Recording Automation

For this week's assignment in the Introduction to Music Production class on Coursera, I'm going to show you how to record automation in a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW).

I have recorded a bass track, and I would like to add a resonant filter to it that varies in rhythm with the bass line.  Here's the original track:

Next, I add the filter effect to the bass track, arm the track for recording, and set the record mode to Overdub so that I don't erase the bass line when I add the automation data.  Now all I have to do is manipulate the filter effect while the bass line plays.  Here's the next take - watch as I move the filter frequency around in the bottom right part of the screen:

Alternatively, you can draw the envelope of the effect onto the arrangement.  To do this, I set my DAW to Drawing Mode and select the Frequency parameter of my filter effect for editing.  I also set the grid to 1/32 so that I can draw a smooth curve.  Here's a take where I draw the curve and play back the resulting track:

In recording this lesson, I found it awkward to use the drawing tool to draw such a complex curve.  I would recommend using it in simpler situations, such as when you need to fade a track.

Thanks for watching!