Return playhead to where play started: "manual auto return" ;)

Getting Stuff Done How do I .... ?
#1

Is there a way to return the playhead to the position where it started? “Auto return” always returns the playhead, but I want to manually send the playhead back to the start position with a keybind, either while playing or when stopped.

This is really powerful when auditioning or editing details on your recording.

Years back I had this on Cubase “Return to Last Start Position” and every time I use Ardour I still miss this :wink:

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#2

On my system, the Spacebar handles the Start/Stop function. And within the loop, it is the L key or the Spacebar that manages this. Or am I misinterpreting your description?

#3

I want to return the playhead to the last start position while playing (or while stopped). This is completely separate from any loops or other regions.

If I’m editing a crossfade, I don’t want to loop that but I do want to be able to return the playhead to the position I started the playback.

Sometime after a recording, I want to return to the beginning of my recording (where play started) to edit the start of the recording, but not always.

So a keybind to return the playhead to where it last started, without affecting start/stop would be really nice.

#4

Agreed. This is basically the only thing I miss from ye ole Cubase 5.

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#5

I have tried to write a lua script for this using CoPilot; but that just created a bunch of nonsense …

#6

The essential part for the Lua script would be:

Session:request_locate (Session:last_transport_start(), false, ARDOUR.LocateTransportDisposition.MustStop, ARDOUR.TransportRequestSource.TRS_UI);

You can try this from Ardour Menu Window > Scripting.

Alternatively you may want to replace MustStop with any of https://manual.ardour.org/lua-scripting/class_reference/#ARDOUR.LocateTransportDisposition.

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#7

I’ve created this script using RollIfAppropriate and bound it to a keyboard shortcut … this might be exactly what I needed!

ardour {
    ["type"]    = "EditorAction",
    name        = "Return playhead to last start position",
    license     = "MIT",
    author      = "MrHaroldA"
}

function factory ()
    return function ()
        Session:request_locate(
            Session:last_transport_start(),
            false,
            ARDOUR.LocateTransportDisposition.RollIfAppropriate,
            ARDOUR.TransportRequestSource.TRS_UI
        )
    end
end
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#9

Did you get it working? I had little time yesterday to test it, but it looked to be working perfectly!

#10

No yet, but hope to be able to try it out later today.

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