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). The same blue icon appears next to the effects in the Track DSPs tab. If a parameter has Automation, but it is not active in the current pattern, then the icon will be grey (again, this colour can vary according to the Theme).

Editing Automation Envelopes

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

Editing with the Mouse

Clicking in the envelope where no point is set will create a new point. Double-clicking on an existing point will remove it. Clicking near to an existing point, you can drag it around and set a new value. Clicking, holding and moving with the right mouse button will draw a series of points, so you can quickly draw a shape.

• "Shift" + Moving points will remove all points that the mouse pointer touches.
• "Control" + Dragging a point will fine-tune its value. "Control" + Hovering over a point will display the point's value.
• "Alt" + Drag will move a selection of points up, down, left or right. Dragging with the right mouse button will rescale the points instead of moving them.
• "Alt + Shift" + Right-click dragging only, will move the points to new values but lock their pattern line positions.

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 with various options to affect the selection.

Editing with the Keyboard

If you middle-click on the envelope, or right-click on the small rulers above and below the envelope and select "(Set Keyboard Focus Here)", you can control the envelope with keyboard shortcuts:

• To move the selection cursor in the envelope, 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 one, hit the "Enter" key.
• To enter an exact value for a point in the numerical edit field press '"Shift + Enter" and type in the value.

For other operations like copy/paste, right-click on the small rulers above and below the envelope to open the context menu.

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: Choose the zoom factor of the envelope view.
• File:Vvoois renoise automation3.png: Select the envelope type:
  • 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.