Steinberg Nuendo 3 Operation Manual

13
Automation 

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Background
Nuendo 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 340.
•By using the Write/Read buttons and adjusting parameters in the mixer.
See page 333.   

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The methods are not different in terms of how the automation data is 
applied – they only differ in the way the automation events are created; 
manually drawing them or recording them. Any applied automation 
data will be reflected in both the mixer (a fader will move for example) 
and in a corresponding automation track curve (although this may be 
hidden).
About automation subtracks
Audio tracks, group tracks and FX channel tracks all have automation 
subtracks. These allow...

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What can be automated?
Mixing in Nuendo can be completely automated. The following param-
eter settings can be recorded automatically – or manually drawn in – 
on automation subtracks:
For each audio or group track and ReWire channel:
• Volume
• Mute
• Pan left/right
• 8 x insert effect program selection and effect parameters (if inserts are used)
• 8 x effect send on/off switches
• 8 x effect send levels
• Surround panner parameters
• EQ master bypass
• Settings for 4 EQ...

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For each MIDI track
• Volume
• Pan
• Mute
• Track parameters on/off switch
• Transpose
• Vel. shift
• Random 1-2 min/max/target
• Range 1-2 min/max/target
• 4 x insert effect on/off switches
• 4 x send effect on/off switches
• 4 x MIDI insert effect parameters (if used)
• 4 x MIDI send effect parameters (if used) 

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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 sign)...

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For ReWire channels and input/output busses, automation tracks are 
automatically created when the Write automation button (see page 
333) is activated in either:
• The corresponding channel strip in the mixer.
• The corresponding Channel Settings window.
• The mixer common panel (“Write All”).
• The area above the Track list (“Write All”)
Opening additional automation subtracks
•If you click on the “Append Automation Track” button (the “+” sign) 
for an automation subtrack,...

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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 subtrack should 
display, proceed as follows:
1.If none exists, open an automation subtrack using one of the methods 
described above.
2.Click in the parameter display for the automation subtrack.
A pop-up list is shown containing some of the...

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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 selected channel, including the 
parameters for any assigned insert effects. See page 324 for a list of the available pa-
rameters according to channel type.
The Add Parameter dialog for an audio track.
4.Select a parameter from the list and click OK.
The parameter will then replace the current parameter in the...

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• 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 visible after you re-
placed the parameter. If you click in the parameter display you can switch back to the 
replaced parameter. All automated parameters are indicated by an asterisk (*) after the 
parameter name on the...