Automation Editing

You can set automation events for any track and time. On playback or mastering, these events will control Muting, Volume or Panning automatically, so that you don't have to operate the mixer in real time.

Editing can be done either on the Timeline, using the mouse, or by typing in exact values in a control panel.

Editing with the mouse.

Click the Automation button. Then select from the Automation menu whether you want to show and edit Mute, Volume or Panning. Or, just select from the menu - the button will be automatically activated.

Alternatively, click on the button and then select the automation mode from the Track Options menu. This comes up when you right click on the track name panel. Using this menu allows you to display a different automation mode on each track.

To edit Muting, click near the bottom of the sample display to start a mute event, and near the top to end it. The events are indicated by loudspeaker icons. You can set as many as you like. The muted part of a track is shown with a grey background.

Once a Muting event has been set, it can be dragged to a new position as desired. Shift-clicking on an event will delete it.

To edit Volume, select Volume from the Automation menu. A line will appear on each track, initially set to full volume. At first, this line has just one edit point, at the left end. You can either click and drag this point to set a new level, or move it with the Mixer slider.

Then click anywhere to create a new volume event, which is an editable point on the line. Shift-click to remove one. Once there is more than one point on the line, it can no longer be moved with the Mixer slider.

Once a Volume event has been created, it can be dragged to a new time and/or volume level. Note that you must release the mouse button after creating - you can't click and drag as one operation. Any event can also be edited manually in the Automation List window.

To edit Panning, select Panning from the Automation menu. A line will appear on each track, initially set to a centre position. Click the left mouse button anywhere to create a panning event. Shift-click on a panning event to remove it.

As with volume, when there is only a single control point, it can be adjusted from the Mixer.

Once a panning event has been created, it can be moved by dragging with the mouse to set the exact time and pan. Move the line UP to pan left, and DOWN to pan right.

Automation List
Select "Automation List" from the Automation menu to bring up the list. This allows you to set an exact time or value for any event.

All the events in the project are listed on the left side of the panel. They can be identified by their track numbers, times and event types. The complete list can be saved as a file, and it can be replaced by loading a previously saved list. The list is also saved with the project.

Click on an event in the list to select it. You can then either delete it (which is the same as shift-clicking it in the Timeline) or edit it.

Clicking "Edit Event" brings up the edit panel. At the left is a list of the tracks or subgroups. You can move an event to another track by clicking the track name. You can change it into a different type of event. For example, a volume setting on one track can be changed into a subgroup volume setting which would affect all the tracks in a subgroup (selected with the blue buttons in the mixer), or into a Master Volume setting which would affect all tracks.

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You can set automation events for any track and time. On playback or mastering, these events will control Muting, Volume or Panning automatically, so that you don't have to operate the mixer in real time. Editing can be done either on the Timeline, using the mouse, or by typing in exact values in a control panel.
Editing with the mouse. Click the Automation button. Then select from the Automation menu whether you want to show and edit Mute, Volume or Panning. Or, just select from the menu - the button will be automatically activated. Alternatively, click on the button and then select the automation mode from the Track Options menu. This comes up when you right click on the track name panel. Using this menu allows you to display a different automation mode on each track.
To edit Muting, click near the bottom of the sample display to start a mute event, and near the top to end it. The events are indicated by loudspeaker icons. You can set as many as you like. The muted part of a track is shown with a grey background. Once a Muting event has been set, it can be dragged to a new position as desired. Shift-clicking on an event will delete it.
To edit Volume, select Volume from the Automation menu. A line will appear on each track, initially set to full volume. At first, this line has just one edit point, at the left end. You can either click and drag this point to set a new level, or move it with the Mixer slider.
Then click anywhere to create a new volume event, which is an editable point on the line. Shift-click to remove one. Once there is more than one point on the line, it can no longer be moved with the Mixer slider.
Once a Volume event has been created, it can be dragged to a new time and/or volume level. Note that you must release the mouse button after creating - you can't click and drag as one operation. Any event can also be edited manually in the Automation List window.
To edit Panning, select Panning from the Automation menu. A line will appear on each track, initially set to a centre position. Click the left mouse button anywhere to create a panning event. Shift-click on a panning event to remove it.
As with volume, when there is only a single control point, it can be adjusted from the Mixer.
Once a panning event has been created, it can be moved by dragging with the mouse to set the exact time and pan. Move the line UP to pan left, and DOWN to pan right.
Automation List Select "Automation List" from the Automation menu to bring up the list. This allows you to set an exact time or value for any event. All the events in the project are listed on the left side of the panel. They can be identified by their track numbers, times and event types. The complete list can be saved as a file, and it can be replaced by loading a previously saved list. The list is also saved with the project. Click on an event in the list to select it. You can then either delete it (which is the same as shift-clicking it in the Timeline) or edit it.