User manual

213
Automation
5. When you release the mouse button, the number of
automation events is reduced to a few events, but the ba-
sic shape of the curve still remains the same.
This “thinning out” of events is governed by the Automation Reduction
Level setting in the Preferences, see “About the Automation Reduction
Level preference” on page 215.
6. If you now activate playback, the volume will change
with the automation curve.
In the mixer, the corresponding fader moves accordingly.
7. Simply redo the operation if you are not happy with the
result.
If you draw over existing events, a new curve is created.
• If the automation subtrack is in Read mode already, you
can also add automation events by clicking with the Arrow
tool.
If you are trying to add a point between two existing points and the new
point doesn’t deviate from the existing curve, it will be removed by reduc-
tion as soon as you release the mouse button (see “About the Automa-
tion Reduction Level preference” on page 215).
Using the various modes of the Line tool to draw
automation curves
The Line tool can be very useful for drawing automation
events. The various modes are accessed by selecting the
Line tool on the toolbar, clicking on it a second time and
selecting from the pop-up menu that appears.
• Clicking and dragging with the Line tool in Line mode
shows a line in the automation subtrack and creates auto-
mation events aligned with this line.
This is a quick way to create linear fades, etc.
• The Line tool in Parabola mode works in the same way,
but aligns the automation events with a parabolic curve in-
stead, resulting in more “natural” curves and fades.
Note that the result depends on the direction from which you draw the
parabolic curve.
• The Sine, Triangle and Square Line tool modes create
automation events aligned with continuous curves.
If snap is activated and set to Grid, the period of the curve (the length of
one curve “cycle”) is determined by the grid setting. If you press [Shift]
and drag, you can set the period length manually, in multiples of the grid
value.
Selecting automation events
• To select a single automation curve point, click on it
with the Arrow tool.
The point turns red, and you can drag it in any horizontal or vertical direc-
tion between two points.
• To select multiple curve points, you can either [Shift]-
click or drag a selection rectangle with the Arrow tool.
All events inside the selection rectangle will become selected.
Drawing a selection rectangle around some points to select them.
When selected, the points can be moved in all directions
as “one”, i.e. the curve shape formed by the selected
points remains intact.
• To select all automation events on a subtrack, right-click
the automation subtrack in the Track list and choose “Se-
lect All Events” from the context menu.