Ableton Forum

When recording audio in arrangement view, how do I disable automation being recorded?

put another way,

When I record audio I want to fool around with other tracks, mute/unmute, change levels etc and not be recording all those actions as automation.

It's driving me nuts!

Record the audio, then go back press play and fool around as you desire.

Is what you write about: Recording audio to a channlel while manipulating other parameters without those manipulations being recorded as automation?
I don't think you can do that! Read through the manual from page 251 and it does not seem you can avoid recording automations while in REC mode. You'll just have to change your workflow a bit I guess.

UKRuss wrote:Record the audio, then go back press play and fool around as you desire.

Is this an attempt at condescension or common cretinism?

Furland wrote:Is what you write about: Recording audio to a channlel while manipulating other parameters without those manipulations being recorded as automation?
I don't think you can do that! Read through the manual from page 251 and it does not seem you can avoid recording automations while in REC mode. You'll just have to change your workflow a bit I guess.

Thanks for your help. If you're right then I am very surprised. This is a basic feature of other DAWs which generally have individual Read/Write automation buttons for each track. I know Ableton is not a DAW replacement (and nor should it try to be, it's not it's strength), I use it as a pre production and song writing tool. I'm always dropping into record audio, usually with other musicians singing/playing an instrument, and then wanting to adjust the track balance, tweak the mix etc. If I start recording and realise there is a part muted that shouldn't be then I want to be able to change that without recording it as an automation move, or worse, stopping the take and starting again. Either way it's a very annoying workflow hindrance.

3 options i can think of...

1 - just delete the automation if you don't like it.

Or

2 - set up 2 channels..make Channel 1 your vocal channel and send audio to channel 2. Put your effects rack on Channel 2. Arm channel 1 to record the audio...As the audio is routed to channel 2, Do not arm channel 2 but play around with the effects to your hearts content...

3 - play the other sequenced material in the arrange view, just record the vocal track in session view cos as we all know too well, the automation won't be recorded in session view...

Ableton Manual wrote:18.1 Recording Automation
Creating automation is straightforward: All changes of a control that occur while the Control
Bar’s Record switch is on become automation.

Sad to say, but after re-reading that's not an option as I see it...

You could record into a session view clip and then either drag it or record it into the arrangement.

sdmiddleton wrote:3 options i can think of...

Option 3: is a un-possible possibility

However, when Record is on, all tweak automations are still recorded despite which track is armed! So arming is not relative to automation just input being midi or audio.

A definite option to disable Automation recording While enabling Audio recording would actually be a good candidate for the feature wishlist!

crumhorn wrote:A definite option to disable Automation recording While enabling Audio recording would actually be a good candidate for the feature wishlist!

+1

Automation read/write/off buttons. Tried and tested for over 30 years. Come on!

Neutrality wrote:Tried and tested for over 30 years. Come on!

Well Berlin isn't as old as Rome, so it might take a little while longer

Yeah, that Roman automation is rock solid

Considering the instability and yet dedicated performance of Mr. Berlusconi down there, I'd agree Sire!

Neutrality wrote:

UKRuss wrote:Record the audio, then go back press play and fool around as you desire.

Is this an attempt at condescension or common cretinism?

Ohhhhh, I didn't realise you were an idiot, why didnt you just say so.


here's my advice:

Fuck off.

Furland wrote:here's my advice:

Fuck off.

I understood your advice perfectly well the first time, and I see it has not changed.

Actually, I think you did misunderstand.

Record your audio first, then twiddle later without recording just playback.

Or if your audio is dependant on the twiddling, save a duplicate of your set, record the audio with twiddling, export the stem and import it into the duplicate set that has no automation recorded.

Or stick with your original set and simply clear all envelopes.

Work arounds yes, but Live doesnt have what you want it to have in the sense that you want.

s'all.