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[[Image:ardourMain.png|thumb|700px|'''Ardour is more comprehensive than Audacity''' in terms of its editing and performance capabilities. ]]
== Purpose ==
:This WIKI explains how to use the '''Ardour''' application to create complex more advanced recordings.
:'''Ardour''' is similar to '''Audacity''' application since is designed to ''create'', ''edit'' and ''produce'' an ''auditory product''.
:On the other hand, Ardour is more comprehensive than Audacity in terms of its editing capabilities. Unfortunately, many people are "turned-off" from Ardour since they believe it will take a long time to learn - that is not the case. It took me more time to learn how to launch and connect various musical devices to the Jack server as opposed to learning how to use Ardour. '''Having the knowledge from using the Audacity application, I learned how to use Ardour to create a song within 30 minutes'''...
:'''The Ardour application in the Computer Lab is considered an <u>intermediate</u> level of audio recording'''. The AVIT suite will have more sophisticated equipment for high quality recordings. On the other hand, using the Ardour application in the Computer Lab can teach elements of recording to help guide volunteers into the using the AVIT suite...
:In this tutorial, we will only concentrate on recording a voice via the computer lab's webcam, and importing and some background music. The artist and performer of this song has given permission for this song to be used in these Westminster YouTube videos.
== Better Tools for Advanced Recording ==
:More advanced recording with Audacity (such as recording musical instruments and using professional-grade microphones) requires a better input recording device. For this tutorialexample, I am using if the simple WebCam in the following Hardware computer lab was used to connect record musical instrument and vocals, a great deal of audio quality would be lost. :One affordable solution is to Ubuntu Studiouse USB recording studio devices. :Currently, the Computer Lab does not have such a device, but a request will be made in the future for such a device. :On the other hand, in the meantime, there are at least 2 current members of the Westminster United Church congregation that own these types of devices: ::* '''Maudio Fast Track Pro''' (link to picture: [http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/FastTrackPro.html click here])::* '''Tascam US-122 Audio/MIDI USB device ''' (link to picture: [http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/oct03/articles/tascamus122.htm click here]). :Although both of these devices work in the lab, the Maudio USB devices are preferred because they work with Linux systems without complex tweaking (i.e. they work '''"out of the box"'''). :'''Since this author owns the Tascam US-122 USB device, they will be using that device throughout the remainder of this tutorial...'''
== Automating (Simplifying) the Process ==
<table>
<tr>
<td>
:One generally assumed (and incorrect) perception of recording in Linux is the complexity of advanced recording. In order to perform advanced recording with multi-track applications, several applications required to be launched.
:For Example:
:One :*perceived* problem that a typical <span style="endcolor:#0000ff;font-userweight:bold" would face is having to >Jack Audio Server</span>;;*'''manually connectHydrogen Drum Machine''' (patch) various Devices (like a keyboard), with various keyboard emulators (like ::*'''QsynthSynthesizer/Sampler''' and ::*'''BristolOrgan'''::*'''Rakarrack effects processor''' organ). But it is important to realise that these "graphical applications" are just convenient "front-ends" or user-friendly graphical representations of Linux commands.
:Since they are Linux commands(Note: vocals, these commandguitar, bass guitar can be recorded by connecting to launch and make patches (connections)the USB recording device, and simply be added to a file (called a ''shell script'')for example the Tascam US-122, and run like program (either selecting the recording device in the Audacity Preferences dialog box as an desktop icon"system"...), or a start-up program from boot-up.
:At the heart of these applications is the '''Jack audio server'''. It acts like a "conductor" that controls and patches (i.e. connects) instruments from various applications together. Other applications accomplish this task by using features such as VST or VSTi (which Linux supports that technology). :In order to simplify things for the Westminster Computer Lab users, a '''program (Bash shell script) has been created to automatically launch and connect these programs together''' (in a very user-friendly manner), so individuals can concentrate on just recording their music. The user simply logs into the Teacher account, and double clicks on the '''Recording Studio''' icon.</td><td>[[Image:recordingSessionIcon.png|thumb|300px| '''Clicking this Desktop Icon will launch a program to allow the user to select the type of recording session''' they desire. ]]</td><td>[[Image:launchingRecordingSession.png|thumb|250px| When launching Recording Session icon from '''Teacher''' desktop, '''the user is presented with various instruments and options''' to use during their session. ]]</td></tr></table> == Using Ardour == === Creating an Ardour Session ===
[[Image:ardour1.png|thumb|200px|right ]]
=== Adding a Track / Bus ===
Unlike Audacity, you must first create a track before recording it. In Ardour, they make reference to a '''Track''' or a '''Bus''' (we will not be discussing busses in this tutorial). Please note the steps below to create a Track or Bus:
=== Displaying Ardour Mixer / Selecting Input Device ===
[[Image:ardour4.png|thumb|175px|right ]]
=== Arming the Tracks / Recording Percussion Using Hydrogen Drum Machine ===
=== Adding Vox Organ Track Keyboard Tracks / Adding Reverb Effect Assigning Instruments for Keyboard ===
<table align="right">
:In order to assign MIDI channels in Qsynth, when you click the '''Channels'''Refer to button, you will see the diagram on the right-hand side for reference.'''Channels dialog box''' appear. Notice that this dialog box allows for a total of 16 midi channels (this is more than I require for a typical practice or performance). If you require more, you can save different midi instrument assignments to various profiles (perhaps to be loaded between your sets).
:'''Steps to Assignment of Instruments:'''
[[Image:midi2.png|thumb|right|300px|'''Assigning Instrument''' (program) to a '''Bank''' (i.e. "''SFID"'' or ''"Offset"'').]]
:# '''When adding sound-fonts into Qsynth, write-down the SFID number''' (i.e. Sound-font Identification number) - Do NOT close this dialog box quite yet!
:# Now, here's the trick: For each sound font, '''make certain that the "Offset" number corresponds to the same number as the SFID!'''
:# Now, '''click OK to save and exit''' the sound-font dialog box.
:# If you are running Jack, then you need to '''restart the Jack engine'''. This will require that you manually connect the instruments in the "Jack Connections" dialog box. If this is "a pain", you could always quit all applications, and re-run your Bash shell script to launch your music session...
:# Go to the '''Channels dialog box, and double-click on a midi channel'''.<br />I am selecting the next available '''channel - 13'''.
:# The '''Channel 13 Midi Channel Dialog box''' appears.
:# '''Select the Bank number''' (which corresponds to the Offset or SFID that you have written-down).
:# Then '''click on the program number to select an instrument''' (depending on the sound-font, there may be only one to select, or a wide variety if the sound-font is a bank of sounds).
:# '''!! NOTE: in order for the changes to take effect, you need to click the Save button; otherwise, all your changes will be lost!'''
:# You may need to restart the Jack engine and re-establish your connections.
===How to Re-establish or Add Connections in Jack Audio Server===
To be completed...
===Adding Reverb Effect===
When playing the Vox organ, it sounds nice, but it may be better to add a little '''reverberation (or "reverb") to soften this high-pitched organ sound in order to make it blend in better with the other instruments'''. We will be added in an effect which will be running a plug-in called '''Calf Reverb'''..
= Mixing Session ==Recording Guitar / Bass Guitar / Vocals=== The procedure to record Guitar, Bass Guitar, or vocals is similar, but after creating new track (mono), select the device ('''System -left''', '''System - right''') Follow same procedures to arming and recording the new tracks... == Exporting Project to Standard Audio File ==[[Image:ardourExport.png|thumb|300px|The '''ardour Export dialog box''' used to create a final audio product ]]Unfortunately, there is no method with the current version of Ardour that will export audio projects to the MP3 format. This feature may be available in future versions. On the other hand, there are simple programs that can convert one type of file type to another (for example, an ogg file to an MP3 file).Therefore, for the time being, the procedure will be to export the audio project to an ogg file, then run another program to convert the ogg file to an mp3 file. ===Exporting Audio Project to an OGG File === In order to save the audio project into a file format for playing on other devices, then slick on the '''Session''' menu, and select '''Export''' -> '''Export session to audiofile'''. An Export dialog box will appear.
Type a filename for the audiofile, and click '''Export'''. ===Program to Convert Ogg to MP3 File Format=== To be completed... ==Quickest Method for Shutting Down Applications== [[Image:dockPAnel.png|thumb|600px| '''Triangles that appear under the application icons in the docking panel indicate program(s) running'''. The user can '''right-click and select "close" or "close all'''". ]]After the recording session, there are many applications that are open. The quickest and most efficient method to closing applications is by using the docking station panel.When an application is running, a triangle appears below the application icon to indicate an instance or multiple instances of that application running. To close the running application(s), simple right-click on the application icon, a select "close" or "close" all.
= Links to Ardour Manual = Additional Resources ==
The "Official" Ardour Manual is currently being developped. These are links to the next best (more complete) manual:
[ [http://en.flossmanuals.net/Ardour/FM_22Mar10.pdf PDF] ] [ [http://en.flossmanuals.net/ardour/ html] ]