Ableton Forum

How come when I record automation curves they are smooth but if I need to edit them with the draw tool the result is always very steppy? Problem is that leads to steppy playback too. How can I get smooth curves like in other hosts?

When you draw automation curves, the draw tool is automatically linked to the grid. If you turn the grid off, then the pencil tool will draw freehand. But I find that method isn't the best either.

Best thing is to double-click on the automation line to create automation points (not use the pencil_ and then you you can create your automation lines by moving the automation points.

I tried that but it only makes straight lines, not curves. Getting rid of the grid does help a bit - the resolution seems finer but it is still not as smooth as I would like

yeah, good luck - we've been asking for curves for years

for now the best way to do this in Live is to draw step information at really super tiny resolutions, like 1/512 or something. Dont zoom in that far mind you, just make the grid super tiny so the step info you draw is really fine.

sucks I know, I was surprised they didnt fix this in 8

Geezus wrote:for now the best way to do this in Live is to draw step information at really super tiny resolutions, like 1/512 or something. Dont zoom in that far mind you, just make the grid super tiny so the step info you draw is really fine.

sucks I know, I was surprised they didnt fix this in 8

How do you get arbitrary resolutions like that? I only have an option up to 1/32 in the fixed grid list. I don't see an option to enter a manual division like in Reaper, for example.

Live 7.0.14 here btw.

Thanks

Geezus wrote: sucks I know, I was surprised they didnt fix this in 8

I'm especially surprised, since they did manage to add in curves for crossfades...seems like putting in that curve code should have been a logical step for automation!!

pedx1ng wrote:

Geezus wrote:for now the best way to do this in Live is to draw step information at really super tiny resolutions, like 1/512 or something. Dont zoom in that far mind you, just make the grid super tiny so the step info you draw is really fine.

sucks I know, I was surprised they didnt fix this in 8

How do you get arbitrary resolutions like that? I only have an option up to 1/32 in the fixed grid list. I don't see an option to enter a manual division like in Reaper, for example.

Live 7.0.14 here btw.

Thanks

ctrl+1 or ctrl+2, forget which. This works best in clip automation, in the arrangement view they seem to have a limit to how fine of a grid you are working with depending on your zoom

nebulae wrote:

Geezus wrote: sucks I know, I was surprised they didnt fix this in 8

I'm especially surprised, since they did manage to add in curves for crossfades...seems like putting in that curve code should have been a logical step for automation!!

So am I - this is really basic stuff. Looks like the whole automation system is in need of a overhaul.

nebulae wrote:

Geezus wrote: sucks I know, I was surprised they didnt fix this in 8

I'm especially surprised, since they did manage to add in curves for crossfades...seems like putting in that curve code should have been a logical step for automation!!

NO! I'd seen the curves for crossfades and assumed they'd introduced curves for automation as well. Dammit

Still in beta - not too late??

If not this should be a priority for 8.1 at least

+1 for biezer curves ala adobe premier or so

Yes beziers would be the best approach (like in Podium). Some envelope simplification tools would also be useful - Live seems way behind on this and its annoying if I make a nice smooth curve by recording automation but need to edit one bit that as soon as I do with I lose the smoothness.

nebulae wrote:

Geezus wrote: sucks I know, I was surprised they didnt fix this in 8

I'm especially surprised, since they did manage to add in curves for crossfades...seems like putting in that curve code should have been a logical step for automation!!

SOOOOOO +1!!!

aMUSEd wrote:Still in beta - not too late??

If not this should be a priority for 8.1 at least

Yes this sucks for sure. However, they need to hold back some feature to entice us with Ableton 9.