Anyone know how to use automation in cubase, only instead of writing it to the main timeline, you can write it into a pattern or midi pattern or something? ... I just switched from fruityloops and am still used to the playlist for automation... it seriously kicks cubases ass (and before you flame me thats the only part I miss).

~Mike

Depends..
If you're using cubase 4 you can with the instrument track but in sx3 you're restricted to the (sucky) separated midi - vst instrument workflow. To copy automation you need to select the range with the range selection tool and copy it.

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to automate a synth you can also use midi cc automation in the midi pattern..

I'm using SX ... what about this CC thing? I heard about it but couldn't really find anything in the manul or online to get my brain to "click". I'd be totally cool midi'ing my way to automation.

bounce

If the synth you're using allows you to map a MIDI controller (the messages they send are called CC - Continuous Controller), then you can create a MIDI loop with that CC, and it's every bit as simple as drawing the pattern in Fruityloops. You don't actually have to have a MIDI controller, you can just draw it in.

Even if you can't use MIDI, I don't understand what the problem is with copy and paste. Have you tried using the Range Edit tool (the marquee icon, next to the arrow)? You can select your bar or two of automation and alt+drag to create copies of it. Which is again, essentially the same as drawing your automation in the FL playlist and copying the pattern several times.

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i feel you on the pattern editing... i can't wait to figure that out (i now see the CC note thingy as a dropdown when editing a midi pattern, just don't know how to attach it to automation yet).

The reason I like the playlist better is that when I write automation it gets complicated as hell... Like I might have automation for a precise pan on several instruments, each with their own suttle changes that I like to be able to control, LP/HP lfo's, eq/vol changes, mutes, etc. I understand I can get it done by copy/pasting ghosts of patterns but after a very short time it becomes a huge mess and the fruity playlist is alot neater. I dunno, maybe its just because I'm a programmer that I want it to be more modular or object like (ie 1 place to edit the pattern, everything else is just its trigger).

I'm definitely going to figure out this whole CC thing would so thanks everyone