Steinberg Cubase 7 User Manual

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AutomationWriting automation data
Automatic writing of automation data
Every action you perform is automatically recorded on automation tracks which you 
can later open for viewing and editing. 
To enable the recording of automation events, proceed as follows:
1.Open an automation track by clicking on the “Show/Hide Automation” button of a 
track in the track list.
2.Enable the Write button for the track and adjust the desired parameters in the 
MixConsole, in the Channel Settings window, or in the effect control panel while 
rolling through the project.
The value settings are recorded and displayed as a curve on the automation tracks. 
When automation data is being written, the color of the automation track changes 
to red and the delta indicator in the automation track shows the relative amount by 
which the new parameter setting deviates from any previously automated value.
3.When you are finished, stop playback and return to the position where you started 
playback.
4.Disable Write.
The Read button remains enabled.
5.Start playback.
All actions you recorded will be reproduced exactly.
ÖWhen dragging a plug-in to a different insert slot on the same channel, any existing 
automation data will move with the plug-in. When you drag it to an insert slot on a 
different channel, any existing automation data will not be transferred to the new 
channel.
Manual writing of automation data
You can add automation events manually by drawing automation curves on an 
automation track. Proceed as follows:
1.Open an automation track by clicking on the “Show/Hide Automation” button of a 
track in the track list.
2.In the track list, click on the automation parameter name and select the desired 
parameter from the pop-up menu.
3.Select the Draw tool.
You can also use various modes of the Line tool for drawing curves, see below.
4.Click on the static value line. 
An automation event is added, read automation mode is automatically activated, 
and the static value line changes to a colored automation curve. 
						

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AutomationWriting automation data
5.If you click and hold, you can draw a curve by adding many automation events.
Note that the track color in the track list changes to red to indicate that automation 
data is being written.
6.When you release the mouse button, the number of automation events is reduced, 
but the basic shape of the curve remains the same.
This “thinning out” of events is governed by the Reduction Level setting in the 
Automation Settings section of the Automation Preferences, see 
“Automation 
Settings” on page 297.
7.If you now activate playback, the automated parameter will change with the 
automation curve.
In the MixConsole, the corresponding fader moves accordingly.
8.Repeat the procedure if you are not happy with the result.
If you draw over existing events, a new curve is created.
Apart from the Draw tool, you can use the following tools to draw automation events:
•Object Selection tool 
If Read is activated and you click on an automation track with the Object Selection 
tool, you can add automation events. Note that events introduced between two 
existing events that do not deviate from the existing curve are removed as soon as 
you release the mouse button.
•Line tool – Line mode
To activate the Line tool in Line mode, click on the Line tool and click again to open 
a pop-up menu where you can select the Line option. If you click on the automation 
track and drag with the Line tool in Line mode, you can create automation events in 
a line. This is a quick way to create linear fades, etc.
•Line tool – Parabola mode
To activate the Line tool in Parabola mode, click on the Line tool and click again to 
open a pop-up menu where you can select the Parabola option. If you click and 
drag on the automation track with the Line tool in Parabola mode, you can create 
more “natural” curves and fades. Note that the result depends on the direction 
from which you draw the parabolic curve. 
						

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AutomationEditing automation events
•Line tool – Sine, Triangle, or Square mode
To activate the Line tool in these modes, click on the Line tool and click again to 
open a pop-up menu where you can select the desired option. If you click and drag 
on the automation track with the Line tool in Sine, Triangle, or Square mode and 
snap to grid is activated, the period of the curve (the length of one curve “cycle”) is 
determined by the grid setting. If you press [Shift] and drag, you can set the period 
length manually, in multiples of the grid value.
ÖThe Line tool can only be used for ramp type automation curves.
Editing automation events
Automation events can be edited much like other events. You can cut, copy, paste, 
and nudge events, etc.
Selecting automation events
•To select a single automation event, click on it with the Object Selection tool.
The event turns black, and you can drag it in any direction between two events.
•To select multiple events, you can either [Shift]-click on the events or drag a 
selection rectangle with the Object Selection tool.
All events inside the selection rectangle will be selected and the automation track 
editor becomes available, see below.
Drawing a selection rectangle around events to select them.
•To select all automation events on an automation track, right-click the automation 
track in the track list and choose “Select All Events” from the context menu.
Editing in the automation track editor
The automation track editor allows you to perform additional scaling operations for 
selection ranges on existing controller curves. The editor is automatically displayed 
when you drag a selection rectangle with the Object Selection tool on a ramp type 
automation track. 
						

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AutomationEditing automation events
In the automation track editor, smart controls appear on the borders of the editor. 
These controls allow you to activate a specific editing mode:
ÖIf you hold down [Shift] while clicking on any of the smart controls, you get the vertical 
scaling mode.
•To scale the automation curves on several tracks at the same time, drag a 
selection rectangle across the corresponding automation tracks, hold down 
[Ctrl]/[Command] and use the scaling smart controls.
•To move the whole selection up/down or left/right, click on an automation event 
inside the editor and drag the curve.
By pressing [Ctrl]/[Command] when clicking and dragging, you can restrict the 
direction to horizontal or vertical movement, depending on the direction in which 
you start dragging.
ÖSnap is taken into account when moving automation curves horizontally.
Editing modeTo activate this 
mode…Description
Move VerticallyClick in an empty area on 
the upper border of the 
editor.This mode allows you to move the entire 
curve up or down, which is useful to boost 
or attenuate an otherwise perfect curve. 
Scale VerticallyClick the smart control in 
the middle of the upper 
border of the editor.Use this mode to relatively scale the curve, 
i.
 e. to raise or lower the values in percent 
(not by absolute amounts).
Tilt the left/right 
part of the curveClick the smart control in 
the upper left/right 
corner of the editor.These modes allow you to tilt the left or the 
right part of the curve, respectively. This is 
useful if the curve form is exactly the way 
you want it, but the start or end needs to be 
boosted or attenuated a bit.
Compress the 
left/right part of 
the curve[Alt]/[Option]-click the 
smart control in the 
upper left/right corner of 
the editor.These modes allow you to compress the left 
or the right part of the curve.
Scale Around 
Absolute CenterClick the smart control in 
the middle of the right 
border of the editor.This mode allows you to scale the curve 
around the absolute center, i.
 e. horizontally 
around the center of the editor.
Scale Around 
Relative Center [Alt]/[Option]-click the 
smart control in the 
middle of the right border 
of the editor.This mode allows you to scale the curve 
relative to its center.
StretchClick and drag in the 
lower part of the editor.This allows you to stretch the selected 
curve. 
						

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AutomationAutomation track operations
Removing automation events
There are several ways to remove events:
•By selecting events and pressing [Backspace] or [Delete] or selecting Delete from 
the Edit menu, or by clicking on an event with the Erase tool.
This will remove the events. The curve is redrawn to connect the remaining events.
•By selecting a range (with the Range Selection tool), and pressing [Backspace] or 
[Delete] or selecting Delete from the Edit menu.
•By clicking on the automation parameter name in the track list and selecting 
“Remove Parameter” from the pop-up menu.
This will remove all automation events from the automation track, and the 
automation track will be closed.
Automation track operations
Most of the tracks in your project have automation tracks, one for each automated 
parameter. Automation tracks are hidden by default. 
Opening automation tracks 
To open an automation track for a channel, proceed as follows:
•Position the mouse pointer over the lower left corner of the track and click the 
arrow icon (“Show/Hide Automation”) that appears.
•Right-click the track in the track list and select “Show Automation” from the 
context menu.
By default, the Volume parameter is assigned to the first automation track. 
•To open another automation track, position the mouse pointer over the lower left 
corner of an automation track, and click the “+” sign (“Append Automation Track”) 
that appears.
By default, the new automation track shows the next parameter in the Add 
Parameter list (see below).
You can click the “Append Automation Track” button (the “+” sign) for the automation 
track several times to open additional automation tracks. 
ÖIf you activate the option “Show Automation Track in Project on Writing Parameter” in 
the Preferences dialog (Editing page), the corresponding automation track is revealed 
on writing automation parameters.
Click here to open an 
automation track. 
						

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AutomationAutomation track operations
Assigning a parameter to an automation track
Default parameters are already assigned to automation tracks when you open them, 
according to their order in the Add Parameter list.
To select which parameter an open automation track displays, proceed as follows:
1.Open an automation track and click on the automation parameter name.
A parameter list is shown. The contents depend on the track type.
•If the parameter you wish to automate is available on the pop-up menu, you can 
select it directly.
•If you wish to add a parameter not available on the pop-up menu or if you want to 
view all parameters that can be automated, proceed with the next step.
2.Select “More…”.
The Add Parameter dialog opens. This dialog shows a list with all parameters that 
can be automated for the selected channel (sorted into different categories), 
including the parameters for any assigned insert effects. To view the parameters in 
a category, click the “+” sign for the corresponding category folder.
3.Select a parameter from the list and click OK.
The parameter replaces the current parameter in the automation track. 
						

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AutomationAutomation track operations
Note that the “replacing” of the parameter displayed in the automation track is 
completely non-destructive. If the automation track contains any automation data for 
the parameter you just replaced, this data is there, although it is not visible. By clicking 
on the automation parameter name in the track list, you can switch back to the 
replaced parameter. On the pop-up menu, all automated parameters are indicated by 
an asterisk (*) after the parameter name.
Repeat the above procedure to assign all the parameters you want to automate to 
separate automation tracks.
ÖTempo changes cannot be automated on automation tracks. This is done using the 
tempo recording function in the Tempo Track Editor, see 
“Recording tempo changes 
(Cubase only)” on page 615.
Removing automation tracks 
•To remove an automation track together with all automation events, click the 
parameter name and select “Remove Parameter” from the pop-up menu.
•To remove all automation tracks from a track that do not contain automation 
events, select “Remove Unused Parameters” from any of its automation parameter 
name pop-up menus.
•To remove automation tracks, you can also use the Delete options on the 
Functions pop-up menu of the Automation panel, see 
“The Functions pop-up 
menu” on page 293.
Showing/hiding automation tracks
•To hide a single automation track, position the pointer over the top left border of 
the automation track in the track list and click the “Hide Automation Track” button 
(the “-” sign).
•To hide all automation tracks for a track, right-click the corresponding track, and 
select “Hide Automation” from the context menu.
•To hide all automation tracks for all tracks in the track list, right-click any track and 
select “Hide All Automation” from the context menu.
This option is also available on the Track Folding submenu of the Project menu.
•To show or hide automation tracks, you can also use the options in the Show 
section of the Automation panel, see 
“The Show options” on page 297. 
						

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AutomationAutomation track operations
Showing only used automation tracks
If a lot of automation tracks are used, it may be impractical to have them all open in the 
track list. If you want to view only the automation tracks that are used (i.
 e. those that 
actually contain automation events), do one of the following:
•To close all automation tracks not containing automation events, right-click any 
track in the track list and select the “Show All Used Automation” option from the 
pop-up menu.
This option is also available on the Track Folding submenu of the Project menu. 
•To close all automation tracks for the selected track that do not contain any 
automation events, right-click a specific track and select the “Show Used 
Automation (Selected Tracks)” option from the context menu.
Used automation tracks will be left open. 
Muting automation tracks
You can mute individual automation tracks by clicking their Mute buttons in the track 
list. This allows you to turn off automation for a single parameter.
The “Automation follows Events” setting
If you activate the “Automation follows Events” option on the Edit menu (or in the 
Preferences dialog, on the Editing page), automation events will automatically follow 
when you move an event or part on the track. 
This makes it easy to set up automation related to a specific event or part, rather than 
to a specific position in the project. For example, you can automate the panning of a 
sound effect event (having the sound pan from left to right, etc.) – if you need to move 
the event, the automation will automatically follow!
The rules are:
•All automation events for the track between the start and end of the event or part 
are moved.
If there are automation events at the new position (to which you move the part or 
event), these are overwritten.
•If you copy an event or part, the automation events are duplicated as well. 
						

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AutomationThe Automation panel (Cubase only)
The Automation panel (Cubase only)
The Automation panel is a floating window, similar to the MixConsole and Transport 
panel, and can be left open while you work. The Project window will always have the 
focus.
To show the Automation panel, open the Project menu and select the Automation 
Panel option or click the “Open Automation Panel” button on the Project window 
toolbar.
The Read/Write buttons 
In the upper part of the Automation panel, you will find Read and Write buttons. These 
are used to globally enable or disable the Read and Write buttons on all tracks.
•Click “Activate Read for all tracks” to enable all Read buttons on all 
tracks/channels of your project.
Clicking “Deactivate Read for all tracks” will disable all Read buttons.
•Click “Activate Write for all tracks” to enable all Write buttons (and, at the same 
time, all Read buttons) on all tracks/channels of your project.
Clicking “Deactivate Write for all tracks” will disable all Write buttons. The Read 
buttons will remain enabled.
Automation modes
Cubase provides three different punch out modes for automation, available on the 
upper part of the Automation panel and on the Automation Mode pop-up menu on the 
Project window toolbar.
The three modes available are “Touch”, “Auto-Latch”, and “Cross-Over”. In all three 
modes, automation data will be written as soon as a parameter control is touched in 
play mode. They differ in the way the writing of automation data is ended, i.
 e. in their 
“punch out” behavior.
…and on the Project window toolbar.Selecting the automation mode on the 
Automation panel… 
						

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AutomationThe Automation panel (Cubase only)
Note that you can change the automation mode at any time, i. e. in play or stop mode 
or during an automation pass. You can also assign key commands to the automation 
modes, see 
“Automation key commands” on page 298.
The current automation pass will always punch out as soon as one of the following 
conditions is met, independent of which automation mode is selected:
- If you disable Write.
- If you stop playback.
- If you activate Fast Forward/Rewind.
- If the project cursor reaches the right locator in Cycle mode.
- If you click in the ruler to move the project cursor (this is user-definable and can be 
controlled via the Automation panel, see 
“Automation Preferences” on page 297).
Touch
Typically, you use Touch mode in situations where you want to make a change lasting 
only a few seconds to an already set up parameter.
As the name implies, Touch will write automation data only for as long as you actually 
touch a parameter control – punch out occurs as soon as you release the control.
After punch out, the control will return to the previously set value. The Return Time 
setting (see 
“Automation Preferences” on page 297) determines how long it takes for 
the parameter to reach the previously set value.
Auto-Latch
In Auto-Latch mode, there is no specific punch out condition other than those valid in 
all modes, see above.
Auto-Latch is useful in situations where you want to keep a value over a longer period 
of time – for example when making EQ settings for a particular scene.
Once your pass has started, the writing of automation data continues for as long as 
playback lasts or Write is enabled. When you release the control, the last value is kept 
until you punch out.