Automation

Automation changes settings over time. In frdgBeats, automation is per channel and per pattern.

What Can Be Automated

Automation targets include:

• Channel volume.
• Channel pan.
• Numeric synth parameters.
• Numeric effect parameters.
• Select-style parameters as stepped values when supported.

If a synth or effect exposes numeric parameters, frdgBeats can usually automate them.

Pattern-Specific Automation

Automation applies only to the selected pattern. It does not globally change every pattern on the channel.

This is important. You can make pattern 1 dry and pattern 2 filter-swept without fighting the whole project.

Adding a Lane

1. Select a channel.
2. Open automate.
3. Pick the pattern you want to edit.
4. Choose a target from the target dropdown.
5. Click plus.

Each target can have one lane per channel.

Drawing Values

Automation lanes use a step grid.

• Click an empty cell to set it to the current parameter value.
• Click a set cell to clear it.
• Shift-click clears a cell.
• Right-click clears a cell.
• Drag vertically across numeric cells to draw values.

Cells with explicit values are solid. Filled cells can show carried or interpolated values depending on mode.

Step vs Smooth

Step mode jumps from value to value.

Smooth mode interpolates between values across steps.

Select-style parameters use step mode because a menu value cannot smoothly slide from off to on. Trying to interpolate words is nonsense. Computers do enough nonsense already.

Enable, Clear, Remove

Each lane has:

• Mode menu.
• Power button.
• Clear button.
• Delete button.

Disabling a lane keeps the data but stops applying it.

Clearing removes values for the current pattern.

Deleting removes the lane entirely.

Automation Tips

• Use volume automation for fades and rhythmic cuts.
• Use pan automation for movement.
• Use filter cutoff automation for builds.
• Use delay mix automation for throws.
• Use sample speed automation carefully, because extreme values can get chaotic fast.