I've only had HMB32C for a few weeks and still getting my brain around the way it works. I'm currently mixing a song (20 tracks) that I downloaded to "test" my skills.

Previous to HMB, I was mainly using CoolPro (and an old version of Cubase). CoolPro has basic automation using "Envelopes" where you can easily edit the node points: gain, pan, effects etc.

My standard method to mixing/balancing is to pull up the main tracks: Drums/Bass/Vocals and maybe keys to get an overall view of what the song is about and sounds like.

(1) One option in MixBus, is you go the Editor, then select the "Edit Automation Points" icon. This looks familiar to me and it's easy enough to create and edit the nodes/points which are over-layed on the original tracks waveform. This is what I'm doing atm.

(2) Then there's the other "Automation" where you create an automation lane and "record" in real time, OR you can also draw it in like you can as described above. Great!! But then I got to thinking about the difference in the methods. BTW I'm just referring to "gain" at this point.

The way I'm thinking, is that if I use method (1), then that would be like "pre-trim", whereas option (2) is post??

I'll put it in context (finally ):

I'm using the built in Compressor on a track. So if I use option (1), then that would drive the compressor more - I think - But option (2) would just change the overall level of that track?

The mix sounds nice the way I'm currently doing it (1). I guess my main point of concern is if there may be some ramifications down the road when I start introducing all the other tracks and realise "oh sh*t", I should have done it the other way.

Cheers.

I'm not at my DAW at the moment, but I believe that the first method is changing the gain at the track level, before it hits the mixer, whereas the automation gain is changing the fader position. If you look at the plugin section of the strip, you have fader, EQ and comp, which can be re-ordered if needed. By default the fader is last and in that position any fader gain changes would not affect compressor action.

Another way of "pre-trim" is to use clip gain, which can be done pretty quickly. Use the range tool to select a range, split and then ALT+6, ALT+7 to change the gain up or down in 1dB increments. I've found this helpful for tightening up vocal and bass tracks.

Yep, one is clipgain and the other is fader automation, just as in every DAW I know.

Cool thing about MB is, if you're on the smart tool, just mark a section and pull it down, even faster than chopping and using the alt commands. You can still finetune the edges if you want by grabbing the points afterwards.