Fast Volume Automation

[Krakadon]

I'm a DP man all the way (since '99). But I do use other DAWs for collaboration. I have recently been learning Pro Tools and I'm amazed how fast you can do volume automation. Select the volume layer, drag L-R to make track selection, position curser for trim tool and drag up-down to change volume, and you can have multiple tracks selected to change volume on all tracks and change tools for other variations besides "make volume of selection x db". Is there a way to do this so quickly in DP?

[Krakadon]

Nobody?

[mesayre]

Hey there,
I can think of a couple of ways that you might do this in DP. The fastest is probably to use the pencil or reshape tool (in "set" mode) set to "flat" in the sequence editor. Just draw the line over the duration you want to change. With the pencil tool, you'll get a ramp from/to the values before/after your edit. With the reshape tool, you won't. The latter is closest to the PT behavior you're describing, I believe. Other ways to do it:

Soundbite Gain
Cut the soundbite, then specify bite gain in dB using Audio ->Set Bite Gain

Soundbite Volume
Use the pencil/reshape tools as above, or effect the entire bite using the Bite Volume options in the audio menu.

Insert Continuous Data
For multiple tracks, select the area in all the tracks, the right-click and choose "insert continuous data". Choose "Audio Volume". If you want a curve, you can do that, or just enter the same value for the start and end, and you'll get a flat line.


Hopefully one of those fits the bill. Any of those can be assigned to a keyboard shortcut, which makes it pretty speedy.

[Krakadon]

Thanks mesayre! Pencil with curve shape "flat", reshape enabled and behavior "set" is much faster than my previous work flow so thanks for that. I still think the ease and speed of changing bite volume and track volume is much better in Pro Tools. I'll ask MOTU if they can add some features.

[toodamnhip]

I'm a DP man all the way (since '99). But I do use other DAWs for collaboration. I have recently been learning Pro Tools and I'm amazed how fast you can do volume automation. Select the volume layer, drag L-R to make track selection, position curser for trim tool and drag up-down to change volume, and you can have multiple tracks selected to change volume on all tracks and change tools for other variations besides "make volume of selection x db". Is there a way to do this so quickly in DP?

For years I have asked MOTU to replicate this pro tools feature. It is a nice feature and makes one miss pro tools when working in DP. In DP, you have to create your own end edit points and section those edit points off before trying such a maneuver. No where near as nice.

[Krakadon]

Glad I'm not the only one. Like I said I was shocked how much faster and easier this is in Pro Tools. MOTU needs to replicate this capability in DP.

[fdco]

What about this:

In the Sequence Editor,
Show the layer you want to automate for each track you want to automate.
Select these tracks.
Type T twice (temporary grouping).
Select the IBeam tool (shortcut "I") and make a time selection in one of the selected tracks.
Select the trim tool (shortcut ":") .
Place it above an automation line on any selected track and drag up or down.

Faster to do than to read

[toodamnhip]

What about this:

In the Sequence Editor,
Show the layer you want to automate for each track you want to automate.
Select these tracks.
Type T twice (temporary grouping).
Select the IBeam tool (shortcut "I") and make a time selection in one of the selected tracks.
Select the trim tool (shortcut ":") .
Place it above an automation line on any selected track and drag up or down.

Faster to do than to read

I think i know what you’re saying but would have to replicate it to know for sure or see it in a video. However,you do remind me of how DP is better than pro tools for temp grouping. By the way, it’s “W” for temp grouping. You can either hold for the most temporary grouping, or double tap it for semi permanent grouping which does;t end until you hit “w” again.

[dwilliams]

Yes! This is exactly the behavior. So much faster than the way I used to do this! BTW, the short cut for the trim tool is "/". "T" temporarily groups selection. "W" temporarily groups visible tracks. I didn't know these tricks either. So much easier to learn from other users than with 1,000 page manuals. Thank you!

[fdco]

BTW, the short cut for the trim tool is "/"

Yes - Sorry, I'm using a french keyboard and custom keybindings.

[mesayre]

Fantastic. I learned something new.

Thanks!

[Gravity Jim]

Glad I'm not the only one.

When there's something about DP you're not entirely happy with, you can always count on TDH to pile on.

We're still waiting for him to reveal why he uses DP at all.

[toodamnhip]

Glad I'm not the only one.

When there's something about DP you're not entirely happy with, you can always count on TDH to pile on.

We're still waiting for him to reveal why he uses DP at all.

Having completely forgotten this thread, you can see my surprise to see I’m being maligned in what appears to be some sort of latent, resentful attack. I’ve seen your work Jim, it is utterly simplistic compared to what I do on a daily basis. I mention this not as a “slight” to you, as “simple” can be powerful (of course).
But I mention this as it is a technical fact that you do not, in NO way, drive your system as hard as I drive mine.
So before you attack my opinions in an unwarranted fashion, make sure you are technically comparing apples to apples. You and I do NOT do the same depth nor complexity of music. Nor do we work in the same high pressure, artist-star studded realms where mistakes are completely unacceptable when made in front of major artists. So while some dude doing film and tv or documentary tracks can have errors and be slightly “annoyed", another producer with a major artist in the booth..cannot be but outraged and embarrassed! And thus is born a different standard of excellence and demand for perfection.

Apples to apples man.

[James Steele]

Glad I'm not the only one.

When there's something about DP you're not entirely happy with, you can always count on TDH to pile on.

We're still waiting for him to reveal why he uses DP at all.

No need to take a shot at TDH. He has a right to express his opinions here. Lacking a PERFECT DAW, and there is no such thing, online forums like this one tend to attract much more discussion about what's lacking, than what's good.

[toodamnhip]

Glad I'm not the only one.

When there's something about DP you're not entirely happy with, you can always count on TDH to pile on.

We're still waiting for him to reveal why he uses DP at all.

No need to take a shot at TDH. He has a right to express his opinions here. Lacking a PERFECT DAW, and there is no such thing, online forums like this one tend to attract much more discussion about what's lacking, than what's good.

Thanks James. I cannot recall being in here for some time to complain anyway. It was pretty random to see Jims post. I am Parked at 9.02 anyway and thus have not had much to say. Seems like the newest version of DP is a very mixed bag, working fine for some, and like me, not working well for others. As long as I can stay parked at 9.02, I won't complain too much. However, I don't think it's good for the company for this new latency compensation version to to be such a mixed bag. I have been watching all over, from Facebook to other forms. I have no doubt that the results have been very mixed. "Mixed", is not a successful released to me. See? Now I have complained LOL
I want MOTU to do well, for when MOTU does well, then I have a long-term support system. It does not make me happy to not be totally thrilled about the latest release, I would love to be totally thrilled. By the way, I am also not on the latest OS, which seems to also have problems for some. We all go around in circles, going through the same problems throughout different versions of operating systems and DP. We are all hamsters on the technology treadmill LOL