Is there a way to map a 'section' of automation to keyboard shortcut or hardware?

[madFloyd]

This question would also apply to tempo.

As long as there are two points, you can hover your mouse over the area in between and you get a cursor that allows you to raise/lower the section.

If you have a track that has many of these points (or sections) and want to adjust the value of each section, it is very time consuming as you have to move your mouse slowly and let Studio Pro catch on to what you intend to do. I'm wondering if there's a quicker way to edit these values.

Thx!

 

[SwitchBack]

That's tough for actions that so heavily rely on cursor positioning. But I wonder, as it depends on case in hand, If it wouldn't be quicker doing freehand redrawing with one of the other pencil tool options (line and parabola in particular).

 

[madFloyd]

That's tough for actions that so heavily rely on cursor positioning. But I wonder, as it depends on case in hand, If it wouldn't be quicker doing freehand redrawing with one of the other pencil tool options (line and parabola in particular).

Interesting, I'll check that approach out. Thanks.

 

[lokeyfly]

I agree with switch. Its like perscribing an automation for steering into a turn. Well, every turn is going to have its own radius, bank, variation. Maybe a bad example, but in just considering the variations of automation (and their extreme sensitivity), I cant imagine where "raise/lower the section" has any real significance. That said, I'm curiously thinking if there were some sort of pen tool (ala Adobe Illustrator) where arcs could be used as a tool for setting up smooth raddii. Dunno. Switchback nailed it in that these sort of actions rely on cursor positioning.

If I'm being honest (and I hope I always come across that way), the best method for true tactile and real-time automation is mapping a knob or fader to control automation. Be that volume, or some MIDI cc.

One fun thing to try is draw automation, and use the transform tool to expand, shrink or doodle with existing automation. It may pay off, and be quite flexible.

 

[SwitchBack]

I'm curiously thinking if there were some sort of pen tool (ala Adobe Illustrator) where arcs could be used as a tool for setting up smooth raddii. Dunno.

But there is, in a fashion. Not true vector drawing but after you select the pencil tool [5] the Paint Tool button offers a dropdown menu with several line, arc, sine, ... options. There's even a funky 'transform' option which allows stretching, fading, flipping and whatnot. Not all of it is equally useful but fun to fool around with and store in the back of your mind for who knows when

 

[madFloyd]

The problem with real-time automation is that it is real-time. If I have a 15 minute song with 50 tracks, that's a long endeavor and editing required afterwards to fix errors. It gets even worse if you are 'experimenting' with the balance of instrument levels (which is where I'm at).

I spent some time reading the manual on automation and was reminded that I can:
- avoid having to insert two points by using the range tool
- apply automation to events instead of the entire track

Mostly I wish I just didn't have to spend time futzing with the mouse cursor to invoke the raise/lower mode.

 

[SwitchBack]

I try to group logically as much as possible before the session, to restrict real-time automation to a small number of buses/vca's. Then in post I fix the balance inside the groups, which works remarkably well by eye first, using the Clip Gain Envelopes. And then the limited number of bus/vca automation lanes serve as a guide for the balance I was looking for during recording, redrawing where needed. Having to tweak 50 automation lanes is a pain.

 

[lokeyfly]

But there is, in a fashion. Not true vector drawing but after you select the pencil tool [5] the Paint Tool button offers a dropdown menu with several line, arc, sine, ... options. There's even a funky 'transform' option which allows stretching, fading, flipping and whatnot. Not all of it is equally useful but fun to fool around with and store in the back of your mind for who knows when

You know, I forgot about those added tools.I havent used autonation these last few days. I'm helping a client with some loops for his app he's making and I just didnt get in there to check. Thans for the reminder. Yes, all of these additional tools can make for useful or creative possibilities.

The problem with real-time automation is that it is real-time. If I have a 15 minute song with 50 tracks, that's a long endeavor and editing required afterwards to fix errors. It gets even worse if you are 'experimenting' with the balance of instrument levels (which is where I'm at).

I'll also go with to the same advice as Switchback. Do short verification checks. If your work is just so dynamic and long, then yes, that can be a lot of work. However, you might be able to use some available tools to expand, compress in subtle ways to help that work for you. I'd have to hear the tracks you're dealing with. My background with audio besides Studio production today is that I used to mix bands, and entertainment acts at clubs here in the Big Apple. So mixing, or gain riding in real time is the norm. There is also gain riding software plugins from Waves and a few others. Something you could try (or trial). All in all, it sounds like a lot of adjusting you're making that might be a little unclear. Are you mixing live tapes to bring up to date such as digitizing a lot of audio? I dont see a lot of automation fixing, unless you're simply either put the time in, check small segments (as mentioned), or use DSP plugins to help with the effort.