Automix
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| Automix is a function that allows you to create automated mixes . Automix allows you save various mixer and track parameter settings as Automix markers at location points in the timeline of the song. Every time the VS encounters an Automix marker during playback, these settings are instantly recalled. Automix can be used to dynamically change effects, perform sweeping pans, insert fade-ins and fade-outs, and more. On the VS-880/890 workstations, you can have one set of Automix data per song. In certain ways, Automix is similar to using scenes. However, since Automix is designed for mixing, it does not store any routing information. In addition, not all track parameter settings are stored as Automix data, as shown in Table 6.1. Table 6.1. Automix Compatibility for VS-880/890 Track Parameters
There are a few things to note about Table 6.1. None of the track EQ parameters are stored with Automix. That means you cannot dynamically change EQ settings via the track parameters with Automix. However, if you needed to change EQ settings during playback, you could create your own custom EQ effect patches and use Automix to enable these effect patches during playback. Speaking of effects, notice that Automix does not store the switching on or off of the effects within a given track. For example, we want to apply reverb as a send/return effect to the vocal track only during the choruses. Ideally, we'd like to set that track's Effect 1 Send Switch = OFF for the verses and then set it to PstFade for the choruses. Unfortunately, Automix can't perform this switch. But we could set the Effect 1 Send Switch to PstFade at the beginning of the song and set the Effect 1 Send Level to zero. We could then use Automix to set the Effect 1 Send Level of the track to an appropriate level for the choruses and then set it back to zero outside of the choruses. This scenario works for send/return effects as the send levels can be stored in Automix, but it will not work for insert effects, as none of the effect insert parameters for a track can be stored in Automix. Another thing to understand about Automix is that although it can dynamically switch effects during playback, it cannot change any parameters within the effects. For example, the reverb we want to apply to the lead vocal track is effect A10 RV:VocalPlt. However, we want to change the reverb time from the default of 2.2 seconds to 2.8 seconds. If we program Automix to use the A10 effect patch, we cannot tell it to change the reverb time. Instead, we have to save a version of the A10 effect patch with our new reverb time as a user effect. Then we can use that user effect with Automix, and the reverb time will be 2.8 seconds. Enabling AutomixTo enable Automix for recording or playback, press the AUTOMIX button so that it is lit. The SELECT button above each track shows the Automix status of that track:
To toggle a track's Automix status, hold the AUTOMIX button and press the track's SELECT button. By default, the first time you enable Automix in a song, the tracks will be in Automix playback status. Before recording Automix data, be sure to set the tracks to Automix recording and playback status. Automix can be enabled for each available track in the Input Mixer and Track Mixer, and Automix can be enabled in the Effect Return Mixer to store various settings within that mixer mode. In addition, various settings within the Master Block can be stored in Automix. On the VS-880EX, the EZ ROUTING button represents the Master Block, and holding down the AUTOMIX button and pressing the EZ ROUTING button will toggle through the Automix statuses for the Master Block. You can enable any or all tracks for Automix. I typically enable everything for Automix, as the total number of events and markers is the same regardless of how many tracks are enabled for Automix. After you enable Automix, you have the choice of performing Realtime Automix or Snapshot Automix. Both have their advantages, so let's look at both in more detail. Realtime AutomixRealtime Automix records changes you make to the track faders and the track settings while the song plays. Realtime Automix is great for songs that only need minor fader adjustments during playback. As the song plays, each fader or parameter change you make causes an Automix marker to be created. To perform a Realtime Automix, be sure you have Automix enabled, then do the following:
When you play the song, the adjustments you made will be played back. If you're not happy with the adjustments, you can re-record the Automix data, but you must first delete all the existing Automix data. To do this, go to SYSTEM
If you're happy with most of the Automix but would like to modify a part of it, you can edit your Automix by using Snapshot Automix. Snapshot AutomixAnother way to create Automix data is via snapshots. With Snapshot Automix, you can capture all your fader and parameter settings for a point in time. To do this, move to the point where you want to change your settings, make those changes, and then record those settings into Automix. Then move to the next point in time, make the appropriate changes, and record those settings into Automix. When you finish recording your Automix data, you can play back the song, and the VS will recall the appropriate settings at the appropriate point in time. One advantage of Snapshot Automix is that you can create your snapshots in any sequence within the song. Since Automix markers are a type of marker, they follow the same rules as regular markers, meaning they are tied to a specific location within the song and are automatically kept in sequence according to the timeline of the song. To perform a Snapshot Automix, be sure you have Automix enabled, then do the following:
When you play the song, the adjustments you made will be played back. If you're not happy with the adjustments, you have a couple of different options. Just like with Realtime Automix, you could erase all the existing Automix data and re-record it all. However, every time you take a snapshot, an Automix marker gets created. If you want to change the Automix data at a given Automix marker, use the PREVIOUS and NEXT marker buttons to position yourself to the appropriate Automix marker, make the changes, then hold AUTOMIX and press TAP. By doing this, you are overwriting the existing Automix data at that particular Automix marker.
As we get further into the details of mixing and bouncing, we'll use Snapshot Automix with our example song. One final note on Automix: When placing Automix markers, the markers must be 0.1 seconds away from each other. When using Realtime Automix, the VS will not create subsequent markers within 0.1 second of each other. When using Snapshot Automix, if you attempt to place a new Automix marker within 0.1 seconds of an existing Automix marker, the Automix data at the existing Automix marker will be replaced . GradationGradation allows you to create a smooth transition between two consecutive Automix markers. I normally use this for level and pan changes, but you can use it for a variety of transitions. To create a Gradation, be sure you have Automix enabled, then do the following:
After creating the Gradation, the VS will automatically place a number of additional Automix markers between the original two. These additional Automix markers will increment or decrement the values of the parameters as necessary to create the transition.
Here's a quick example of using Gradation to create a fade out at the end of a song. Position the song to the point where you want the fade out to begin and take a snapshot. Now, move to the point where you want the song to go silent. At this point, pull the Master Fader all the way down, and take another snapshot. While positioned at this last Automix marker, hold AUTOMIX and press the PREVIOUS marker button, and answer YES to the Gradation prompt. When you play back the song, the level of the Master Fader will continue to be reduced between the two original Automix markers, creating a smooth fade out. Automix ConsiderationsAutomix is one of the greatest features of these VS workstations, but it can be overwhelming at times. Here are some pointers for using Automix successfully.
First, be sure to keep detailed notes about your tracks before you invoke Automix. For example, I normally have a timeline or layout of the song with changes noted. The times don't need to be exact; you just want them as a point of reference when you get started. I typically use Snapshot Automix and start out taking snapshots of the big changes first, then going back and doing the minor changes. Here's an example of some notes from a recent session:
Consider clearing all existing markers before you begin recording your Automix. While you can certainly have regular markers along with Automix markers, going back and editing existing Automix markers can get confusing as to whether the marker location is a regular marker or an Automix marker. Remember, once you clear all your markers, you can't get them back. For me, by the time I'm ready to mix, I've got my detailed notesI don't need to reference any regular markers to move to specific points in time. Another suggestion is to create a scene for things that Automix doesn't record. For example, Automix doesn't record any individual track EQ settings or the ATT setting. Once I've played around with the song and have the proper EQ and ATT settings for my tracks, I'll create a scene to save those settings. When I begin my Automix, I can recall that scene and take a snapshot so that I'll always have the same starting point. Finally, plan out your use of effects with Automix. Remember, Automix cannot record changes within an effect patch. For example, if you are using a reverb effect and want to change the reverb time from 1.0 second to 3.0 seconds at a certain spot, Automix can't record that. Instead, you could create two different user effectsone with reverb time set at 1.0 second and the other with reverb time set at 3.0 secondsand use Automix to switch between the effects. For that matter, any effect patches that you modify need to be saved before starting Automix; otherwise , when you select that effect in Automix, it will pull up the version of the effect patch as it was last saved. |
SYS Scene/AutoMix ? | < Day Day Up > |
