User:Crantila/FSC/Recording/Ardour

Address: User:Crantila/FSC/Recording/Ardour

Somewhere, somehow, I'll need to tell my readers that the "Recording a Session" section is intended to be done as a contiuous work-flow, which then becomes the next large section.

Requirements and Installation

(no algorithms)

Requirements

List of Software Requirements:

• libgnomecanvas
• libsigc++
• jack-audio-connection-kit
• glibmm24
• cwiid
• libgnomecanvasmm26
• raptor
• fftw
• liblrdf
• libxslt
• libsndfile
• libart_lgpl
• aubio
• libsamplerate

Additional Requirements

• recording-capable sound card
• JACK
• audio equipment to allow recording

Installation

• Use PackageKit or KPackageKit or run su -c 'yum install ardour'

Recording a Session

(no algorithms)

Running Ardour

When you run Ardour...

1. If JACK is not started, you will be prompted to start it.
2. You will be prompted to either choose a location to save your new session, or to open an existing session.
3. If you are creating a new session, (?? you can change the Advanced Options later ??)

• The sample rate in JACK must be the same each time you open a session.
• You can also go 'Session > New' to create a new session.

The Interface

This will be terms and descriptions used for the interface. I'll probably bring in pictures, too.

Also, "What is a Region?"

Setting up the Timeline

1. See the two clocks?
2. Right-click to choose what you want them to display:
   • "Bars:Beats" displays the number of bars and beats (how to use it?)
   • "Minutes:Seconds" displays the time since beginning of track (how to use it?)
   • "Timecode" displays frames-per-second timecode (usually for work with films)
   • "Samples" displays the samples since start (how to use it?)
3. Set the two clocks as desired (maybe turn one off if you only want one)

1. See the "Snap Mode" menus?
2. This controls where regions may move. Best choices here probably correspond to what you wanted the clocks to say.
3. left menu:
   • No Grid: regions can go wherever they want
   • Grid: regions must start on the nearest grid point
   • Magnetic: regions can move freely, but when they are near a grid point, they will automatically 'snap' to it
4. middle menu: (how to place the grid-lines)
   • SMPTE things: for timecode
   • seconds and minutes: for time
   • beats and bars: for that
   • Region stuff: edges of regions
5. Explain the thing to the right, which allows you to move the playhead by certain amounts.

1. See the timeline?
2. Use the right-click (context?) menu to select which elements you want to display
3. It will depend on what you've set the clocks to say, and the snap mode
4. Most of the fields will display nothing until you make them do something

Connecting Audio Sources to Ardour

The name of the track onto which you want to record should be the name of the input jack in JACK

Setting up the Busses and Tracks

This is what a bus is. By default there's a master bus, to which will be sent everything you're going to export. Busses don't contain regions. A bus is like a "batch collecting zone," so for example you send all the audio-to-be-exported to the master bus, where you can subject the whole project to a particular filter or volume-adjustment.

Add a track for recording:

1. Click 'Track > Add Track/Bus'
2. ensure that "Tracks" is selected
3. set the number (probably 1)
4. select the number of input channels (probably "Stereo" meaning 2)
5. select the mode
   • "Normal": creates a new Region for each recording "take"
   • "Tape": will destructively record of whatever is already recorded (like a tape)
6. Click 'Add' to create them

Rename the tracks, so that you know what's on them:

1. easiest way is click on the track name on the box-thing on the left side of the big area
2. erase what's there and put in a better name
3. when you're done, press "enter"

Adjusting Recording Volume

Unless you're just learning or doing quick, personal-use experimentation, it is important to properly set the level of the inputs betfore recording.

The nature of audio equipment (including our ears, I think?) is such that it can only perceive sound pressures (perceived as volume) within a certain range. If a sound is too quiet, it will not be perceived, and if it is too loud, it will not be perceived accurately. Furthermore, and this is most important when thinking about one's own ears, if a sound is far too loud, it may permanently damage the audio instrument.

The nature of digital audio is such that there is a distinct number of volume levels at which something can be recorded. If a sound is either below or above that range, then it will not be correctly recorded. When such an improperly-recorded sound is played back, whether too quite or too loud, humans will usually perceive it as "nothing but noise."

It's easy to imagine how Ardour acts when it records silence, but to see what happens when a signal is too loud, look at these images that I've taken from the FLOSSmanual tutorial (hopefully):

IMAGES!!!

There are three simple strategies that can be used to change the input level of an audio signal:

1. Move the microphone closer or farther from the source
2. Route the microphone through a mixer before it hits the audio interface
3. Route the audio through a bus in Ardour before it gets recorded

Here are the pros and cons of each approach.

There are some circumstances where it is either impractical, impossible, or not advisable to move the microphone or route it through a hardware mixer. In these cases, you can use a bus in Ardour to modify the volume of the input signal before it is recorded.

1. Create a new bus by 'Track > Add Track/Bus'
2. Select "busses" in the window that pops up.
3. Choose the number of busses that you wish to add. You will need one for every track that you are recording, and of which you want to adjust the volume. It's also possible to record at several different volumes.
4. Set the number of channels that youw ant int he bus.
5. Once you have the new bus, change its name by doing whatever. I suggest naming it something that makes it obvious you are using the bus for recording, rather than exporting, like "REC-Bus."
6. Ardour automatically sets up busses to be used with audio being outputted. Furthermore, the volume/level control only works on audio beign outputted from a track or bus. This is why you cannot use the track's volume/level control to adjust the input volume for that track.
7. You will need to use QjackCtl (or a similar application) to re-connect as follows (reading "Routing Audio and Managing JACK Connections" for help)
   1. Disconnect all of the connections to/from the bus you want to use for recording ("recording bus").
   2. Ensure that nothing is connected to the input of the track onto which you want to record ("recording track").
   3. Connect the microphone (the input source) to the recording bus' input
   4. Connect the input bus' output to the recording track's input.
   5. Ensure that the recording track's output is connected to the "master" input (this is the master output bus, which should be present in all projects, and through which all output audio should be routed).

Remember: only one track-to-be-recorded can be routed through a bus for this purpose, because a bus can only output one stream of audio.

Here is an algorithm to test whether your tracks are set at a good recording volume. This should be done before arming any tracks for recording. Unfortunately, you can never know that you have chosen the best input level until after a region is recorded. It takes both instinct and experience to be able to choose good input levels reliably.

1. Set up all microphones as required.
2. Set up connections in JACK as required.
3. Set up any recording busses as required (see above).
4. On the audio tracks being recorded, set the "metering point" to "input" (here's how to do that).
5. Ask the performers to demonstrate the loudest passages they will be doing in the session. Adjust the input level so that the maximum level falls between -3 dB and -6 dB (by looking here). You can reset the maximum-level-seer by clicking on it.
6. Ask the performers to demonstrate the quietest passages they will be performing in the session. Adjust the input level so that this does not fall below -40 dB; it should probably be between -30 dB and -20 dB.
7. Ask the performers to demonstrate an average passage from what they will be performing in the session. This is usually less important than the previous two checks, but if most of the performance will be quieter, it may be worth risking a higher input level in order to capture more detail. Nevertheless, a "moderate" volume level should result in and input level reading of -20 dB to -10 dB.
8. When you are more experience both with the kind of group you are recording, and the software and equipment being used to do it, you may not need to do these level-checks every time. It's better to be safe than sorry, however, because once a musical moment has passed, it is impossible to re-create.

Recording a Region

As you progressively record a session, you will create at least one region.

Warning about audio being put out the "audition" output by default (use headphones)

1. Ensure that the inputs, timeline, and tracks are properly set up.
2. if there is nothing to the left of the editor window, press Ctrl+E or 'View > Show Editor Mixer'
3. Select the track you're recording onto
4. set the metering point to "input" and verify that it's working correctly and connected to the right thing (say what this does, and why you want to do it now)
5. See "Adjusting Recording Volume" below, and do it now
6. Arm the track for recording: either press "Record" in the track's mixer in the left, or press the small red record button on the track itself
7. the buttons will remain lighted to show that the tracks are armed
8. arm Ardour for recording by select the big red record button on the transport
9. start the transport in in the normal way (big play button)
10. when you're done recording, stop the transport with the big stop button
11. each time you start and stop the transport, a new "region" is produced
12. each time you stop the transport, Ardour "un-arms" itself, but any tracks that you selected are still armed
13. When you've finished recording a region, use the "Regions" box-thing on the right of the interface to rename the region:
    1. Find the region that you just recorded (by default they are named like "Audio 1-1" which is the name of the recording track followed by a hyphen, then a number in ascending sequeuence representing the "take"). Select it.
    2. Click on the title, and a box should surround it.
    3. Change the name to what you want.
    4. Press enter to finish editing the name.

Recording More

After you have recorded one region, you will probably not have everything that you want. There are many ways to continue recording, depending on what still remains to be recorded.

To continue the same session

This is what you'll want to do if, for example, you were recording a session and decided to take a ten-minute break. It will work for any situation where you want to continue a session that already started recording.

1. move the transport to somewhere after what you've already capture. You can do this either by using the forward/reverse and play/stop buttons on the transport, or by finding the point in the timeline where you want the transport to be, and then left-clicking somewhere in the time-line.
2. Verify that the connections and levels are still set correctly.
3. Verify that the recording tracks are still armed.
4. Arm the transport.
5. Start the transport when ready to record.

To capture an additional part for something that was already recorded

A technique often used for studio recordings is to separately record parts that would normally be played together, and which will later be made to sound together (see the "Prepearing a Session" section, below). For example, consider a recording where one trumpeter wants to record both parts of a solo written for two trumpets. The orchestra could be brought into the studio, and would play the entire solo piece without any trumpet solo. Ardour will record this on one track. Then, the trumpet soloist goes to the studio, and uses Ardour to simultaneously listen to the previously-recorded orchestra track while playing one of the solo trumpet parts, which is recorded onto another track. The next day, the trumpeter returns to the studio, and uses Ardour to listen to the previously-recorded orchestra track and previously-recorded solo trumpet part while playing the other solo trumpet part, which is recorded onto a third track. The recording engineer uses Audacity's mixing and editing features to make it sound as though the trumpeter played both solo parts at the same time, while the orchestra was there.

I'll probably also want to write about a "click track" in here.

To do this:

1. Record the first part. The order in which to record parts is up to the recording engineer (that means you). It will probably be easier to record whoever plays the most, or whoever plays the most rhythmically consistent part, before the others.
2. Add the track/s onto which you will next record.
3. Set up the connections for the new track.
4. Do a level check to ensuer that the new track is neither too loud nor soft.
5. Set the transport to the beginning of the passage where you want to begin recording the next track. You do not need to set up the start of the track very precisely, since you can change that later. You will need to make sure that the next player has enough time after the transport is started to hear where they are supposed to enter, and at what tempo.
6. You will need to set up some way for the performers (or somebody conducting/leading them) to hear the already-recorded material. It is probably best to do this with headphones.
7. Arm the tracks that you want to record. Make sure that already-recorded tracks are no longer armed, especially if they are in "tape mode."
8. Arm the transport.
9. When you are ready to record, start the transport rolling.

To capture a better recording of a part that has already been recorded.

If you have already recorded all or most of a session, you can re-record *part* of the session in order to "fix up" any issues. Ardour allows you to record onto the pre-existing tracks, keeping the first take, putting the newly-recorded region over it. Later, you will get to choose the exact points at which the outputted recording is to switch between regions/takes.

1. Record the session.
2. Ensure that you have the connections and levels set as they were during the first time you recorded the regions over which you're recording now.
3. You will need to set the transport location. Choose a place that is before the segment which you want to replace. The performers should probably also start playing before the section to be replaced, so you will need to start well enough in advance that they can pick up the tempo, get in the groove, and then start playing *all before* the part that needs replacement.
4. Click in the time-line to move the transport.
5. Ensure that the correct tracks are armed.
6. Arm the transport.
7. Start the transport and record the revised section of music.

At some point, you will have recorded everything that you need, and you will want to progress to mixing and editing.

Routing Audio and Managing JACK Connections

This is an easy section, and basically constitutes an explanation of the default connections offered by Ardour, what they're for, and how to use them.

Ardour will automatically save the state of JACK connections when it saves a session.

Ardour will offer the following output ports, assuming a stereo (two-channel) setup:

• two channels per track, called "track_name/out 1" and "track_name/out 2". These will usually be connected to the master bus, or to a sub-mixing bus, when you are using one.
• two channels per bus, called "bus_name/out 1" and "bus_name/out 2". These will usually be connected to the master bus, unless you are using two levels of sub-mixing busses.
• two channels for the auditioner, called "auditioner/out 1", which represents the channels used to audition a region; when you want to import it, for example, or in the "Regions" box on the right-side, when you select one and right-click and choose "Audition". These should not be connected to the master bus, but to an output device that you want to use when auditioning regions.
• two channels for the click-track, called "click/out 1", which represents the channels used to play the click-track when recording. These should not be connected to the master bus, but to an output device that you want to use for the click-track.
• two channels for the master bus, called "master/out 1", which represents the output used by the master output bus. These should be connected to an output device that you wish to use for listening to the session when the transport is moving.

Ardour will offer the following input ports, assuming a stereo (two-channel) setup:

• two channels per track, called "track_name/in 1" and "track_name/in 2". These should both be connected to the same input device. If you are using a recording bus, then these should be connected to that bus.
• two channels per bus, called "bus_name/in 1" and "bus_name/in 2". These should be connected to whatever channels you want to be mixed into them. If you are using it as a recording bus, then these should be connected to the same input device.
• two channels for the master bus, called "master/in 1", which represents the input used for the master bus. These should be connected to all of the tracks. If you are using sub-bus mixing, then all of the tracks should connect to the master bus' input either directly or through a sub-bus.

In most setups, Ardour will automatically set the channel connections correctly. There are ways to change the connections from within Ardour, but they offer limited flexibility. For this reason, it is recommended that users use QjackCtl to monitor connections, since through QjackCtl it is also possible to monitor and change many other features of JACK.

Learning to make the right connections is a valuable trick for people using Ardour. The fact that Ardour uses JACK for both its internal and external connections allows tricks such as the earlier-mentioned recording bus (which adjusts the input level of a source), flipping the left and right audio channels, and creating a multi-channel audio output by combining many input channels. Undoubtedly, other tricks exist.

Importing Existing Audio

When you record audio, Ardour automatically save it to disk and adds a representation of that file in the program as a "region." You can also use pre-existing audio files as regions, which can then be added to any track.

To import an existing audio file:

1. Whip out the "regions" part of the panel on the right-hand side of the interface
2. Right-click anywhere in the box
3. Select "Import to Region List"
4. The "Add existing audio" window will be opeend
5. You can use three different tabs to select an audio file to add:
   • "Browse Files" (does this) (covered here)
   • "Search Tags" (does this)
   • "Search Freesound" (does this)
6. Using "Browse Files," navigate to a sound that you want to add. Although certain other file formats are supported (like FLAC), it is probably best to add WAV or AIFF files.
7. Certain information about the audio file will be displayed on the right-hand side of the window. This portion of the window also allows you to "audition" the file before importing it (that is, you can hear it by using the "Play" and "Stop" buttons in the window, without affecting your current project.
8. If the file that you selected has a sample-rate that is not the same as that of the current project, then the sample-rate will be highlighted in red. You can choose to import it anyway, in which case Ardour will warn you again. If you import a file in a different sample rate than that of the current project, it will be played back in the project's sample rate. This will result in incorrect speed and pitch.
9. There are a number of other options, displayed along the bottom of the window.
10. You can choose to add files:
    • "as new tracks," which puts each file in its own track, set to normal mode, then adds it to the region list
    • "as new tape tracks," which puts each file in its own track, set to tape mode, then adds it to the region list
    • "to region list," which puts each file in the region list, but does not automatically put it in any tracks.
    • Note that when you choose to automatically create new tracks, Ardour will add the region to the new track, with the region starting at the current location of the transport.
11. The other options in this list are self-explanatory. It is usually best to convert using the best quality, since quality can always be reduced later (which saves space).
12. If you chose not to automatically create tracks, then you will need to add the imported regions into a track before they will be played in your session. You can do this easily by selecting the region from the "Regions" box on the right, and dragging it to a track.