writing channel mutes

[chernman]

I believe PA 9.0 has the ability to automate channel mute on/off's but I can't seem to get them to work.

Someone,.......... anyone,................ Bueller?!

Thanks in advance.

 

[dachay2tnr]

Sorry, but what do you mean by "automate channel mute on/off's"?

 

[chernman]

As you are mixing, adjusting the levels and so forth, I would like to have a certain track muted at 1:03:00 and unmuted at 4:01:00. I know I can get the same effect from pulling down the faders but there's some pretty intricate fader work there that I may not want to lose. I know there are 10 different ways to handle this but I was hoping I could just automate the mutes on playback.

Thanks for any feedback you can give.

 

[dachay2tnr]

You can use Volume Envelopes to do this. It may not be a true "mute", but you can pull the volume down to zero, which should accomplish essentially the same thing.

To do this, call up the particular track in Audio View and create a volume envelope (i.e., right click -> envelope -> create volume). This will give you a red line running down the middle of the track. Add two "nodes" next to each other at the point you wish to start the mute (i.e., right click on the red line -> add node), and do the same thing where you want the mute to end. Position your mouse on the red line between the starting and ending points, then left click and hold and drag the red line down to the bottom of the track. If you need to make any adjustments, you can left click on any of the nodes and reposition them.

All of this is a lot easier to do, then to describe. The Volume Envelope is a great tool, and a whole lot easier and more exact than riding the faders. Plus it allows you to visualize what's going on by simply looking at the red line. You can also use this tool to apply fades (using a diagonal line).

Good luck.

 

[Aaron Cheney]

Here's what I can offer

If you are automating the faders, then you probably already know this, but I'll say it just to make sure:
In console view, make sure "record" is pressed. (It's the button at the top w/ the red circle). Then play your song. As long as "record" is pressed, any move you make on a automatable control will be recorded. I don't know whether the mute buttons are automatable or not. If you try this and they still don't do what you want, then they aren't.
A better solution is to do as dachay2tnr suggests and use a volume envelope.
Just a word of advice: If I were you, I'd ditch the stupid console view anyway. It sucks. Vector mixing (using volume and pan envelopes) is the only way to go. It's much more intuitive and acurate. Dealing w/ automated faders is a huge pain, and very hard to change later. Envelopes are a sinch to change.
I'm glad software devleopers are starting to finally realize that the graphical "mixer" analogy is archaic. Vector mixing is where it's at, in my opinion.
Aaron
http://www.aaroncheney.com

 

[dachay2tnr]

Right on, Aaron. I understand that Sonar will be including FX envelopes, in addition to the current volume and pan. This is almost worth the $99 upgrade price in itself.