Automation question

[flamin-gitaur]

Earlier today I was using the automation feature for some volume control on one of my tracks. The problem I was having is that I could not fine tune it as close as I would like. For example, I was trying to adjust the volume with the automation line by .1 or .2 db, and when I drag the line it jumps by 2 or 3 db. Is there a way that I can "fine" adjust this in smaller increments by typing it in somewhere?

[P.T.]

First off, 0.1 or 0.2 db is completely inaudible.

1 db is considered the smallest amount a person can hear.

To fine tune better that 2-3 db make sure you expand the track as wide, verticaly, as you can. This will give you the best control.

[Scooner]

If you expand the size of the track your automating, it gives you more accuracy, ie hover the cursor over the bottom limit of the track till you get a black , 2-headed arrow, then drag down. This basically expands the "scale".

[Chester Desmond]

Yeah, what they said...except you can double click to make the track expand (set in OPTIONS how you want the double click to behave). This really bugs me too,even if it is inaudible..the perfectionist in me seems to think that a computer program should be able to do something as simple as this. The anti-mixer crowd will be saying this is a feature soon Y'know to keep it less sterile.

[flamin-gitaur]

Thanks for the info! It appears I just wasn't zooming in close enough to get the resolution I needed. It seems that there should be a way to type in a value instead of having to drag everything around. What a "drag":D

[Lunch Money]

Did you people actually TRY this, or does it just seem to sound right?

When you click the volume bar on the filter, a box appears with the volume slider. You can't miss it. It's the same size and resolution not matter how big the volume filter itself is. And it adjusts easily in increments of 0.2 or so.

Even if that graphic didn't appear (which it does, each and every time), the volume adjustment scales to the distance your cursor travels, not the distance the little black line travels.

I don't know how you managed to make it jump by 2-3 dB at a time. That's quite an accomplishment.

And the people who seem to be bothered by the small resolution of the volume filter... I hate to say it, but it seems like you didn't even TRY this before answering this post.

It's a point I make every single time the "mixer" debate comes up. It's like the Tracktion in your imagination is different than the real Tracktion. Just to be clear: the volume (and pan) filter adjustments do NOT scale to the size of the filter icon, but to your cursor movement.



Additionally, there IS a way to just type in the value if that's what you need! That's what the properties box in the bottom is for!



Greg

[flanneljammies]

Greg, he's talking about the line automating the volume, not the volume filter itself. And I agree it is a bit fiddly.

[Chester Desmond]

yeah jeez Lunch MOney, did you even READ this post before replying?

[Lunch Money]

Inded, I read the thread. It was very clear that people here were talking about the volume filter, and not a drawn automation curve. Even if the original poster was talking about the curve, not all of the responses were.

The black line and double-headed arrow, for example...

And then I allowed myself to be thrown off by the "anti-mixer crowd" comment... since the automation curve has nothing to do with the presence or non-presence of a mixer, but a widget (ie. filter) for panning and volume DOES, in my mind we were again talking about the filter and not the curve.

So even if I wasn't answering the original question, I was definitely responding to people who were barking up the wrong tree. Whether you're one of them or not is for you to know and me to only guess but never truly know.

To the original point, though: When doing an involved process like editing an automation curve, I never thought of doing it any other way BUT to expand the track. However, it turns out to be a good point, after all. Even just something like holding the "ALT" key while dragging (or allowing you to enter values numerically!) for finer control would be pretty welcome.

Greg

[flamin-gitaur]

Greg, he's talking about the line automating the volume, not the volume filter itself. And I agree it is a bit fiddly.

Indeed, that IS what I was talking about. It seems that I was able to get a little better resolution by zooming in, but what a pain to have to do that everytime you need to make a small adjustment. And those little slider thingys down in the properties panel (for the automation curve), I could not figure out how to get it to only adjust parts of the curve (if thats possible), it just moves the entire line. so that didn't do me any good.

[Lunch Money]

Yup. Now that I've looked at the original post again, it was a completely fair question and request. Sorry if my post seemed directed at you in particular.

I maintain that other people were referring to the filter, though. I'm obstinate that way.

[Scooner]

I wasn't referring to the volume filter at all; my comment about the black double-headed arrow refers to the way the appearance of the cursor changes when you hover it over the bottom edge of a track - you can then click and drag down to increase the height of the track. Then, when you move your automation points, you can do it more accurately.
THAT'S what I meant, whether it sounded like that or not

[flanneljammies]

Don't worry Schooner, everyone else except Greg understood.

[Lunch Money]

That's right. I'm an unhelpful idiot.

Though, I admit... I didn't read very carefully this time. Sorry to anyone I unfairly slighted with an implied insult!