My multi-track project fades out to silence in places, during playback. Why?

[Ally007]

I was near to completing my latest project, (TW12 on WIndows 64-bit) when I suddenly found that the multi track project goes really quiet in three places, during playback. It even fades out to complete silence for a few seconds, in a couple of places. The visual sound wave on the tracks look correct, and don't indicate any reduction in amplitude anywhere.

Update: In the Master Track's Volume & Pan plugin, I could see the volume control dropping when the playback volume dropped. I tried opening an automation track for the Master Track, and when the automation line showed up, I could see that there was automation present (not applied by any human being). So I deleted all points on the automation line, to revert it to a straight horizontal line. After that, the volume-dropping only happened in one place instead of three places. I no longer saw the Master track's Volume plugin level-indicator dropping when it happened. However, in the one place where it still happened, I saw the affected track's Volume & Pan volume indicator drop in that place, so I opened an automation track for that track, and yes, there was volume automation applied (again, not by humankind). I deleted all points on the automation line, and now the volume is constant. I'm relieved that I won't have to rebuild the project from scratch, but I would like to know how the unwanted volume automations came to be applied.

[operandx]

First thought, have you accidentally recorded some volume automation for the track?

[Ally007]

First thought, have you accidentally recorded some volume automation for the track?

No, I have never knowingly applied any automation in this project. However, I can see the level control on the Master track dropping when the volume drops. So there seems to be some sort of invisible automation happening in the Master Track. Is there a way to clear it?

Update: Since the above, I tried creating an automation track for the Master Track, affecting volume. As soon as the automation line appeared, I could see that automation has indeed been applied (but not intentionally, by any living human). So I selected the automation line and 'deleted all points on the curve' in the properties window. Now the volume-drop only happens in one place instead of three places! And I don't see the Master track's Volume plugin level indicated dropping when it happens. However, in the one place where it still happens, I see that track's Volume & Pan volume indicator drop in that place, so I opened an automation track for that track, and yes, there was automation applied (not by any living human)! I deleted all points on the automation line, and now the volume is constant. I'm relieved that I won't have to rebuild the project from scratch, but I would like to know how the unwanted volume automations came to be applied.

[operandx]

Glad you sorted it! You say 'not by any living human' but it really is easily done by mistake. If you had accidentally clicked on the red write automation button in the transport area it will record any changes in volume etc as automation. It's caught me out more than once. Very easy to remove the automation though as you found out

[Ally007]

Glad you sorted it! You say 'not by any living human' but it really is easily done by mistake. If you had accidentally clicked on the red write automation button in the transport area it will record any changes in volume etc as automation. It's caught me out more than once. Very easy to remove the automation though as you found out

Thank you for the insight. That could have been what happened.

[pough]

If you have ever typed the letter "Y" then you have toggled automation write. Unexpected volume fades is one of the most common issues reported here.

[Watchful]

Pough raises an idea that maybe I should eliminate that shortcut and assign it to something either harmless or useful. Accidental automation has probably hit all of us at one time or another, and it's probably a feature best used with clear intention, that you manually activate.

[Ally007]

Pough raises an idea that maybe I should eliminate that shortcut and assign it to something either harmless or useful. Accidental automation has probably hit all of us at one time or another, and it's probably a feature best used with clear intention, that you manually activate.

Sounds like good sense to me. I will do the same.

[Ally007]

If you have ever typed the letter "Y" then you have toggled automation write. Unexpected volume fades is one of the most common issues reported here.

There must be some other way of accidentally adding automation, because it happened to me twice today, and this project was started after I eliminated the Y shortcut key.

[pough]

There must be some other way of accidentally adding automation, because it happened to me twice today, and this project was started after I eliminated the Y shortcut key.

I don't think it has ever happened to me, so I can't say.

[Watchful]

The only other thing I can think of is accidentally clicking the record automation icon, inconveniently close to the play icon in the playhead area.

...Unless you're using a controller of some sort that's accidentally triggering it?

The good news, if there is any, is that this is NOT characteristic of Waveform, so once we figure out what's causing this, it won't happen again.

[Ally007]

The only other thing I can think of is accidentally clicking the record automation icon, inconveniently close to the play icon in the playhead area.

Thanks... Yes - that was it! I just realised it, and came back to update my previous comment. As you implied, it's easily pressed inadvertently, due to its location, especially when one is new to the software. Now that I'm aware of it, it'll be less likely to happen.

[Watchful]

Let's hope that solved it for you.

[Ally007]

Let's hope that solved it for you.

Thanks, but not quite... That automation button just started blinking when I changed the master volume on my project. Any idea why?

[Peter Widdicombe]

Guessing here but... If automation is enabled if there are no events to record it won't do anything. When you touch the master volume, it started actually recording master volume level changes ?