Graphical Automation

Automation

Automation is the recording and playback of parameter changes over time. A parameter in this case is a DSP effect parameter, such as a Filter's Cutoff or Resonance. Automation in Renoise can be done in two ways: Graphically or with Pattern Effect Commands. Every DSP device in Renoise can be automated. Automation of plug-in instruments is also done via Track FX, by using an *Automation Device.

Creating Automation

The easiest way to create Automation is to record it. This can be done by clicking, holding and moving a DSP effect's slider with the right mouse button while playing back the song. Depending on the Automation setting in the Pattern Editor's Control Bar (File:Vvoois renoise pc dsp automation.png / File:Vvoois renoise pc dsp automation active.png) your changes will then be recorded as either pattern effects or as graphical envelopes.

To quickly create an empty Automation and switch over to the Automation Editor, you can also click on the small rectangle to the right of each parameter:

(automation rectangles next to the parameter are blue for the first three parameters here)

Automation Editor

The Automation Editor consists of two main parts. To the left you will see a list of all available parameters and devices for the the currently active track. To the right of this is the envelope editor, where you will draw and edit the Automation. Beneath the envelope editor are a series of options and buttons used to edit and modify the envelope. The envelope grid is labelled across the top with numbers that correspond to the line numbers in the Pattern Editor, so the x-axis display time. The values of the current parameter are shown up and down on the y-axis.

To create an Automation, select the parameter on the left then click somewhere inside the grid, creating an automation point. Alternatively, double-click the name of the parameter on the left. This will create an envelope with one point at the parameter's current value.

Automation State Icons

When an Automation exists for the current pattern, the parameter in the list to the left has a small blue icon next to it (colour can vary with different Themes). If you switch over to the Track DSPs tab again to see the FX, you'll notice the same green icon there as well.

If you now switch over to a new pattern, you'll still notice a small icon at those places, but this icon is no longer green. This means, there is automation somewhere in the song, but not in the current pattern.

Editing Automation Envelopes

Once you've created an Automation, it can be edited with the mouse or keyboard in various way.

Editing with the Mouse

With the mouse, clicking somewhere in the envelope where no point is set, will create a new point. Double clicking on an existing point will remove it. When clicking near to an existing point, you can drag the point and set a new value. Clicking with the right mouse button will draw a series of points, lets you quickly draw a "shape".

• Shift and moving points will remove all points which are under the mouse pointer.
• Control and dragging a point will fine adjust its value. Hovering points will this way also show the points value in a tool tip.
• Alt will move a selection of points up and down, left and right. Dragging with the right mouse button will rescale the points instead of moving them.
• Alt + Shift will lock the move of points only to new values, so the original times are kept.

Clicking and dragging on the rulers above and below the envelope lets you select a part of the envelope. Right clicking opens a context menu to copy/paste and do other things with the selected part.

Editing with the Keyboard

If you click with the middle mouse button into the envelope, or right click on the small rulers above and below the envelope and select "Set Mouse Focus here", you can control the envelope with keyboard shortcuts, move the keyboard focus to the envelope:

• To move the selection cursor in the time use the left/right arrow keys or the "Home" and "End" keys.
• To select parts of the envelope, hold down the "Shift" key while moving the cursor.
• To create a new point or remove an existing gone hit the "Enter" key.
• To enter a points exact value in the numerical edit field press '"Shift + Enter".

For other operations like copy/paste take a look into the context menu in the upper and lower rulers.

Automation Tools

The toolbar below the envelope contains a few options and tools. From left to right they are:

• File:Vvoois renoise automation cut.png: copies the current envelope into the clipboard, then removes it.
• File:Vvoois renoise automation copy.png: copies the current envelope into the clipboard.
• File:Vvoois renoise automation paste.png: pastes a previously copied envelope from the clipboard.

• File:Vvoois renoise automation value.png: shows the value of the currently selected point. Double click to enter a new value.
• File:Vvoois renoise automation zoom.png: zoom the envelope view, to have a more detailed overview above the points.
• File:Vvoois renoise automation3.png: set up the type of the envelope:
  • Point: like Pattern effects only change a parameter when "hitting" a point.
  • Linear: smooth, interpolate values linearly between points.
  • Cubic: smooth, interpolate values with a hermit interpolations between points.

• File:Vvoois renoise automation presets.png: slots to store presets to (right-mouse button = store, left-mouse button = recall). Those presets are saved in the preferences, so they retain when loading or starting new songs.

• Processing tools:
  • File:Vvoois renoise automation yflip.png: Flip the curve or points in the current selection across the vertical-axis (flip values).
  • File:Vvoois renoise automation xflip.png: Flip the curve or points in the current selection across the horizontal-axis (flip times).
  • File:Vvoois renoise automation humanise.png: Add randomly errors to each value for a more "real" feeling.

• Generate tools:
  • File:Vvoois renoise automation gencurve.png: generate a smooth logarithmic. Use the flip buttons to create other directions.
  • File:Vvoois renoise automation genrandom.png: Generate a random curve.

Automation List

Beside of seeing which parameters are automated and to be able to create new automations, right clicking on the parameters in the automation list on the left also offers you some tools:

Right clicking on a parameters allows you to delete the current patterns automation or all automation in the whole song. Same applies when right clicking an effect name. There you can delete all automation for the current pattern or the whole song.

The search field on top of the list allows you to quickly find a parameter of effect. Enabling the "Automated Only" button will only show effects in the list which already are automated. At the end of a song composing process this can be very useful if you just want to see and edit existing automation.

Tips

To create automations ramps which cover more than one pattern, you can use a small trick to set up the correct start and end points. Lets say we want to create a volume ram from -INF dB to 0 dB over multiple patterns:

1. Go to the first pattern and set the volume to -INF.
2. Go to the automation editor and double click the parameter in the parameter list. This will create one point at -INF at the beginning of the envelope.
3. Add another point at -24 dB at the end of the envelope as last point.
4. Switch over to the next pattern.
5. Again double double click the parameter in the parameter list on the left. This will now create one point at -24 dB, the parameters last automation value.
6. Repeat the same procedure with the next patterns until you reached 0 dB.