Automating mixes with envelopes

Note: Some features in the Windows version of Adobe Audition 3.0 are not available in CS5.5. Examples include control surface support, CD burning, MIDI, some file formats and effects, clip grouping and time stretching, and the metronome. For a complete list, see Adobe Audition 3.0 features replaced or not implemented in CS5.5.

By automating mixes, you can change mix settings over time. For example, you can automatically increase volume during a critical musical passage and later reduce the volume in a gradual fade out. See this video tutorial to watch mix automation in action.

Automation envelopes visually indicate settings at specific points in time, and you can edit them by dragging keyframes on envelope lines. Envelopes are nondestructive, so they don’t change audio files in any way. If you open a file in the Waveform Editor, for example, you don’t hear the effect of any envelopes applied in the Multitrack Editor.

View full size graphic
Clip and track envelopes in the Editor panel
A.
Clip envelope

B.
Track envelope

    Automating clip settings

    With clip envelopes, you can automate clip volume, pan, and effect settings.

    On stereo tracks, clip volume and pan envelopes appear by default; you can identify them by color and initial position. Volume envelopes are yellow lines initially placed across the upper half of clips. Pan envelopes are blue lines initially placed in the center. (With pan envelopes, the top of a clip represents full left, while the bottom represents full right.)

    Note: On mono and 5.1 surround tracks, clips lack pan envelopes.
    Two clip envelopes
    A.
    Pan envelope

    B.
    Volume envelope

    Show or hide clip envelopes

    Clip envelopes are visible by default, but if they interfere with editing or are visually distracting, you can hide them.

     From the View menu, choose any of the following:

    • Show Clip Volume Envelopes 

    • Show Clip Pan Envelopes

    • Show Clip Effect Envelopes

    Show or hide individual automation parameters

    Showing a parameter for an effect
     In the upper-right corner of a clip, click the parameter menu, and select a Rack mixing option or an effect parameter.
    The Rack Power option lets you turn clip effects on and off over time.

    Automating track settings

    With track envelopes, you can change volume, pan, and effect settings over time. Adobe Audition displays track envelopes in an automation lane below each track. Each automated parameter has its own envelope, which you edit just like clip envelopes.

    View full size graphic
    Automating track settings in the Editor panel
    A.
    Automation lane

    B.
    Envelope for parameter

    Create track envelopes

    Track envelopes let you precisely change track settings at specific points in time.

    Showing automation lanes in Editor panel
    1. In Editor panel, click the triangle to the left of the Read menu for the track you want to automate.
    2. From the Show Envelopes menu, select a parameter to automate.
    3. On the envelope line, click and drag to add and adjust keyframes.

    Track Automation Mode options

    In the Editor panel or Mixer, you can choose one of the following modes for each track:

    Track Automation Mode menu
    Off
    Ignores track envelopes during playback and mixdown, but continues to display envelopes so you can manually add or adjust edit points.

    Read
    Applies track envelopes during playback and mixdown.

    Adjust automation with keyframes

    Keyframes on envelope lines change clip and track parameters over time. Adobe Audition automatically calculates, or interpolates, all the intermediate values between keyframes using one of two transition methods:

    • Hold  transitions create an abrupt change in value at each new keyframe.

    • Linear  transitions create a gradual, even change between keyframes.

    You can also apply spline curves to an entire envelope, overriding the keyframe-specific setting above to create natural-sounding transitions that change in speed near keyframes. (See About spline curves for graphs.)

    Transitions between keyframes
    A.
    Hold

    B.
    Linear (the default)

    C.
    Spline curves

    Add a keyframe

    Do either of the following:

    • Position the pointer over an envelope line. When a plus sign  appears, click.

    • Position the current-time indicator where you’d like a track parameter to change. Then click the Add Keyframe icon  in the track controls.

    Navigate between track keyframes

    1. In the Editor panel, choose a parameter from the Select menu near the bottom of the track controls.

    2. Click the Previous Keyframe  or Next Keyframe  icon.

    Select multiple keyframes for a parameter

    • Right-click any keyframe, and choose Select All Keyframes.

    • Hold down Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac OS), and click specific keyframes.

    • Hold down Shift, and click to select a series of keyframes.

    Reposition keyframes or the envelope line

    • To reposition selected keyframes, drag them. (To maintain time position or parameter value, hold down Shift and drag.)

    • To reposition a segment of an envelope without creating a keyframe, hold down Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac OS), and drag.

    Change the transition between two keyframes

     Right-click the first keyframe, and select Hold Keyframe to abruptly change values, or deselect it to gradually transition from one value to the next.

    Apply spline curves to an entire envelope

     Right‑click an envelope line, and choose Spline Curves.

    Delete keyframes

     Right-click an envelope line, and choose Delete Selected Keyframes. Or, drag an individual keyframe off a clip or track.

    Disable keyframe editing

    To avoid inadvertently creating or moving keyframes, disable keyframe editing.

     From the Multitrack menu, deselect Enable Clip Keyframe Editing.