Hi Paul,
As for recording an automation pass I figured it out. for some reason it didn't occur to me that programming automation in DP also controlled the faders in VE Pro 5 once I learned how to assign VE Pro 5 virtual faders to my external Mackie Control.
As for the Start/Stop function in VE Pro 5, I am reluctant to download the 5.0.10370 because Karel had designed a specific download based on my crash report I had sent him last week. that issue is from this thread Frequent crashes with VE Pro 5
here is the case tracking ticket regarding that issue: 101866_ovl8k6j3oc4dii4v
I would love for the Start/Stop issue to be fixed. Do you think this latest fix 5.0.10370 would fix my former issues and fix the start/stop?
And lastly, I only turned the audio engine off as a desperate attempt to make the start/stop function work. I'm assuming if this the little icon at the top far left corner of VE Pro 5 is lit, then the audio engine is "on."
Thanks for the help. I look forward to hearing your ideas.