I have drums (all drums from a kit) sent to a Drum Master bus (so I can control the volume of the overall kit).  Is there a way to automate the bus volume using an envelope similar to how I can automate a track volume with an envelope ?  I now how to use volume envelopes on the individual drum tracks (i.e. snare, tom, etc.), but is there a way to do that for the whole kit via the bus ?

Yes you can. Volume automation is simple in the buss. Use the filter to set what automation you want to have. 

I actually do this all the time on various buses, and also on the Master bus.  Although I don't typically use fade outs, I still often fade the last sustained notes on Master for a smoother ending.  Also, I may want all guitars to come up a little a certain point, etc.
 
I actually send everything to a bus so I have a drum bus, vocal bus, keyboard bus, guitar buss, etc.  I even have a bass bus even if there is only one bass.  My reason is that I get all the movements automated in the tracks, and then I can change overall levels in the bus without messing up all my mixing work.
 
Note that when you click the filer and choose Automation in the track, there is a choice for Volume.  For some reason, although the bus automation works the same way, the choice is Bus Output Volume.  I'm nor sure why there is a difference in terminology but perhaps that is confusing.

konradh
I actually do this all the time on various buses, and also on the Master bus.  Although I don't typically use fade outs, I still often fade the last sustained notes on Master for a smoother ending.  Also, I may want all guitars to come up a little a certain point, etc.
 
I actually send everything to a bus so I have a drum bus, vocal bus, keyboard bus, guitar buss, etc.  I even have a bass bus even if there is only one bass.  My reason is that I get all the movements automated in the tracks, and then I can change overall levels in the bus without messing up all my mixing work.
 
Note that when you click the filer and choose Automation in the track, there is a choice for Volume.  For some reason, although the bus automation works the same way, the choice is Bus Output Volume.  I'm nor sure why there is a difference in terminology but perhaps that is confusing.

I really like your idea of putting even a single track into a bus to adjust the mix volume without affecting the track's automation. I guess it can be with gain, but I like this better, being able to use the fader. Thanks for sharing it.

TimV
I really like your idea of putting even a single track into a bus to adjust the mix volume without affecting the track's automation. I guess it can be with gain, but I like this better, being able to use the fader. Thanks for sharing it.

Konrad has described a useful technique, for sure. But it sounds like you may not aware of Offset Mode, which can change track volume without affecting a track's automation. If you group multiple faders, you can use Offset Mode to vary all of them simultaneously without have to use a bus.
 
But I will say this: I think the next update is going to blow some minds when it comes to tracks, buses, and mixing...

uh-oh.....
Craig... my mind's in bad shape already..
 

Vastman
uh-oh.....
Craig... my mind's in bad shape already..

Thanks for the heads-up. I'll ask Cakewalk if it might be a good idea to have people sign a release before they're allowed to download the next update.

So, the big upgrade is the next one!  Thanks for the heads-up Craig. Really looking forward to track-to-track routing.

Anderton

TimV
I really like your idea of putting even a single track into a bus to adjust the mix volume without affecting the track's automation. I guess it can be with gain, but I like this better, being able to use the fader. Thanks for sharing it.

Konrad has described a useful technique, for sure. But it sounds like you may not aware of Offset Mode, which can change track volume without affecting a track's automation. If you group multiple faders, you can use Offset Mode to vary all of them simultaneously without have to use a bus.
 
But I will say this: I think the next update is going to blow some minds when it comes to tracks, buses, and mixing...

Thanks for pointing that out, Craig. A useful feature that I hadn't been aware of.

Craig is my hero. That said, nothing has caused me more grief than Offset mode.  It is useful and many people love it.  I do not because it is way too easy to lose track (no pun) of where you are in a mix.  If you ever turn it on unintentionally, you will create a big mess.  I have disabled the shortcut key for Offset.
 
But that is just my personal issue.  If you can keep that demon under control, it will, as Craig says, allow you to make adjustments without screwing up your fader moves.  Just be careful.