Magic Trackpad 2

[Julia123]

I have not a fan of trackpads in the past but I discovered at the Apple store that when you are in Garage Band, you can use the trackpad to show more measures, or fewer, by spreading your fingers back and forth. (not just a zoom )

Is this the case with DP as well? If so, I would purchase it with my new iMac for that, and use my current mouse for everything else.

Is there any reason this would not work well? I imagine I may discover other things I might prefer the trackpad for (knobs--?)

[mikehalloran]

The MT 2 has a lot of functionality not found in the Magic Mouse. I don't believe I will ever go back.

[Julia123]

Thanks Mike!

[Gravity Jim]

Yeah, but... does it do what she asked about? My Magic Trackpad v.1 does not, and I would upgrade for that functionality if v.2 did.

[mikehalloran]

Yeah, but... does it do what she asked about? My Magic Trackpad v.1 does not, and I would upgrade for that functionality if v.2 did.

Good point.

First, I had to figure out what she was talking about. This is what threw me:

I have not a fan of trackpads in the past but I discovered at the Apple store that when you are in Garage Band, you can use the trackpad to show more measures, or fewer, by spreading your fingers back and forth. (not just a zoom )

I had never opened GarageBand before but I found a sample from 2012 so I could see. Then I tried Logic and the behavior is identical:

I was looking for something that wasn't just a zoom. Well, it is just a zoom—a horizontal zoom, to be exact. In DP, click on the horizontal + or - and you get the exact behavior.

With the MT2 in GB or Logic, you spread your fingers and see fewer measures (+) and close them to see more (-). Having sold my MT 1 last week, I am unable to compare it to the MT2.

This is kind of cool and it's too bad that it doesn't work the same in Digital Performer. It would make a nice feature request—yea, I'd like to see it. I'll submit it.

Thanks, Julia, for asking about it. Never would have known what to check if you hadn't asked.

Back to my earlier reply. The MT2 makes the MT1 feel like a stone age tool be comparison. Frankly, I've just scratched the surface of what it can do. I'd read about it but didn't really give thought to trying one till my MT1 stopped working in the middle of my day job so I went to the nearest Apple Store (I have 4 within 15 miles) picked up an MT2 and was back within 45 minutes.

Later, I read how to adjust the switches on the MT1 and had it working by the end of the day but I was spoiled and am never going back. Sold it and and the wireless keyboard I never used for $50 + shipping on eBay so I'm good.