Steinberg Cubase Le 4 Manual

91
Automation
Background
Cubase LE provides very comprehensive automation fea-
tures. Virtually every mixer and effect parameter can be 
automated.
There are two main methods you can use to automate pa-
rameter settings:
By manually drawing curves on automation tracks in the 
Project window.
See “Editing automation events” on page 97.
By using the Write/Read buttons and adjusting para-
meters in the mixer.
See “Using Write/Read automation” on page 94.
The methods are not different in terms of how the...

92
Automation
For each FX channel track and output bus



 8 x insert effect parameters (if inserts are used)
 Settings for 4 EQ modules (Master Bypass, on/off, Type, 
Gain, Freq., Quality)
For each MIDI track



 MIDI Modifiers on/off switch


 Random 1-2 min/max/target
 Range 1-2 min/max/target
For each Instrument track
The automation track for instrument tracks features all pa-
rameters that are available for MIDI tracks (see the re-
spective sections above) except MIDI Volume, Pan and 
Mute, because...

93
Automation
Assigning a parameter to an automation track
To make settings for an automation parameter, you have to 
select it from the pop-up menu.
1.Open the automation track for the desired track in the 
Track list, as described above.
2.Click in the parameter display for the automation track.
A pop-up menu opens, containing some of the automation parameters 
plus the item “More...” at the bottom of the list. The contents of the list 
depend on the track type (audio, MIDI, etc.).
If the parameter you...

94
Automation
Removing automation
To remove all automation for the selected parameter, click 
the parameter name and select “Remove Parameter” from 
the pop-up menu. This will delete any automation events 
on the track, and the automation track will be closed.
Hiding automation tracks
To hide a single automation track, you have two possibili-
ties:
 Position the pointer over the top left border of the automation 
track in the Track list and click the “Hide Automation Track” 
button (the minus sign)....

95
Automation
The W and R buttons for a track in the Track list are mir-
rors of the W and R buttons in the corresponding channel 
strip in the mixer.
There are also global Read and Write buttons in the com-
mon panel of the mixer and at the top of the Track list:
The global Write and Read buttons in the mixer, and in the Track list.
When global Read (“All Automation to Read Status”) is 
activated, all your recorded mixer actions for all channels 
will be performed during playback.
When global Write...

96
Automation
3.Click the Write button in the control panel to activate 
Write mode.
All effects and VST Instruments have Write/Read buttons on their control 
panels. These work exactly like the corresponding buttons in the mixer or 
in the Track list. In the previous example, we used global Write mode, in 
which mixer and parameter changes are recorded on all tracks, but in this 
example we’ll use Write mode for one track only.
4.Start playback and adjust some effect parameters in 
the control panel....

97
Automation
Editing automation events
Drawing automation events
By using write automation in the mixer, you generate auto-
mation events by moving parameter dials and faders in the 
mixer. You can also add them manually by drawing automa-
tion curves on an automation track. Proceed as follows:
1.Open the automation track by clicking on the left edge 
of the track in the Track list.
The static value line is shown in the event display for the automation track.
2.Select the Pencil tool.
You can also use...

98
Automation
Selecting automation events
To select a single automation curve point, click on it 
with the Arrow tool.
The point turns red, and you can drag it in any horizontal or vertical direc-
tion between two points.
To select multiple curve points, you can either [Shift]-
click or drag a selection rectangle with the Arrow tool.
All events inside the selection rectangle will become selected.
Drawing a selection rectangle around some points to select them.
When selected, the points can be moved in...

99
Automation
Options and Settings
About the Automation Reduction Level 
preference
This item can be found on the Editing page in the Prefer-
ences dialog. Automation reduction reduces the number 
of automation events after you have used write automation 
or added automation events manually. When you write au-
tomation events or draw them in with the Pencil tool, these 
are added as a continuous stream of densely packed 
events. This is necessary because the program cannot 
“guess” what you will be doing...

11
Audio processing and functions