Graphical Automation

Automation

Automation is the recording and playback of parameter changes in time. A parameter in our case is any FX device parameter, like for example Cutoff or Resonance in a Filter effect. Another example: if you want to fade in a track by changing its volume, you either do this in real-time while playing back the song and record the volume changes, or you can draw a curve that does exactly this: changing the volume from -INF dB to 0 dB.

Automation in Renoise can be done in two ways: Graphically, that's what this chapter is about, and 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 create automation is to record it. This can be done by clicking and moving a DSP effects slider with the right mouse button while playing back the song. Depending on the automation setting in the Pattern Editors Control Bar (File:Vvoois renoise pc dsp automation.png or File:Vvoois renoise pc dsp automation active.png) your changes will then be recorded as pattern effects or as graphical envelopes.

To quickly create an empty automation and switch over to the automation editor for a parameter, you can also click on the small rectangle next to each parameter on the right:

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

Automation Editor

The automation editor has two main parts. On the left you will see a list of all available automateable parameters and devices for the the currently active track. Next to it is an envelope editor with some tool buttons where you will draw and edit the automation. The grid in the envelope labled and timed like the "lines" in the Pattern Editor. The parameters value is placed from bottom to top, the parameter change time from left to right.

To create an automation, simply select the parameter on the left first, then click somewhere inside the grid. This will create an automation with one point only. Alternatively you can also double click the name of the parameter on the left. This will create an envelope with one point as well. This point has the parameters actual value.

Automation State Icons

You'll now notice that the parameter in the list on the left has got a small green icon next to it. This means there is an automation present for the current pattern. 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.

With the mouse, clicking somewhere in the envelope where no point is set yet will create a new point. 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".

Editing with the Mouse

• 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 arrow "left"/"right" 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 "return" key
• To enter a points exact value in the numerical edit field hit "SHIFT" + "Return"

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 4 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. Now go an repeat with the next patterns