Automation Types

Nearly every parameter in Studio One Pro can be automated. Several ways to automate parameters are provided, including Track automation, Automation Tracks, and Part automation. The following sections describe these automation types.

Track Automation

Track automation allows you to automate any parameter related to an Audio or Instrument Track and the Events it contains. Automation can be viewed via the Show Automation button at the top of the Track Column in the Arrange view or by [Right]/[Ctrl]-clicking on a Track and selecting Expand Envelopes. Note that for Instrument Tracks (which do not have automation enabled on any parameters by default), Expand Envelopes does not show automation unless one or more parameters have been enabled for automation.

Note that automation envelopes on Instrument Tracks control the parameters of the virtual instrument to which the Instrument Track is routed. All other aspects of Instrument Track automation envelopes work in the same way as with Audio Track automation.

Automation Envelopes On the Track

To view automation envelopes one at a time, superimposed on top of Events on the Track, Press [A] on the keyboard or click on the Show Automation button at the top of the Track column in the Arrange view. With this engaged, the Track column of the Arrange view changes to reveal automation parameters, including an On/Off button, the parameter name for the currently shown Envelope, and automation mode selection.

Click on the Automation Parameter display, which is labeled “Display: Off” by default, to reveal the available automation envelopes for a Track (“Display: Off” indicates that the Events on the Track are displayed, instead of an automation envelope). Volume and Pan automation envelopes are available by default on every Audio Track. Select a parameter from the list to view and edit the automation envelope, or click on Add/Remove to open the Automation dialog for the Track.

Automation Envelopes In Lanes

To view multiple automation envelopes at once, with each in a lane under the Track, [Right]/[Ctrl]-click on a Track and select Expand Envelopes. Alternatively, you can click the drop-down arrows for a Track in the Track List to expose its automation envelopes in the same way. To hide the automation envelopes, deselect Expand Envelopes in the Track contextual menu.

Turn Automation On/Off

Automation envelopes can be turned on and off, so you can decide when they affect the controlled parameter. To turn an envelope on or off, click on the On/Off button for that Envelope. Each automation envelope can be turned on/off independently. Turning an automation envelope on/off during playback has different results depending on the current Automation Mode for the Track.

Add Automation Envelopes to a Track

Any number of automation envelopes can be added to a Track. The fastest way to add an automation envelope to a Track is as follows:

  1. Modify any parameter for an Track or its Inserts or Sends, and that parameter is displayed in the Software Parameter window in the far left of the Arrange view toolbar in the Song window.
  2. Click on the Hand icon in the Software Parameter window, and drag it to the Track to add an automation envelope for that parameter to the Track. If the envelope already exists, it is displayed, and a new envelope is not added.

An alternative way to add automation envelopes to a Track is described as follows:

  1. Press [A] on the keyboard to show automation.
  2. Click on the Parameter window on the Track in the Track column of the Arrange view and select Add/Remove from the list. This opens the Automation dialog for that Track:

At the top left of the Automation dialog, you can browse through all Tracks in your Song to view and edit the automation envelopes for any Track. You can also click on the "Add Automation Track" button to add a new Automation Track.

On the left side of the Automation dialog, the existing automation envelopes are listed, along with their associated automation mode and device. On the right side of this dialog are the parameters for which new automation envelopes can be added. The automation dialog has a search bar as well. Once you find a parameter you would like to automate, select the chosen parameter and click “<<Add” located in the middle of the Automation dialog. This will add the parameter to the list of Automation Tracks.

Select any parameter on the right and click “<<Add” to create a new automation envelope. Click on any parameter on the left and click “Remove>>” to remove the existing automation envelope.

Automation Tracks

Studio One Pro features a Track type dedicated to automation that only contains automation envelopes. An Automation Track can contain automation envelopes related to any Track and any plug-ins. To add an Automation Track, press [T] on the keyboard to open the Add Track dialog, and select Automation. Note that at least one envelope on Automation Tracks is always visible, and the envelopes can be viewed on the Track itself or in lanes, just as with the other Track types.

Only those parameters for which an automation envelope does not already exist are available for automation. However, you can drag and drop an automation envelope from any other Track to an Automation Track. All other aspects of Automation Track automation envelopes work in the same way as with Track automation.

You can use Automation Tracks to automate Bus, FX, and Output Channel parameters and Inserts and to keep critical automation envelopes organized in one place and easily accessible.

Clicking the Show Automation option (or pressing [A] on the keyboard) toggles the visibility of Automation Tracks on and off, along with automation lanes associated with audio and instrument Tracks.