This is The Problem with Volume Automation | Presonus

Automation is a one of the most powerful (yet, simple) tools in modern digital audio production. However, automating audio can leave you feeling stuck if you want to further change fader levels later in the mix.
So, what's the solution? How can you enjoy the results of audio automation while holding on to a bit of flexibility after it's set?
In this tutorial, PreSonus product specialist Joe Gilder talks through a few of the challenges associated with volume automation and a few pro tips on how you can work around it.
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This is The Problem with Volume Automation | Presonus
#presonus #studioone #mixing #audioproduction #musicproduction #mastering #proaudio #digitalaudioworkstation #daw #recording

[@jheronimusduko7998]

Hi everybody. I love to share my workflow. I create a vca like Joe did in the video. I adust the volume to my liking and then use ‘Merge vca automation’ the volume change then will be written on the track merged with the automation I already wrote. You can even write automation on the vca and use this method. After the merge you can remove the vca if you want. I personally have shortcuts for 1 add vca for selected tracks 2 merge vca automation 3 remove. Works like a charm for me. I hope this helps.

[@SpyderBlackOfficial]

THANK YOUUUU

[@jheronimusduko7998]

@@SpyderBlackOfficial you're welcome

[@galgogergo]

that's a great tip, thank you

[@jedidiahgirio]

Great Video Man! The VCA does make more sense for Automation. I hadn't considered using one for automation. Thank you

[@scottakam]

Thanks Joe. As a long time software developer (and S1 user), I would like to humbly suggest another option. If S1 sees me moving a fader on a channel with automation which it knows it will ignore, S1 should offer to help. "Hey Joe, I noticed you moved the fader up 3db on this channel with automation. Would you like me to bump up the automation on this channel by 3db?". Good software does what you tell it to do. Great software understands what you really wanted to do!

[@Cramz]

It can me done in touch mode on automation

[@scottakam]

@@Cramz Maybe but how many people know that? Automation makes the fader useless in "normal" mode. Why not give it a use that doesn't involve menu diving?

[@HomeStudioCorner]

You might be right, but it might be better that people understand how automation works, because if the software asked that question, it wouldn't know if you wanted to turn it up on one spot or for the entire track or for the rest of the song. See what a I mean?

[@PhreaSpirit]

Thanks, Joe! Always a pleasure to watch these videos/tutorials.

[@presonus]

Thanks for watching!

[@synapticschism]

I use Mixtool and then assign a controller from my nanoKontrol to record manual automation if I need to. I use the same thing to control the headphone volume, etc. It's pretty handy.

[@TenMinusNine]

Studio One is still the best DAW BY FAR, and Joe is the best Stufio One / audio engineer channel. Thank you once again 🙏 #Priceless

[@presonus]

Thank you!

[@sixsgma1563]

One key benefit of writing automation on a mixtool is you can move where the mixtool is in the signal chain. For example before a compressor. Also, if you're going to ride the fader, write your automation on the VCA NOT the channel. This way once youre done you can hide it and not have it take up space in the console, and you can also assign other channels to the same VCA (ie all drums).

[@wumpoleflack]

Exactly what I was looking for. I can see uses for the VCA solution and the mixtool solution. Thank you, Joe!

[@presonus]

Happy to help!

[@lamayciahackett3635]

Glad to see this, was frustrating watching your faders go bonkers during a mix, thanks for this tip Joe !

[@presonus]

Haha, yeah the automation here was a bit frantic for demonstration purposes only 😆

[@EllisFlowers]

Absolutely needed this right now. Been using S1 for nearly a year and for the past week I kept changing vocal volumes and had a couple on automation which made it tedious to alter each time.

[@presonus]

Good timing! Hope this helped!

[@MichaelsPaintingChannel]

That was extremely helpful. Gain envelope was also a great hint!

[@ralphjohnson236]

VCA!! OMG, I had added volume automation across an entire track of organ and later found exactly what you are talking about - could not adjust the relative volume against the rest of the song when mixing (apart from - bad hack - selecting all automation points and moving them up and down 👿!). This totally solves my problem. You are awesome, thanks!

[@roberthunter124]

on point, task specific, and yup ...it works! thanks again Joe

[@presonus]

Always here to help!

[@fredriklidin166]

Great video! Another option: with volume automation visible, you can alter the overall level of the track by clicking and dragging above and to the left of the first automation point. Just like a VCA would. It is also worth considering that if you use event volume or clip gain, the audio hits the insert plugins in a different way. If you automate the fader, it is post-fx.

[@davidpapendorf6764]

Not confusing at all. Very useful. Thanks Joe.

[@olibarahosasa1137]

I use the mixtool automation. Incorporate it into the creative process. You can send it to a bus and then put the mixtool automation on that bus if you want to get ‘fussy’ about pre/post fader stuff.

[@MichaelsPaintingChannel]

I found out you can use the branket that appears when you go with the mouse above the automation line to drag the whole thing up and down. You have to be above this line at the start of the song or the end of it for that to work.

[@monsterprodmaster1200]

I love this one, thanks so much, Joe!

[@presonus]

Happy to help!

[@clydeneal6585]

I just want to COMPLIMENT Joe Gilder - perhaps the best VST/DAW presenter I have ever seen online - and NO foul language 🙂 (as I have experienced with some other music-related videos). Go Joe!!

[@kevinlbrockway]

Another awesome video!!

[@presonus]

Thank you, Kevin!

[@sarahtonin4649]

I don't write my automation using faders. Once I get the levels set roughly (the static mix), I write the automation directly onto the automation tracks using the mouse, or track ball in my case. It's accurate and not especially time-consuming. If I later need to adjust a track's overall level up or down, I just select all the track's automation points and raise or lower them all at once as needed . Once I've automated a track, it's easy to go back in and adjust a point or group of points up or down. I never "ride the faders." That's automation's job.

[@Preachmusic4u]

This is Brilliant! I was curious where you were going with this using the VCA and this is just genius. However, earlier in the video I was actually thinking of using Touch or Latch mode vs Write. would that be an alternate way as well?

[@TwstedTV]

The way PreSonus can solve this is. - When a person places MixTool on a channel, a small button should appear at the very right side of the fader lit in orange. Which a user can engage and disengage and by having that button engaged, a user can use the fader in the mixer to control the MixTool volume nob. When its disengaged, then the fader goes back to normal and be used as normal.

[@Endless_Skyway_Adventures]

Great stuff, now it would be great if you did another video showing the part where your VCA moves can be written back to the original automaton as if it were done there in the first place, because the temporary VCA to tweak existing automaton will blow your mind 🤯

[@lavoktyler8978]

That's a good one Joe... wouldn't have ever came up with that one🎉

[@presonus]

Always happy to help!

[@montanamaxxamillion]

You can use a VCA or if you dont have access to VCAs (using a free DAW or lower tier version) you can route the output of the automated track to the input of another track and use that fader to scale the volume of the automated fader

[@petersvan7880]

Great video. I still prefer automating a bus channel over a VCA, as it's typically already there anyway. Adding VCA's only clutters the mixer :)

[@presonus]

We appreciate your insight on this! Thanks for sharing!

[@HeCtOfLeX]

I made this since years! I never use volume automation, I always do automation via Mixtool. So I can touch my faders to adapt the main volume without influence of the automation

[@HeCtOfLeX]

@@dfender57 I never use faders to write automation, and I've automation almost on every tracks, so it will make a lot of VCA channels for nothing.

[@i_jetlag]

I can't believe I still watch S1 stuff. I switched DAWs after ranting on this channel's comment section for so long. But it's more like a general audio knowledge channel than a S1 exclusive which is why I find it a super useful subscription. Thanks Joe, I hope S1 7 brings me back to S1. ❤

[@i_jetlag]

Although the clip gain envelope is kinda a S1 exclusive feature. The information is very welcomed.

[@stupendousmusic4190]

What about using the VCA without any automation on the track(s) ?

[@stuartdoherty7814]

I find a better way is to use mixtool for the automation, that way it keeps the fader clear to do whatever I want with it. Also using mixtool is more precise than the fader.

[@bcole23]

Omg thank you for this

[@presonus]

Hope it helps!

[@hbrookes]

As an ex cubase user i would always have to tweak the overall volume up or down slightly after auto, does S1 have this feature?

[@earledaniels4539]

If I need to add Volume automation, I do it on my group buss faders at the end of my final mix. Depending on how much I increase my overall song volume, I might have to tweak the master bus compressor settings.

[@presonus]

We appreciate your input!

[@Goran-Mogli]

Sorry for the amateur question... Is it better to do the automation manually, or if you don't have experience in it, leave it to some software?

[@josuevelazquez]

Why didn't you use the crosshair/pencil to draw the clip gain or mix tool automation? you can use it there too and it is very easy I use it all the time.

[@maxxyporky]

Thanx

[@supersonicsroots]

If I have to use volume automation, like for a software instrument track in the fade out, then I use a compressor or EQ (or any other plugin with an output/vol feature) to adjust overall volume if needed..works great. But VCA is the best solution for it.

[@presonus]

Thanks for sharing!

[@DavisEJay]

Joe, I finished my mix and I sent myself a digital release of the project at -14 LUFS and it wasn’t as loud as my other cds. I changed the LUFS to -8 and it was similar with the cd. I’m wanting to send the project for duplication and I want it to be right. But there is no loudness adjustment for the DDP selection in Studio one. Got any easy ideas?

[@Thasolrac144x]

Does Presonus plan on adding a transient shaping plugin ever?

[@MIHAO]

there's so many of them, many are free. i'd rather they focus on developing the daw itself

[@Tyrell_Corp2019]

Kilohearts Essentials Collection of 32 free plugins has one. That free package is awesome. Lots of deceptively powerful and high quality tools in that download.

[@skk6811]

Always use VCA to do volume automation especially if you have asssociated pre-fader parallel dynamics processing on send channels. But it would be nice to see a relative volume automation lane in Studio One similar what Pro Tools and Logic Pro has.

[@skk6811]

The problem with going down the vca route is you need an extra step hiding them when you want to hide all the automations and it takes up space on the mixer channel. Also automating the mixtool is sort of a workaround and you always have to be sure it stays at the end of your fx chain. Either way, relative volume automation in Studio One is still only possible with these workarounds.

[@treemanzoneskullyajan711]

i dont use studio one anymore but i like to listen to joe joe still

[@presonus]

We hope you'll consider checking back in with Studio One in the future!

[@PADsoundtrack]

VCA is definitely the best option imo ! The one where you touch to the gain envelope is by far the worst in many cases. This envelope tool is useful for cleaning some particular things, but it changes the way the signal hit any dynamic processing so... it can f*ck things up. Same thing for the example where the VCA controls the audio track, changing the way this track goes into the bus. If there's any comp on the bus, it will change how it comes into the comp, so be careful folks, and enjoy ! 😉

[@MichaelsPaintingChannel]

We all had a lot of fun visually playing with volume automation, don't we 😂

[@peterelfman]

If I have an EQ on a track, I'll automate the gain knob on that instead of putting a Mixtool on it.

[@user-ug3ev7qo4s]

it would be nice if the volume automation was just db relative to the master fader (and 0db on the line is whatever the fader is set at)

[@refomusica]

Suggestions: change the volume knob of mixtool to “-infinite” unless “-24db” Thanks ❤

[@dafathatictoc9956]

Top of the evening to you Mr. Gilder. My name is Cleon, just wondering if there is any possible way I can get on a one on one call with you for just a couple basic questions dealing with the DAW and audio interface. Thanks in advanced, enjoy your day YEAH!

[@jmasno5]

The VCA is the way for me. It's not a good idea to ride/automate the bus fader if you have sends on the containing bus tracks. It messes up the channel dry vs effect balance sent to those send effects . I found out the hard way...

[@presonus]

Thank you for your input!

[@CesarMartinez-mb1rk]

yo automatizo insertando el toolmix en el cana ...saludos

[@glenpeladeau]

You can remove the automation but if you to crazy to soon it gets very labor intensive to fix, especially if you do more than volume automation like for example effect settings. To remove it, simply right click on the bottom of the channel here it says automation (it is more than just a button). Also, it's not a good idea to start your mix with all the channels at 0 dbu. My templates have the channels preset at -6.5 dbu, now you have some headroom to begin with and any automation will start at that baseline.

[@kapalutheproducer20]

Hai everyone. Thank you.

[@presonus]

Happy creating!

[@theAshesofDecember1]

And I think all this time when I needed to bump up all my automation or lower it I would just select all oh my automation track and move it, depending on how much I needed

[@noname_krsk]

Hello!In general, automation in Studio One is inconvenient, I would rather right-click on a parameter than what is currently there.

[@panagope]

THAT IS WHY VCA 's are ! I use them to volume automate and all problems are solved

[@Sidora]

S1 really needs to implement a "Trim Mode" like Pro-Tools or Reaper

[@gerrymcfly]

Sometimes I forget there is automation on a track and so I change the volume via the mixer fader, then I listen back and think: "now it's ok!"😅... Better to use mixtool.

[@music7...]

dear presonus , fix the problem > return to stop position in melodyne like arangemnent timeline.

[@cedricmi]

In my opinion, VCA is better used exclusively as a general balance tool, which may, or may not, be itself automated. For volume automation, you won't have the issue you mention if you alternate when necessary between the Touch and Latch automation modes. FInally, it would be great if Presonus introducted Pro Tools Ultimate Trim mode, a great alternative to VCA for balance. See kzbin.info/www/bejne/n5nUdqdjYtWlp5o and kzbin.info/www/bejne/nYHVk5d9d7qjia8si=SaTiJ32SvJ3EYjsl&t=63

[@gullcreekstudio1391]

Gain clip edit before processing, automation at the end of processing. Boom.

[@fredfox3851]

I wish S-1 would give us the option to click on the dot at the start of the automation lane, hold shift and click on the end dot, to move the whole level up or down. This would be for when your automation is satisfactory ,but you have changed your mind on the level. I know, Mix tool, blah blah blah, but it is clunky and takes up a plugin slot. I also wish I could set a top and bottom max level, for example 0 vu to -6. Then if I overshoot the fader motion, ( as I often do) it would only move the gain within the set parameter. STUDIO ONE FOREVER!!!

[@JimSanto]

on your first wish, this is, in fact, another option to adjust overall level. simply right-click in your automation lane and Select All. then you can use the handle to move the overall level up and down.

[@fredfox3851]

@@JimSanto Thanks Jim!!! Sometimes "ask and you shall receive," works fast. : )

[@mu.ke.sh_69]

I wish presonus add Session views and strong Audio warping capabilities like in Ableton live in Studio One 7 😮😮😮 Please presonus, you guys can do it 🙏🙏🙏 If it happens, Then no one can catch up with S1 😅😅😅

[@2beornot2bable]

Write your signature... LOL.

[@engchoontan8483]

Sonus-faber was analogue. Presonus to bose may double dismember. Presonus to sonus may double dismember the other way.

[@Topcrashmoments]

Good afternoon! UAD plugins only in Studio One when copying plans to different tracks, they resset the settings! Please solve the problem! This problem is only in Studio One! I already want to unsubscribe from your services, although I am very used to it!

[@presonus]

Hi, just because the issue occurs only in Studio One for you, that does not mean that we are causing it, or that we can fix it from our end. More often than not, this just means that the developer hasn't tested the Plug-ins properly in Studio One to ensure best performance, and focused on other DAWs instead. Please open a Support Ticket with UAD and reach out to us with their information once they get back to you: my.presonus.com/support/open ...also, please make sure to have both Studio One, as well as all of your UAD Plug-ins & drivers updated to the latest versions before doing so. :) -GBY

[@Topcrashmoments]

I think you should be more interested in making everything work well, so if you find a spare moment - help and influence the solution of this issue! thank you@@presonus

[@skreim]

Why can't you just integrate the vca behaviour into the fader directly?? Add a relative autiomation mode on the fader and ALL of these techniques you just showed become unnecessary extra steps. This behaviour should be nativly integrated. Honestly grinds my gears.

[@cescu2]

Any news on middle mouse panning? It's the only DAW that does not support this. This video may be new but the info is so out of sync with current day tooling. You are falling short on a lot of tools for a few years. You don't listen to community requests! You just upload outdated info because it fits your outdated software and you get the same fanboys coming to comment on these. It's a shame, it could have been an amazing software, it packs a lot of great features but lacks on essentials.

[@presonus]

Hello! We do our best to review feedback and make improvements to the DAW. To get feature requests in front of the software team, please post it on answers.presonus.com

[@cescu2]

@@presonus there are top request that are 6 years old.

[@klaatuklaatu1]

WRONG.. You are not locked into automation forever, you can always turn it off or redo the automation

[@jamesconraadtucker]

How Presonus hired you is astounding. That's why every DAW, including Studio One, has Touch Automation. Oh, and you can always go back to Read Only. As always, you don't describe all of the possibilities to emphasize your ridiculous weak points. It's unbelievable how you don't even list the various automation options.