Adjusting effect parameters with envelopes

An envelope is displayed in the data window for each effect parameter that you’ve chosen to automate. Envelope points represent plug- in parameter settings at a specific point in time.

You can add points, adjust their positions, and change the fade curves between points to modify effect parameters and the transitions between them.

Note: When you automate an effect’s frequency parameter—such as the modulation frequency parameter in the amplitude modulation effect—you may notice that the frequency changes are more apparent when moving through the lower frequencies. This is because frequency scales plug-ins use a logarithmic scale, but effect automation uses linear interpolation. To make the automated frequency changes sound more natural, change the fade curve types to change the interpolation rates between envelope points. For high- to-low frequency sweeps, use a fast fade curve; for low-to-high frequency sweeps, use a slow curve.

Previewing effect automation

To hear the results of your effect automation without applying it to the sound file, click the Preview button () in the Plug-In Chainer window.

You can select the Bypass button () in the Plug-In Chainer to bypass all effects in the chain, or clear an effect’s check box () to bypass individual effects.

Tip: You can also click the Play Plug-In Chainer button () in a data window’s playbar to hear the effects of a chain on the data window. Click the Play Normal button () in the playbar to hear the unprocessed sound.

Applying effects automation

To apply effect automation to a data window, click the Process Selection button () in the Plug-In Chainer window.

Showing or hiding effect automation envelopes

1.In the Plug-In Chainer, select the button () for an effect that includes automatable parameters. The plug-in’s controls are displayed, and a list of the effect’s automatable parameters is displayed on the right side of the Plug-In Chainer.

2.Select the Show check box to display a parameter’s envelope, or clear the check box to hide it. Hiding an envelope simply removes the line from the data window while it retains the playback properties.

Enabling or bypassing effect automation envelopes

1.In the Plug-In Chainer, select the button () for an effect that includes automatable parameters. The plug-in’s controls are displayed, and a list of the effect’s automatable parameters is displayed on the right side of the Plug-In Chainer.

2.Select the Enable check box to apply an automation envelope to your audio signal, or clear the check box to ignore it.

When the check box is cleared, an effect automation envelope is ignored and the effect’s initial state is used for the duration of the data window.

Bypassed envelopes are drawn with a dashed line in the data window.

Removing effect automation envelopes

Click the Automate None button () in the Plug-In Chainer to remove all automation envelopes for the selected plug-in.

Choose (Empty Chain) or another preset from the Chain drop-down list at the top-left corner of the Plug-In Chainer to clear the plug-in chain and remove all effect automation envelopes.

206 CHAPTER 12