• To view VST Instrument parameters, you use the same method.

As described earlier, each VST Instrument has two or more automation tracks – one for the plug-in settings and one for each VST Instrument mixer channel.

Dragging and dropping of insert plug-ins

You can drag an insert plug-in from one insert slot to another, either on the same channel or on a different channel.

•When dragging a plug-in to a different insert slot on the same channel, any existing automation data will move with the plug-in.

•When dragging a plug-in to a different insert slot on a different channel, any existing automation data will not be transferred to the new channel.

Working with automation curves

About automation curves

There are two kinds of automation curves, “ramp” and “jump”:

•Jump curves are created for any parameter that only has on/off values, like a Mute button, for example.

•Ramp curves are created for any parameter that generates continuous multiple values, such as fader or dial movements etc.

Examples of jump and ramp automation curves shown in the event display.

About the static value line

When you are not using virgin territory (see “Virgin territory vs. the initial value” on page 217) and you open an automation track for a parameter for the first time, it doesn’t contain any automation events (unless you have

previously adjusted that parameter with write automation activated), and this is reflected in the event display as a straight horizontal black line, the “static value” line. This line represents the current parameter setting.

• If you have manually added any automation events or used write automation for the corresponding parameter, and then disable the reading of automation data, the automation curve will be grayed-out in the automation track event display and the static value will be used instead.

As soon as Read mode is enabled, the automation curve will become available.

Editing automation events

Drawing automation events

By using write automation in the mixer, you generate automation events by moving parameter dials and faders in the mixer. You can also add them manually by drawing automation curves on an automation track. Proceed as follows:

1. Show the automation track by clicking on the left edge of the track in the Track list.

The static value line is shown in the event display for the automation track.

2. Select the Pencil tool.

You can also use the various modes of the Line tool for drawing curves, see below.

3. Click on the static value line. An automation event is added, read automation mode is automatically activated, and the static value line changes to a blue automation curve.

4. If you click and hold, you can draw a curve by adding a multitude of single automation events.

Note that the track color in the track list changes to red to indicate that automation data is being written.

5. When you release the mouse button, the number of automation events is reduced to a few events, but the basic shape of the curve still remains the same.

This “thinning out” of events is governed by the Reduction Level setting in the Settings section of the Automation panel, see “Reduction Level” on page 229.

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 track is in Read mode already, you can also add automation events by clicking with the Arrow tool.

If you are trying to add a break-point between two existing points and the new point doesn’t deviate from the existing curve, it will be removed by reduction as soon as you release the mouse button (see “Reduction Level” on page 229).

Drawing curves with Fill enabled

You can use the Fill options on the Automation panel in combination with the Pencil tool. This provides you with an extremely powerful tool for offline work:

1.As in the example above, open an automation track for the desired parameter and select the Pencil tool.

Remember: the Write button does not have to enabled.

2.On the Automation panel, select “To End”.

3.Click and draw to create an automation curve.

4. Release the mouse button.

At the moment of release, a final automation event is created. The automation curve is written from this last break-point through to the end of the project.

You will find this works the same for all the other Fill options. For more information on what you can do with Fill and the other automation performance utilities, see “Automation performance utilities” on page 222.

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 track and creates automation 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 instead, 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 break-point, click on it with the Arrow tool.

The break-point turns red, and you can drag it in any horizontal or vertical direction between two points.

•To select multiple break-points, you can either [Shift]- click or drag a selection rectangle with the Arrow tool.

All break-points inside the selection rectangle will be selected.

Drawing a selection rectangle around break-points to select them.

• To select all automation events on an automation track, right-click the automation track in the Track list and choose “Select All Events” from the context menu.

Editing automation events

Automation events can be edited much like other events. You can use cut, copy and paste, you can group and nudge events etc. There are, however, four items on the Edit menu that are not applicable to automation events. These are:

•Split at Cursor

•Split Loop

•Move to Front

•Move to Back

Editing automation events in the Project Browser

You can also edit automation events in the Project Browser. Proceed as follows:

1.Open the Project Browser by selecting it from the Project menu.

The Browser window opens. The window is divided into two sections, the Structure list to the left and the event display to the right.

2.Click on the “+” sign for a track in the structure list.

Automated tracks have two subitems: Track Data and Automation. The Automation item corresponds to the automation track in the Project window, and contains the track’s automation events.

3.Click on the “+” sign for the Automation item.

All automated parameters for the track are shown in the structure list.

Removing automation events

There are several ways to remove break-points:

•By selecting points and pressing [Backspace] or [Delete] or selecting Delete from the Edit menu, or by clicking on a break-point with the Eraser tool.

This will remove the break-points. The curve is redrawn to connect the break-points immediately to the left and right of the removed points.

•By selecting a range (with the Range Selection tool), and pressing [Backspace] or [Delete] or selecting Delete from the Edit menu.

When “Use Virgin Territory” is enabled, this will create a gap. When “Use Virgin Territory” is disabled, this will remove the break-points within the range, but the curve will be redrawn to connect new break-points at the start and end of the selected range. See also “Gaps” on page 218.

•By clicking in the parameter display on an automation track and selecting “Remove Parameter” from the pop-up.

4. Clicking on a parameter in the structure list brings up the automation events in the event display.

The following parameters are available for all automation tracks:

Parameter Description