Automation: From Consoles to DAWs

Since the beginning of modern music there has always been a need to implement movement into a mix. Whether it is bringing down dynamics for a classic fade out or a filter sweep slowly building into a chorus, dynamic activity in a song has always been pleasing to the average music listeners. The process that makes these mixing techniques possible is automation. Before I get into details about automation in regards to mixing I will explain common ways automation is used. Automation in a nutshell is the use of various techniques, method, system of operating or controlling a process by highly automatic means generally through electronic devices. In music however, automation is simply the use of a combination of multiple control devices to alter parameters in real time time while a mix is being played. Before the advent of DAWs (Digital Audio Workplace) automation was executed on a mixing console. The process was both tedious and in some ways inconvenient. Nowadays, automation is effortless and commonly used in modern music