Wish list For DP 5.1 (or DP5?)

[matwell]

This is a copy of an e-mail I sent to MOTU.


[1] ~ ~ ~ BETTER CPU USAGE OPTIMIZATION OVERALL, ESPECIALLY WITH VIRTUAL INSTRUMENTS ~ ~ ~

:::I explain to them my recent experience with Logic Express and how DP should be more CPU optimized:::



[2] ~ ~ ~ MODIFY BEHAVIOR OF "LINK SELECTION TO MEMORY" AND "MEMORY PLAY" ~ ~ ~

:::I explain to them the issue I was discussing with Shooshie earlier in this thread:::

So you see, what I would like for DP to do is have the option of behaving more like Pro Tools in this manner. I should be able to click a measure with the I-beam, or locate using markers (any method), or type in a measure number and DP will use that as it's new Start time (selection and memory). That way, I can hit play and know for sure that DP will begin playing where I want it to. When I hit stop, DP should "Auto Rewind" to the start point I just selected above.

Also, DP should be able to record in this mode, without having to make a time selection.



[3] ~ ~ ~ ADD THE OPTION TO RECORD MIDI INFORMATION ON INSTRUMENT TRACKS ~ ~ ~

Once again, something stolen from Pro Tools. Some Virtual Instruments are not multi-timbral, so it would be nice to be able to create an Instrument Track for something like MX4 or FM7 or B4, etc. and be able to record MIDI right onto that track. Please keep the current functionality, but add the ability to use an Instrument Track to record MIDI as well.



[4] ~ ~ ~ PREFERENCE TO CHOOSE IF CERTAIN WINDOWS WILL ALWAYS FLOAT OVER ANY OTHERS (PLUG-INS, MOVIE) ~ ~ ~

Some windows in DP should have the option of always staying on top of any other open windows. For example, plug-ins and the movie window would definitely benefit from this feature. Also, a preference to exclude these windows from changing when different Window Sets are called up. That way (especially if you're scoring a film!) your movie window won't keep closing when you need to switch to a different Window Set. This would be a good "Display" Preference. Maybe call it "Floating Windows"?



[5] ~ ~ ~ SUB-MENUS FOR INPUTS, OUTPUTS, BUSSES, INSTRUMENTS, ETC. ~ ~ ~

When choosing the I/O for a channel in windows like Tracks, Sequence Editor and the Mixer, there should be sub-menus divided up into Inputs, Outputs, Busses, MIDI (External) Tracks, Instruments and any other category DP can route to.



[6] ~ ~ ~ PLUG-INS ORGANIZED BY CATEGORY ~ ~ ~

Another stolen from Pro Tools. When selecting a plug-in, there should be sub-menus like EQ, Dynamics, Reverb, Delay, etc. to help organize the list of plug-ins.



[7] ~ ~ ~ ABILITY TO SELECT MULTIPLE TRACKS IN THE TRACKS WINDOW AND MOVE/DRAG ALL OF THEM UP OR DOWN ~ ~ ~

In the Tracks window, rather than using Key Commands like "Move Selected Tracks To Be Together" (which is nice), it would also be good to just select some tracks and then drag one of their "Move" arrows. All selected tracks would follow, to rearrange the order of tracks up or down.



[8] ~ ~ ~ SCROLL WHEEL SUPPORT FOR EVERY WINDOW ~ ~ ~

Every window, including any "pane" of the Consolidated Window should support scroll wheels (at least "Mighty Mouse"). Currently some sections of windows do not follow scroll wheel input. (The left side of Tracks, Soundbites, Markers just to name a few)



[9] ~ ~ ~ MORE COLORS AND OPTIONS FOR THE ENTIRE GUI ~ ~ ~

DP does look pretty good, but I've always felt that it was just too faded and gray. It would be nice if there were some options for deciding how certain windows look, to provide some variety and contrast.



[10] ~ ~ ~ SELECTION LENGTH (DURATION) DATA DISPLAY ~ ~ ~

In any window that displays Start and End (or Stop) times, there needs to be a Length or Duration display as well. Primarily in the Selection drawer in the Control Panel. Also in Tracks and the Sequence Editor. This is mostly a Post-Production request, since it would be nice to make a time selection (be it one region or many) and see what the total length of that selection is (in Bars/Beats, Real Time or SMPTE Frames). There is already a duration display in the Sequence Editor, but it only displays the currently selected region's length.



[11]~ ~ ~ UPDATE STRIP SILENCE ~ ~ ~

You guessed it, another Pro Tools feature. The current Strip Silence in DP is woefully behind the times compared to Pro Tools. Please take a look at the Pro Tools version (live, graphic preview of how strip silence will affect the audio file) and please update DP's!



[12] ~ ~ ~ BLOCK EDITING IN THE SEQUENCE EDITOR (OR VERTICAL ZOOM IN TRACKS)... OR BOTH ~ ~ ~

The Tracks window has block editing of MIDI phrases. The Sequence Editor does not. Therefore, if you like editing your MIDI data in blocks, you are limited to the Tracks window. However, you cannot vertically zoom in the Tracks window.

So, either Tracks needs a vertical zoom, or the Sequence Editor needs block editing. Or you could do both (for people who have a certain way of working).



[13] ~ ~ ~ MAKE SHIFT-CLICKING MARKERS TO BE CUMULATIVE ~ ~ ~

Currently, clicking on a Marker in the Tracks window selects the time between the first and second marker. If I have 3 markers, then when I click Marker 1 and Shift-Click Marker 3, it does not include Marker 2 in the time selection.

It should automatically include Marker 2, so that the effect is linearly cumulative. If I have 5 Markers, I should be able to click Marker 1, and Shift-Click Marker 5 and all Markers in between will be selected. This would be a big time saver.



[14] ~ ~ ~ FIX THE BUGS WITH THE CLIPPINGS WINDOW ~ ~ ~

Currently, sometimes a "Digital Performer Clipping Window" that I *know* is saved on my hard drive does not show up. Then, when I make a new Clipping and close it, the other saved Clippings I was looking for appear in the Clippings menu.



[15] ~ ~ ~ IMPORTING GROUPS WITH ASSOCIATED TRACKS ~ ~ ~

Groups should be "importable" from other Projects, using the "Load..." screen. When tracks are imported from another Project, the Groups should follow (with a check box in the "Load..." screen).

Also, Groups should stay with tracks added to a Clipping. Speaking of which...



[16] ~ ~ ~ GET RID OF "COPY" AFTER DRAGGING ITEMS FROM CLIPPINGS WINDOW ~ ~ ~

If I create a Clipping of a certain track layout, when I drag that Clipping into another Project, it adds "copy" to the end of every track name from the Clipping. Please find a way to make this not happen. As stated above in [15], Groups should follow those tracks dragged in from the Clipping.



[17] ~ ~ ~ CONSOLIDATE "ADD TRACKS..." TO ONE DIALOG WINDOW ~ ~ ~

I'm sure you're sick of hearing it, but here is another Pro Tools idea. Instead of having all of these separate "Add Track..." options (and separate key commands), please consolidate this function into one dialog window. The way it works in Pro Tools is like this (in case you haven't seen it):

There is a command for "New Track...", so in DP it would probably be "Add Track...".

In PT, when you select (or press the key command for) "New Track...", there is a dialog window that pops up. These are the options available in this window:

Quantity - to designate the number of tracks

Mono / Stereo / Surround pull-down menu (which has a key command for quick navigation)

Type of track - Audio, MIDI, Aux Input, Instrument, Master Fader (also with key command)

To the far right, there is a "+" button to add another field, almost like building the Field definitions for a database. So, you can open up the "New Track" dialog, and create (for example) 8 MIDI tracks, 8 Instrument Tracks, a Master Fader, and 8 stereo Audio Tracks... *ALL FROM ONE DIALOG BOX*. This is a great time saver, because PT does all the work for you once you tell it how many and what kind of tracks you want.

I'm sure DP could benefit from this same type of procedure. Please add this in a forthcoming update!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Hopefully they will at least read it!

[stephentayler]

This is a copy of an e-mail I sent to MOTU.



[6] ~ ~ ~ PLUG-INS ORGANIZED BY CATEGORY ~ ~ ~

Another stolen from Pro Tools. When selecting a plug-in, there should be sub-menus like EQ, Dynamics, Reverb, Delay, etc. to help organize the list of plug-ins.


Hopefully they will at least read it!

This is already available, you can customise your own folders in the plugins folder ( I know it is not automatic, though )

Stephen

[Noizemaker]

This is a copy of an e-mail I sent to MOTU.

This is already available, you can customise your own folders in the plugins folder ( I know it is not automatic, though )

Stephen

I would love to know how you do that!!!

[Shooshie]

This is a copy of an e-mail I sent to MOTU.


[1] ~ ~ ~ BETTER CPU USAGE OPTIMIZATION OVERALL, ESPECIALLY WITH VIRTUAL INSTRUMENTS ~ ~ ~

Agreed; we need this. I hope you will not feel overly criticized if I go through this point-by-point and show where I agree and disagree with you. I think your inexperience with DP shows in some of these ideas, and I'd hope you spend more time trying things the DP way before going so far with requests. Nevertheless, I think your list and your posts in this forum have exhibited a greatly appreciated level of enthusiasm and at least an attempt to be thorough, though DP is too deep to learn its methods this quickly. You really have to try some of these things "our way" and get to the bottom of DP's features.

[2] ~ ~ ~ MODIFY BEHAVIOR OF "LINK SELECTION TO MEMORY" AND "MEMORY PLAY" ~ ~ ~

Personally, I'm fine with the way things are. As anyone knows who followed our discussion, everything you want to do is easily doable in DP, but maybe it takes an extra keystroke to do it. (hit spacebar an extra time) But... If they add it without taking away other features, I would certainly not protest.

[3] ~ ~ ~ ADD THE OPTION TO RECORD MIDI INFORMATION ON INSTRUMENT TRACKS ~ ~ ~

I simply disagree with this. DP has the best VI implementation of any DAW, and the problem is simply that converts from other DAWs are stuck in their previous way of doing things. My opinion, of course, but I happen to really like the current implementation, as do most people I talk to. I think you're watering down the real needs with your own personal preferences when you ask to change something just to suit your own style of working, but if MOTU is willing to do it without changing what we already have, I won't protest.

[4] ~ ~ ~ PREFERENCE TO CHOOSE IF CERTAIN WINDOWS WILL ALWAYS FLOAT OVER ANY OTHERS (PLUG-INS, MOVIE) ~ ~ ~

Given the number of real needs we have, this preference is highly unnecessary, IMO. We have window sets that can place any window wherever you want it at one keystroke. We have keys that cycle through windows (Command-tilde), and we have Spotlight, which is hard to beat for window management. Is it really necessary to define which ones float? Again, I'm not protesting; just saying that we have far greater needs.

[5] ~ ~ ~ SUB-MENUS FOR INPUTS, OUTPUTS, BUSSES, INSTRUMENTS, ETC. ~ ~ ~

Not following you here. How is this different from what we have?

[6] ~ ~ ~ PLUG-INS ORGANIZED BY CATEGORY ~ ~ ~

Already doable, though it's "do it yourself."

[7] ~ ~ ~ ABILITY TO SELECT MULTIPLE TRACKS IN THE TRACKS WINDOW AND MOVE/DRAG ALL OF THEM UP OR DOWN ~ ~ ~

Feature already exists. Read Commands Window. (Select tracks, CONTROL-Page-Up, Page-Down, Home, End.)

[8] ~ ~ ~ SCROLL WHEEL SUPPORT FOR EVERY WINDOW ~ ~ ~

Every window, including any "pane" of the Consolidated Window should support scroll wheels (at least "Mighty Mouse"). Currently some sections of windows do not follow scroll wheel input. (The left side of Tracks, Soundbites, Markers just to name a few)

Again, not following you. My scroll wheel works in every window. I just tested it again to make sure. Kensington Turbo Mouse Pro Wireless trackball.

[9] ~ ~ ~ MORE COLORS AND OPTIONS FOR THE ENTIRE GUI ~ ~ ~

Won't complain about this one, though I'm long past any discomfort with the interface.

[10] ~ ~ ~ SELECTION LENGTH (DURATION) DATA DISPLAY ~ ~ ~

This has been on the request list for many years. I hope they listen to this one!

[11]~ ~ ~ UPDATE STRIP SILENCE ~ ~ ~

If this makes it better, I'm all for it. I haven't seen Pro Tools version of this in some time, and don't remember how it differs. Good idea.

[12] ~ ~ ~ BLOCK EDITING IN THE SEQUENCE EDITOR (OR VERTICAL ZOOM IN TRACKS)... OR BOTH ~ ~ ~

Could go either way on this one, but put me down in support of it. I'm comfortable with what we have, but would like to see barline-block editing return as an option in the Tracks Overview window. It used to be standard (the only choice) and now is not a choice at all. I would like to have this back as an option.

[13] ~ ~ ~ MAKE SHIFT-CLICKING MARKERS TO BE CUMULATIVE ~ ~ ~

There are reasons this isn't the way you describe. All MOTU lists allow non-linear selection. But I wouldn't mind seeing MOTU go with Apple's standard now, where Shift-Click is linear, and Command-Click is non-linear. Not sure what that would do to our Commands, but surely we can work that out.

[14] ~ ~ ~ FIX THE BUGS WITH THE CLIPPINGS WINDOW ~ ~ ~

Have noticed this myself.

[15] ~ ~ ~ IMPORTING GROUPS WITH ASSOCIATED TRACKS ~ ~ ~

I'm not sure, but did you try loading with "Effects" checked? You used to be able to import all features, and I think it was doable by checking "effects." Not sure that works on groups, but worth a try.

[16] ~ ~ ~ GET RID OF "COPY" AFTER DRAGGING ITEMS FROM CLIPPINGS WINDOW ~ ~ ~

Again, there is a reason for this. I like having "Copy" beside them, because they are instantly distinguishable from tracks already existing. I don't mind changing them, and can do so quite rapidly with standard keyboard shortcuts. But without the "copy" we would instantly lose track of which ones were imported and which not.

[17] ~ ~ ~ CONSOLIDATE "ADD TRACKS..." TO ONE DIALOG WINDOW ~ ~ ~

Unnecessary. Some of the features already exist. Hold down Option while selecting "add track." Other features are rendered unnecessary by keyboard commands for adding tracks, including add similar tracks and duplicate tracks, as well as add and add multiple.

Hopefully they will at least read it!

Hopefully they will do some of these. Many, however, seem to reveal your status as a DP newbie. I don't say that derisively; it's just that changing them would alter the way I do things, and I frankly like the way they are! You'll find a lot of us are not dissatisfied with DP. Get used to the new interface before you decide it needs changing. It's different, not lacking or inferior. In some cases, DP's way is far more powerful.

Shooshie

[Noizemaker]

This is a copy of an e-mail I sent to MOTU.

[6] ~ ~ ~ PLUG-INS ORGANIZED BY CATEGORY ~ ~ ~

Already doable, though it's "do it yourself."

Shooshie

I'm still asking someone to show me how to do that? Please Sooshie?

[grimepoch]

I second that! Or even a reference to something in the book..anything!

[Noizemaker]

I second that! Or even a reference to something in the book..anything!

Ok I got the part about moving them into subfolders (page 741 DP4.5's manual) but I'm not sure of the difference between the COMPONENT sub-folder and the MAS sub-folder. Why are they not all at the same place?

[kwiz]

This is a copy of an e-mail I sent to MOTU.

[6] ~ ~ ~ PLUG-INS ORGANIZED BY CATEGORY ~ ~ ~

Already doable, though it's "do it yourself."

Shooshie

I'm still asking someone to show me how to do that? Please Sooshie?

This is how it's done. Open your OS library folder, there you will see a folder named Audio. Open that folder and look for the plugins folder. Open that and you'll see the MAS folder. Open the MAS folder and start by creating new folders entitled Dynamics, EQ, Reverb etc.
Drag the EQ's to the eq folder, the Comps/limiters etc. to the dynamics folder, so on and so on.
Once you've catagorized everything open DP. Once you click on to your plugins, you'll see them neatly compartmentalized.....tadaaaaah

[kwiz]

I second that! Or even a reference to something in the book..anything!

Ok I got the part about moving them into subfolders (page 741 DP4.5's manual) but I'm not sure of the difference between the COMPONENT sub-folder and the MAS sub-folder. Why are they not all at the same place?

The sub folders are the folders that you create inside of the MAS or Component folders.

[grimepoch]

wow, that will make it very easy, thanks! Mostly, I want to put the UAD plugs I've not bought/authorized into a folder since I can't use them anyways.

As for the difference between MAS and components, components are AU plugins whereas MAS is MAS, two different plugin API interfaces.

[mersis]

Already doable, though it's "do it yourself."

Shooshie

I'm still asking someone to show me how to do that? Please Sooshie?

This is how it's done. Open your OS library folder, there you will see a folder named Audio. Open that folder and look for the plugins folder. Open that and you'll see the MAS folder. Open the MAS folder and start by creating new folders entitled Dynamics, EQ, Reverb etc.
Drag the EQ's to the eq folder, the Comps/limiters etc. to the dynamics folder, so on and so on.
Once you've catagorized everything open DP. Once you click on to your plugins, you'll see them neatly compartmentalized.....tadaaaaah

If you use other programs like logic

wil this mess with logic's arrangement ?

[matwell]

This is a copy of an e-mail I sent to MOTU.

[1] ~ ~ ~ BETTER CPU USAGE OPTIMIZATION OVERALL, ESPECIALLY WITH VIRTUAL INSTRUMENTS ~ ~ ~

Agreed; we need this. I hope you will not feel overly criticized if I go through this point-by-point and show where I agree and disagree with you. I think your inexperience with DP shows in some of these ideas, and I'd hope you spend more time trying things the DP way before going so far with requests. Nevertheless, I think your list and your posts in this forum have exhibited a greatly appreciated level of enthusiasm and at least an attempt to be thorough, though DP is too deep to learn its methods this quickly. You really have to try some of these things "our way" and get to the bottom of DP's features.

I agree I am relatively new to DP and it's way of thinking. I think I can sum up a lot of our differences like this: if you've ever done it in Pro Tools, then you would understand. Yes, DP is very deep and yes, there are different ways of accomplishing the same thing. The main crux of it is that a lot of functions in PT have been *obviously* written to be quick and elegant. The key word here is "written". These features didn't just appear in Pro Tools by magic. Someone at Digidesign, whether through personal use, or requests from users, decided "Hey, it would be a lot easier if we..." during the coding process. I would like MOTU to do the same, which they have been doing. (Remember DP 2.5? 2.7?)

Almost every single request I sent to MOTU is an option. Something that would be checked or unchecked in Preferences & Settings. I'm not trying to mess up anyone's way of working. Just to ease the transition for people who *regularly* work in both DP and PT (and I'm not the only one out there).

[2] ~ ~ ~ MODIFY BEHAVIOR OF "LINK SELECTION TO MEMORY" AND "MEMORY PLAY" ~ ~ ~

Personally, I'm fine with the way things are. As anyone knows who followed our discussion, everything you want to do is easily doable in DP, but maybe it takes an extra keystroke to do it. (hit spacebar an extra time) But... If they add it without taking away other features, I would certainly not protest.

Once again, if you tried it in Pro Tools, you would get it. It's not that it's hard to navigate around in DP, it's just *that* much slower, when you are trying to fly (and meet a deadline). It keeps reminding me that DP is getting in the way of the process, rather than assisting the process.

[3] ~ ~ ~ ADD THE OPTION TO RECORD MIDI INFORMATION ON INSTRUMENT TRACKS ~ ~ ~

I simply disagree with this. DP has the best VI implementation of any DAW, and the problem is simply that converts from other DAWs are stuck in their previous way of doing things. My opinion, of course, but I happen to really like the current implementation, as do most people I talk to. I think you're watering down the real needs with your own personal preferences when you ask to change something just to suit your own style of working, but if MOTU is willing to do it without changing what we already have, I won't protest.

This would *of course* be optional. The way it works right now is extremely nice. Bottom line: Pro Tools lets you do it both ways, and I wish DP would too. Let the user choose how they want to use it.

[4] ~ ~ ~ PREFERENCE TO CHOOSE IF CERTAIN WINDOWS WILL ALWAYS FLOAT OVER ANY OTHERS (PLUG-INS, MOVIE) ~ ~ ~

Given the number of real needs we have, this preference is highly unnecessary, IMO. We have window sets that can place any window wherever you want it at one keystroke. We have keys that cycle through windows (Command-tilde), and we have Spotlight, which is hard to beat for window management. Is it really necessary to define which ones float? Again, I'm not protesting; just saying that we have far greater needs.

I wouldn't say this is "unnecessary". Say you're working on a film, you've got your movie window open, and then you want to switch to a different Window Set. You switch, and your movie window closes. You open it again, perform the functions you needed, then switch back to your "main" Window Set. The movie window closes again. You open it again... ad nauseum.

Say you're tweaking a plug-in, in the Mixer Window. You want to make a minor tweak on the mix, anything. Or you want to solo the track. Your plug-in is "on top" out front, you click on the Mixer and your plug-in goes to the back. I usually use Expose to find the plug-in again. (What... am I supposed to add my plug-ins to my Window Sets?!)

It's just the frustration factor here. If it was a Preference, then people like me could use it, and other people who don't care... don't use it.

[5] ~ ~ ~ SUB-MENUS FOR INPUTS, OUTPUTS, BUSSES, INSTRUMENTS, ETC. ~ ~ ~

Not following you here. How is this different from what we have?

You'd have to see it in Pro Tools or Logic. What we have now in DP is one looooong list of (for example) outputs, especially if you've defined your Audio Bundles as part of your template. If you have a lot of VI's, hardware outputs, or busses in use, then you have to wade through a list of all of those simultaneously. When you are routing an Output, there should be a sub-menu of "Outputs" (hardware), "Instruments", "Busses", etc. to cut down on the long list. So if you're trying to Bus something, you're not wading through VI's or Outputs, only Busses.

[6] ~ ~ ~ PLUG-INS ORGANIZED BY CATEGORY ~ ~ ~

Already doable, though it's "do it yourself."

Boy, do I feel stupid. (Althought based on the other responses here, this is obviously not "automatic") Why should we have to figure out how to DIY? Hopefully DP5 makes it officially a "feature".

[7] ~ ~ ~ ABILITY TO SELECT MULTIPLE TRACKS IN THE TRACKS WINDOW AND MOVE/DRAG ALL OF THEM UP OR DOWN ~ ~ ~
Feature already exists. Read Commands Window. (Select tracks, CONTROL-Page-Up, Page-Down, Home, End.)

I've read the Commands window, and yes the "move tracks to be together" is kinda nice, but *geez* is it slow and clunky. First of all, it only works going *up* (as Tim pointed out much earlier in this thread). So, you've got to move tracks to the bottom first, then execute "move tracks to be together". It would be nicer to grab some tracks (maybe they would need to be grouped... that's fine) and drag one of their "move" arrows to move them up or down.

[8] ~ ~ ~ SCROLL WHEEL SUPPORT FOR EVERY WINDOW ~ ~ ~

Every window, including any "pane" of the Consolidated Window should support scroll wheels (at least "Mighty Mouse"). Currently some sections of windows do not follow scroll wheel input. (The left side of Tracks, Soundbites, Markers just to name a few)
Again, not following you. My scroll wheel works in every window. I just tested it again to make sure. Kensington Turbo Mouse Pro Wireless trackball.

Interesting. I'm using a Mighty Mouse here. My "main" Consolidated Window set has Tracks in the top half and Sequence Editor in the bottom half. The Tracks "blocks" area (showing MIDI/Audio data) and the Sequence Editor all scroll correctly, but the *left* side of Tracks (i/o, record, names, patches, comments) does not follow the scroll wheel. I have to use the scroll bar at the bottom of that "pane". Markers is another one. I have Markers on the right side and I cannot scroll over to see Comments or Weight. I have to drag the divider between the panels to see more of the Markers window. Soundbites window behaves the same way, when in the CW.

[9] ~ ~ ~ MORE COLORS AND OPTIONS FOR THE ENTIRE GUI ~ ~ ~
Won't complain about this one, though I'm long past any discomfort with the interface.

[10] ~ ~ ~ SELECTION LENGTH (DURATION) DATA DISPLAY ~ ~ ~
This has been on the request list for many years. I hope they listen to this one!

[11]~ ~ ~ UPDATE STRIP SILENCE ~ ~ ~

If this makes it better, I'm all for it. I haven't seen Pro Tools version of this in some time, and don't remember how it differs. Good idea.

Oh yeah, it could be better. Pro Tools Strip Silence is a work of art. DP's is stone age by comparison. In PT, you select a region, open Strip Silence, and as you tweak the settings, you see *in real time* how the region will get sliced up. There is also settings for padding each slice with some air (on both sides, independently). DP really needs this.

[12] ~ ~ ~ BLOCK EDITING IN THE SEQUENCE EDITOR (OR VERTICAL ZOOM IN TRACKS)... OR BOTH ~ ~ ~

Could go either way on this one, but put me down in support of it. I'm comfortable with what we have, but would like to see barline-block editing return as an option in the Tracks Overview window. It used to be standard (the only choice) and now is not a choice at all. I would like to have this back as an option.

[13] ~ ~ ~ MAKE SHIFT-CLICKING MARKERS TO BE CUMULATIVE ~ ~ ~

There are reasons this isn't the way you describe. All MOTU lists allow non-linear selection. But I wouldn't mind seeing MOTU go with Apple's standard now, where Shift-Click is linear, and Command-Click is non-linear. Not sure what that would do to our Commands, but surely we can work that out.

[14] ~ ~ ~ FIX THE BUGS WITH THE CLIPPINGS WINDOW ~ ~ ~

Have noticed this myself.

[15] ~ ~ ~ IMPORTING GROUPS WITH ASSOCIATED TRACKS ~ ~ ~

I'm not sure, but did you try loading with "Effects" checked? You used to be able to import all features, and I think it was doable by checking "effects." Not sure that works on groups, but worth a try.

I need to spend more time fully investigating this.

[16] ~ ~ ~ GET RID OF "COPY" AFTER DRAGGING ITEMS FROM CLIPPINGS WINDOW ~ ~ ~

Again, there is a reason for this. I like having "Copy" beside them, because they are instantly distinguishable from tracks already existing. I don't mind changing them, and can do so quite rapidly with standard keyboard shortcuts. But without the "copy" we would instantly lose track of which ones were imported and which not.

Well... ok, I see your point, but if you are adding new tracks *on purpose*, then you know that you have new tracks that weren't there before.

[17] ~ ~ ~ CONSOLIDATE "ADD TRACKS..." TO ONE DIALOG WINDOW ~ ~ ~

Unnecessary. Some of the features already exist. Hold down Option while selecting "add track." Other features are rendered unnecessary by keyboard commands for adding tracks, including add similar tracks and duplicate tracks, as well as add and add multiple.

This is just totally... well, I guess you've just got to see it to get it.

This is the first thing you see when you select "New Tracks..." in PT.




If you click that little + button, you can add more fields to define other tracks, like this.



Clearly, it would take a lot more operations or Key Commands to accomplish the same thing in DP. There's no comparison.

Hopefully they will at least read it!

Hopefully they will do some of these. Many, however, seem to reveal your status as a DP newbie. I don't say that derisively; it's just that changing them would alter the way I do things, and I frankly like the way they are! You'll find a lot of us are not dissatisfied with DP. Get used to the new interface before you decide it needs changing. It's different, not lacking or inferior. In some cases, DP's way is far more powerful.

Shooshie

As I said at the beginning of this post, almost all of my requests are options for Preferences & Settings.

DP *is* more powerful in sooooo many ways. There are lots of things I love about DP. But when you say "get used to it", it's kind of like saying that DP's development has finished. DP is a great app, but it could be even better. Hell, I started with Pro Tools on version *3* and the improvements have been monumental. For example, Strip Silence used to be like DP's. Now... it's not. It's better. DP should keep getting better too.

But thank you for your insight!!

[Shooshie]

We just have different ways of working, matwell. For instance, I could have multiple tracks added and be using them before I could get that dialog box open. As for the transport commands, I'm accustomed to doing multiple keystrokes in one "sweep," kind of like a trill or a turn, so that a process happens instantly, even though it may require three separate commands. I shouldn't expect you to do that, as everyone's different. The truth is, you really have to dig (too much) to learn these things, and nobody's more aware of that than I. I've spent a lot of time trying to get people to catch on to those tricks, and am not surprised that it's a never-ending process. Until MOTU makes those transport commands obvious and on the surface, people will continue to do things the hard way, simply because it's even HARDER to find the "easy" way. Of course, once you find it...

Anything that MOTU will add without compromising existing functionality will be fine with me (not that they usually ask my permission first), I'm always for making DP easier to use and faster. It's just that I still think some of your prefs are simply discomfort with changing work habits. Once you get used to them in DP, things fly. I've never seen any other DAW that allows me to move as fast as DP in nearly all areas, due to the amazing customizability of the commands, but some of those would be more accessible to all people if MOTU made them more focused and easy to find. For instance, I use SysEx messages a lot in my work, and DP has a fine SysEx editor, but woe be unto the newbie who tries to find it!

Rather than see MOTU add features for work preferences, I would like to see them work on timing issues, clicks, pops, stuck notes, etc., so that it works 100% for all people on all (reasonable) setups. Those are the priorities, in my opinion, but who says they can't do both?

Shooshie

[matwell]

Already doable, though it's "do it yourself."

Shooshie

I'm still asking someone to show me how to do that? Please Sooshie?

This is how it's done. Open your OS library folder, there you will see a folder named Audio. Open that folder and look for the plugins folder. Open that and you'll see the MAS folder. Open the MAS folder and start by creating new folders entitled Dynamics, EQ, Reverb etc.
Drag the EQ's to the eq folder, the Comps/limiters etc. to the dynamics folder, so on and so on.
Once you've catagorized everything open DP. Once you click on to your plugins, you'll see them neatly compartmentalized.....tadaaaaah

Just tried this and it doesn't seem to be ready for prime time yet. For instance, if a folder only has one plug-in in it, then the folder does not appear in the list, only the single plug-in shows up (un-categorized). Also, certain folders I made (for example "Amps & Distortion") do not even show up in the list!

Guess this one needs to cook in the oven a little more...

[tripit@earthlink.net]

[quote][2] ~ ~ ~ MODIFY BEHAVIOR OF "LINK SELECTION TO MEMORY" AND "MEMORY PLAY" ~ ~ ~[qoute]

I have to second this one. The way it works in PT is just naturally faster by eliminating excess keystrokes.