Automation Play buttons default to “ON” makes no sense!!

[HCMarkus]

helps me avoid making hasty changes on an un-automated fader that I may later regret.

That's a reason to do a snapshot. Then the changes have to be deliberate.

Yes, but another step. Pros and cons, like approaches, are many.

Preference requested.

[Killahurts]

But it's just not a significant problem, definitely not worth arguing about.

Agreed, but that hasn't stopped arguments in the past. I prefer the automation button to default to "on" and don't recall it ever self-activating when I added data (such as volume, pan, etc). In fact, I know it didn't self-activate in the past so maybe that's new? If so, that would be cool but as Phil O says - not when you draw automation, which is how I enter it 99% of the time.

I don't have many instances when a track doesn't have some control data needing automation and, as a result, have always set it to default to on. I like it that way...

I'm willing to bet that a lot of folks that want it to default to off are guys like me who write most automation in with a controller/console. The guys that draw data in with the mouse, etc., seem to prefer default to on, for very good reasons which have been posted here..

But one little button to turn them all on or off would make everybody happy, so I'm in the "make it a preference" camp.

[reedster]

When Automation is off and "Add Similar Track" is used to create a new track, Automation is off in the new track - kinda like a preference.

[Robert Randolph]

As a side note, you guys really shouldn't be using 'add new track' very much IMO.

Create a sequence that has the track (or tracks) that you want. Put that sequence in a global clipping window. Now when you want a track you can just drag that sequence to your existing sequence and BOOM new track(s). I'll make a gif for this later.

I have a bunch of sequences: full drums, 4 track drums, 6 track guitar, 4 track guitar, guitar sim, guitar sim/mic mix, 2 track bass, vocal suite, single stereo, orchestral template, piano track live, etc... They're all in a clipping window, and they are treated like track templates.

So rather than having to rely on a big master template with a bunch of unnecessary tracks, I can build my project as I go along, but in large chunks. This also includes i/o settings, plug-in settings, automation settings, folders, associated sends etc..

This is not only an excellent workaround for the automation "issue", but an excellent way to speed up almost any workflow that doesn't start with a massive default template.

[cleamon]

As a side note, you guys really shouldn't be using 'add new track' very much IMO.

Create a sequence that has the track (or tracks) that you want. Put that sequence in a global clipping window. Now when you want a track you can just drag that sequence to your existing sequence and BOOM new track(s). I'll make a gif for this later.

I have a bunch of sequences: full drums, 4 track drums, 6 track guitar, 4 track guitar, guitar sim, guitar sim/mic mix, 2 track bass, vocal suite, single stereo, orchestral template, piano track live, etc... They're all in a clipping window, and they are treated like track templates.

So rather than having to rely on a big master template with a bunch of unnecessary tracks, I can build my project as I go along, but in large chunks. This also includes i/o settings, plug-in settings, automation settings, folders, associated sends etc..

This is not only an excellent workaround for the automation "issue", but an excellent way to speed up almost any workflow that doesn't start with a massive default template.

+++

[bayswater]

Create a sequence that has the track (or tracks) that you want. Put that sequence in a global clipping window. Now when you want a track you can just drag that sequence to your existing sequence and BOOM new track(s).

Or, if you use templates, drag the sequence with the desired tracks from the Chunks window.

[Robert Randolph]

Create a sequence that has the track (or tracks) that you want. Put that sequence in a global clipping window. Now when you want a track you can just drag that sequence to your existing sequence and BOOM new track(s).

Or, if you use templates, drag the sequence with the desired tracks from the Chunks window.

Yeah, that's another way to do it. Have a template with 'track template' sequences.

[HCMarkus]

As a side note, you guys really shouldn't be using 'add new track' very much IMO.

Create a sequence that has the track (or tracks) that you want. Put that sequence in a global clipping window. Now when you want a track you can just drag that sequence to your existing sequence and BOOM new track(s). I'll make a gif for this later.

I use a large template, which works well, but can be unwieldy in some circumstances. I like the suggested approach Robert and will give it a try when time permits.

[Robert Randolph]

For those who aren't familiar with using the clippings windows, or manipulating chunks, I made a short video explaining the workflow.

This should help the people who dislike having the automation turned to read by default as well. You will be able to add tracks to your project in any default state that you wish.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2YII15d45E

Pardon the poor audio, I only had a few minutes to make this and I accidentally selected the wrong mic.

edit: Uh, how do you embed a youtube link?

[EMRR]

I'll have to play with that, thanks for the video link. Snapshots and chunks are mostly unexplored areas for me, clippings have never been used. I think I took a snapshot a few times in 2008, don't remember why! I forget it's there, or why I'd use it. The only thing in my habitual workflow is 'duplicate chunk' to get a new song sequence mirroring all mixer and track settings from a previous.

[MIDI Life Crisis]

I tried using the code to imbed but now just posting the link auto imbeds it for some reason.

As for this thread, a pref would solve it until then, it is what it is. Send the suggestion to MOTU if you want to see a change. Talking about it here won't get their attention unless, I suppose, it's a more "innovative" suggestion. Maybe like Chunk Folders and color coding chunks, etc.

[frankf]

I've always interpreted the green automation light as automation read being enabled NOT that there is automation data in the track. So I wouldn't change the function. And Boris, I've read your example. From my workflow it would be a separate indicator for any automation present in the track, although I don't need the feature myself. I do most work in the SE where it is fairly easy to see if automation data exists in a track


Frank Ferrucci

[Tim]

Automation Setup
Enable Automation Playback (on or off)
Save as Default for Audio Tracks

[Robert Randolph]

Automation Setup
Enable Automation Playback (on or off)
Save as Default for Audio Tracks

Amazing.

/thread

[MIDI Life Crisis]

Automation Setup
Enable Automation Playback (on or off)
Save as Default for Audio Tracks

Thank you, Tim. Now could you please add. Chunk Folders and color coded soundbites?