this is new to X-2 so it's not in Garrigus' book, what's the point of lanes?? what i did was make a pan lane on a track, good so far, then i notice there is an option called "send" in the dialogue box and then the envelope jumps to the track like in the olden days. i don't understand the purpose.

Automation lanes need to be added per envelope and each lane is similar to a mini track in that you can select different parameters from the lane's edit filter.

As soon as you change the filter on an existing envelope lane the data in it has no "home" so jumps back to the main track. Shift clicking on the show automation lanes button will break any existing envelopes on the track out into individual lanes.

If after adding one envelope lane you want to add more rather than select a different data parameter from the edit filter (as you did when you selected a send level) add a lane using the plus button and then select the required parameter from the new lanes edit filter.

Lanes are handy for working on multiple envelopes or multiple track automation at once. For basic one at a time I still prefer the "in track" method using the main track edit filter. It is nice to have the choice though.

HTH

ahhhh, thanks so much. man, it's amazing how people can figure out how to build stuff like this. i remember when i got my teac portastudio in '87, i was the coolest guy in new york! but if you just sit and think what one would have needed as far as hardware in those days it boggles. just the plugins in X-2 would have filled a room and cost several thousand dollars. amazing indeed.