Steinberg Cubase SE 3 Operation Manual

12
Automation 

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Background
Cubase SE provides very comprehensive automation features. Virtually 
every mixer and effect parameter can be automated.
There are two main methods you can use to automate parameter 
settings:
•By manually drawing curves on automation subtracks in the Project 
window.
See page 236.
•By using the Write/Read buttons and adjusting parameters in the mixer.
See page 231.
The methods are not different in terms of how the automation data is 
applied – they only differ in...

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About automation subtracks
Audio tracks, group tracks and FX channel tracks all have automation 
subtracks. These allow you to view and edit the automation of all mixer 
settings for the track, including settings for the track’s insert effects. 
There is one automation subtrack for each parameter, and subtracks 
can be shown or hidden in any combination.
Similarly, MIDI tracks have automation subtracks for mixer settings, 
track parameters as well as send and insert effect...

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For each FX channel track and input/output bus:
• Volume
• Mute
• Pan left/right
• 5 x insert effect program selection and effect parameters (if inserts are used)
• EQ master bypass
• Settings for 4 EQ modules (enable/freq/quality/gain)
For each VST Instrument
• VST Instrument plug-in parameters and program selection
plus (for each mixer channel/separate output used by the instrument):
• Volume
• Mute
• Pan left/right
• 5 x insert effect program selection and effect...

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Automation track operations
Opening automation subtracks 
Every track/channel has a number of automation subtracks, each 
showing one automation parameter.
For audio, group, MIDI and FX channel tracks, there are two ways you 
can open an automation subtrack for the channel:
•By right-clicking (Win) or [Ctrl]-clicking (Mac) the track in the Track 
list and selecting “Show Automation” from the pop-up that appears.
•By clicking on the “Show/Hide Automation” button (the plus...

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Opening additional automation subtracks
•If you click on the “Append Automation Track” button (the “+” sign) 
for an automation subtrack, another subtrack opens, by default show-
ing the next parameter in the Add Parameter list (see below).
Assigning a parameter to an automation subtrack
Default parameters are already assigned to automation subtracks 
when you open them, according to their order in the Add Parameter 
list (see below). To select what parameter an open...

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•If the parameter you wish to automate is on the pop-up you can select 
it directly.
The parameter will then replace the current parameter in the automation subtrack. 
•If you wish to add a parameter not available on the pop-up and want 
to view all parameters that can be automated, go on to the next step.
3.Select “More...”.
The Add Parameter dialog appears. This dialog shows a list with all parameters, sorted 
into different categories, that can be automated for the...

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4.Select a parameter from the list and click OK.
The parameter will then replace the current parameter in the automation subtrack.
• To view the parameters in each category click the “+” sign for the cate-
gory folder.
• Note that the “replacing” of the parameter displayed in the subtrack is 
completely non-destructive. 
For example, if the subtrack contained any automation data for the parameter you just 
replaced, this data would still be there, although it would not be...

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Hiding automation subtracks
•To hide a single automation subtrack, click the “Hide Automation” 
button (the minus sign) in the Track list.
•To hide all automation subtracks for a track, right-click (Win) or [Ctrl]-
click (Mac) the track for which you wish to hide the automation sub-
tracks, and select “Hide Automation” from the pop-up menu that ap-
pears.
•To hide all automation subtracks for all tracks in the Track list, right-
click (Win) or [Ctrl]-click (Mac) any track...

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Muting automation subtracks
You can mute individual automation subtracks by clicking their Mute 
buttons in the Track list. While clicking the Read (R) button (see page 
231) for an automation subtrack will activate or deactivate Read mode 
for all automated parameters of the track, using the Mute button allows 
you to turn off automation for a single parameter.
The “Automation follows Events” setting
If you activate “Automation follows Events” on the Edit menu (or in the...