Simple Automation Transforms

OK, since my other thread with basic automation additions I’ve thought of a way to add a basic transform to the selected automation, but not quite so basic to suggest for 2.7.

Some arbitrary automation may currently look like this:

On the edge of a selected area add a grab/transform bar at top and bottom.

You can select a point and drag down and it will truncate points that go below zero, which is the way moving multiple points currently works:


Only demonstrating lowered behaviour for current behaviour.

Pulling upper handle down down will squash the waveform towards zero (centre on -/0/+ parameters.)

Pulling lower handle up with squash towards maximum:

When using the handle where you pull into the waveform you are pulling to the new min/max value.

Pulling a handle away from the Automation area will pull the points in the direction, stretching rather than squashing the waveform.

Think the maths functions would be: x=automation point ; y=distance move in 0-1 automation full height.
Upper handle down: x = xy
Lower handle up: x = x+y-xy

Upper handle up: x = x+xy
Lower handle down: x = x-y+xy

Expanding needs a little thinking about. I think Upper Handle Up works if, when moving up, it starts from a base of 1 and goes into higher positive numbers (or just have a +1 in the sum.) Lower handle down would probably have to go into negative numbers of use a different calculation.

(I think they work out with a few random examples on paper but would obviously need to be coded and played with to see if really makes sense.)

Alt+Drag would give fine adjustment.

A tool-tip showing adjustment value is a must, especially when dragging away from the automation window. Updated display as adjusting also desirable.

DOH! Can’t believe I put the drag bars off centre on half the pictures. Well I’m not going to re-edit them in Paint as I’m sure you get the idea anyway!

I want it too!!!

PS: looks like we both ask for the same: Automation Curves (Once Again) (see suggestion #2)

Thing is I’m sure it actually used to exist by hold a modifier (I think Alt) and dragging a point, but it always snapped to bottom, and bring this back as it was was one of my suggestions in my 2.7 Automation finetuning thread.

Stupidly forgot expanding, as well as shrinking, the automation vertically. Have edited first post to indicate this also has to be thought about.

Obviously a horizontal stretch/squash would also be very desirable, via similar handles. Say, for example, you have created a build up that works in 4/4 time and you want to try it in a new track in a different time signature, say 7/4. The existing Expand/Shrink can not help you here.