Vocal Rider In Depth

Jan 14, 2010

Writing Automation with Vocal Rider

After setting Vocal Rider according to your program material, follow the steps below.

Writing Automation

In your DAW, set the vocal track’s automation mode to 'Write' or 'Latch'.
Enable automation for Vocal Rider's main Rider Fader.
Set Vocal Rider’s automation mode to 'Write'.
Hit Play.

Please note: The Vocal Rider interface window must be open during automation writing. All previously written automation will be lost in Write/Latch modes.

Reading Automation

In your DAW, set the vocal track’s automation mode to 'Read'.
Set Vocal Rider’s automation mode to 'Read'.
Hit Play.

Editing Rider Fader Automation

Controlling Vocal Rider Using a Mouse or Control Surface

In your DAW, set the vocal track’s automation mode to 'Touch'.
Set Vocal Rider’s automation mode to 'Read'.
Hit Play.
Use the main Rider Fader to manually ride as needed.

When you release the Rider Fader, it will return to the previously written automation.

Using the main Rider Fader automation line in the track editor

In your DAW, set the vocal track’s automation mode to 'Read'.
Set Vocal Rider’s automation mode to 'Read'.
Open the Rider Fader automation line in the track editor to manually draw in your edits.

Assigning Sidechain Input

Here’s how you assign the instrumental mix to Vocal Rider's music Sidechain input:

Pro Tools

Select all tracks (except for the vocals) currently assigned to the Master mix output. Shift+Ctrl+Alt and click the Output menu on one of the tracks. Select an unused mono bus; it may help to name it “Music Sidechain” or similar. All selected tracks should now display the Master output with a “+” sign, indicating they are also routed to another bus.

Or

On all tracks (except for the vocals) currently assigned to the Master mix output, create a post-fader Send going to an unused mono bus, which you can call “Music Sidechain” or similar. Set all those send faders to “0”.
Insert Vocal Rider on the vocal or vocal group track. Open the Vocal Rider GUI and click on the Sidechain (key) menu. Select the “Music Sidechain” bus you have created.

Logic Pro

Select all the tracks (except for the vocals) currently assigned to the Master mix output.
In the Sends display box, select and assign an unused bus; it may help to name it “Music Sidechain” or similar. An Aux track is automatically created with that bus as an input; you can delete it, as it is unnecessary.
Alt+click on the Send knob. It will set the send level on all selected tracks to “0”.
Insert Vocal Rider on the vocal or vocal group track. Open the Vocal Rider GUI and click on the Sidechain menu. Select the “Music Sidechain” bus you have created.

Digital Performer

Select all the tracks (except for the vocals) currently assigned to the Master mix output.
In the Sends display box, select and assign an unused bus; it may help to name it “Music Sidechain” or similar.
Ctrl+click on the Send knob. It will set the send level on all selected tracks to “0”.
Insert Vocal Rider on the vocal or vocal group track. Open the Vocal Rider GUI and click on the Sidechain menu. Select the “Music Sidechain” bus you have created.

Cubase / Nuendo

Insert Vocal Rider on your vocal track or group, and press the Sidechain button.
For each track (except for the vocals) currently assigned to the Master mix output, select a Send route to the Vocal Rider Sidechain bus.
Set the Send to active, and Ctrl+click to set its level to “0”. Repeat for each track currently assigned to the Master mix output. Please note: It may be preferable to use the Mix window.

Studio One

Insert Vocal Rider on your vocal track or group, and press the Sidechain button.
For each track (except for the vocals) that is currently assigned to the Master mix output, select a Send route to the Vocal Rider Sidechain bus.

Known Issues

General: Vocal Rider GUI must be open in order to Write Rider Fader automation.
General: When Vocal Rider is in Write mode, it is not recommended to make manual adjustments by over-riding the main Rider Fader during automation. Switch Vocal Rider to Read mode before making manual adjustments. (In your DAW, keep the track automation set to Write/Touch/Latch). Manual adjustments made using a Control Surface are also not recommended.
Pro Tools: While playing a loop with Vocal Rider set to Write, and Pro Tools set to Write, only the first run will write automation; the second run will not Write and will not Read, but the Rider Fader will still move.
Pro Tools: If the drawn automation is jagged and saw-like, press “Off” then “Write” again on the Vocal Rider automation.
Logic: When bypassing Vocal Rider during Write mode, a flat line will be written at the last fader position.
Logic: Music control is always available, even if Sidechain is not connected. In this case, it will act as an offset to the Target setting.
Logic: When writing Rider Fader automation, it is not recommended to write automation for other controls, as it will disrupt the Rider Fader automation data.
Logic/Digital Performer: Even though Sidechain can appear to be connected in Preview mode, it may not be connected. Toggle “Multi-Input Mode” / “Mono” to force the Sidechain connection.

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