Drawing fader automation

[Dan Worley]

How do I quickly draw a dip (like on a syllable, for example) in the fader automation without having to add four automation points, one at a time, and then lowering the middle two? Please tell me there's a way to have the syllable highlighted and then draw the dip in with just one move. I seem to remember being able to do this, but if that's true, I've since forgotten how.

What are your methods for doing this?

Many thanks.

[Buzzy]

I too would like to know

In the mean time Dan what I do do (doodoo?) is highlight a dip (all 4 points) copy & paste wherever I may need a dip then modify as required. Saves some time anyway.

[Dan Worley]

Thanks for that, Buzzy. That's clever.

I've been experimenting. If I set the Reshape Flavor to "Square" and the Reshape Action to "Set" and then use the Reshape Tool, I can draw dips and peaks fairly fast. It takes some getting used to, and sometimes it gets stubborn and wants to stay flat right on the line. But I may be able to work with this, barring something better coming along.

[Dan Worley]

Actually, this is working fairly well. Set the Reshape tools up as I described in my post above, then switch back to the Pointer tool if you like (I like using the Pointer tool with the Cursor Selection Mode set to "All" in the Tools' preferences).

When you're ready to draw in a dip, just hold down the "R" key and place the tool under the automation line and draw the desired length and adjust up or down. Then when you release the "R" key, it will switch back to the Pointer tool and you can adjust the points as needed.

This is good for short dips. If you drag too far it will start drawing the next half of the cycle.

Oh, I found out the cycles are dependent on the resolution of the grid, even if "snap to grid" is off. So if you set the grid to a quarter note, you can draw as short of a dip as you want, but if the length goes beyond a quarter note the other half of the cycle will start drawing. I found if I set the grid to a half note that gives me the room I need for most things.

[dpdan]

easy,, just make sure you choose "Volume" in the SE window for that track and hold down the P for pencil and draw.
Once you get a nice little "V" drawn you can copy it and merge it as many times as you want.
if you paste the data you will delete the audio in that section. Merge is what you want to do.

Dan

watch

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-OEDDq28OE

[Dan Worley]

Something I just noticed: If I drag the Reshape tool right to left, I can adjust the height as I draw, which is great. If I draw left to right, I cannot adjust the height, it will stay the height of where I first clicked no matter how much I move the tool up or down.

[dpdan]

Hi Dan, watch the toot I just did for you

[Dan Worley]

Hi Dan, watch the toot I just did for you

Thanks, Dan. I really appreciate that! I just watched it. I always always always forget about Merge. I don't know why I can't remember it. Thank you!

As far as the Pencil tool is concerned, I've tried it before, of course, but when I drag it, it always writes in way too many points and then I have this huge mess on my hands when I go to adjust the dip. Maybe there's a setting that controls that. Continuous Data maybe? I'll have to check.

This is what I end up with when I use the Pencil tool to draw in a dip. That's just too much. I think it's because of the input device, which is a Magic Trackpad.




Thanks again.

[Don T]

Hello,
I use various methods depending on source & workflow.
1. Automation as you are doing.
2. Separate and soundbite volume.
3. Split and use a fade in (for S's & P's for example).

I like the copy / paste method, it's the quickest.

[bdr]

You can select/create 2 points and then choose the trim tool and drag up and down.

[MIDI Life Crisis]

You can select/create 2 points and then choose the trim tool and drag up and down.

Just tried that. Very elegant solution!

[Dan Worley]

Hello,
I use various methods depending on source & workflow.
1. Automation as you are doing.
2. Separate and soundbite volume.
3. Split and use a fade in (for S's & P's for example).

I've used all three of those, except I use Bite Gain instead of Bite Volume.

Thanks.

[Dan Worley]

You can select/create 2 points and then choose the trim tool and drag up and down.

Thanks! That's pretty cool if the points are already drawn in.

Try this you guys:

- Reshape Flavor = Square
- Reshape Action = Set
- Set the Grid to half or whole notes (this just gives you some room when you're dragging before the next cycle starts. BTW, it doesn't matter if the grid is on or off, this still has an effect).
- Select the Reshape tool or hit the "R" key.
- Click under the automation line and drag right to left and adjust the height as you go. Strangely enough, If you drag left to right you cannot adjust the height.

This is the fastest method I've found so far.

[MIDI Life Crisis]

Go Dan the Man!

[dpdan]

I would not worry about all the little black dots so much as long as the end result is what you want... I was helping a friend of mine running DP and I said to him...
"don't get your panties in a wad over numbers". He's the kind of guy that wants to control everything by numeric values but has finally realized, in the end, the sound is what matters. Believe it or not I converted him


Dan