User Manual

MIX AUTOMATION
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Figure 71-16: Choose any form of automation data from the Active
Layer menu to display all automation data that currently exists in the
track, superimposed over the waveform. To ‘activate’ (make bold) a
particular data parameter, choose it from the Active Layer menu or
click one of its control points.
The three types of plug-in automation data
Plug-ins have a wide variety of controls that fall
into three general types of data:
All three types of automation are displayed
together in the Sequence Editor as shown below in
Figure 71-17.
Figure 71-17: The three kinds of automation data: ramps, stair-steps,
and single events. Click on a single event to access a menu of settings.
Sample-accurate ramps
Digital Performer’s ramp automation produces a
smooth change from one control point to the next.
Ramps are calculated with sample-accurate, 32-bit
floating point processing. Sample-accurate
processing ensures that the ramp will be perfectly
smooth, with no zipper noise or other unwanted
artifacts.
Stair steps
Stair-step automation produces a sudden change at
each control point. Stair-step automation is used
for plug-in parameters that by nature don’t call for
smooth changes but instead provide discrete
changes among several various states. A good
example is the LFO phase controls in Sonic
Modulator, which provide eight phase settings in
45-degree increments. Stair steps are also used for
parameters that would be too “expensive” from a
DSP bandwidth standpoint for calculating ramps.
A good example of this is LFO rate.
Discrete events
Discrete events are used for any parameter that
consists of two or more non-numeric settings (or
just a few numeric ones). A good example is the
waveform for an LFO: it could be a sine wave,
square wave, sawtooth, triangle, etc. Depending on
Automation
type What it does Examples
Ramp Produces a smooth
change between
control points.
• Volume
• Pan
• Send level
• Mix gain
Stair-step Produces sudden
changes among several
possible states.
• LFO phase
• Mute/unmute
• Bypass/unbypass
Single event Changes the setting of
a parameter that has
only a few settings or
non-numeric settings
• LFO waveform type
(sine, sawtooth, etc.)
• Note values for beat-
based effects.
Ramps
Stair-step
Single
events