Automation question

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The Mountain Cow
Posts: 16
Joined: Mon May 08, 2017 10:45 am

Automation question

Post by The Mountain Cow » Fri May 12, 2017 10:45 am

Hi,

A question regarding automation :
I made some volume automation, all in arrangement view, on a track.
Now, is it possible to change the overall volume of the track, and let the automation change with it?
When i change the volume on the mixer, the automation stays the same, the return the automation button lights up, and when i press it, the volume change i made dissapears, and the track returns to the original automation volume.

What i do now is delete the automation, raise or lower the volume of the track, but then i have to put in all of the automation parameters in again, a lot of work :-)

Thanks

jestermgee
Posts: 4500
Joined: Mon Apr 26, 2010 6:38 am

Re: Automation question

Post by jestermgee » Fri May 12, 2017 11:18 am

If you added automation to the main channel fader you can add a "Utility" effect to your track which has a gain knob allowing you to adjust that instead of the main channel. Optionally, you can also use the Group function to create a second track fader for your track if you prefer having it in the mixer section

TomKern
Posts: 358
Joined: Mon Dec 05, 2016 7:08 pm

Re: Automation question

Post by TomKern » Fri May 12, 2017 11:39 am

Yeah, I never use the channel fader for automation for precisely this reason. But instead of a Utility, which only goes to -36dB instead of -inf, I use the chain volume of the first rack on a track.

You can simply copy/paste your automation from the channel fader to this racks chain volume and everything will sound exactly as before, just that you now have your track fader back 8)

musiklover
Posts: 4
Joined: Thu May 11, 2017 5:28 am

Re: Automation question

Post by musiklover » Fri May 12, 2017 4:00 pm

TomKern wrote:Yeah, I never use the channel fader for automation for precisely this reason. But instead of a Utility, which only goes to -36dB instead of -inf, I use the chain volume of the first rack on a track.

You can simply copy/paste your automation from the channel fader to this racks chain volume and everything will sound exactly as before, just that you now have your track fader back 8)
This thread represents how/why it would be in Ableton's best interest to catch-up & implement VCAs.

TomKern
Posts: 358
Joined: Mon Dec 05, 2016 7:08 pm

Re: Automation question

Post by TomKern » Fri May 12, 2017 6:14 pm

musiklover wrote:
TomKern wrote:Yeah, I never use the channel fader for automation for precisely this reason. But instead of a Utility, which only goes to -36dB instead of -inf, I use the chain volume of the first rack on a track.

You can simply copy/paste your automation from the channel fader to this racks chain volume and everything will sound exactly as before, just that you now have your track fader back 8)
This thread represents how/why it would be in Ableton's best interest to catch-up & implement VCAs.
:?
Say what?!

jestermgee
Posts: 4500
Joined: Mon Apr 26, 2010 6:38 am

Re: Automation question

Post by jestermgee » Sat May 13, 2017 1:19 am

TomKern wrote:Yeah, I never use the channel fader for automation for precisely this reason.
I always automate track volume and use utility or channel processing effects to boost any offset if needed. Main reason is I have a Mackie MCU and it's just easier to grab a fader and make changes quickly on the fly.

TomKern
Posts: 358
Joined: Mon Dec 05, 2016 7:08 pm

Re: Automation question

Post by TomKern » Sat May 13, 2017 7:50 am

jestermgee wrote:
TomKern wrote:Yeah, I never use the channel fader for automation for precisely this reason.
I always automate track volume and use utility or channel processing effects to boost any offset if needed. Main reason is I have a Mackie MCU and it's just easier to grab a fader and make changes quickly on the fly.
The Mackie MCU has motorized faders, right?

That would likely change my workflow as well.

jestermgee
Posts: 4500
Joined: Mon Apr 26, 2010 6:38 am

Re: Automation question

Post by jestermgee » Mon May 15, 2017 1:40 am

Yep, motorized faders are so good for doing volume automation which is why I do it that way.

Martin Gifford
Posts: 440
Joined: Mon Jun 14, 2010 12:48 am

Re: Automation question

Post by Martin Gifford » Mon May 15, 2017 7:50 am

I don't know if this answers the question, but I made it a default to have Utility on every new track. And I use that for automation. That way I can use the mixer faders for, um, mixing.

Wish Abes would put another box on the tracks for volume automation, so that the mixer faders are free to do their job.

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