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<!DOCTYPE section PUBLIC "-//OASIS//DTD DocBook XML V4.4//EN" "http://www.oasis-open.org/docbook/xml/4.4/docbookx.dtd" [
]>
<section id="sn-working-with-layers">
<title>Working with layers</title>
<para>
It is possible to arrange regions in a playlist (track) so that they overlap
- one starts before another finishes, for example. Because of this, its
important that there is a clear and understandable rule for what you will
hear when playing back these kinds of region arrangements.
</para>
<para>
Every region in a playlist is assigned to a layer. There can only ever be
one region on a given layer, although rearranging the playlist (track) may
change which region is on which layer. At any given point along the
timeline, you will hear the uppermost region at that point.
</para>
<para>
Of course, nothing in digital audio is ever quite that simple, and so of
course there are some complications:
</para>
<section id="layers-crossfades">
<title> Crossfades </title>
<para>
Whenever two regions overlap, there is the potential for a
<link linkend="sn-working-with-crossfades">crossfade</link> between them.
If the crossfade is not muted, then you will hear the contents of the
crossfade during the overlap, not just the uppermost region.
</para>
</section>
<section id="region-opacity">
<title> Region Opacity </title>
<para>
In a perverse nod to image manipulation programs, Ardour allows you to make
regions transparent. By default, all regions are created opaque, which
means that when they are playing, no region below them are audible.
However, if you change the region to be transparent, the region will be
audible together with any regions below it. This capability should probably
not be abused - if you really want to mix sounds together in this way, they
should probably live in their own tracks. Occasionally though, this can be
useful trick.
</para>
<para>
To change the opacity of a region, popup the region's editor, accessible by
context clicking on the region. Then click on the "opaque" button, turning
it on or off as desired.
</para>
</section>
<section id="layering-styles">
<title> Layering Styles </title>
<para>
When you are recording new material for a track, its typical to want to new
material recorded "over" existing material in the track to be what you hear
on playback. For example, if you overdub part of a guitar solo, you
normally want the overdub to be audible, not hidden by the old version that
was already there. By contrast, when editing using
splitting/trimming/moving of regions to create a particular arrangement
along the timeline, many people find that they want regions that start
later on the timeline to be the ones that are audible.
</para>
<para>
To facilitate these two contradictory desires, Ardour features three
different styles for assigning regions to layers.
</para>
<variablelist>
<title></title>
<varlistentry>
<term>Most recently added regions are higher</term>
<listitem>
<para>
Use this style when recording/overdubbing new material. Edits of any
kind do not modify the layering.
</para>
</listitem>
</varlistentry>
<varlistentry>
<term>Most recently added/moved/trimmed regions are higher</term>
<listitem>
<para>
Use this style when recording/overdubbing new material, but you want
basic edits to cause regions to rise to the top.
</para>
</listitem>
</varlistentry>
<varlistentry>
<term>Later regions are higher</term>
<listitem>
<para>
Use this style when rearranging and editing regions.
</para>
</listitem>
</varlistentry>
</variablelist>
<para>
A new session has the layering style set to "Most recently
added/moved/trimmed regions are higher". To change the layering style, open
the <emphasis>options editor</emphasis> and select the "Layers&Fades"
page. There is an option there to select the style you want. Layering style
may be changed at any time. The existing layering of all playlists is not
changed when changing the layering model.
</para>
</section>
<section id="modifying-layering-by-hand">
<title> Modifying Layering By Hand </title>
<para>
If you want a particular region to be the uppermost when the current
layering style has put it on a lower layer, context click on the region.
Select the region from the menu that pops up, and in the submenu that
appears, choose one of "Move region to lowest layer" or "Move region to
upper layer". The layering for the playlist will be recalculated to ensure
that the region is on the layer you chose. Note: these operations only have
any effect if using one of the "Most recently .." layer models.
</para>
<para>
You can see the precise layer a region is assigned in the popup region
editor, accessible by context clicking on the region.
</para>
<note>
<para>
At one time, Ardour offered more explicit control over the layering,
allowing you to move regions up or down to specific layers. This was found
to be problematic, confusing, and generally rendered unnecessary by both
of the layering styles the program now offers.
</para>
</note>
</section>
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