Suggestions for next DP update

[FMiguelez]

Really? You have to double click? I thought when you hover the cursor over the ruler the cursor will change and you locate there with a single click.

You're right, a single click does it. But I think what Zed is talking about is a single click anywhere in an edit window where there isn't some sort of event. It was present in Cubase, but had its drawbacks. I find using the keyboard short cuts for cursor movement covers most cases quicker.

I was talking about the ruler... but I have figured out what causes the difference...

If you move the mouse cursor anywhere in between the actual NUMBERS on the ruler (i.e. at the same vertical level as the numbers) then all you have to do is single-click. If, however, you click on the actual edge of the ruler where the little vertical measurement indications are located, you can double-click to achieve the same effect (and that is how I have been doing it, unaware that I could save myself a click if I reached a few pixels higher).

And this is exactly the kind of precision I am asking MOTU to eliminate. There is no reason why you shouldn't be able to do this same function without having to reach up for the ruler.

I don't know about Cubase, but StudioVision Pro handled this very well and there was no reaching required.

One can i-click anywhere in the SE, TO or GE, and then just press ctrl-space bar (or is it option-spacebar?). This can be done anywhere, even on top of any soundbite.
That will start playback from where ever you i-clicked. Hitting ctrl-spacebar takes as long as just hitting spacebar.

[zed]

One can i-click anywhere in the SE, TO or GE, and then just press ctrl-space bar (or is it option-spacebar?). This can be done anywhere, even on top of any soundbite.
That will start playback from where ever you i-clicked. Hitting ctrl-spacebar takes as long as just hitting spacebar.

I just tried that, and it is certainly is good to know. That's actually an example of an absolute grid being at work too.

However, the main reason for why I am suggesting this addition is to seriously speed up editing time. I don't think that i-clicking and then pressing control-spacebar can be accomplished any faster than just reaching up for the ruler, especially with a relaxed left hand resting on the desktop and pressing the space bar with the thumb. I think it would take longer, actually. In either case you have to divert your attention and take extra time to do what should be a double-click away at any mouse position.

And now I understand your point from earlier, James. In order for this to be implimented it would *have to* be a double-click, because you certainly don't want the wiper position to be changing when you single-click inside the graphic windows. It has to be a double-click to be functional, and I believe it was a double-click in SVP, which is probably why I am still so used to double-clicking on the ruler.

[benmrx]

One can i-click anywhere in the SE, TO or GE, and then just press ctrl-space bar (or is it option-spacebar?). This can be done anywhere, even on top of any soundbite.
That will start playback from where ever you i-clicked. Hitting ctrl-spacebar takes as long as just hitting spacebar.

I wish that could be combined with recording. I.E., holding "ctrl - command - spacebar" would record from where ever you i-clicked.

[James Steele]

Using the "3" on the numeric keypad is too big a PITA? Automatically go into record after clicking somewhere? What DAW are we emulating here?

[zed]

Using the "3" on the numeric keypad is too big a PITA? Automatically go into record after clicking somewhere? What DAW are we emulating here?

I've never used "3" on the numeric keypad, and it doesn't seem to do anything. I must have changed that command when I first started using DP.

I use command-spacebar to record, as does benmrx, apparently.

[benmrx]

Using the "3" on the numeric keypad is too big a PITA? Automatically go into record after clicking somewhere? What DAW are we emulating here?

Hmm.... maybe I'm missing something here. If go into record mode, it will go into record mode where the playhead is located. If use the method for being able to click a point in the editors and have it play from that point it doesn't work.. as the playhead isn't at that point... until I actually hit "ctrl - spacebar"... This is actually the first method I tried when I first started using DP7. I would click in the TOW window with pointer, hit "ctrl - spacebar", then hit stop real quick, so now the playhead is roughly where I want it to be,... THEN I hit record. However, if I'm missing a way to actually record by using the click, then ctrl - spacebar method please fill me in!!

[James Steele]

Using the "3" on the numeric keypad is too big a PITA? Automatically go into record after clicking somewhere? What DAW are we emulating here?

I've never used "3" on the numeric keypad, and it doesn't seem to do anything. I must have changed that command when I first started using DP.

I use command-spacebar to record, as does benmrx, apparently.

As I recall that is the default transport control setting. Its pretty easy to go into record that way. If you've changed it to something that requires two hands from DP's normal behavior then we're working from different baselines here, where the degree of "need" for a feature is increased by a non-standard user customization.

[benmrx]

Using the "3" on the numeric keypad is too big a PITA? Automatically go into record after clicking somewhere? What DAW are we emulating here?

I've never used "3" on the numeric keypad, and it doesn't seem to do anything. I must have changed that command when I first started using DP.

I use command-spacebar to record, as does benmrx, apparently.

As I recall that is the default transport control setting. Its pretty easy to go into record that way. If you've changed it to something that requires two hands from DP's normal behavior then we're working from different baselines here, where the degree of "need" for a feature is increased by a non-standard user customization.

Hmm.... give me a sec... going to save my commands real quick and then reset them back to their defaults and see if that helps...

[benmrx]

OK.. reset my commands to the default, and when I search for "record", the default is 3 on the numeric keypad.... so yeah.. James, my "command - spacebar" is your "3". So, again, if there's a way to have that interact with the "play from selection start"... which has a default of "command - 4".... which is what was being referred to above as "ctrl - spacebar" (does your head hurt yet...?), please let me know..

[James Steele]

We just obviously use DP in different ways. What needs to happen apparently is for MOTU to release 7,247 different versions of DP. Or... just keep adding preferences on top of preferences to defacto accomplish the same thing.

[benmrx]

We just obviously use DP in different ways. What needs to happen apparently is for MOTU to release 7,247 different versions of DP. Or... just keep adding preferences on top of preferences to defacto accomplish the same thing.

I don't think there's anything wrong with adding more preferences.... isn't that a big part of what helps a program grow and be more versatile? Should DP just top releasing updates now that it's reached 7.2?

[James Steele]

We just obviously use DP in different ways. What needs to happen apparently is for MOTU to release 7,247 different versions of DP. Or... just keep adding preferences on top of preferences to defacto accomplish the same thing.

I don't think there's anything wrong with adding more preferences.... isn't that a big part of what helps a program grow and be more versatile? Should DP just top releasing updates now that it's reached 7.2?

Why absolutely! I want DP frozen in time from this moment forward.

What I'm saying is that every so often it's frustrating to try hit a moving target. And the way one person works can make absolutely no sense and be completely foreign to another. And there is indeed the phenomenon that new users come to one DAW from another, and immediatley want to be able to configure it in such a way that it is just like the DAW they came from. I guess the MOTools theme gets people part of the way there.

I look forward to the day that DP has so many preferences and variations available to both GUI appearance and behaviors as well as clicking actions and commands, that some day I'll be able to sit down to DP 9.0 in your studio, configured for you personally, and be able to do absolutely nothing because I don't recognize Digital Perfomer, benmrx edition™ .

I think right now, though before this day happens, I will suggest to MOTU that they add the ability in the preferences to save a comprehensive user preferences file containing key commands, theme "including bundle" and all settings so that I could sit down to DP on your Mac for example, open the prefs dialog and then click a button, browse to my own custom "user profile file" on a thumb drive, and load all my settings at one fell swoop. Then when I'm done, I load yours back in by loading yours off the hard drive or clicking a "Restore user default" button.

I'm absolutely serious here. If MOTU were to expand on making every aspect of the app customizable, such a facility would be valuable. Not only would it serve as a no-brainer method to backup to conveniently restore user settings, but it would make it easy if necessary to sit down at another user's workstation if ever that happened and not be completely lost.

[benmrx]

We just obviously use DP in different ways. What needs to happen apparently is for MOTU to release 7,247 different versions of DP. Or... just keep adding preferences on top of preferences to defacto accomplish the same thing.

I don't think there's anything wrong with adding more preferences.... isn't that a big part of what helps a program grow and be more versatile? Should DP just top releasing updates now that it's reached 7.2?

Why absolutely! I want DP frozen in time from this moment forward.

What I'm saying is that every so often it's frustrating to try hit a moving target. And the way one person works can make absolutely no sense and be completely foreign to another. And there is indeed the phenomenon that new users come to one DAW from another, and immediatley want to be able to configure it in such a way that it is just like the DAW they came from. I guess the MOTools theme gets people part of the way there.

I look forward to the day that DP has so many preferences and variations available to both GUI appearance and behaviors as well as clicking actions and commands, that some day I'll be able to sit down to DP 9.0 in your studio, configured for you personally, and be able to do absolutely nothing because I don't recognize Digital Perfomer, benmrx edition™ .

I think right now, though before this day happens, I will suggest to MOTU that they add the ability in the preferences to save a comprehensive user preferences file containing key commands, theme "including bundle" and all settings so that I could sit down to DP on your Mac for example, open the prefs dialog and then click a button, browse to my own custom "user profile file" on a thumb drive, and load all my settings at one fell swoop. Then when I'm done, I load yours back in by loading yours off the hard drive or clicking a "Restore user default" button.

I'm absolutely serious here. If MOTU were to expand on making every aspect of the app customizable, such a facility would be valuable. Not only would it serve as a no-brainer method to backup to conveniently restore user settings, but it would make it easy if necessary to sit down at another user's workstation if ever that happened and not be completely lost.

I like your idea there on the preferences import/export/backup feature. That would be quite handy!

Regarding the notion of wanting DP to act like another specific DAW isn't what I'm personally after, I'de rather just use that DAW.... I understand no app will be everything to all people... it'll never happen... I guess it's just frustrating because DP is closer than ANY other DAW. I don't want it to act like PT because Logic, Ableton and Studio One also have absolute grids. I don't want it to act like Logic because PT and Logic both reference sync points when spotting to SMPTE frames... I don't want it to act like Studio One because even Ableton can assign the same plugin across multiple tracks at once. As cool as "themes" are, and trust me.. I love 'em... I would rather see DP take note on some of these more basic features on future updates. They've made DP this awsome so far, why not add some of these standard features so more people can enjoy the program.

[FMiguelez]

I think right now, though before this day happens, I will suggest to MOTU that they add the ability in the preferences to save a comprehensive user preferences file containing key commands, theme "including bundle" and all settings so that I could sit down to DP on your Mac for example, open the prefs dialog and then click a button, browse to my own custom "user profile file" on a thumb drive, and load all my settings at one fell swoop. Then when I'm done, I load yours back in by loading yours off the hard drive or clicking a "Restore user default" button.

I'm absolutely serious here. If MOTU were to expand on making every aspect of the app customizable, such a facility would be valuable. Not only would it serve as a no-brainer method to backup to conveniently restore user settings, but it would make it easy if necessary to sit down at another user's workstation if ever that happened and not be completely lost.

James, PLEASE DO THAT!
I mean, that would be SO useful!

Also, that's exactly what I have to do manually when I go to another studio if I want to "feel home". I take my personalized commands, window sets, Clippings, Preferences, etc. Sometimes even some bundles. It's not very practical, for obvious reasons.

Having DP doing all this and all what you described would be such an awesome feature!
Take your PERSONAL DP with you wherever you go... nice!

[Michael Canavan]

My list is relatively short:

Snap to grid for MIDI- I realize there are workarounds for this, but it IMO wouldn't be that hard to implement. Ableton has an elegant and easy solution in that the selected notes keep their relative position to the grid if you move a whole grid amount, so it snaps to grid the first move, then to relative position the second, simple and unintrusive solution. I work with a real drummer who has a much easier time following a machine level of perfection on the backing tracks, so I do this all the time to my bass lines.

MIDI Regions in the Track Overview- Cut copy paste by region etc. I see no reason to mess with the Sequencers MIDI as one long thread concept, but MIDI in the TO is already semi-object oriented, in that it's broken up in to chunks of data anyway, and not viewable as individual notes etc. Give MIDI region in the Track overview, but don't let that affect the ability to view the whole MIDI track in one go in the Graphic editor and Sequence Editor and you have the best of both worlds. DP is so ripe for this IMO. Markers are pretty great, but other options for manipulating data are cool too, and IMO this is the major reason why other DAW users steer clear of DP, they can't wrap their head around Markers as a replacement for object oriented editing.

Improvements to the Song Window The song window as well would do with some object oriented concepts, Chunks of different colors and more tools for arranging Sequences. I Realize it's a testing ground etc. but it's again, ripe for improving as a matrix or even incorporating Live's Session view ideas.... OK I'm going south there, but some basic improvements would be great!