> ## 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

> Changes a mixer control or plugin parameter over time: a filter sweep, a volume fade, an effect that opens up in the chorus. Move the parameter, press ⌥A and Return for a lane, then Return again for a clip.

## Create an automation lane

<video src="/videos/automation-create.mp4" poster="/videos/automation-create.jpg" aria-label="After the filter is moved, Option A opens Connect Automation Track; Return makes the lane, Return again adds a clip" title="After the filter is moved, Option A opens Connect Automation Track; Return makes the lane, Return again adds a clip" muted loop playsInline preload="none" />

Move the parameter, a plugin knob or a fader. Press `⌥A` and `Return` for a new lane below the track. Press `Return` again to add a 4-bar clip at the edit cursor.

## Record automation

<video src="/videos/automation-record.mp4" poster="/videos/automation-record.jpg" aria-label="In record mode during playback, the reverb's Mix knob is turned on its card and the points land in a new Break - Mix lane" title="In record mode during playback, the reverb's Mix knob is turned on its card and the points land in a new Break - Mix lane" muted loop playsInline preload="none" />

Start playback and press `⇪` to enable recording. Move a knob, fader or slider, then stop recording to commit the points.

## Drive more than one parameter from one curve

<video src="/videos/automation-link.mp4" poster="/videos/automation-link.jpg" aria-label="Option A, the down arrow to the break's lane under Existing Automation Tracks, Return: the Inspector shows a row for each target" title="Option A, the down arrow to the break's lane under Existing Automation Tracks, Return: the Inspector shows a row for each target" muted loop playsInline preload="none" />

Move the parameter and press `⌥A`. Press `↓` to a lane under **Existing Automation Tracks** and `Return`. The parameter joins that lane as another target.

## Manage automation from the target track

<video src="/videos/automation-incoming.mp4" poster="/videos/automation-incoming.jpg" aria-label="Scrolled down, the break's Inspector lists the lane that drives it; the info button opens the target's mode and range" title="Scrolled down, the break's Inspector lists the lane that drives it; the info button opens the target's mode and range" muted loop playsInline preload="none" />

Select the automated track and scroll to the **Automation** group at the bottom of its Inspector. Click a lane name to jump to it, or **ⓘ** for its mode and range.

## Stack lanes on one parameter

Give a second lane the same parameter. Select it, set its target's **Mode** to **Relative** in the Inspector and set **Amount**. Its curve now nudges the first lane's value up and down.

## Good to know

* **The curve itself is edited in Focus Mode.** Points, shapes, tension, the LFO and step recording are on [Automation Clips](/edit/automation-clips.md).
* **A Command Palette nudge counts as a touch.** **Mix Filter Up** or **Stereo Up** work as well as turning a knob, and so does a knob bound with [MIDI Bindings](/controllers/midi-bindings.md).
* **Absolute lanes do not blend.** When several overlap on one parameter, the most recently *started* clip wins, and ties go to the topmost lane.
* **Relative lanes stack.** Each adds a signed offset on top of the winning absolute value, and their offsets sum. The curve stays 0–1 with `0.5` as neutral. A typical stack: a volume fade on an Absolute lane plus a Relative lane with a small Amount for a recurring lift.
* **Recording writes to the parameter's lane**, and creates one if none exists.

> **Details**
>
> * `⌥A` opens **Connect Automation Track** with **New Automation Track** preselected, then an **Existing Automation Tracks** section listing every lane with its number of targets. If nothing has been touched yet, the only row is **Touch a Parameter First**.
> * A new lane is named `<track> - <parameter>`, for example `Sample 21 - Mix Filter`, and is selected. With the lane selected, `Return` is **Insert at Cursor**; double-clicking empty space on the lane adds a clip there.
> * **New Automation Track** reuses a plain lane: an **Absolute** lane with full range that already drives that exact parameter. A lane with a custom mode or range gets a fresh lane stacked on top.
> * A lane can start without a target: right-click the Sidebar's empty area, pick **Add Automation Track**, then bind one with **Add Target** in the Inspector.
> * Each lane carries one curve (0–1), hand-drawn or generated with an LFO, that can drive one or several parameters, one Inspector row per target. That suits grouped fades (drum bus plus reverb send) or parallel filter sweeps.
> * Linking a parameter another lane already drives adds it here as well, and the two lanes combine at playback. The only no-op is adding the same parameter to the same lane twice.
> * Select a lane in the Timeline or Sidebar to open it in the Inspector. Each target has **Track**, **Plugin** and **Parameter** dropdowns, a **Mode** and its range controls. Every routing edit is undoable with `⌘Z`.
> * Each target has its own range. In **Absolute** mode **Min** and **Max** map the curve's `0` and `1` onto a window of the destination (`0–100%`); Min above Max inverts it. In **Relative** mode **Amount** (`±%`) sets the swing around the base value.
> * Unusual targets stay visible: Master, Bus, Group or deleted tracks remain in the Track dropdown with a suffix (*"Master (Master)"*, *"(deleted track)"*).
> * The target track's **Automation** group sits at the bottom of its Inspector, below **Grid**. Each row shows the parameter, the lane and **ⓘ**; several lanes on one parameter each get a row, and the group hides when nothing targets the track.
> * Recording a secondary target of a shared lane appends to that lane, since the curve is shared. The Inspector and a brief banner show the lane's name.
> * Duplicating a track (`⌘D` with the Sidebar focused) extends every lane that targeted it, so the copy follows the same curves. Send and ducking amounts are the exception: the copy gets its own connections. To let a copy ramp on its own, remove its target in the lane's Inspector and make a fresh lane.
> * A duplicated lane is a `Copy (Unlinked)` lane: same curve clips, no target until you point it at a parameter. Aim it at the same parameter and the two stack.
> * Duplicating a group brings its internal automation along, rewired to the duplicated tracks.
> * Automation clips copy, paste and split like audio and MIDI clips; a split keeps the points in their halves.

> **What can be automated**
>
> | Source | Parameters |
> | - | - |
> | Mixer | Volume, Pan, the stereo row, Mono Hz, Mix Filter, Clip Ceiling ([Track Mix](/mix/track-mix.md)) |
> | Sends | Amount: right-click a send row, **Automate Send Amount** ([Sends and Returns](/mix/sends-and-returns.md)) |
> | Ducking | Amount: right-click a ducking row, **Automate Duck Amount** ([Ducking](/mix/ducking.md)) |
> | Effects | Any Audio Unit parameter, plus **Input**, **Dry** and **Wet** from the card's Mix popover ([Plugin Strip](/sounds/plugin-strip.md)) |
> | Instruments | Any Audio Unit instrument parameter |

> **Lane targets in the Inspector**
>
> | Action | Result |
> | - | - |
> | Change any dropdown | Playback follows the new target on the next frame |
> | **Mode** | **Absolute** or **Relative** |
> | **Min** / **Max** | *(Absolute)* Map the curve's `0` / `1` onto a sub-range, shown as `0–100%`. Min above Max inverts |
> | **Amount** | *(Relative)* Depth of the offset, bipolar `±%` |
> | **Delete Target** | Drops that row; the lane keeps driving the rest |
> | **Add Target** | Appends a row seeded to a free Mixer / Volume slot |
> | Target track: click the lane name | Jumps the Sidebar and Inspector to the lane |
> | Target track: **ⓘ** | The target's **Mode**, range or **Amount**, and **Remove Automation** |
> | Target track: right-click the row | **Remove Automation** straight away |

> **Keys**
>
> | Action | Shortcut |
> | - | - |
> | Connect Automation Track (new lane, or pick a lane) | `⌥A` |
> | Add a clip on the selected lane | `Return` |
> | Open a clip in Focus Mode | `⌥↓` or double-click |
> | Record on/off | `⇪` |
> | Undo / redo | `⌘Z` / `⇧⌘Z` |


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