ebenoushi

What Can You Automate With Your Sequencer?

I've been using Protools free on OS9, and I'm trying to settle on an OS X app: DP, Logic, Cubase, or perhaps PT LE. I'm coming from video editing. I will do mixing and sound design for video (professionally) and some music produciton and recording (non-professionally). The features I consider most important are good audio editing and automation, in an environment that feels as much like a video editor as possible (where I'm at home). I have very limited midi experience, but would like to make use of it in the future, particularly if the sequencer I was using made it easy to figure out. I plan to add a control surface to whatever app I choose.

My question is this: How does the sequencer you use handle automation? What can/can't it automate? Cubase and Logic, from what I've seen, can display multiple automation tracks below an audio track, so you can see pan/volume/plug-in automation at the same time. Apparently in Cubase SX you can automate a plug-in's preset as well. This seems handy. Can you do that with Logic?

I appreciate your well-informed help.

OUSHI

Tascam Fw-1884

Has anyone actually seen this unit? It is apparently on sale at Sweetwater and several other online stores but I've only ever been able to find a rendering of the thing. The description on the Tascam site says it has pan controls. Are they knobs? It's hard to tell from the drawing.