Inputting automation data

You can input automation data for multiple MIDI controllers, including pitch bend, in the automation lane for each instrument track.

Prerequisite

The automation lane is shown for each instrument to which you want to add automation.

Procedure

  1. In each automation lane header, select the MIDI controller into which you want to input automation from the MIDI Controller menu.
  2. Select one of the following tools, depending on the type of automation you want to input:
    • To input single automation points, or automation event regions containing multiple automation points at regular intervals, select Draw by pressing D or clicking Draw in the Play toolbox.

    • To input gradual automation events, select Line by pressing L or clicking Line in the Play toolbox.

  3. Input automation in one of the following ways:
    • To input single automation points, click in the automation lane at each position where you want an automation point.

    • To input an automation event region containing multiple automation points at regular intervals, click and drag in a single motion in the automation lane.

    • To input gradual automation events, click and drag in the automation lane from where you want the gradual automation event to start to where you want it to end.

    Note

    When you first start inputting pitch bend data, the horizontal line in the middle of the automation lane represents the unmodified pitch.

Result

Automation is input for the selected MIDI controller. If you used the Draw tool, separate automation points are input at each position you clicked. If you clicked and dragged in a single motion using the Draw tool, automation points are input at sixteenth note intervals, or at smaller intervals if the rhythmic grid resolution is finer than sixteenth notes. If you used the Line tool, two automation points are input, one at each end of the range.

By default, single automation points are constant, automation points in regions are linear, the last automation point in regions is constant, and gradual automation events have a linear point at the start and a constant point at the end.

Gradual automation events and automation event regions appear with highlighted regions in the automation lane.