> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.gridshift.studio/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Automation Clips

> Edits the curve of one automation clip: points, ready-made shapes, bends between points, or an LFO. Double-click the clip, or select it and press ⌥↓.

## Edit points

<video src="/videos/automation-points.mp4" poster="/videos/automation-points.jpg" aria-label="In Focus Mode, a double-click adds a point; the up and down arrows move it in value, left and right in time" title="In Focus Mode, a double-click adds a point; the up and down arrows move it in value, left and right in time" muted loop playsInline preload="none" />

Double-click an automation clip, or select it and press `⌥↓`. Double-click empty space for a point, then move it with `↑` / `↓` in value and `←` / `→` in time.

## Draw a basic shape

<video src="/videos/automation-shape.mp4" poster="/videos/automation-shape.jpg" aria-label="The Focus Mode bar's six shape buttons; Ramp Down replaces every point with a ramp from top to bottom" title="The Focus Mode bar's six shape buttons; Ramp Down replaces every point with a ramp from top to bottom" muted loop playsInline preload="none" />

In Focus Mode, click one of the six shape buttons in the bar, such as **Ramp Down**. It replaces every point in the clip with that shape.

## Shape the curve between points

<video src="/videos/automation-tension.mp4" poster="/videos/automation-tension.jpg" aria-label="In Focus Mode on the filter lane, the tension handle between two points is dragged up and down to bend the ramp; then a new point is set to Hold (Step) from its right-click menu" title="In Focus Mode on the filter lane, the tension handle between two points is dragged up and down to bend the ramp; then a new point is set to Hold (Step) from its right-click menu" muted loop playsInline preload="none" />

Drag the tension handle between two points: up for convex, down for concave. Right-click a point and pick **Linear** or **Hold (Step)**.

## Generate the curve with an LFO

<video src="/videos/automation-lfo.mp4" poster="/videos/automation-lfo.jpg" aria-label="Command 2 switches the clip to LFO: a sine, one bar per cycle, replaces the drawn points" title="Command 2 switches the clip to LFO: a sine, one bar per cycle, replaces the drawn points" muted loop playsInline preload="none" />

In Focus Mode, click **LFO** in the floating bar or press `⌘2`. Set **Shape**, **Sym**, **Phase** and **Rate**. **Draw** or `⌘1` goes back.

## Bake the LFO into points

<video src="/videos/focus-mode-auto.mp4" poster="/videos/focus-mode-auto.jpg" aria-label="In an automation clip, Command 1 is Draw and Command 2 shapes the curve with an LFO" title="In an automation clip, Command 1 is Draw and Command 2 shapes the curve with an LFO" muted loop playsInline preload="none" />

Open the automation clip with `⌥↓`. Press `⌘1` to **Draw** the curve by hand, or `⌘2` to shape it with an **LFO**, then **Bake** it into points.

## Step-record with number keys

<video src="/videos/automation-steps.mp4" poster="/videos/automation-steps.jpg" aria-label="In Focus Mode on the Mix lane with record mode on, the number keys 1, 5, 9 and 0 each add a point at the cursor and step it one grid line on" title="In Focus Mode on the Mix lane with record mode on, the number keys 1, 5, 9 and 0 each add a point at the cursor and step it one grid line on" muted loop playsInline preload="none" />

In Focus Mode on a draw-mode automation clip, with the transport stopped, press `⇪` for record mode. Each number key adds a point at the cursor and moves the cursor one grid step.

## Good to know

* **Lanes, targets and recording live on [Automation](/mix/automation.md).** This page is about the curve inside one open clip.
* **Points snap** to the beat grid and a 32-step value grid. Hold `⌥` while dragging for no snap on both axes.
* **Selecting a point hands the arrows to it**, as on the timeline and in the piano roll. With nothing selected they move the edit cursor; `Escape` hands the keys back to the cursor.
* **`⌘1` / `⌘2` change meaning in Focus Mode.** With an automation clip in focus they switch Draw and LFO instead of the Tracks and Project tabs of the [Inspector](/get-started/the-window.md). MIDI and audio clips leave `⌘1` / `⌘2` alone. The tabs stay one `Escape` away, and the Command Palette (`⌘K`) reaches them without leaving Focus Mode.
* **LFO mode is non-destructive.** Your drawn points stay underneath and come back when you switch to **Draw**; switching back to **LFO** restores the shape you last set. While the LFO drives the curve the points cannot be edited.

> **Details**
>
> * **Focus Mode gives the clip a curve-editing band** about 40% of the viewport height, with a value grid. The surrounding tracks compact to stay in view. `Esc` leaves Focus Mode.
> * **The focus bar holds the Draw / LFO switch** (`⌘1` / `⌘2`). In Draw it shows the six shape buttons; in LFO it adds **Shape**, **Sym**, **Phase**, the rate and **Bake**.
> * **A shape button replaces the whole clip.** The six are **Ramp Up**, **Ramp Down**, **Triangle**, **Stairs**, **Ease In** and **Ease Out**, in Draw mode. `⌘Z` brings the old points back.
> * **Tension up is a fast start, down a slow start.** **Hold (Step)** keeps the value flat and jumps at the next point. Right-click a point for its curve-type menu.
> * **The LFO generates the curve from a shape, rate, symmetry and phase.** Scroll over the Rate chip to step through its list.
> * **The LFO is a pure 0–1 shape.** Depth and offset come from each target's range and mode, so one generated curve can drive several parameters at different depths. A clip entering LFO mode for the first time starts as a centered sine, one bar per cycle.
> * **Bake turns the LFO into points** and drops you back into Draw mode, for fine-tuning.
> * **Linked copies of a clip share one curve**, so an edit in one shows in all of them.
> * **`⌘→` / `⌘←` step from point to point, across clip boundaries.** At the last point in a clip, `⌘→` jumps to the first point of the next automation clip; `⌘←` at the first point jumps to the previous clip.
> * **Points within the marquee are selected automatically.**
> * **`⌃` is unbound here, in either direction.** It is the "change the length" key, and an automation point has no length.
> * **Number keys map to fixed values:** `1` to `9` set `0.1` to `0.9`, `0` sets `1.0`. The cursor advances one grid division after each key. A point already at that position is replaced, and typing past the clip's end lengthens the clip.
> * **The `0`–`9` step keys cannot be rebound.** They are handled directly, not as Command Palette commands.
> * **The palette reaches the curve too**, in the Clips group: **Automation Curve…** (Linear or Hold after the marked points), **Set Automation Curve Bend** (−100 to +100), **Stretch Automation Points in Time** and **Scale Automation Point Values** (in percent), **Automation Shape…**, **Bake LFO into Points**, and **Draw Focused Automation by Hand** / **Shape Focused Automation with an LFO**.

> **LFO controls**
>
> | Control | What it does |
> | - | - |
> | **Shape** | Morphs the waveform continuously from triangle through sine to square |
> | **Sym** (Symmetry) | Shifts where the peak sits in the cycle: turns a triangle into a rising or falling ramp, or sets a square's pulse width |
> | **Phase** | Offsets where the cycle starts |
> | **Rate** | **Sync** to a musical division (*2 Bars* to *1/16*), or **Free** for `1×`–`8×` cycles across the whole clip |

> **Point editing**
>
> | Action | Mouse | Keyboard |
> | - | - | - |
> | Create a point | Double-click or `⌘`-click empty space | `Return` adds one on the curve at the cursor, without changing its shape |
> | Select | Click; `⇧`-click toggles; drag empty space to marquee | `⌘←` / `⌘→` step from point to point |
> | Move | Drag (grid-snapped, `⌥` for no snap) | `↑` / `↓` by 1/32 of the value, `←` / `→` by a grid step; `⌥` for the fine step (1/64 of the value), `Fn←` / `Fn→` by a bar |
> | Scale two or more | Drag an edge of the selection box; the opposite edge stays put | |
> | Delete | `⌥`-click or double-click a point | `⌫` deletes the selected points |
> | Copy / cut / paste | | `⌘C` / `⌘X`; `⌘V` pastes at the playhead, replacing the curve over the pasted span, into any automation clip |
>
> With nothing selected, the arrows move the edit cursor and `⇧⌘`-arrows grow a selection box from it (`⌥⇧⌘←` / `→` for a fine step).

> **Keys**
>
> | Action | Shortcut |
> | - | - |
> | Open a clip in Focus Mode | `⌥↓` or double-click |
> | Draw / LFO mode | `⌘1` / `⌘2` |
> | Select previous / next point (crosses into the next clip at the edge) | `⌘←` / `⌘→` |
> | Move selected points (value / time) | `↑` `↓` / `←` `→` (`⌥` fine) |
> | Add point on the curve at the cursor | `Return` |
> | Delete selected points | `⌫` |
> | Bypass snapping | hold `⌥` while dragging |
> | Step-record a point (record mode on, transport stopped) | `1`–`9`, `0` |
>
> The complete curve-editing grid: [Focus Mode Shortcuts](/shortcuts/focus-mode.md).


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