X2 - Automation Lanes - Are they worth learning?

One of the things that annoys me about X1 and X2 is the fact that you cannot double-click a clip (to open the piano roll) if the current edit filter is set to volume automation. So, when editing both track volume envelopes and note velocities in various clips, I have to switch the edit filter back and forth. This is annoying.

I haven't tried automation lanes yet, because they increase the amount of vertical crowding. Before I try to establish them as a habit, I'm wondering if you have found them to be efficient and pleasant. I'm particularly interested in hearing from people who prefer the way automation envelopes were handled in Sonar 8.5 and earlier, where they were always visible and active, and you opened the piano roll by clicking somewhere above or below the envelope.

Are they worth learning? That depends. I like automating many of my soft synth parameters and I'm finding having the automation in a lane of its own is fantastic.

But it might not suit you, so the only person that can answer that question is you I'm afraid.

I'm using a 15.6" laptop monitor by the way and I don't find it that much of a problem scrolling up and down to the tracks I need to edit. And Multidock is also a godsend as far as I'm concerned.

And I've not even bothered with screen sets yet, which is something else you can use to manage your precious vertical screen real estate.


I think it's just a matter of biting the bullet, grasping the nettle, whatever, and learning all of the new interface. Or stick with what you are used to, and happy with.

regards

andy

I just watched Eli's X2 explained at groove3, you can actually edit both velocity and automation in PRV. BTW, I love the auromation lanes.

I still prefer the in track automation editing but the lanes come in handy for multiple envelope editing from time to time or across multiple tracks.

If you want to change quickly between an envelope editing environment and a piano roll editing view either use the multidock with multi PRVs or use screensets.