Automation - what is it?

[clare_bear]

I've ignored it for long enough! Please could someone explain to me what automation is, why I need it, where and when to use it etc?

Thanks.

[Gdoubleyou]

automation allows you to control mix volumes and panning, and all parameters of virtual effects and instruments.

[clare_bear]

Originally Posted by Gdoubleyou

automation allows you to control mix volumes and panning, and all parameters of virtual effects and instruments.

how does it work? I am a complete dunce when it comes to this stuff!

[Bokonon]

Automation allows you to control parameters of your mix over time.

A good example would be if you had recorded a guitar track and when you were mixing it down you decided you wanted to make the chorus have distortion on it and the verse to have a phaser - you could cut it into bits and place it on different tracks then apply the effects - or you could just automate the effects to turn on and off at the appropriate times.

Getting more complex with it, you could set your automation up so that rather than just witching on and off at a specific time it chaged the level of the distortion over a period of time.

[Gdoubleyou]

Each DAW is different, but you should be able to record the movement of virtual knobs and faders, and or draw in where you want the events to occur.

You will have to read your manual for the specifics of your software.

[Bokonon]

It works generally by you drawing a line into the arrange page of your software which represents the parameter you want to control.

[clare_bear]

Ah, excellent, I understand now! Thanks

I don't think my particular DAW at present (Tracktion 2) allows for much automation, but now I know what it does (and it sounds pretty useful!), then I may have to re-investigate DAWs. Does anyone know if Ableton Live Lite that comes with the Line 6 Toneport would be more useful? I can't afford a new DAW for a while, but I was thinking about getting a Toneport for other reasons.

Cheers very much for helping me to understand

[Bokonon]

Page 62 in the manual for Tracktion2 - the automation seems pretty good.

[Danny1969]

Hey Clare, have you ever considered something like Reaper ? very powerful and cheap as chips.

Basic automation is enable write, hit the play button and move a fader. Your DAW should then remember what you did from then on. There isn't any other way of mixing with a mouse as you can only move one thing at a time.

Same deal for automation on effects, ie change the feedback of a delay send or similar.

[clare_bear]

Originally Posted by Bokonon

Page 62 in the manual for Tracktion2 - the automation seems pretty good.

So, now I have to confess that I read it on another forum somewhere that it wasn't that great for automation ops: (*embarrassed smiley!*) - I didn't understand what it was so must have skipped over it in the manual. I'll take a proper look now I know what it is - thanks

Danny - people keep suggesting Reaper, so maybe I will check it out, but I'm a bit reluctant due to the fact that I'm so slow at picking new software up that I'm not sure I can face the bottom of that learning curve again! It is rather cheap though, isn't it