why use automation?

  • Thread starter Thread starter shackrock
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shackrock

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why use automation controls on your PC, if you can set it all VERY specifically with ytour program - to make it perfect. ???

I never really have seen the point. But observing mixing at a few pro studios the past few months - everyone automates instead of, say, adding a volume or FX envelope and setting points, etc. etc. why! ha.
 
well...automating IS the same thing as setting volume envelopes by putting in point by point. it's just a different way of doing it. the definition of automation is the controling a parameter during playback "automatically" (ie...letting the computer do it all).
are you asking why do people write automation manually instead of drawing it in? doing it manually is an old school way of doing it before they had DAWs. and some people like doing it that way so they can listen in real time to how they are affecting the audio. then drawing it came along, and other people liked using that instead. :cool:
 
Sometimes what is pleasing to the ear is not at all in line with what is pleasing to the eye. Automation would be the only way for people who choose to mix with their eyes shut to operate in the digital world.

Try mixing instrument volumes with your eyes shut and see how it differs from how you would do it with your eyes open.
 
ryanlikestorock said:
Sometimes what is pleasing to the ear is not at all in line with what is pleasing to the eye. Automation would be the only way for people who choose to mix with their eyes shut to operate in the digital world.

Try mixing instrument volumes with your eyes shut and see how it differs from how you would do it with your eyes open.

That's true to a large degree, however going through a track to automate mute points is a lot faster when you can see where the audio is and isn't.
 
I use volume automation to comp together a vocal or lead. Also to cut out clams.

For noise reduction (Voxengo Redunoise) I can automate the dry/wet of that plugin to get the NR out of the way until it's actually needed.

Sometimes recording the automation for a mix that has more fader changes than you have fingers is nice too.
 
Automation is also very useful if you want to come back at a later date (weeks/months) later for remixing, when you may have forgotten any manual changes!
 
I use both. What is the issue here? Anyway there are many things that can be automated that can't be set in the envelope, like aux send levels for example. Or maybe my software is too old :confused:
 
i do agree that automation is effective in many ways, but i've seen people use it in pretty absurd ways i.e. some one is singing and takes a large breath, so they set automation to 0 for that half a beat. i just destructively edit the wave and cut that part out. i think its the more sensible thing to do.
 
Rock Star 87 said:
i do agree that automation is effective in many ways, but i've seen people use it in pretty absurd ways i.e. some one is singing and takes a large breath, so they set automation to 0 for that half a beat. i just destructively edit the wave and cut that part out. i think its the more sensible thing to do.

oh i do that all the time. i think it sounds more realistic. plus i don't destroy anything that i can't come back to. and what are ya gonna do if you're on analog or can't edit the wave on your digital board???
 
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