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Automation

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Automation overview

Automation is the process of writing changes to controls in your session over time that are then played back as the session is played back {when track automation is enabled). Most parameters on a track can be automated. 

This section covers:

  • Automation modes
  • Automating volume
  • Automating panning
  • Automating plug-in parameters
  • Automating MIDI Continuous Controllers for an Instrument

 

 

Automation modes

LUNA has the following automation modes.

Automation Mode

Description

Off

Do not play back automation that is written on the track.

Read

Play back all automation that is written on the track. 

Touch

Plays back the track and any written automation, but begins to write automation as soon as you touch an automatable control. For example, if you touch a volume fader that is or is not already automated, automation data is written as long as you touch or move the fader. 

Use Touch to write initial automation to a track, to write precise control automation, or to “touch up” existing automation.

Latch

Latch automation mode reads automation and writes it just as Touch. However, Latch “latches” at the point you release the control, and remains in that position until it is touched again, until playback stops, or until the loop restarts.

Use Latch when you want to write automation and then leave the control at a specific value. For example, if you want to ramp up a clip’s volume, then leave the volume at a set position for the remainder of a section, use Latch.

Trim

Use Trim when you want to preserve automation, but want to raise or lower the overall level of the automation. When you set a track to Read Trim mode, indicated on the track as Read (T), the fader changes color to indicate that it is in Trim mode. When in Trim mode, the volume fader for a track does not move to indicate track automation. The fader allows you to change the overall level, while the underlying automation is preserved. 

In Trim mode, LUNA can also still be in Touch or Latch mode. These modes are indicated as Touch (T) and Latch (T). Trim modes allow you to write level changes to the automation with Trim behavior, without completely overwriting the automation. For example, you can reduce or increase the overall level of an automation pass, while still preserving the underlying automation, by using Latch Trim or Touch Trim. Touch Trim writes the trim adjustment to the automation as long as you hold the fader, then returns to the previous Trim level when you release the fader. Latch Trim writes the trim adjustment to the automation, but continues to write automation at the trimmed level where you release the fader until playback or until the loop restarts.  

You can write Trim automation using the Volume fader in the Mixer or on the Focus channel in the Timeline. All non-trimmable controls still write control changes in either Touch or Latch mode. Trim automation is only available on Volume.

 

 

 

Selecting an item or items to automate

The View browser for a track (accessed from Timeline view) shows the items you can automate. For an audio track, this is volume, mute, and mono or stereo pans, and the controls for any plug-ins on the track. For an instrument track, this is volume, mute, and mono or stereo pans, plus all the MIDI Continuous Controllers (CCs) of the Instrument plug-in, and controls for any plug-ins on the track. 

Plug-ins on audio and instrument tracks also have controls that can be automated. The browser shows all automatable parameters for all plug-ins on a track. When automation has been added, the View browser highlights any automated parameter in yellow.

 

 

Drawing automation

For precise editing of automation, you can draw automation. Double-click anywhere on a track that is showing an automatable control to add an automation breakpoint. You can draw automation anywhere on a track on the timeline, including in places where there are no clips. When you draw automation, the automation points you add snap to the grid if Snap is enabled. To draw automation without snapping to the grid, press Command while drawing automation.

To draw automation on an audio or Instrument clip:

  1. In Timeline view, click View, and choose the parameter for which you want to draw automation (for example, Volume). The audio or MIDI clip shows a line for the automatable parameter.

    view-setting.png


    automation-show-volume.png


    automation-lines.png
  2. To add automation points, press Control and hover over the clip. The cursor changes to the Pencil Editing Tool.

    automation-pencil-tool.png
  3. While you hold Control, click the points you want to add on the automation line. Hold Control and drag to draw automation across the track.

    automation-drawn.png
  4. To draw automation without snapping automation points to the grid, press Control+Command (macOS) while drawing automation. To draw automation without snapping to the grid on Windows, disable Snap.

    automation-drawn-no-grid.png
  5. To adjust an automation point, click the point and drag up or down. To adjust with fine control, hold Shift while you drag.
  6. To clear an automation point, hold Control and hover over an automation point. The cursor changes to the Eraser Editing Tool (the pencil turns around). Click an automation point to remove it.

    automation-eraser-tool.png
  7. To clear a range of automation, select the range on the audio or Instrument track, and press Delete.

    automation-range-selected.png

 

Your automation changes are played back when the session plays the clip, when an Auto Mode is enabled. When Auto Mode is Off, automation is ignored.

 

 

Writing volume automation with the volume fader

You can write automation with a track control, such as a pan control or volume fader. Automatable controls do not require that you enable recording for automation. Setting a write automation mode (Touch or Latch) for a track automatically enables you to write automation for any automatable control. Automation is written from the time you touch a control until you release the control, playback stops, the loop restarts, or you switch LUNA automation modes. If you are writing Touch automation, releasing the fader stops writing automation and returns the fader to the previous level (before you started writing automation). If you are writing Latch automation, the fader remains at the release level.

Note: You can write volume automation on an audio track, an instrument track, a bus track, or the Main track. On an instrument track, you can write Volume automation for the track Output, or other types of volume automation for controls in the Instrument plug-in or for Continuous Controllers (CCs).

automation-writing-all-track-types.png

 

To write volume automation:

  1. On the Focus channel in the Timeline, or on the track in the Mixer, set the track for which you want to automate volume to either Touch or Latch mode.

    automation-enable-latch-touch.png
  2. To view the results of your automation, and to edit the automation, switch the track view to Volume. In the track control area in the Timeline, click View, then from the browser choose Volume.

    automation-set-track-volume.png
  3. Make a selection or place the playhead where you want to start playback.
  4. Press Play or the Spacebar.
  5. As the track plays, adjust the volume. Volume automation is written to the track.

    automation-writing-voume-with-fader.png
  6. To stop writing automation, press the Stop button or the Spacebar, or release the fader. Automation also stops writing when playback stops (for example, at the end of a selection). 

If you are writing Touch automation, release the fader to stop writing automation and return the fader to the previous level (before you started writing automation). If you are writing Latch automation, the fader remains at the release level.

 

 

Writing pan automation

Pan automation is represented on a horizontal line, with the center being unpanned, above the center panning increasing to the left, and below the center panning increasing to the right. 

pan-automation-panning.png

 

To write pan automation:

  1. In the Track controls on the Timeline, on the Focus channel in the Timeline, or on the track channel strip in the Mixer, set the track for which you want to automate panning to either Touch or Latch mode.

    automation-enable-latch-touch.png
  2. To view the results of your automation, and to edit the automation, switch the track view to Pan. In the track control area in the Timeline, click View, then from the browser choose Pan.

    enable-pan-automation.png
  3. Make a selection or place your cursor where you want to start playback.
  4. Press Play or the Spacebar.
  5. As the track plays, adjust the pan control in the mixer or on the track. Pan automation is written to the track.

    audio-pan-automation-writing.png
  6. To stop writing automation, press the Stop button or the Spacebar, or release the fader. Automation also stops writing when playback stops (for example, at the end of a selection). 

If you are writing Touch automation, release the fader to stop writing automation and return the fader to the previous level (before you started writing automation). If you are writing Latch automation, the fader remains at the release level.

 

 

Automating plug-in parameters

You can edit automation for any plug-in assigned to a track. All automatable plug-in parameters appear in the track’s View browser.

To write plug-in automation:

  1. On the Track control area in the Timeline, click View, then from the browser choose the plug-in parameter to automate. On the track, the plug-in parameter line appears.

    enable-plug-in-automation.png
  2. To add automation points, press Control and hover over the track. The cursor changes to the Pencil Editing Tool.

    automation-pencil-tool.png
  3. While you hold Control, click the points you want to add on the automation line. Hold Control and drag to draw automation across the track.

    automation-drawn.png
  4. To draw automation without snapping automation points to the grid, press Control+Command (macOS) while drawing automation. To draw automation without snapping to the grid on Windows, disable Snap.

    automation-drawn-no-grid.png
  5. To clear an automation point, hold Control and hover over an automation point. The cursor changes to the Eraser Editing Tool (the pencil turns around). Click an automation point to remove it.

    automation-eraser-tool.png
  6. To clear a range of automation, select the range on the track and press Delete.

    automation-range-selected.png

 

Your automation changes are played back when the session plays the clip and Automation is enabled. When Auto Mode is Off, automation is ignored.

 

 

 

Automating LUNA Extension controls

You can write automation for any LUNA Extension assigned to a track. All automatable LUNA Extension controls are listed in the track’s View browser.

To write LUNA Extension automation by adjusting a control:

  1. On the track controls, set the track for which you want to automate LUNA Extension controls to either Touch or Latch mode. 

    set-automation-mode-track-mixer.png
  2. To see the results of your automation in the timeline during playback, click View on the track controls, and from the View browser, select the control for which you want to view automation. 

    automation-extension.png

  3. Press the Spacebar or play on the transport. While the track is playing, adjust the control you want to automate.
  4. Press the Spacebar or stop on the transport to stop writing automation.

If you selected the control in the View browser, you can see the control automation while it is being written, and see the automation results after it is written.

extension-automation-writing.png

 

To write LUNA Extension automation manually:

  1. On the Track control area in the Timeline, click View, then from the browser choose the LUNA Extension control to automate. On the track, the LUNA Extension control line appears.

    automation-extension.png

    extension-automation-on-track.png

  2. To add automation points, press Control and hover over the track. The cursor changes to the Pencil Editing Tool. You can also double-click to add an automation point at the cursor.

    pencil-tool-automation.png

  3. While you hold Control, click the points you want to add on the automation line. Hold Control and drag to draw automation across the track. To adjust a single automation point, click and drag.

    draw-or-drag-automation.png

  4. To draw automation without snapping automation points to the grid, press Control+Command (macOS) while drawing automation. To draw automation without snapping to the grid on Windows, disable Snap.

    automation-ctrl-cmd.png

  5. To clear an automation point, hold Control and hover over an automation point. The cursor changes to the Eraser Editing Tool (the pencil turns around). Click an automation point to remove it.

    erase-automation.png

  6. To clear a range of automation, select the range on the audio or Instrument track, and press Delete.

    automation-selected-cleared-audio.png

Your automation changes are played back when the session plays the clip and Automation is enabled. When Auto Mode is Off, automation is ignored.

 

 

 

Automating a MIDI Continuous Controller

You can edit automation for any MIDI Continuous Controller (CC) on an instrument track. All automatable CC messages appear in the track’s View browser.

Note: you can edit all MIDI CCs supported by the Instrument, even if the CC is not used in a program.

To write MIDI CC automation:

  1. Enable the MIDI CC view by clicking the MIDI CC icon on a clip on the instrument track.

    midi-cc-show.png
  2. On the Track control area in the Timeline, click the CC Controller button (this defaults to Volume), then from the browser choose the MIDI CC to automate. Below the MIDI piano roll, the MIDI CC line appears.

    enable-cc-automation.png
  3. To add automation points, press Control and hover over the CC track. The cursor changes to the Pencil Editing Tool.

    midi-cc-pencil.png
  4. While you hold Control, click the points you want to add on the automation line. Hold Control and drag to draw automation across the track.

    midi-cc-automation-drawing.png
  5. To draw automation without snapping automation points to the grid, press Control+Command (macOS) while drawing automation. To draw automation without snapping to the grid on Windows, disable Snap.

    midi-cc-automation-command-ctrl.png
  6. To clear an automation point, hold Control and hover over an automation point. The cursor changes to the Eraser Editing Tool (the pencil turns around). Click an automation point to remove it.
  7. To clear a range of automation, select the range on the track, and press Delete.

    automation-range-selected.png

Your automation changes are played back when the session plays the clip and Automation is enabled. When Auto Mode is Off, automation is ignored.

Automating MIDI program changes

You can automate MIDI program changes with the Program Change control.

To automate a MIDI program change:

  1. Enable the MIDI CC view by clicking the MIDI CC icon on a clip on the instrument track.

    midi-program-change-show.png

     

  2. On the Track control area in the Timeline, click the CC Controller button (this defaults to Volume), then from the browser choose Program Change. Below the MIDI piano roll, the MIDI CC area appears.

    midi-program-change-selected.png

     

  3. Double-click in the program change area where you want to program change to occur. The Program Change window appears.

    midi-program-change.png

     

  4. Configure the program change by setting the Program Change, Bank MSB, and Bank LSB settings as required, then click Done. The program change appears in the track.

mid-program-changes-in-track.png

 

 

Trimming automation

Trimming automation is the process of adjusting a range of automation data. You can trim a selection, a segment (the line between two automation points), or all automation on a clip. 

Show automation

Before you trim automation, you must show the automation in the Timeline that you want to trim. 

  • Click View on the track to select the automated control you want to adjust.

Tip: Automated controls are highlighted in the Focus Browser. 

automation-select-volume.png

 

  • To adjust a MIDI CC, open the MIDI CC view and choose the MIDI CC from the Track controls panel.
enable-cc-automation.png

 

To trim all automation on a clip:

  1. Hover the cursor over the automation line on the clip. The Automation Trim Editing Tool appears. Note that the cursor must be between automation points, and you may have to zoom in to place the cursor.
  2. Click on the automation line and move the automation up or down to trim.
  3. To trim automation with fine control, hold Shift while you drag the automation up or down.

automation-trim-clip.png 

Note: Automation is trimmed for the entire clip. Automation breakpoints are added at the start and end of the clip.

To trim an automation selection:

  1. Make a selection on the track or CC automation line.
  2. Hover the cursor over the automation line on the clip or CC track. Make sure the cursor is over the automation line and not an automation point. The Automation Trim Editing Tool appears.
  3. Click on the automation line and move the selected automation up or down to trim.
  4. To trim automation with fine control, hold Shift while you drag the automation up or down.

automation-trim-with-smart-tool.png

 

To trim an automation segment:

  1. Hover the cursor over an automation segment on the clip. The Automation Trim Editing Tool appears.
  2. Click on the automation segment and move the segment up or down to trim.
  3. To trim automation with fine control, hold Shift while you drag the automation up or down.

automation-trim-segment.png

 

Tip: You may have to zoom in to trim an automation segment instead of the entire clip. You can only trim an automation segment when it has no slope (it begins and ends on the same value).

 

 

Clearing all automation for a selection

To clear all automation data within a selection, make a selection on one or more tracks in the timeline, then choose Edit > Clear All Automation. When you clear automation for a selection, breakpoints are added at the beginning and end of the selection, if automation extends beyond the selection. This command clears automation for all controls and CCs for the selection.

clear-all-automation.png

 

 

 

Writing and trimming control values

To write a control value for a displayed automation parameter, press Command+/ (macOS) / Ctrl+/ (Windows). Type the control value and press OK. The control is adjusted to the value you specify.  If there is a selection, the selection is adjusted. Otherwise, the control is adjusted from the playhead location. 

write-control-value.png

To trim a control value for a displayed automation parameter, press Command+Option+/ (macOS) / Ctrl+Alt+/ (Windows). Type the control value to trim and press OK. The control is trimmed by the value you specify.  If there is a selection, the selection is adjusted. Otherwise, the control is adjusted for the duration of the current control segment.

trim-control-value.png 

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