diff --git a/components/tracks/Track.tsx b/components/tracks/Track.tsx
index eff7d6c..78694f5 100644
--- a/components/tracks/Track.tsx
+++ b/components/tracks/Track.tsx
@@ -596,6 +596,27 @@ export function Track({
                   >
                     {track.mute ? <VolumeX className="h-3 w-3" /> : <Volume2 className="h-3 w-3" />}
                   </button>
+
+                  {/* Automation Toggle */}
+                  <button
+                    onClick={() => {
+                      onUpdateTrack(track.id, {
+                        automation: {
+                          ...track.automation,
+                          showAutomation: !track.automation?.showAutomation,
+                        },
+                      });
+                    }}
+                    className={cn(
+                      'h-6 w-6 rounded flex items-center justify-center transition-all text-[10px] font-bold',
+                      track.automation?.showAutomation
+                        ? 'bg-primary text-primary-foreground shadow-md shadow-primary/30'
+                        : 'bg-card hover:bg-accent text-muted-foreground border border-border/50'
+                    )}
+                    title={track.automation?.showAutomation ? 'Hide automation' : 'Show automation'}
+                  >
+                    A
+                  </button>
                 </div>
               </div>
             </div>
diff --git a/lib/audio/automation-utils.ts b/lib/audio/automation-utils.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9595708
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/audio/automation-utils.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,233 @@
+/**
+ * Automation utility functions for creating and manipulating automation data
+ */
+
+import type {
+  AutomationLane,
+  AutomationPoint,
+  AutomationCurveType,
+  AutomationMode,
+  CreateAutomationPointInput,
+} from '@/types/automation';
+
+/**
+ * Generate unique automation point ID
+ */
+export function generateAutomationPointId(): string {
+  return `autopoint-${Date.now()}-${Math.random().toString(36).substr(2, 9)}`;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Generate unique automation lane ID
+ */
+export function generateAutomationLaneId(): string {
+  return `autolane-${Date.now()}-${Math.random().toString(36).substr(2, 9)}`;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Create a new automation point
+ */
+export function createAutomationPoint(
+  input: CreateAutomationPointInput
+): AutomationPoint {
+  return {
+    id: generateAutomationPointId(),
+    ...input,
+  };
+}
+
+/**
+ * Create a new automation lane
+ */
+export function createAutomationLane(
+  trackId: string,
+  parameterId: string,
+  parameterName: string,
+  valueRange: {
+    min: number;
+    max: number;
+    unit?: string;
+    formatter?: (value: number) => string;
+  }
+): AutomationLane {
+  return {
+    id: generateAutomationLaneId(),
+    trackId,
+    parameterId,
+    parameterName,
+    visible: true,
+    height: 80,
+    points: [],
+    mode: 'read',
+    valueRange,
+  };
+}
+
+/**
+ * Linear interpolation between two values
+ */
+function lerp(a: number, b: number, t: number): number {
+  return a + (b - a) * t;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Evaluate automation value at a specific time using linear interpolation
+ */
+export function evaluateAutomationLinear(
+  points: AutomationPoint[],
+  time: number
+): number {
+  if (points.length === 0) return 0.5; // Default middle value
+  if (points.length === 1) return points[0].value;
+
+  // Sort points by time (should already be sorted, but ensure it)
+  const sortedPoints = [...points].sort((a, b) => a.time - b.time);
+
+  // Before first point
+  if (time <= sortedPoints[0].time) {
+    return sortedPoints[0].value;
+  }
+
+  // After last point
+  if (time >= sortedPoints[sortedPoints.length - 1].time) {
+    return sortedPoints[sortedPoints.length - 1].value;
+  }
+
+  // Find surrounding points
+  for (let i = 0; i < sortedPoints.length - 1; i++) {
+    const p1 = sortedPoints[i];
+    const p2 = sortedPoints[i + 1];
+
+    if (time >= p1.time && time <= p2.time) {
+      // Handle step curve
+      if (p1.curve === 'step') {
+        return p1.value;
+      }
+
+      // Linear interpolation
+      const t = (time - p1.time) / (p2.time - p1.time);
+      return lerp(p1.value, p2.value, t);
+    }
+  }
+
+  return sortedPoints[sortedPoints.length - 1].value;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Add an automation point to a lane, maintaining time-sorted order
+ */
+export function addAutomationPoint(
+  lane: AutomationLane,
+  point: CreateAutomationPointInput
+): AutomationLane {
+  const newPoint = createAutomationPoint(point);
+  const points = [...lane.points, newPoint].sort((a, b) => a.time - b.time);
+
+  return {
+    ...lane,
+    points,
+  };
+}
+
+/**
+ * Remove an automation point by ID
+ */
+export function removeAutomationPoint(
+  lane: AutomationLane,
+  pointId: string
+): AutomationLane {
+  return {
+    ...lane,
+    points: lane.points.filter((p) => p.id !== pointId),
+  };
+}
+
+/**
+ * Update an automation point's time and/or value
+ */
+export function updateAutomationPoint(
+  lane: AutomationLane,
+  pointId: string,
+  updates: { time?: number; value?: number; curve?: AutomationCurveType }
+): AutomationLane {
+  const points = lane.points.map((p) =>
+    p.id === pointId ? { ...p, ...updates } : p
+  );
+
+  // Re-sort by time if time was updated
+  if (updates.time !== undefined) {
+    points.sort((a, b) => a.time - b.time);
+  }
+
+  return {
+    ...lane,
+    points,
+  };
+}
+
+/**
+ * Remove all automation points in a time range
+ */
+export function clearAutomationRange(
+  lane: AutomationLane,
+  startTime: number,
+  endTime: number
+): AutomationLane {
+  return {
+    ...lane,
+    points: lane.points.filter((p) => p.time < startTime || p.time > endTime),
+  };
+}
+
+/**
+ * Format automation value for display based on lane's value range
+ */
+export function formatAutomationValue(
+  lane: AutomationLane,
+  normalizedValue: number
+): string {
+  const { min, max, unit, formatter } = lane.valueRange;
+
+  if (formatter) {
+    const actualValue = lerp(min, max, normalizedValue);
+    return formatter(actualValue);
+  }
+
+  const actualValue = lerp(min, max, normalizedValue);
+
+  // Format based on unit
+  if (unit === 'dB') {
+    // Convert to dB scale
+    const db = normalizedValue === 0 ? -Infinity : 20 * Math.log10(normalizedValue);
+    return db === -Infinity ? '-∞ dB' : `${db.toFixed(1)} dB`;
+  }
+
+  if (unit === '%') {
+    return `${(actualValue * 100).toFixed(0)}%`;
+  }
+
+  if (unit === 'ms') {
+    return `${actualValue.toFixed(1)} ms`;
+  }
+
+  if (unit === 'Hz') {
+    return `${actualValue.toFixed(0)} Hz`;
+  }
+
+  // Default: 2 decimal places with unit
+  return unit ? `${actualValue.toFixed(2)} ${unit}` : actualValue.toFixed(2);
+}
+
+/**
+ * Snap value to grid (useful for user input)
+ */
+export function snapToGrid(value: number, gridSize: number = 0.25): number {
+  return Math.round(value / gridSize) * gridSize;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Clamp value between 0 and 1
+ */
+export function clampNormalized(value: number): number {
+  return Math.max(0, Math.min(1, value));
+}
diff --git a/lib/audio/track-utils.ts b/lib/audio/track-utils.ts
index 0fc144f..7665242 100644
--- a/lib/audio/track-utils.ts
+++ b/lib/audio/track-utils.ts
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 import type { Track, TrackColor } from '@/types/track';
 import { DEFAULT_TRACK_HEIGHT, TRACK_COLORS } from '@/types/track';
 import { createEffectChain } from '@/lib/audio/effects/chain';
+import { createAutomationLane } from '@/lib/audio/automation-utils';
 
 /**
  * Generate a unique track ID
@@ -23,8 +24,10 @@ export function createTrack(name?: string, color?: TrackColor): Track {
   // Ensure name is always a string, handle cases where event objects might be passed
   const trackName = typeof name === 'string' && name.trim() ? name.trim() : 'New Track';
 
+  const trackId = generateTrackId();
+
   return {
-    id: generateTrackId(),
+    id: trackId,
     name: trackName,
     color: TRACK_COLORS[color || randomColor],
     height: DEFAULT_TRACK_HEIGHT,
@@ -36,7 +39,22 @@ export function createTrack(name?: string, color?: TrackColor): Track {
     recordEnabled: false,
     effectChain: createEffectChain(`${trackName} Effects`),
     automation: {
-      lanes: [],
+      lanes: [
+        createAutomationLane(trackId, 'volume', 'Volume', {
+          min: 0,
+          max: 1,
+          unit: 'dB',
+        }),
+        createAutomationLane(trackId, 'pan', 'Pan', {
+          min: -1,
+          max: 1,
+          formatter: (value: number) => {
+            if (value === 0) return 'C';
+            if (value < 0) return `${Math.abs(value * 100).toFixed(0)}L`;
+            return `${(value * 100).toFixed(0)}R`;
+          },
+        }),
+      ],
       showAutomation: false,
     },
     collapsed: false,