Did you know you can record any movements you make to any knob? It’s called ‘Automation’ and
it's the key to making your songs come alive. So, let’s record some automation. Let’s automate the
PAN knob for one of the Sampler Channels.
1. Choose an Automation Pattern. OK, this is important. Automation is easily misplaced so it
can be a good idea to name a Pattern ‘Automation’ and place it at the top of the Playlist. You
will be able to see the automation in the Pattern Clip as a background shading. As you learn
more about what you are doing, you can break out of this mold, but you need to start simply.
2. Record Some Live Tweaking. The easiest thing to do is create a new flp (File > New), lay
down some drum loops and practice playing with the Channel PAN and VOL knobs of the snare
(for example). When you think you've got something groovy, make sure you've selected the
Main Automation pattern and have selected Automation recording in the right-click menu
on the record button, then press the Record Switch shown below. You may hear a three-tick
countdown first, depending on whether the 3.2. countdown switch is on. Then start the song
and work your magic. The song will play once and then stop. Turn recording off and press
Play in Playlist mode, with your pattern in the Playlist. You've just done your first Live
Recording session!
Watch the pan
move!
Right-click the record button and
check Automation recording is ON!
It doesn’t matter if the others are
also ticked.
64
3. Important Note. When you've got the Recording Switch on and the loop is playing, moving a
knob will erase over all the previously recorded tweaks from that point in the song until the end.
This can be frustrating, so often it's best to get the recording approximately the way you want
it and then make further changes in the Event Editor described in the next section.
4. What can be Recorded? Most knobs and sliders are recordable, including those that control
Plugins. But some controls aren't recordable. The quickest way to tell what's recordable is to
mouse over a control and look for the red recording icon in the Hint Bar. If these steps appear,
then you can record that control.
5. Where is my data? All automation is recorded into the currently selected pattern (see page
15). To see it, in context, place the Pattern Clip in the Playlist track area, the display will show
a mini-graph.
Record Switch ON
Switch to Song mode to
play from the Playlist
Intro count in (useful)
Plugins. You can record live tweaking (moving) of knobs on
most Plugins, but not all knobs. Experiment to find out. Check
the live manual (press F1 in FL Studio) section on Recording
Audio, Notes & Automation.
0 Comments