Recording track envelope and keyframe automation

Automation recording allows you to edit envelope and keyframe settings by using the controls in the VEGAS Pro interface. When combined with a control surface, you can create fades and adjust control parameters with a level of control that only a tangible control can provide.

For more information, see Using a control surface

Automation recording is available for the following settings:

  • Audio track envelopes (using the controls in the track header)

  • Audio track effect parameters for automatable effects (using the controls in the Track FX window)

  • Bus and assignable effects output and panning levels (using the controls in the Mixing Console window or bus track header)

  • Surround panning keyframes

  • Video track envelopes (using the controls in the track header)

  • Video track effect parameters (using the controls in the Video Track FX window)

  • Custom composite mode plug-in settings (using the controls in Parent Track Composite Mode or Track Composite Mode window when Sync Cursor is selected)

  • Track-level mask generator plug-in settings (using the controls in the Video Track FX window when Sync Cursor is selected)

TIP If you want to thin envelope points after recording automation, you can select the Smooth and thin automation data after recording checkbox on the External Control & Automation tab of the Preferences dialog or right-click the envelope and choose Thin All Points or Thin Selected Points from the shortcut menu. For more information, see External Control & Automation Tab

Record automation settings

  1. Add an envelope or automatable/keyframeable effect to a track.

    For automatable audio track effects, you must add an effect automation envelope for each parameter you want to automate. For more information, see Automating audio effect parameters

  2. Select the Automation Settings button .

    TIP To toggle automation controls for all tracks, press Ctrl+A before selecting the AutomationSettings button.

  3. Click the next to the Automation Settings button and choose Automation Write (Touch) or Automation Write (Latch) from the menu.

    4. Automation Recording Mode

    Track Icon

    Description

    Automation Write (Touch)

    Envelope points or keyframes are created only while a control is being adjusted. When you stop adjusting the control, automation recording stops and the existing envelope points/keyframes are unaffected.

    Automation Write (Latch)

    Envelope points or keyframes are created when you change a control setting, and recording continues until you stop playback. When you stop adjusting the control, the control's current setting overwrites the existing envelope points/keyframes.

  4. Click to position the cursor in the timeline, and click the Play button to start playback.

  5. Adjust the control that corresponds to the envelope point or keyframe you want to adjust.

    During playback, adjusting a control will create envelope points or keyframes at the cursor position. As long as you're adjusting the control, new envelope points/keyframes will be created for each change of the play cursor's position.

  6. Click Stop  to end playback and stop recording automation.

Edit sections of your recorded settings in Touch mode

In Touch recording mode, envelope points or keyframes are created only while a control is being adjusted. When you stop adjusting the control, automation recording stops and the existing envelope points/keyframes are unaffected.

Use Touch mode for touching up sections of your recorded automation settings.

  1. Select the Automation Settings button .

    2. TIP To toggle automation controls for all tracks, press Ctrl+A before selecting the Automation Settings button.

  2. Click the next to the Automation Settings button and choose Automation Write (Touch) from the menu. The icon in the track header is displayed as a .

  3. Click to position the cursor in the timeline, and click the Play button to start playback.

  4. When you're ready to start editing, adjust the control that corresponds to the envelope point or keyframe you want to adjust.

    Envelope points/keyframes are updated at the cursor position, and when you stop adjusting the control, the original settings are preserved.

  5. Click Stop to end playback and stop recording automation.

Overwrite recorded settings in Latch mode

In Latch mode, envelope points or keyframes are created when you change a control setting, and recording continues until you stop playback. When you stop adjusting the control, the control's current setting overwrites the existing envelope points/keyframes.

Use Latch mode to overwrite automation settings with new values.

  1. Select the Automation Settings button .

    TIP To toggle automation controls for all tracks, press Ctrl+A before selecting the AutomationSettings button.

  2. Click the next to the Automation Settings button and choose Automation Write (Latch) from the menu. The icon in the track header is displayed as a .

  3. Click to position the cursor in the timeline, and click the Play button to start playback.

  4. When you're ready to start editing, adjust the control that corresponds to the envelope point or keyframe you want to adjust.

    Envelope points/keyframes are updated at the cursor position until you stop playback.

  5. Click Stop to end playback and stop recording automation.

Edit individual envelope points or keyframes

Editing individual envelope points or keyframes gives you fine control over your recorded settings.

  1. Select the Automation Settings button on the track you want to edit.

  2. Click the next to the Automation Settings button and choose Track Automation: Write (Touch) or Track Automation: Write (Latch) from the menu.

  3. Select the parameter you want to edit:

    • For a track envelope, select the envelope tool and click the envelope point you want to edit. You can right-click a point and choose Properties from the shortcut menu to display an effect's property page.

    • For a keyframe, click the Expand/Collapse Track Keyframes button to expand track keyframe rows, and then double-click a keyframe to open its property page. For more information about using an effect, see Adding video effects

  4. Adjust the control that corresponds to the envelope point or keyframe you want to adjust. The selected envelope point/keyframe is edited, and all others are unaffected.

    For track envelopes, you can also edit the envelope directly in the timeline. For more information, see Adjusting envelopes

Set the automation recording mode for a track

  1. Select the Automation Settings button .

  2. Click the next to the Automation Settings button and choose a command from the menu to choose the automation mode.

TIP To set the automation mode for all tracks, press Ctrl+A before choosing a mode on any track.

Mode

Track Icon

Description

Off

Automated parameters are ignored during playback.

When you switch to Off mode, the control setting from the cursor position is used as a static setting, and the envelope/keyframe is dimmed to indicate that it is unavailable.

Read

The envelope/keyframe value is applied during playback, and the control reflects the envelope/keyframe settings at the cursor position.

Adjustments to the control are not recorded.

Write (Touch)

The envelope/keyframe value is applied during playback, and the control follows the envelope/keyframe settings during playback and when you position the cursor.

Envelope points or keyframes are created only while a control is being adjusted. When you stop adjusting the control, automation recording stops and the existing envelope points/keyframes are unaffected.

Write (Latch)

The envelope/keyframe value is applied during playback, and the control follows the envelope/keyframe settings during playback and when you position the cursor.

Envelope points or keyframes are created when you change a control setting, and recording continues until you stop playback. When you stop adjusting the control, the control's last setting overwrites the existing envelope points/keyframes.