VCA Fader Automation
When you create VCA faders, their tracks in the Project window contain the static value line that is default for all automation tracks and that turns into an automation curve once you start writing automation.
Whenever you write automation for a VCA fader of a link group, it affects the volume automation of the linked channels. This has different effects:
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If a linked channel has no automation, the VCA fader automation curve is automatically added to the automation tracks of the linked channels. The automation tracks of the linked channels show the automation that is applied through the VCA fader.
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If a linked channel has volume automation, the VCA fader automation modifies the existing volume automation of the linked channel. The VCA fader automation and the linked channel automation are combined. The automation tracks show the original automation and the combined automation of VCA fader and linked channels.
Example
The VCA fader track automation affects all channels in a link group.
For the channels, the original automation is adjusted by the volume level of the VCA fader track.
Example
The VCA fader track automation affects an existing volume automation of an audio track.
Figure: Automation of an audio track
The lighter static value line displays the VCA fader automation that has not been written yet.
Figure: VCA fader track automation
The VCA fader track has a different automation curve that affects the automation of the audio track.
Figure: Original audio track automation and combined automation of VCA fader and audio track
The underlying darker automation curve displays the original automation of the audio track. The overlaying lighter automation curve displays the combined automation.
Example
The following illustration shows how the VCA fader automation affects the automation of the connected channels.
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Automation curve of the VCA fader
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Automation curve of the connected channel
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Combined automation of VCA fader and connected channel. This is what you hear.