Logic Lab #3

Lab 3: Thursday June 19, 2008

Open: logiclab3.lso as the end point.

In this lab we will see how to use and manage the track automation features of Logic. Track automation is perhaps the most important and powerful feature of Logic (and ProTools, Cuebase, etc.) providing functional access to every single parameter of the devices associated with a given track. There are also some global automation features that we will play with in this excercise.

Open: logiclab2.lso as the starting point.

turn on track automation under the "view" menu tab - auto-on; you should see a black line in all tracks. If not, increase the vertical size using the vertical size controller at the bottom right of the Logic window.
below EVB3 in track 1, click and hold the mouse over the label "volume" - velo; this indicates that the current automation line in the track is "volume" (the default).
now you can use the mouse to make a volume changes by entering a break point (click on the line anywhere) the dragging the line before or after to make slopes - vol_auto
now you see how these break-point functions provide time-based automation to each instrument, device or plugin - for example select the 4' drawbar of the upper manual to automate - um4ft
but to really have fun with the organ change the instrument to Jimmy Guarana - jimmyg
now open the EVB3 organ soft instrument - evb3 (open mixer tab, click on "evb3" about out1-2 in track 1.
put the track in "solo" mode - solo
set the automation control to "latch" - latch (see below for definitions of touch, latch, read, write)
now, as you move any knob or control or preset on the soft instrument, the automation system will record these actions under the appropriate label.

This is a nearly infinite capability - meaning, you can develop a very very high level of automation detail and granularity (time) within the software much like a player would using a real instrument in performance.

From p587 of the Help Manual

Touch

Touch mode plays back automation data in the same fashion as Read mode.
Should a channel strip or an external (touch-sensitive) automation controller be
touched, the existing track automation data of the active parameter will be replaced by
any controller movements—for as long as the fader or knob is touched. When you
release the controller, the automation parameter will return to its original (recorded)
value. The time required by a parameter to return to its previously recorded setting, is
set via Logic Pro > Preferences > Automation > Ramp Time.
Touch is the most useful mode for creating a mix, and is directly comparable to “riding
the faders” on a hardware mixing console. It allows you to correct and improve the mix
at any time, when automation is active.

Latch

Latch mode basically works like Touch mode, but the current value will replace any
existing automation data, after releasing the fader or knob—when Logic Pro is in
playback (or record) mode.
To finish, or to end parameter editing, stop playback (or recording).

Write

In Write mode, existing track automation data is erased as the playhead passes it.
If you move any of the Mixer’s (or an external unit’s) controls, this movement will be
recorded—if you don’t, existing data is simply deleted as the playhead passes it.