envelope automation taking control... problematic this time

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hmmmm...
when i want to control certain aspects of FM7 via midi within live,
i have to record enable the midi channel FM7 is on in order for it to recieve midi messages, correct?

but then when i do that, every time the clip loops/starts over, the automation that was recorded on the first pass takes over and everything jumps around while im trying to control it via midi.

i can think of one workaround, but it seems ludicrous... to make the clip like 10 min long so that it doesnt loop back... but that isnt very work-flow-friendly.

im frustrated, i feel like i know live pretty well, and this just seems amatuer to me. am i missing something obvious?

one other wierd part is that the midi effects i have on that track, i also have set up to be controlled by midi, but they dont record the midi into an envelope automation, as fm7 is.