Anyone using auxiliary keyboard controllers for shortcuts?

[AlexRuger]

Since DP is so optimized for being controlled with a keyboard/num pad, I'm looking into adding something like this to my rig: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001NE ... PDKIKX0DER

Anyone using this or something similar? Thoughts?

[frankf]

On an iPad I've been using Keypad Pro, but it has disappeared from the App Store. I just started using Keypad app as a replacement. It seems to be able to do the job but I've not had the time to get really into it.


Frank Ferrucci

[stubbsonic]

It looks great. I like the idea of a pretty expansive "diamond" that has a center column and then reaches outward for things like zooming, paging and or nudging.

I'd be curious how it would work in the day-to-day to move from a mouse/trackpad to the keyboard side-car & back, or which hand I'd use for it.

[Basstrup]

Yes. I Use usboverdrive for most things. But also made a unit based on arduino that can do multiple actions with one button push. Here's a video on usboverdrive and DP http://youtu.be/UnD13PLSve4

[Tripi]

I use the KeyPad app on my iPad too. It's actually very easy to set up and customize. Here's a screenshot of what I made for DP:

http://www.greg-tripi.com/stuff/DPcontrol.jpg

[frankf]

Hi Tripi, do you know if those behind Keypad Pro are involved with this app?

[Tripi]

Hey Frank, I think it's a different developer. I used to use KPP too, but they stopped supporting it and then it wasn't available in the US iTunes store anymore. KeyPad Pro had some really cool menu and animation options though.

[bayswater]

I use the KeyPad app on my iPad too. It's actually very easy to set up and customize.

What is the exact name? I found Custom Keypad. Is that it?

[frankf]

Yes, Custom Keypad. The app, once installed shows up as Keypad. Same one that Tripi and I are talking about.


Frank Ferrucci

[bayswater]

Yes, Custom Keypad. The app, once installed shows up as Keypad. Same one that Tripi and I are talking about.


Frank Ferrucci

Thanks. This is going to solve a lot a problems.

[frankf]

Hey Frank, I think it's a different developer. I used to use KPP too, but they stopped supporting it and then it wasn't available in the US iTunes store anymore. KeyPad Pro had some really cool menu and animation options though.

Thanks Tripi
I liked KeyPad Pro a lot too and used it, probably based on your enthusiasm here, and recommended it until recently. The developer posted somewhere a long time ago that he was working on a new version, but nothing materialized. It still works, but I'm moving to (Custom) Keypad myself.


Frank Ferrucci

[Tripi]

At least the developer is much easier to get support from. I've emailed a couple of times to figure things out and they got right back to me.

[frankf]

Good news. I'll share some comments when I get into it. Thanks again


Frank Ferrucci

[bayswater]

I bought the Custom Keypad and put it on an iPad Mini. It will not work for me using the VNC that comes with OS X, but works OK with RealVNC. That's no surprise.

Designing a layout is not difficult but is tedious in the extreme. Every command requires a series of taps and each does one parameter. It would be much better with a page that allows you to set up all the parameters for a control in one place, with a running preview.

It's worth spending time thinking through what your screen should include and look like, including sizes, colours, etc. or you'll lose the will to live before you're finished.

And you'll have to invest some effort in graphics or end up with a functional but ugly pad. Using this gave me some appreciation of how hard Andy has worked on the custom DP themes.

[Tripi]

FWIW, I think the guide for KeyPad forgot to mention you can copy and paste buttons when you're setting up a screen. It would take forever to do everything over for one button at a time. If you're in edit mode, and you hold down a button for a few seconds, the COPY command comes up and you can select and then press again to paste. Saves a lot of time and energy.