How To Use Audio Automation

hdrechsel18 wrote on 11/7/2016, 3:23 PM

Can anybody give me any tips on how to use the Audio Automation feature in the mixer? I'm working on a documentary type project which includes narration and soundtrack. I don't think (?) Magix has a Ducking feature, but volume automation will work. But it's frustrating to get it to work for me. I would like to have the audio (soundtrack) low during the narration, and then bring it up a bit when there's no narration. I've tried using the AUTO feature in the mixer, but no matter where I place the track's fader in the beginning of the clip, it always seems to start at 100% (0db). I want it to start at -12db....but can't figure out how to do that.

Also, when I want to scrap what I did - and try over - I use Reset/Volume Curves (is that right?) - but it doesn't seem to do anything...and then that track becomes useless to me. I have to move my audio to another track.

Probably doing something wrong...but the HELP section doesn't offer much in the form of detailed instruction. Has anyone used this feature? What's the secret?

Thanks in advance. Harry Drechsel

Comments

browj2 wrote on 11/8/2016, 9:54 AM

Hi Harry,

Do you have basic or Plus/Premium? MEP has a ducking or damping feature and you can do object and track automation. And you can show and modify the volume curves for both the track and the object. You also have Effects, Audio effects, general to modify the audio of the object and you can use key frames or the curve on the object to also do it.

In your case, you want to duck the main track where you have narration. On the timeline, select the narration object, right-click, select Decrease volume from the list which opens the damping dialogue box. Select the start and end transitions - this is how far on either side of your object you want the damping to start, 12db, Original sound only unless you have other tracks with sound, ok. This will make the automation that you see in the image. You can drag the volume markers, but it is hard as the mouse does not change to a pointer.

The hard part about track automation, is to get the first point. At least I haven't found a way to draw it. Here is what I do, Mixer, Automation on, at beginning of track, move slider down to -3db, while holding down the mouse button on the volume slider, press on spacebar and quickly stop. A couple of points are created at the beginning and you can drag them with the mouse. Move playback marker to the beginning, hold the slider at 0db and press spacebar and stop after a second. The curve will move back to 0 except for a slight part at the beginning. Now, whenever you want to duck, move the spacebar to the location where you want to start, move and hold the slider down to the level you want, press spacebar to play, stop when desired. The whole line to the right will have moved down. Move the playback marker to the end of the transition, move and hold the volume slider at 0db, press spacebar, stop, and a point will be created and the line to the right will be back to 0. So, the trick is to always hold the slider with the left mouse button.

The alternative is to use the volume curve of the object. Split the original track at each side of where you want to change the volume. Right-click on the audio object and turn on the volume curve. Now you can create points on the volume curve with the mouse and/or using the volume slider under Effects, Audio effects. Note that this also creates keyframes.

Hope some of this makes sense.

hdrechsel18 wrote on 11/8/2016, 10:48 AM

John - thanks a million for your reply. It makes sense - especially the key to holding down the mouse on the slider (would have never thought). I'll work on some of your suggestions. Great help!

I'm using MEP 2015 Plus....I guess I should update, but I've grown so comfortable with this version - and being somewhat "PC Impaired" (LOL) - I just haven't left the box. I also have Corel Video Studio X9 - which has the Ducking feature - but I find that editor not as intuitive as Magix, so I just use it as an Effects processor (because it has a great selection of plugins).

I'll keep plugging away at it - now that you've given me some better insight. Thanks again.

Harry Drechsel

browj2 wrote on 11/8/2016, 11:02 AM

Harry,

I think there is a bug in 2016 and maybe other versions unless I am missing something here. Trying to select a node on the track volume curve is almost impossible as the mouse hand does not change to a pointer when it goes over a node. I just found a trick or workaround. Move the audio object onto another track or slide it out of the way so that that the area that you want to modify is blank except for the track volume curve. Now the mouse changes to a pointer when it goes over a node and you can easily drag the node. Also, double-clicking on the line adds a node, double-clicking on a node deletes it.

Another trick, if the audio object is still there, move the finger of the hand onto a node, right-click, now the mouse is a pointer and you can move the node. Not great, but it works.

If there is an object volume curve, the mouse does change to pointer, so at least that works correctly.

browj2 wrote on 11/8/2016, 11:18 AM

And another trick - change mouse mode to single-track (8) or multi-track (7) and the hand becomes a pointer, making it much easier to select the nodes.

hdrechsel18 wrote on 11/8/2016, 11:24 AM

Yeah - I noticed that the mouse becomes a curved hand, and it took me a while to figure out that you had to get the node directly in the cup of the hand in order to move it. Don't know why they did that - the pointer makes more sense. Once again - thanks.

Harry Drechsel

browj2 wrote on 11/8/2016, 12:41 PM

And even more, but I should stop after this. I have been watching a Kraznet video on automation in Samplitude and picking up some pointers.

You can use Ctrl+Left button or Shift+Left button to select multiple points and then while still holding down the Ctrl or Shift and the left mouse button, moving that point moves the other selected points at the same time. You can release Ctrl or Shift once you start dragging, but not before. If you let go of the mouse button, then you can't drag and you have to select the points again.

Thank you Kraznet.