# Controls and Automation

There are three separate control desks on the [WristPad](https://docs.moviestorm.co.uk/firststage/basics/wristpad): 

* [**Lights**](https://docs.moviestorm.co.uk/firststage/basics/controls-and-automation/lights)
* [**Audio**](https://docs.moviestorm.co.uk/firststage/basics/controls-and-automation/audio)
* [**Stage Controls**](https://docs.moviestorm.co.uk/firststage/basics/controls-and-automation/stage-machinery)

 Each of these provides control strips for each thing in the scene of the appropriate type.

## Automation

Each control can be automated allowing it to change during the scene. 

The **Record Arm** button must be enabled or changes to controls will be immediate and will not be recorded.

If you scrub to a point in time and set the control, the value will be recorded in an Automation activity on the [Timeline](https://docs.moviestorm.co.uk/firststage/basics/working-with-time/timeline). The control value will be interpolated between key points.

You can also ride a control while the scene is recording to record a live track that matches events in the scene.