Automating EQ moves has historically been a massive headache for mix engineers. Dealing with dozens of separate lines for frequency, gain, and Q for every single movement often turns a simple creative choice into a tedious session-crusher. The Automator plugin by Boz Digital Labs finally fixes this, streamlining complex transitions into a single automation lane.
Key Takeaways
- Consolidates workflow: Instead of managing 15+ automation tracks for a single EQ transition, you manage just one state-based line.
- Twelve unique states: You can program 12 distinct EQ snapshots and morph between them seamlessly.
- Creative flexibility: Beyond static EQ, it allows for integrated control over gain, pan, and width.
- Precision transitions: Choose between 'Morph' for phasy, colorful filtering, or 'X-fade' for perfectly smooth, surgical transitions, with adjustable decay times.
Simplifying your mix movement
When we are sitting in the studio—whether we are in the Rainforest or Rock room here at Paradise—the goal is to keep the energy focused on the music. Getting distracted by technical tedium is the fastest way to lose the vibe. Professional mixing is often defined by those subtle automations that make a track breathe, but they shouldn't take hours to program.
Automator solves this by letting you define 'states.' Think of these as presets that you can map to your timeline. When you jump from a Verse to a Chorus, you aren't fighting multiple lanes of data; you are simply telling the plugin to transition from State A to State B.
Understanding the logic and controls
At the core, the plugin features 12 buttons at the bottom representing your available states. Each state allows for seven distinct filter nodes (high pass, low pass, shelf, peak, tilt, band pass, or notch).
To get the best result when working as a pro engineer, consider these operational settings:
- Total Control: For each state, you can dial in distinct gain, pan, and width parameters alongside your EQ choices.
- Time Constants: Setting the time in milliseconds allows for manual control over how quickly the morph happens. You can sync this to your DAW’s tempo for perfectly timed filter sweeps.
- Morph vs. X-Fade: Use 'Morph' if you want a more colorful, phasy transition where the filters literally slide into one another. Use 'X-fade' for clinical, transparent movement between distinct EQ curves.
Practical applications in a full mix
One of the best uses for this tool is differentiation between song sections. You might want to pull the low end out or add a subtle air boost during a chorus to make it hit harder, without muddying the verse. By using the 'Copy State' function (via right-click), you can create a baseline EQ and tweak it slightly for each state, ensuring a consistent sonic profile while maintaining momentum.
If you need a hard switch—like a sudden drop for a breakdown—set your transition time to 0ms. It immediately cuts to the next state with no fade, giving you that 'pro' rhythmic impact that pulls the listener in.
Whether you are applying this to a vocal chain, a synth bus, or even full drum groups, the ability to automate parameters like width and pan alongside filters is game-changing. It turns an otherwise static mix into a dynamic experience that keeps the listener engaged from start to finish. If you’re looking to speed up your session flow and stop wrestling with your DAW’s automation lanes, this is one of the most efficient tools in the modern engineer's kit.
Ready to get to work on your next project? Aloha—the studio is ready when you are.