Working with Ardour-built Plugin Editors¶
The plugin editor can be shown by double-clicking on the plugin within the processor box. A new window will appear showing the editor/GUI for the plugin.
- Parameters
- Description
- CPU Profile
- Analysis graph
Generic Plugin Editor¶
If a plugin does not have its own GUI, Ardour will construct a [generic plugin editor]{.dfn} from a small set of common control elements. Ardour will do this even for plugins that have their own, if [Edit > Preferences > GUI > Use Plugins’ own interface instead of Ardour’s]{.kbd .menu} is disabled.
The generic UI can be temporarily switched to by [right]{.kbd .mouse} clicking on a processor and selecting [Edit with generic controls]{.kbd .menu}. This is necessary in order to access the plugin automation controls.
In the generic UI, any controller can be reset to its default state by []{.kbd .mod3n}[Left]{.kbd .mouse}-clicking on it.
Description¶
This is a rarely used section that displays the contents of the description metadata of a plugin.
CPU Profile¶
This section displays CPU time measurements for the currently opened plugin. For more information, please see the documentation on the Plugin DSP Load window.
Analysis Graph¶
At the bottom of the generic plugin editor, clicking the arrow displays the [Analysis Graph]{.dfn}.
This graph displays:
the [transfer function]{style=“background-color:black; color:white;”} in white,
the [phase response]{style=“background-color:black; color:red;”} in red (optional),
the [post effect spectrum]{style=“background-color:black; color:green;”} in green.
The [transfer function]{.dfn} plots the output amplitude of the plugin (considered as a “black box”) against its input amplitude, along the audio spectrum.
The [phase response]{.dfn}, that can be switched on or off using the [Show phase]{.kbd .option} checkbox, plots the phase of the plugins output against its input phase, along the audio spectrum. The scale is shown in [yellow]{style=“background-color:black; color:yellow;”} on the right.
The green spectrum plots the [output signal spectrum]{.dfn}, after the plugin (for tracks that have a signal on).
The [dB scale]{.kbd .menu} selector in the bottom left allows to change the vertical scale of the graphs.
MIDI instruments specificities¶
The generic UI provides, for all MIDI instruments plugins, a keyboard, that can be used either with the mouse, or by using a QWERTY keyboard as a piano. Both the channel and the velocity can be set above the keyboard.