Mackie Control: Automation Buttons

The Automation buttons activate the corresponding automation modes in Logic Pro: Read/Off, Touch, Latch, and Write. You use the Automation buttons in conjunction with the channel strip SELECT buttons, as follows:

To set the automation mode for a channel

Press the SELECT button on the channel strip that you want to automate.
Press the appropriate Automation mode button.
Move the channel strip’s fader, turn the V-Pot, or use the Solo or Mute button.

The automation modes are outlined below:

READ/OFF: If no automation mode is active, pressing the READ/OFF button switches between Read mode and Off.
- Read: The fader reads (follows) any existing automation data, but does not record any new automation data.
- Off: Automation is off. The fader neither sends nor receives automation data. Existing automation data is not changed. The fader still adjusts the volume or pan position as usual, when moved.
TOUCH: Writes new data when the fader is touched or the V-Pot is turned during playback. Any existing automation data (of the current fader type) is replaced with new data, for as long as the control is active (while the fader is being touched or the V-Pot is being turned).
LATCH: Similar to Touch mode, but the control remains active, even when the fader is no longer being touched, or the V-Pot is not being turned. When you release the fader, the current fader value replaces all existing automation data, for as long as the sequencer is in playback (or record) mode. Press STOP to prevent existing automation data from being overwritten.
WRITE: Overwrites all existing automation data, or creates new automation data if none exists. Only use this option if you want to destroy all existing automation data.

Pressing one of the Automation buttons while holding down the OPTION button assigns the selected automation mode to all channels. When an automation mode has been assigned to all channels, the corresponding automation mode button LED illuminates whenever you hold down the OPTION button.

Important: This behavior is slightly different for the Off automation mode. When holding down the OPTION button and pressing Read/Off, the LEDs for the other Automation buttons are unlit, but this does not necessarily indicate that all channel strips are in Off mode—they could still be set to other modes. To ensure that you have set all channel strips to Off mode, press Read/Off twice while holding down the OPTION button. The Read/Off button LED turns on, then off.

Mackie Control: GROUP Button

Pressing the GROUP button activates Group Edit mode, allowing you to edit various Mixer group parameters.

In Group Edit mode:

The upper row of the LCD displays channel strip names.
The lower row of the LCD displays group parameters.
The Assignment display shows the currently displayed group—G1, for example.
The Time display shows the group name. (If the name is longer than ten characters, the last ten characters are displayed.)
You can switch between group parameters with the V-Pot buttons.
The Cursor Up and Cursor Down buttons select the previous or next group.
The Cursor Left and Cursor Right buttons shift the group parameter display.
The SELECT buttons determine group membership. Pressing a SELECT button adds the channel strip to the group (or removes it from the group, if already a member). An illuminated SELECT button LED indicates active group membership.
The LED next to the GROUP button is illuminated.

Note: Ensure that the ZOOM button isn’t active when using the cursor buttons.

If Group Edit mode is off, holding down the GROUP button and pressing one or more SELECT buttons allows you to create a new group.

Pressing the GROUP button while holding down the SHIFT button creates a new group, opens the Group window, and activates Group Edit mode.

Pressing the GROUP button while holding down the TRACK button switches to Mixer view, with the channel strip group parameter shown. It displays the group that the selected channel strip belongs to. Multiple group membership is displayed as in the Mixer window. Turning a V-Pot changes group membership.

Note: You can only select one group (or Off) with this function.