Steinberg Cubase Essential 4 Operation Manual

13
Automation 

132
Automation
Background
Cubase Essential provides very comprehensive automa-
tion features. Virtually every mixer and effect parameter 
can be automated.
There are two main methods you can use to automate pa-
rameter settings:
By manually drawing curves on automation subtracks in 
the Project window.
See “Editing automation events” on page 138.
By using the Write/Read buttons and adjusting para-
meters in the mixer.
See “Using Write/Read automation” on page 135.
The methods are not different in terms...

133
Automation
What can be automated?
Mixing in Cubase Essential can be completely automated. 
The following parameter settings can be recorded auto-
matically – or manually drawn in – on automation sub-
tracks:
For each audio or group track and ReWire channel:



 8 x insert effect parameters and bypass (if inserts are used)
 8 x effect send settings (on/off, level, pan)
 Settings for 4 EQ modules (Master Bypass, on/off, Type, 
Gain, Freq., Quality)
For each FX channel track and output bus:



 8 x...

134
Automation
For VST Instruments (not for Instrument tracks, see above), 
automation tracks appear automatically when you add them 
in the VST Instruments window.
For ReWire channels and output busses, automation 
tracks are automatically created when the Write automa-
tion button (see “Using Write/Read automation” on page 
135) is activated in either:
 The corresponding channel strip in the mixer.
 The corresponding Channel Settings window.
 The mixer common panel (“All Automation to Write Status”)....

135
Automation
Removing automation subtracks 
To remove all automation for the selected parameter, click 
the parameter name and select “Remove Parameter” from 
the pop-up menu. This will delete any automation events 
on the subtrack, and the subtrack will be closed.
Hiding automation subtracks
To hide an automation subtrack, position the pointer over 
the top left border of the subtrack in the Track list and click 
the “Hide Automation Track” button.
To hide an automation subtrack, you can also...

136
Automation
When “All Automation to Write Status” is activated, all 
mixer actions you perform during playback (for all chan-
nels) will be recorded as automation events.
The “MIDI Controller Input to Automation Tracks” 
preference
If you have set up a remote device to control parameters 
and settings in the program, you can record automation 
with that remote device – just activate Write as usual. 
However, if you are recording a MIDI track and want to 
record automation at the same time, the...

137
Automation
Assigning an automated parameter to an automation 
subtrack
To select which parameter is currently shown in the auto-
mation track for the FX channel, proceed as follows:
1.Click on the parameter name for the FX channel auto-
mation subtrack.
The parameter name pop-up list is shown containing the automation pa-
rameters for the plug-in. The parameter(s) you previously automated are 
indicated by an asterisk after the parameter name in the list.
Automated parameters for the PingPongDelay...

138
Automation
Editing automation events
Drawing automation events
By using write automation in the mixer, you generate auto-
mation events by moving parameter dials and faders in the 
mixer. You can also add them manually by drawing automa-
tion curves on an automation subtrack. Proceed as follows:
1.Show the automation subtrack by clicking on the left 
edge of the track in the Track list.
The static value line is shown in the event display for the automation sub-
track.
2.Select the Pencil tool.
You...

139
Automation
The Line tool in Parabola mode works in the same way, 
but aligns the automation events with a parabolic curve in-
stead, resulting in more “natural” curves and fades.
Note that the result depends on the direction from which you draw the 
parabolic curve.
The Sine, Triangle and Square Line tool modes create 
automation events aligned with continuous curves.
If snap is activated and set to Grid, the period of the curve (the length of 
one curve “cycle”) is determined by the grid setting. If...

140
Automation
Tips and common methods
There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to describ-
ing which automation method you should use. You can for 
example never even open an automation subtrack, and 
stick with write automation throughout a project. Or you 
can stick to drawing automation curves to automate set-
tings in a project. Both methods have their advantages, 
but it is of course up to you to decide what to use and 
when.
Editing curves on automation subtracks offers a graphi-
cal...