Reference Guide

713

Automation Methods

Automation

This method is only available in the Clips pane. You can also draw MIDI controller data in the Piano

Roll view, but the technique is different (see “Adding and Editing Controllers in the Piano Roll” on

page 466).

To Draw MIDI Envelopes in the Track View

1. Right-click in the Clips pane in the track you want to automate.

The Clips pane pop-up menu appears.

2. If you want to create an envelope to control volume, pan, chorus, reverb, or automated mute,

choose Envelopes > Create Track Envelope and choose one of those items from the menu.

The envelope appears in the Clips pane as a straight, dotted line in the envelope’s individual

color, with a node (very small circle) at the beginning. When you move the cursor over the

envelope, a vertical, double-ended arrow appears under it with the name and current value of the

envelope in a box next to the cursor. The envelope’s vertical position reflects the current value of

the parameter you are editing.

A. Node B. Envelope name and current value C. Envelope value range

3. If you want to create an envelope to control any other MIDI controller, choose Envelopes >

Create Track Envelope > MIDI.

Note 1: MIDI envelopes you create in the Piano Roll Notes pane and MIDI envelopes you

create in the Track view Clips pane are actually separate envelopes, even if they control the

same parameter. Both kinds of envelopes are visible in the Clips pane, and should generally not

be used to control the same parameter. You can convert Piano Roll view envelopes to Track

view envelopes by selecting the time range and tracks that the Piano Roll envelopes occupy,

and using the Edit > Convert MIDI To Shapes command.

Note 2: After you create an envelope, you can edit it by adding nodes and choosing shapes

for the line segments that are between nodes (see the following procedure), but you can also

edit by using the Envelope Draw tool to draw freehand or preset shapes. See “Using the

Envelope Draw Tool” on page 715 for more information.

Note: An automated mute envelope changes the track’s mute status whenever the envelope

crosses the middle of its value range.