Suggestions for DP 6.0.3

[James Steele]

If you have the Event info bar turned on in the sequence editor (in information bar preferences), you can click on an automation event like volume or pan, or a MIDI note, etc, and then enter an exact value in the event info bar. I haven't exhausted all the possible event types, but can't see why it wouldn't work for any event of any type that can be displayed in the sequence editor and any value that appears in the event list. And of course you can also keep and Event Info window open in the CW and apply edits to value there.

I know you can enter or edit a specific value and placement for a single event in the Event list (which I've also done), but is it possible to enter a continuous event, like say, a parabolic fade from Measure 1/1/0 to Measure 1/4/475, from one window, without having to draw it in manually? Granted, DP's drawing capabilities are fairly decent, and I've managed to draw quite a bit of automation that got me where I needed to be, I've just not encountered a feature specifically like that. That would be awesome, however, if there's actually a way to do that already in DP ... I just always assumed you'd either have to draw it in or enter it event by event in the Event window.

I'm really not one who does much controller editing, but I think that there's ramp automation now for controllers and can you not create a ramp, then add a data point in the middle and then move the location of the middle point changing the shape of the ramp? Granted it's not a true curve, but it might get you in the ballpark. Again CAVEAT: I seldom edit controller data, so I may not be the guy to ask.

[bayswater]

Yes, I see what you mean. I don't see a way to do that other than zooming in and watching the cursor position feedback as you draw. If snap to grid could be turned on for the positioning of the start and end of line draw, but not the intervening points. ...

If you have the Event info bar turned on in the sequence editor (in information bar preferences), you can click on an automation event like volume or pan, or a MIDI note, etc, and then enter an exact value in the event info bar. I haven't exhausted all the possible event types, but can't see why it wouldn't work for any event of any type that can be displayed in the sequence editor and any value that appears in the event list. And of course you can also keep and Event Info window open in the CW and apply edits to value there.

I know you can enter or edit a specific value and placement for a single event in the Event list (which I've also done), but is it possible to enter a continuous event, like say, a parabolic fade from Measure 1/1/0 to Measure 1/4/475, from one window, without having to draw it in manually? Granted, DP's drawing capabilities are fairly decent, and I've managed to draw quite a bit of automation that got me where I needed to be, I've just not encountered a feature specifically like that. That would be awesome, however, if there's actually a way to do that already in DP ... I just always assumed you'd either have to draw it in or enter it event by event in the Event window.

[Armageddon]

I'm really not one who does much controller editing, but I think that there's ramp automation now for controllers and can you not create a ramp, then add a data point in the middle and then move the location of the middle point changing the shape of the ramp? Granted it's not a true curve, but it might get you in the ballpark. Again CAVEAT: I seldom edit controller data, so I may not be the guy to ask.

I know what you're talking about, selecting a curved line tool from the toolstrip and creating a curve with three points (two ends and a middle point that you can move up or down to shape the curve). I've never looked into ramp automation, so I have no idea if it's similar. My suggestion's probably difficult to describe if you've never used Vision DSP or Studio Vision, but it just consists of a single window, where you can enter in the starting measure/beat/click and the ending one, what the starting parameter number is and what the ending one is, and what kind of ramp it is (spline, straight line or parabola/inverse parabola) and the ramp is drawn for you based on these numbers. If you don't like it, you can hit "Undo" and enter different parameters, then execute it again until you're happy with it. Since most people probably either do their automation via a control surface or by drawing a ramp or curve (which is what I do inside of DP), there's probably not a huge call for such an addition, but it would be an easy and very precise way to enter specific automation for something, like a master fader (where you can mess around with exact numbers for a song fadeout until you get exactly what you want, without the added aggravation of having to go in and redraw a fade and try to hit the same exact marks). I'll look into ramp automation, though; I'm intrigued.

[rainmaker]

A feature I'd like to see is the ability for DP to remember two different fader values in the mixer for record-enabled or non record-enabled. In other words, if a track has a fader set to unity while not record-enabled and then I record-enable the track to do some recording and push the fader up to +4db, then it would remember that setting for me and automatically switch back and forth whenever I go into and out of record-enable.

Thanks,
Rainmaker.

[James Steele]

A feature I'd like to see is the ability for DP to remember two different fader values in the mixer for record-enabled or non record-enabled. In other words, if a track has a fader set to unity while not record-enabled and then I record-enable the track to do some recording and push the fader up to +4db, then it would remember that setting for me and automatically switch back and forth whenever I go into and out of record-enable.

Thanks,
Rainmaker.

Not exactly what you're looking for, but one way I work around this is to open up CueMix in the background and then bring up the fader on the input you're recording from in Cue Mix. The extra level here will augment the level being monitored through DP. When you're not recording, mute the main output of the CueMix mixer and you'll have your normal playback level again.

Granted... it's a workaround, but you won't have to keep touching your fader and messing up playback level. In fact, if you're in the middle of tracking, you don't necessarily have to mute the Cue Mix every time you play back as long as there's no input happening going on, but you will hear background noise depending on your room and if a mic is open, etc.

[kenrinc]

I don't invision this suggestion for 6.0.3 but probably 7. I'd prefer rock solid stability with 6.0.3 even if it meant no new features.

Has anyone ever suggested a master VI and/or effects dock? Essentially another tab in the main window allowing you to dock all your open VIs so your not constantly moving crap around or trying to find some effect or instrument. I've seen this implemented in other sequencers and it's quite nice. Having a coverflow version would be excellent! Just sift through all your open instruments and or effects. Probably best to have them separate or at least configurable. $.02

Ken-

[pacquito]

I think this vi/fx dock idea is great, as one of the most tedious aspects of working in a daw is opening/closing and moving around windows.

[bayswater]

I don't invision this suggestion for 6.0.3 but probably 7. I'd prefer rock solid stability with 6.0.3 even if it meant no new features.

Has anyone ever suggested a master VI and/or effects dock? Essentially another tab in the main window allowing you to dock all your open VIs so your not constantly moving crap around or trying to find some effect or instrument. I've seen this implemented in other sequencers and it's quite nice. Having a coverflow version would be excellent! Just sift through all your open instruments and or effects. Probably best to have them separate or at least configurable. $.02

Ken-

I'm hoping for an "always on top" option for plugin windows, applicable on an individual window basis.

In the interim, I open any plugin window, and use the drop downs to choose and channel or insert where no plugin exists. That gives me a very small effects window that can be parked somewhere it easy to find and always visible. If you name your auxes or vrack channels well, it is easy to get the plugin you want with the track and insert menus in this single effects windows. This also has the advantage, maybe not a big one, of only having one window for all your plugins.

[Shooshie]

If you have the Event info bar turned on in the sequence editor (in information bar preferences), you can click on an automation event like volume or pan, or a MIDI note, etc, and then enter an exact value in the event info bar. I haven't exhausted all the possible event types, but can't see why it wouldn't work for any event of any type that can be displayed in the sequence editor and any value that appears in the event list. And of course you can also keep and Event Info window open in the CW and apply edits to value there.

I know you can enter or edit a specific value and placement for a single event in the Event list (which I've also done), but is it possible to enter a continuous event, like say, a parabolic fade from Measure 1/1/0 to Measure 1/4/475, from one window, without having to draw it in manually? Granted, DP's drawing capabilities are fairly decent, and I've managed to draw quite a bit of automation that got me where I needed to be, I've just not encountered a feature specifically like that. That would be awesome, however, if there's actually a way to do that already in DP ... I just always assumed you'd either have to draw it in or enter it event by event in the Event window.

Create Continuous Data allows you to do pretty much what you're saying. You have to know how it works to set the curve for what you want, but it works. Also, working in Lines Mode makes the drawing much easier and more precise. Then there are the specialized drawing tools that make it all pretty easy.