Ardour was playing it withe the session, so the
|
|
processors and signal routing will be applied.
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Virtual Keyboard</dfn>
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Virtual Keyboard Layout:</dfn> selects which (if any) computer
|
|
keyboard layout is used to be mapped on the keys of the musical
|
|
keyboard of the Virtual Keyboard (<kbd class="menu">Window > Virtual Keyboard</kbd>).
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
</ul>
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>MIDI Port Options</dfn>
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>MIDI input follows MIDI track selection</dfn> allows Ardour to automatically
|
|
connect the MIDI input to the selected track. Selecting a different MIDI
|
|
track results in Ardour disconnecting the MIDI device from the former track
|
|
and connecting it to the newly selected one, so that the MIDI device is
|
|
always connected to the selected track. Which MIDI device will follow
|
|
selection can be chosen below.
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
<h2 id="preferences-transport">Transport</h2>
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>General</dfn>
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Prompt for new marker names</dfn> 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.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Stop at the end of the session</dfn> causes the transport to
|
|
stop during playback when it reaches the end marker. Behavior during
|
|
recording is not changed.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Keep record-enable engaged on stop</dfn> leaves the global
|
|
record-enable engaged after transport is stopped. Does not affect track
|
|
level record-enable which is never changed on stop.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Reset default speed on stop</dfn> when the
|
|
<a href="@@transport-bar">Shuttle speed control</a> is in <em>wheel</em>
|
|
mode, i.e. the transport speed can be constantly changed, enabling this
|
|
option makes these changes temporary, and the transport speed reset
|
|
each time the transport is stopped.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Disable per-track record disarm while rolling</dfn>, when
|
|
enabled, will not allow the any track's record-enable to be disarmed
|
|
during record, preventing accidentally stopping the recording of a take.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>12dB gain reduction during fast-forward and fast-rewind</dfn>
|
|
when enabled will reduce the unpleasant increase in perceived volume
|
|
that occurs when fast-forwarding or rewinding through some kinds of audio.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Rewind/Fast-forward buttons change direction immediately</dfn>
|
|
sets wether Rewind and Fast-forward transport operations
|
|
(<kbd class="menu">Transport > Forward/Rewind</kbd>) changes the
|
|
playback direction and speed abruptly, or gradually.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Allow auto-return after rewind/ffwd operations</dfn>
|
|
if <a href="@@other-toolbar-items#playhead_options">Auto return</a>is engaged, sets wether
|
|
it applies to rewind and fast-forward operations.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Preroll:</dfn> sets the duration of the preroll for playing and
|
|
recording when using a preroll. Can be a musical duration (in bars) or a
|
|
duration in seconds.
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Looping</dfn>
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Play loop is a transport mode</dfn> changes the behavior of the
|
|
loop button, turning it into a toggle. When enabled, the loop button does
|
|
not start playback but forces playback to always play the loop. Looping
|
|
stays engaged when the transport is stopped. Playback continues where the
|
|
transport stopped and continues to loop. When disabled, the loop button
|
|
starts playing the loop but stop then cancels loop playback.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Loop Fades:</dfn> when the transport moves from the end of the loop
|
|
range back to the beginning, clicks might be audible. This parameter
|
|
allows for adding fades (in, out or cross-) to prevent those clicks.
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Dropout (xrun) Handling</dfn>
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Stop recording when an xrun occurs</dfn> will stop the transport
|
|
when an xrun occurs during recording, ensuring no audible glitches are
|
|
recorded.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Create markers where xruns occur</dfn> will create a new
|
|
<a href="@@working-with-markers">marker</a> when an xrun occurs during
|
|
recording at the location of the xrun. This marks where possible xruns
|
|
might produce audible glitches.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Reset x-runs counter when starting to record</dfn>, when enabled,
|
|
sets the x-run counter in the <a href="@@status-bar">Status bar</a>
|
|
to 0 each time a recording is started, hence showing only the relevant
|
|
number of x-run while recording.
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Plugins</dfn>
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Silence plugins when the transport is stopped</dfn> when stopping
|
|
playback or recording, if this option is checked, the plugins that still
|
|
emit sound (reverbs, etc…) will be stopped. If unchecked, the plugins
|
|
will continue playing after the transport stop.
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
<h3 id="preferences-transport-chase">Chase</h3>
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>MIDI Machine Control (MMC)</dfn>
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Respond to MMC commands</dfn> when enabled Ardour will respond
|
|
to MIDI Machine Control commands received on the <code>ardour:MMC in</code>
|
|
MIDI port.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Inbound MMC device ID:</dfn> is the only device ID Ardour will
|
|
respond to when an MMC command is received on the <code>ardour:MMC in</code>
|
|
MIDI port.
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Transport Masters</dfn>
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Show Transport Master Window</dfn> Opens the Transport masters
|
|
window, where all the timecode sources are shown to be selected
|
|
and/or synchronized; same as clicking <kbd class="menu">Window >
|
|
Transport Masters</kbd>
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Match session video frame rate to external timecode</dfn>
|
|
controls the value of the video frame rate <em>while chasing</em>
|
|
an external timecode source. When enabled, the session video frame rate will be
|
|
changed to match that of the selected external timecode source. When disabled,
|
|
the session video frame rate will not be changed to match that of the selected
|
|
external timecode source. Instead, the frame rate indication in the main clock
|
|
will flash red and Ardour will convert between the external timecode standard
|
|
and the session standard.
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
<h3 id="preferences-transport-generate">Generate</h3>
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Linear Timecode (LTC) Generator</dfn>
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Enable LTC generator</dfn> when enabled Ardour will
|
|
output an LTC timecode signal on its <em>LTC-out</em> port.
|
|
If this option is checked, the two options below are active:
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Send LTC while stopped</dfn>, (only available when the previous
|
|
<em>Enable LTC generator</em> is on) when enabled Ardour will
|
|
continue to send LTC information even while the transport (playhead)
|
|
is not moving.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>LTC generator level [dBFS]:</dfn> specifies the peak volume of
|
|
the generated LTC signal in dbFS. A good value is 0dBu=−18dbFS
|
|
in an EBU calibrated system.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>LTC Output Port:</dfn> selects to which port (if any) the
|
|
LTC generator will be connected by default.
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>MIDI Time Code (MTC) Generator</dfn>
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Enable MTC Generator</dfn> when enabled Ardour will generate MIDI
|
|
time code on the <code>ardour:MTC out</code> MIDI port.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Max MTC varispeed (%):</dfn>
|
|
MIDI time code generation will be disabled when the transport speed is
|
|
greater than normal speed plus this percentage or less than normal minus
|
|
this percentage.
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>MIDI Machine Control (MMC)</dfn>
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Send MMC commands</dfn> when enabled Ardour will send MIDI Machine
|
|
Control commands on the <code>ardour:MMC out</code>
|
|
MIDI port.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Outbound MMC device ID:</dfn> is the MIDI device ID Ardour will
|
|
use when it sends MMC commands.
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>MIDI Beat Clock (Mclk) Generator</dfn>
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Enable Mclk generator</dfn> when enabled Ardour will generate a
|
|
(tempo dependant) beat clock at a rate of 24 pulses per quarter note on
|
|
the <code>ardour:MIDI clock out</code> port.
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
<h2 id="preferences-plugins">Plugins</h2>
|
|
|
|
<p class="note">
|
|
The content of this preference page varies heavily between versions or Ardour:
|
|
both the platform and the build-time options can make Ardour support some types
|
|
of plugins and not others. While this documentation tries to show all possible
|
|
options, most systems will only show a subset of the options hereunder, e.g.
|
|
AudioUnits are macOS only…
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Scan/Discover</dfn>
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Scan for Plugins</dfn> will initiate an immediate scan of the system
|
|
for available plugins. Useful to get a newly installed plugin recognised
|
|
by Ardour.
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>General</dfn>
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Always Display Plugin Scan Progress</dfn> When enabled a
|
|
popup window showing plugin scan progress is displayed for indexing
|
|
(cache load) and discovery (detect new plugins).
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Make new plugins active</dfn> when enabled, any plugin added to a track
|
|
will be in active mode. If unchecked, the plugins will be added in inactive
|
|
mode by default, hence have no processing effect on the track/bus.
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>LV1/LV2</dfn>
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Conceal LADSPA (LV1) Plugins if matching LV2 exists</dfn> When
|
|
enabled, gives precedence to the LV2 (more up-to-date) version of
|
|
a plugin over its LV1 version, if both exists.
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Plugin GUI</dfn>
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Automatically open the plugin GUI when adding a new plugin</dfn>
|
|
shows the plugins GUI as soon as it is added to the processing box. If
|
|
unchecked, the plugin will be added in the processor box but the GUI will
|
|
only be shown when <kbd class="mouse">double clicking</kbd> it.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Show Plugin Inline Display on Mixer strip by default</dfn> allows Ardour
|
|
to show, in the <a href="@@audiomidi-mixer-strips">mixer strips</a>, a
|
|
visual rendering of the effect. These Inline Display are a special feature
|
|
of Ardour, so not all plugins are able to show this display. Most of Ardour's
|
|
<a href="@@plugins-bundled-with-ardour">own plugins</a> have an Inline Display.
|
|
At any time, the plugin's Inline Display can be toggled on or off by
|
|
<kbd class="mod3n"></kbd>double-clicking it.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Don't automatically open the plugin GUI when the plugin has an inline
|
|
display mode</dfn>: this option, available only if
|
|
<kbd class="option">Automatically open the plugin GUI when adding a new plugin</kbd>
|
|
is checked, supercedes it and hides the plugin GUI at creation if it has an
|
|
Inline Display, like Ardour's own <code>ACE *</code> plugins.
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Instrument</dfn>
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Ask to replace existing instrument plugin</dfn>: if a MIDI track already
|
|
has an instrument (i.e. MIDI to audio converter of some sort) and this
|
|
option is checked, Ardour will detect it and offer to replace the existing
|
|
instrument with the newly added one, avoiding a possible conflict.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Interactively configure instrument plugins on insert</dfn>: when inserting
|
|
a multichannel instrument plugin, if this option is checked, prompts the
|
|
user for the channel configuration for this plugin.
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Statistics</dfn>
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Reset Statistics</dfn>: clears the statistics used to determine
|
|
the most used and most recently used plugins.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Plugin chart (use-count) length:</dfn> In the Mixer view's
|
|
<a href="@@favorite-plugins-window">favorite plugins</a> section,
|
|
determines how many plugins are displayed when in <em>Top-10 Plugins</em>
|
|
mode.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Plugin recent list length:</dfn> Same as above,
|
|
when in <em>Recent Plugins</em> mode.
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
<h3 id="preferences-plugins-vst">VST</h3>
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>VST</dfn>
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Enable Mac VST support (requires restart or re-scan)</dfn> makes a
|
|
MacOs system able to run VST-Mac plugins. As stated, a new scan for plugins
|
|
is required, be it manually or by restarting Ardour.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Scan for [new] VST Plugins on Application Start</dfn> When
|
|
enabled new VST plugins are searched, tested and added to the cache
|
|
index on application start. When disabled new plugins will only be
|
|
available after triggering a 'Scan' manually.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Verbose Plugin Scan</dfn>: adds information about the plugin in the
|
|
<a href="@@status-bar">Log window</a>.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Scan Time Out</dfn> Specifies the default timeout for plugin
|
|
instantiation. Plugins that require more time to load will be
|
|
blacklisted. A value of ∞ disables the timeout.
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>VST 2.x</dfn>
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>VST 2 Cache:</dfn> Clicking the <kbd class="menu">Clear</kbd> button
|
|
removes all VST plugins from the list of plugins available to be
|
|
inserted into the processor box. A new VST plugin scan is then required.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>VST 2 Blacklist:</dfn> Clicking the <kbd class="menu">Clear</kbd>
|
|
button makes blacklisted VST plugins available to be added to the processor
|
|
box.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Linux VST2 Path:</dfn> Clicking the <kbd class="menu">Edit</kbd> button
|
|
pops up a dialog to manage the directories that will be searched for Linux
|
|
VST plugins. When modified, Ardour will offer to scan those paths for plugins.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Path:</dfn> are the paths chosen above.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Windows VST Path:</dfn> Clicking the <kbd class="menu">Edit</kbd> button
|
|
pops up a dialog to manage the directories that will be searched for Windows
|
|
VST plugins. When modified, Ardour will offer to scan those paths for plugins.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Path:</dfn> are the paths chosen above.
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>VST 3</dfn>
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>VST 3 Cache:</dfn> Same as above, for VST 3
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>VST 3 Blacklist:</dfn> Same as above, for VST 3
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Additional VST3 Path:</dfn> The VST 3 specs clearly define where
|
|
the host application should look for plugins. Although Ardour provides a
|
|
way to search other directories for plugin, it is out of spec and not
|
|
recommanded.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Conceal VST2 Plugin if matching LV3 exists</dfn> When
|
|
enabled, gives precedence to the VST3 (more up-to-date) version of
|
|
a plugin over its VST2 version, if both exists.
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
<h3 id="preferences-plugins-audio_unit">Audio Unit</h3>
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Audio Unit</dfn>
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Scan for [new] AudioUnit Plugins on Application Start</dfn> When
|
|
enabled, new AU plugins are searched, tested and added to the cache
|
|
index on application start. When disabled, new plugins will only be
|
|
available after triggering a 'Scan' manually.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>AU Cache:</dfn> Clicking the <kbd class="menu">Clear</kbd> button
|
|
removes all AU plugins from the list of plugins available to be
|
|
inserted into the processor box. A new AU plugins scan is then required.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>AU Blacklist:</dfn> Clicking the <kbd class="menu">Clear</kbd>
|
|
button makes blacklisted AU plugins available to be added to the processor
|
|
box.
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
<h2 id="preferences-monitoring">Monitoring</h2>
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Monitoring</dfn>
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Record monitoring handled by:</dfn> determines whether Ardour provides
|
|
monitoring of incoming audio or whether monitoring is provided by hardware.
|
|
See <a href="@@monitoring">Monitoring</a> for more information.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Auto Input does 'Talkback'</dfn> when enabled, the
|
|
<kbd class="option">Transport > Auto Input</kbd> option also sets
|
|
the tracks to monitor its audio input when transport is not rolling.
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Solo</dfn> contains settings that affect the use of
|
|
<a href="@@muting-and-soloing">solo, muting</a>, and
|
|
<a href="@@panning">panning</a>.
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Solo controls are Listen controls</dfn>: when enabled, the
|
|
soloed track is soloed only on the monitor bus, the master fader mix
|
|
is not affected by the solo. This option can also be set by enabling
|
|
pre-fader listen or after-fader listen in the <strong>Mixer</strong>
|
|
monitor section.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Exclusive solo</dfn> when enabled will only solo the last
|
|
track selected for solo. Previously soloed tracks will be un-soloed.
|
|
This setting is also available from the <strong>Mixer</strong> monitor
|
|
section.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Show solo muting</dfn> when enabled outlines the mute
|
|
button on tracks and busses when another track is soloed.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Soloing overrides muting</dfn> when enabled allows a track
|
|
to be heard when it is soloed while muted. This setting is also
|
|
available from the <strong>Mixer</strong> monitor section.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Solo-in-place mute cut (dB):</dfn> sets the attenuation of
|
|
the other tracks when another track is soloed in place. This setting
|
|
is also available from the <strong>Mixer</strong> monitor section. The
|
|
default is "−inf" for −∞, meaning the other tracks are
|
|
totally muted.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Listen Position:</dfn> determines what is listened to when
|
|
the solo controls are used as listen controls. The options are
|
|
after-fader or pre-fader.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>PFL signals come from:</dfn> determines whether the
|
|
pre-fader listen position is before or after the pre-fader processors.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>AFL signals come from:</dfn> determines whether the
|
|
after-fader listen position is before or after the after-fader
|
|
processors.
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
<h2 id="preferences-signal_flow">Signal Flow</h2>
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Master</dfn>
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Enable master-bus output gain control</dfn> adds a gain-stage to
|
|
the master-bus and a Loudness Analyzer & Normalizer button that
|
|
calculates the Loudness (LUFS) of the session (or a range selection),
|
|
and normalizes the loudness according to various standards.
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Default Track / Bus Muting Options</dfn> sets the muting options
|
|
for a newly created tracks or bus. The mute options for an existing track
|
|
or bus are changed by the right-click context menu on a mute button.
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Mute affects pre-fader sends</dfn> when enabled pre-fader
|
|
sends will be muted by default.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Mute affects post-fader sends</dfn> when enabled post-fader
|
|
sends will be muted by default.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Mute affects control outputs</dfn> when enabled control
|
|
outputs are muted by default.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Mute affects main outputs</dfn> when enabled main outputs
|
|
are muted by default.
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Send Routing</dfn> affects <a href="@@aux-sends">aux and external sends</a>.
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Link panners of Aux and External Sends with main panner by default</dfn>
|
|
when enabled, sends follow the channel panner. When disabled, sends can panned
|
|
independently of the channel panner and fader. Double clicking the send in the
|
|
processor box toggles the main panner and fader between the aux send and the
|
|
channel.
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Audio Regions</dfn>
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Replicate missing region channels</dfn>: if a track is N-channel,
|
|
and the region has fewer channels, this option copies the existing
|
|
channel's data for this non-existent one. If left unchecked, the missing
|
|
channels will stay silent.
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Track and Bus Connections</dfn>
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Auto-connect main output (master or monitor) bus to physical ports</dfn>
|
|
auto-connects the outputs to the first N physical ports. In a session without a
|
|
<a href="@@monitor-section">monitor section</a>, the master-bus is
|
|
connected to the system's playback ports, and if a monitor section exists,
|
|
the monitor-bus' output are connected.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Connect track inputs:</dfn> allows to choose when a new track is
|
|
created whether its inputs will be automatically connected to the physical
|
|
inputs of the system or not (hence the user has to manually connect it).
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Connect track and bus outputs:</dfn> allows to choose, for any new
|
|
track or bus created, whether its output will automatically be connected
|
|
to the master bus, directly to the physical outputs or to nothing (the
|
|
user has to manually connect it).
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Use 'Strict-I/O' for new tracks or busses</dfn> determines the default
|
|
choice for the <a href="@@trackbus-signal-flow">signal flow</a> of a newly created track or bus.
|
|
This can be overridden in the <a href="@@adding-tracks-busses-and-vcas">
|
|
Add Track/Bus/VCA</a> dialog
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
<h2 id="preferences-metronome">Metronome</h2>
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Metronome</dfn> handles the way Ardour's metronome is played when
|
|
enabled in the <a href="@@transport-bar">Transport Bar</a>.
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Emphasis on first beat</dfn> plays a different sound when the first
|
|
beat is played (e.g. 1/4 in 4/4, 1/3 in 3/4,…). When unchecked, all
|
|
the beats are indistinguishable.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Use built-in default sounds</dfn> when checked, uses Ardour's own
|
|
sounds for the metronome click. Unchecking this allows to set some custom
|
|
sounds below.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Audio file:</dfn> selects an audio file for the beats, in any
|
|
<a href="@@supported-file-formats">format</a> Ardour supports.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Emphasis audio file:</dfn> in conjunction with
|
|
<kbd class="option">Emphasis on first beat</kbd>, selects an audio file
|
|
for the first beats of each bar.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Gain level:</dfn> allows the metronome's click sounds to be boosted
|
|
or attenuated.
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Options</dfn>
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Enable Metronome only while recording</dfn>: when enabled, the
|
|
metronome will remain silent unless Ardour is recording.
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h2 id="preferences-control_surfaces">Control Surfaces</h2>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
This tab contains settings for <a href="@@control-surfaces">control surfaces</a>.
|
|
</p>
|
|
<p>
|
|
It lists all the Control Surface protocols Ardour knows. To enable a
|
|
<dfn>Control Surface Protocol</dfn>, the <kbd class="option">Enable</kbd> checkbox
|
|
next to its name should be ticked. Editing the settings related to this protocol
|
|
can be done by double-clicking its name or clicking the <kbd class="menu">Show
|
|
protocol settings</kbd> (only for Generic MIDI and Open Sound Control).
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<h2 id="preferences-metering">Metering</h2>
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Metering</dfn>
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Peak hold time:</dfn> allows the meter to keep displaying the highest
|
|
signal level for a period of time before reverting to showing the actual
|
|
instantaneous value (unless an even higher peak occurs). The longer this
|
|
time is, the easier it is to spot peaks, at the expense of instantaneous
|
|
accuracy.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>DPM fall-off:</dfn> describes how fast the Digital Peak Meters can
|
|
go from a high value to a lower one. Faster values are more accurate but
|
|
less readable.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Meter line-up level; 0 dBu:</dfn> chooses a standard for the
|
|
conversion between dBFS (Full Scale) which represent the numeric signal
|
|
level, and dBu which represents the analog signal level. This value is used
|
|
to configure meter-marks and color knee-points, or set the reference levels
|
|
for various meter-types.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>IEC1/DIN Meter line-up level; 0 dBu:</dfn> sets the reference
|
|
level for the IEC1/DIN Meter
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>VU Meter standard:</dfn> selects which standard to use for the zero
|
|
value of the vu-meters, i.e. the analog dBu value that will show as 0 on the
|
|
VU-meter.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Peak indicator threshold [dBFS]:</dfn> at that value and over, the
|
|
signal will make the peak meter to turn red, indicating a level too high.
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Default Meter Types</dfn> sets the default meters when creating a session
|
|
or track. These meters can be changed afterwards by
|
|
<kbd class="mouse">right</kbd>-clicking a meter.
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Default Meter Type for Master Bus:</dfn> defines which kind of
|
|
<a href="@@metering-in-ardour">meter</a> will be used when creating a new
|
|
session (does not apply to the current session).
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Default Meter Type for busses:</dfn> defines which kind of
|
|
meter will be used when creating a new bus (applies to the bus created
|
|
after changing the value).
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Default Meter Type for tracks:</dfn> same as above, for tracks.
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Region Analysis</dfn>
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Enable automatic analysis of audio</dfn> generates the transient
|
|
values (used in e.g. the <a href="@@rhythm-ferret">Rhythm Ferret</a>)
|
|
automatically. When unchecked, the transient values will be generated
|
|
on demand.
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
<h2 id="preferences-performance">Performance</h2>
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>DSP CPU Utilization</dfn>
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Signal processing uses:</dfn> sets how many cpu processors can be
|
|
used to do signal processing. It can be set to use one up to all
|
|
processors.
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>CPU/FPU Denormals</dfn> are a specific type of very small numbers that
|
|
can cause issues with CPU consumption when using some plugins in some
|
|
circumstances. Ardour provides two methods of handling the issue.
|
|
Trying different combinations of these settings may minimize CPU consumption.
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Use DC bias to protect against denormals</dfn> adds a small
|
|
constant value to numbers to move the numbers away from zero.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Processor handling:</dfn>, if the computer's hardware
|
|
supports it, offers two methods that can be used individually or
|
|
combined. Flush to zero and denormals are zero.
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Disk I/O Buffering</dfn> settings determine how many seconds of
|
|
audio off of disk will be buffered in memory. Longer settings reduce
|
|
the risk of buffer under-runs but consume more memory.
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Preset:</dfn> will automatically choose the values for the playback
|
|
and recording buffer based on the chosen size of the session. The
|
|
<strong>Custom</strong> option allows to manually select the buffers with
|
|
the two sliders below.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Playback (seconds of buffering):</dfn> sets how many seconds of
|
|
audio Ardour will buffer during playback.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Recording (seconds of buffering):</dfn> sets how many seconds of
|
|
audio Ardour will buffer during recording.
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Memory Usage</dfn>
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Waveform image cache (megabytes):</dfn> sets the maximum amount of ram that
|
|
can be used to store the images representing the waveforms in the editor. Past
|
|
this amount, the images will be regenerated when needed, which can significantly
|
|
decrease the system's performance.
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Automation</dfn>
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<strong>Thinning factor</strong> ranges from 0 to 1000 with larger
|
|
values sending fewer automation changes. Thinning is like lossy
|
|
audio compression, removing data that is less likely to be noticed,
|
|
although the more is removed, the more likely the loss will be noticed.
|
|
The advantage to thinning is reduced CPU usage.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<strong>Automation sampling interval</strong> ranges from 1 to
|
|
1000 ms. Determines how frequently the automation input is
|
|
sampled. The shorter the interval the higher the accuracy but also
|
|
the higher the CPU requirements.
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Automatables</dfn>
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Limit automatable parameters per plugin</dfn>: as some plugins
|
|
(synthesizers, …) have a lot of parameters, and those parameters
|
|
can be automated by Ardour, checking this will limit the number of parameters
|
|
that are listed as automatable, hence making the lists shorter and the GUI
|
|
more responsive.
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
<h2 id="preferences-video">Video</h2>
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Video Server</dfn>
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Show Video Export Info before export</dfn> Shows a warning message
|
|
when exporting a video about licensing and offers to open the
|
|
<a href="@@workflow-amp-operations#export">export video</a> section of
|
|
this manual.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Show Video Server Startup Dialog</dfn>: when using video inside Ardour,
|
|
this video is accessed via Xjadeo from a source file through a Video Server.
|
|
This options shows the server's startup dialog (useful for debugging a
|
|
malfunctioning video).
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Advanced Setup (remote video server)</dfn> can be used when the setup
|
|
is more complex than opening a local file with Ardour. The tools used behind
|
|
the scene by Ardour allow a lot of flexibility, so for a competent user,
|
|
the options below are provided to access a distant file (i.e. on another
|
|
machine). The default options for the two following fields ("http://localhost:1554"
|
|
and "/") are suitable for local files.
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Video Server URL:</dfn> Base URL of the video server delivering the video
|
|
through the network (<code>http://IP-or-address:port</code>).
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Video folder</dfn> is the server's local path to the document-root,
|
|
i.e. the files that can be delivered by the server.
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
</li>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Video Monitor</dfn>
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li>
|
|
<dfn>Custom Path to Video Monitor (xjadeo) - leave empty for default:</dfn>
|
|
Ardour bundles offer xjadeo bundled, so it should run flawlessly. Though,
|
|
for custom builds or if a newer version of xjadeo is available, one can
|
|
specify a path to the wanted version of xjadeo.
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|