How do you guys use offset mode?

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I find offset mode to be confusing and potentially dangerous (mainly if you forget it's on) so I leave it alone. I have no qualms with editing an automation envelope if needs be.

How do you guys use offset mode?
 
Never.
 
Too damned confusing. I'm not at all averse to editing my own envelopes - and it's easy enough to select the whole env. & drag it up/down as needed.

sharke
I find offset mode to be confusing and potentially dangerous (mainly if you forget it's on) so I leave it alone. I have no qualms with editing an automation envelope if needs be.

I agree with this...but only because there aren't enough blatant changes in Sonar to show a user he or she is in offset mode. It's VERY easy to forget you're using it which can really be a nightmare.
 
However, if you are focused and extremely anal about stuff like I am and you can remember to immediately change back to normal mode, it can be a really cool feature.
 
For example, I'm done mixing and I decide I need to do all my automation. I start with a lead vocal and make sure that each word is heard. When I get done, I find that maybe the entire track can come up +1 dB. I can no longer use my volume slider because the nodes I created for my volume will be locked in to the automation. If I moved the fader it would only move back as soon as I press play.
 
To raise that track 1 dB higher, I have three options.
 
1. Raise all the automation I just drew by 1 dB which would be tedious and a pain in the butt
 
2. Raise the "gain" on the track. However, because I use gain staging to make everything just right with my plugs etc, this *might* cause audible clipping. Or it just may work.....but I'd never touch my gain for the sake of adjusting automation.
 
3. The correct choice, press O, the volume fader turns to a + and I raise it to 1.0, press O again to get back to regular mode...and I'm done.
 
The same can be done when you may have automated pans that might need subtle tweaking. For example, during guitar solos, I like to pan my rhythm guitar tracks out a little wider to get them out of the way of the guitar solo. Sometimes I bring them out too wide...so going into offset mode allows me to bring them a little tighter without touching the automation nodes I've drawn in.
 
The key to this is to remember to press O immediately when you're done and you'll be in good shape. :)
 
-Danny

I did not know about offset mode.
 
I would create envelopes and if I needed to cut or boost a track with volume automation, I would either tediously move each node or, select all and move as a an "object" (not sure that is correct semantics).
 
If I understand what is being said here...next time I need to boost or cut an automation envelope for a specific track, I just hit "O" then adjust by the value I wish the boost or cut to realize, BUT, make sure to hit "O" again.
 
One other thing, did I misunderstand when I read that you could use a limiter when tracking to make sure you have a hot signal, but not clipping? That sounds scarey to me. Please elaborate.
 
TNX
 
 

I realized last night (this morning really) that I have got myself all screwed up with offset mode.  I have been doing most of this mix, pans etc. in offset mode without realizing it.  I never realized there was a button that displayed that this mode was activated, I must have hit O at some point early in the mix by accident and never noticed.  Then as I am nearing the end of the mix and started writing automation I noticed that I could hear my automation working but my faders and pan knobs weren't moving...?   hmmm So After about 2 min of investigation I was feeling pretty foolish.  I just checked to make sure I wasn't running into any gain staging issues at the bus level, and let it ride.  Sounds good, is good.  If I go back to this mix 2 yrs from now I will be confused as hell, but I am not redoing everything at this point for no real reason.