I've always used automation in live the 'old school' route. Well actually Live used to only detect the first 128 parameters reported by a VST and it would only offer automation on those. Now it has a little config utility that allows you to specify which params you want to automate (most cases are modern VSTs have A_LOT_MORE then 128 params).

Here is one method to automate parameters for Rapture inside of Live, the tutorial can apply to any VST or VSTi effect or instrument.

Insert Rapture or your desired plugin:

Expand the device within your track:

Click Config:

Then move the parameters you want to automate:

You can assign a bunch at once if you want:

Then have a blast tweaking and automating parameter movements within your tracks.