Cubase VST offers two ways of automating volume and pan: the Dynamic Events set in the Audio Editor and the Write function in the VST Channel Mixer. The two methods have their specific properties and uses, as described below:
Dynamic EventsThe Dynamic events allow you to control the volume and panning individually for each segment. This allows you to create fade-ins, fade-outs and auto-pan effects, which are then integral parts of each segment. This is all done in the Audio Editor, see page 392.
What this means is that if you for example create a volume curve for one segment, and later copy this segment for use in other places in the song, all copies will “inherit” the volume curve of the original segment. You can later adjust the curve for each individual segment, if needed.
A more advanced possibility is to use Ghost events. These are audio events which all share a segment, and thereby share a volume or pan curve. This means that if one is adjusted, they are all affected. See page 531.
P If you use the Dynamic Events to control volume, you cannot boost the signal above unity gain (0.0 dB).Using the Write function in the VST Channel Mixer you can automate Volume and Panning (actually, virtually all mixer settings and changes) for each audio channel. All Tracks in the Arrange window that are set to play back via this audio channel will be affected likewise by these controls. This method is described on the following pages.
Let’s say, as an example, that one channel is first used for a guitar and later in the song for vocals. If you then use the VST Channel Mixer to lower the volume in the guitar intro, you will get the same lower volume for the vocal, since they are on the same channel.
When you are using the VST Channel Mixer to control volume, you can go above unity gain (actually amplify the sound). Furthermore, you can automate Mutes and Solos.
ConclusionSo, when to use Dynamic Events and when to use the VST Channel Mixer depends on what is needed at the moment; if you need to make minute adjustment of shorter segments and repeat those in the Song, you should choose Dynamic Events. If you make longer non-repeating recordings and prefer to adjust volumes via (onscreen) faders, you use the VST Channel Mixer.
When automating volume, do not hesitate to combine the two methods of automation, simultaneously or during different parts of the Song. The settings you make in the VST Channel Mixer are relative to the volume value delivered by the Dynamic Events automation. For example, if the Dynamic Event volume has a value of -2.0 dB, and the VST Channel Mixer fader is set to -0.4 dB, the resulting volume will be -2.4 dB.