volume automation ignored

[cyberdote]

In version 5, on more than one of our mix plus systems, we have random problems with volume automation being ignored on one or more tracks at a time. Turning automation off and on individually on the tracks will not fix it. The volume on the track might say -20 but the fader will stay at say 0 no matter what we try. We fix it just by making a new track and dragging all the audio onto it, then the volumes work fine. 1 hour later, one or more tracks will now have the same problem. Not a good thing when mixing 200 tracks all within Pro Tools. Clients hate downtime. Any one else experiencing this glitch?

[This message has been edited by cyberdote (edited June 15, 2000).]

[DigiTechSupt]

If you are not exagerating about the number of tracks, your problem may be attributed to a track count limitation, voice limitation, voice duplication, etc.

There is a limit of 128 audio (disk tracks) on a Mix system and only 64 can play at a time.

If you have more than one track with the same voice you may experience some of these tracks turning on and off as voices re-allocate.

One way to check this is to make sure that "mutes frees voice" is enabled in the Operations menu then solo the tracks that are showing these symptoms. If the traks playback and the volumes work, you've probably got duplicated voices somewhere in the session.

Also, if you are running that many tracks you could be pushing the limits of the automation in the system.

Also, keep an eye on the Automation Enable window to see what the PCI load and/or system load is up to at the time.

Jon Connolly
Digidesign Product Specialist

[cyberdote]

It's not that the tracks won't play. We have sound coming from these tracks. It just plays at zero level instead of following the volume automation. You can see the volume automation but it will always play at the same level.

[theazone]

Same thing happened to us ... it's so easy ... you will notice that the word volume is grayed out in the edit window ... if so and if I remember well 'option-click' or 'command-click' the grayed out word volume.
I assume you have allowed enough memory to the automation (in the preferences).
Hope it all works.

rg ;^D

[Dzerdzinsky]

The "greyed out thing" sounds bizzare, but I've seen it too.

Check your Settings > Automation and make sure "Moving Faders During Playback" is turned on.

[uno1234]

I had this problem when first using PT, and finally figured out that the track automation was not set to "read" but set to "off". This would obviously prevent the automation from being read. I don't want to insult your intelligence, but it's kind of like forgetting to plug in the power... it has happened...

Usually buttons are greyed out in PT when you command-click a function like solo or mute or record-- so that the track will always be soloed, or cannot be muted or recorded, respectively. I've only seen a greyed out volume button when the automation for that track has been turned off. Maybe the command-click will turn it back on, or you can use the automation menu on the track.