How to Use Automation in Your DAW (and Why You Should)

Automation can help your audio sound much better, and here's how to use it in DAW—plus why you should consider doing so.

Modern Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) have made what used to be complicated simple via automation. Real-time edits that once needed to be made manually and studiously noted for all future playthroughs can now be programmed to occur automatically.

It has never been easier to apply tweaks and changes post-recording so that each element in your mix stands out or not in just the way you want. So, if you haven't gotten into the habit of automating different audio elements in each stage of production, we'll show you why you should and how to do so.

You may think that applying lots of automation to your mix could make it feel overly digital and robotic, but the reverse holds true in audio engineering. Whether you set a specific volume, EQ, or reverb configuration on a track, by default, each will remain static over the course of your project. Automation lets each of these parameters and tools come alive as you add movement and variation to their previously static state.

In any mixing process, finding the right balance of volumes between your diverse instruments is crucial, even more so than adding EQs and other plugins. Getting the fundamentals right, such as volume levels, panning, and recording, will save you much time and effort in the long run, and automation helps you fix most of the small imbalances that inevitably crop up during production.

Once the foundations of a project have been shored up, automation gives you the chance to maximize the use of every parameter and tool within your DAW. You can quite literally breathe life into your tracks, and add dashes of contrast that change a track from being good to great.

Look into how to reverse audio in Logic Pro for more ways to add creative variation to your projects.

Now, we'll go over the basics of applying automation while showing you all the tools you need to dive into the endless sound design possibilities that automation offers.

In most DAWs, you can press a key to activate automation, like A in Logic Pro, select a parameter by your Track Header, and click on a track to create an automation point. Then, you can simply create multiple points by clicking with your mouse and alter your track's volume, for example, to your liking.

It is worth mentioning that applying automation changes to the volume parameter will lock in those changes. This could significantly slow you down if you're at a relatively early stage of your mixing process (and need to change the volume balance down the line). One way to work around this problem is to automate a gain/volume plugin instead of the base volume. This means that you can still use your volume fader to make adjustments.

All Modern DAWs provide you with four or so automation modes so that you can automate changes to your chosen parameter:

Your workflow will determine which of these modes work best for you: some of you may prefer the mathematical precision of clicking and dragging; others will prefer the physical feel of moving a fader up and down. Whatever your preference, you're now ready to start automating your tracks, sends, plugins, and masters.

Most DAWs let you increase or decrease the natural sound of automation by using linear or curved automation shapes. In Logic Pro, you can use the Automation Curve Tool or press Shift + Ctrl while clicking and dragging on a line to apply a curve.

Sometimes, simple straight lines are best. But try and experiment with the form the lines take between two automation points to generate distinct sonic effects. You can also make your automation points snap to the grid to make sure a pumping effect or other sound forms align perfectly with your project's tempo.

EQ plugins are a near-constant feature in all audio projects. They let you cut and boost specific frequencies in a variety of ways. If you're not sure how EQs work or just want a refresher, check out our guide on what EQs do and how to use them.

When you add in automation, suddenly, you can create great buildups into transitions, powerful contrasts, and spatial movement without panning. Your bread and butter with EQ automation is adding movement to high- and low-cut filters.

A low-cut filter can cut away the bass frequencies leading up to a drop, making it that much more impactful when the bass comes in. Meanwhile, high-cut filters give an underwater and distant feeling to sounds. Gradually or suddenly remove the filter to bring the affected instruments forward in the mix; its rich sound is then highlighted due to the previous lack in high frequencies.

While you may find yourself relying on moving these filter types, adding subtle automated boosts or cuts or momentary filter sweeps can further enhance elements of your mix and how they sit together.

Whether you're composing music or a scripted video, there are specific sections of your creations that will have more or less space for a bigger reverb. You can use the ends of phrases or the gaps between phrases to increase the volume, size, decay, or other parameters of a reverb plugin which provides a sense of depth and contrast to your work.

While it can seem overwhelming when you first realize that each of your audio effects can be automated, don't get stuck in the paralysis of choice. Instead, dive into experimentation.

Your delay effect on a vocal line could suddenly increase in its feedback, its reverb, and have its panning jump from left to right. Your saturation and distortion plugin on your guitar tracks could gradually increase in potency or volume for a chorus. The compression on your kick drum could have its attack reduced to let more punch and the initial burst of the sound through. The possibilities are endless.

When you experiment with automation, it can be useful to know a few plugins and their parameters well rather than superficial knowledge of many effects. The key isn't to overload your tracks with senseless automated movement, but to add small changes that accumulate into significant improvements to the vibrancy and balance of your project.

Not only can you correct volume and tonal imbalances in your projects via automation, you can also make your ensemble of digital tools come alive. Enable automation and choose the best automation mode for you. Then, try out different linear and curved automation lines to bring out the sound and character you're after.

Automate your EQ and reverb to enliven transitions and add depth to the spatial world of your audio. More importantly, dive into automating all of your favorite audio effects to bring out their full potential, yet remember, moderation is often best.

Bill has 14 years or so of experience as a professional musician playing a few stringed instruments. He has since branched into music production and composition for the last 6 years to play not only a few, but all the instruments. When he's not musicking or writing, you'll find Bill farming.