Automation modes – Apple Soundtrack User Manual
Page 152
152
Chapter 9
Working with Automation
Automation Modes
Soundtrack provides three modes for using and recording automation. The automation
modes determine whether automation data is recorded, and what happens when you
release the control being recorded.
 Read: In Read mode, existing automation data is active when you play the project,
but no new automation data is recorded.
 Touch: In Touch mode, movements to controls are recorded when you play the
project, overwriting any existing automation data until you release the control. When
you release a control in Touch mode, the control returns to the value it previously
had at the point in the Timeline where you release the control. No envelope points
after that point are added or changed.
 Latch: In Latch mode, movements to controls are recorded when you play the
project, overwriting any data from the point you start recording until you stop
playing the project. When you release a control in Latch mode, the control maintains
the same value at which you released it.
To record automation data:
1
Choose either Touch or Latch from the Automation Mode pop-up menu.
2
Set the playhead to a position before the point where you want to start recording.
3
Click Play (or press the Space bar) to start the project playing.
4
While the project plays, move the control you want to record.
Once you have recorded automation data, you can show the envelope for the control
and add and adjust envelope points on the envelope to fine-tune the automation. For
information on working with envelopes, see “
Thinning Envelope Points in Recorded Automation Data
Recording automation data can generate a large number of envelope points. The
number of envelope points recorded can make editing envelopes difficult, and in some
cases affect playback performance.
You can reduce or “thin” the number of envelope points recorded from a control
surface in the Project preferences. You set the amount of thinning using the
Automation Recording Sensitivity slider. The automation data is thinned when you
finish recording automation.