Reference Guide

1169
Working with StudioWare
External devices
The latter approach is most useful when you want to create smooth transitions from one section to
another. For example, you could slowly add modulation to a MIDI piano or move the faders on a
digital mixing console. Once you record these changes, they will play back along with your project
automatically.
StudioWare lets you record and re-record automation data as many times as necessary. When you
record new movements for a control, any old events for that control are replaced by the newer ones.
Movements of other controls are unaffected. You can re-record moves again and again until you’ve
got the movement exactly the way you want it. You can also edit automation data using the Notes
pane in the Piano Roll view.
There are three tools in the StudioWare toolbar that are used to control recording and automation:
Most StudioWare panels are designed to both send and receive MIDI data. This means two things:
• If you move the controls on your external MIDI device, the StudioWare panel will be notified of the
changes
• When you play back a project containing automation data, the StudioWare panel is notified of the
automation changes
The Update button in the StudioWare toolbar indicates whether these changes are played back
visually on the StudioWare panel. Press this button to make sure that automation parameters and
changes made on the external MIDI device are displayed in the StudioWare panel. Turn this option
off if you do not want to see these changes.
If you are recording a snapshot while playback is in progress, you should probably disable Update.
Otherwise, some of the controls may move as a result of previously recorded automation events,
even while you are trying to position them correctly.
When you are recording real-time control movements, you probably want Update enabled, so that
the controls will show the events that have already been recorded.
If you record automation data on a track that contains linked clips, SONAR automatically unlinks the
clips so that the automation data do not apply to other instances of the linked clip. As an example,
suppose you have four repetitions of a particular riff, stored in four linked clips that play in sequence.
When you record a fade-out over these four clips, SONAR automatically splits the clips into four
independent clips, each with automation data representing some portion of the fade.
Icon Tool What it’s for
Update Makes the controls in the panel update automatically during playback or
when MIDI data is received by the panel
Snapshot Records a snapshot of the current position of all controls
Record Activates real-time recording of all control movements
Table 217.