4.7 Wishlist

[Mugambi]

Don't get me wrong. A lot of these wishes are really valid ones, and ones which I, too, echo. But it seems that in every list there are from one to a few which already exist. Others have work-arounds. Learn the software, folks! I know it's huge and in some ways it's getting formidable, but it's an amazing set of tools. Don't lose hope; keep learning!


I probably could be accused of this although I read the manual which is more of a reference manual to me rather than a "how to" manual. That being said, my "wishlist" would echo an earlier post. The best of DP/Protools in one application. And although work arounds are great, they still are a pain in the .ss when you're trying to be creative and keep a work flow.

[amplidood]

Trent? Oh Trent, where are you?

[blue]

Originally posted by amplidood:
Trent? Oh Trent, where are you?

Dood, let it go.

[Shooshie]

Originally posted by Mugambi:

I probably could be accused of this although I read the manual which is more of a reference manual to me rather than a "how to" manual.

We've tried to approach the tips sheet a lot more as a "how to do it" manual. Not that it has the answer to your problem, but I've seen some requests in this thread that are in the tips.

Shooshie

[philbrown]

1. A progress thermometer when importing large files (which I do every day) instead of long hesitation (which appears to be a hang) then beachball.

2. Fix bugs.

3. "Attach MIDI controller" of mutes, solo, aux sends, aux mutes, just like volume fader. For that matter make it work with every knob and fader in plug-ins etc. I know there are other ways, but "Attach MIDI Controller" seems like the obvious place and method IMO.

4. MOTU should post whatever they know about bugs etc and be honest and upfront (and current) with users. IOW, BETTER COMMUNICATION.

5. A comprehensive REAL WORLD detailed install guide. "For a clean install, we recommend..." And explain ALL the gotchas for new users like turning off screen savers, and the 50 or so things that experience users know and new users don't. "Not using beat detection? Here's how to turn it off..." right on page 1 of the install guide. People shouldn't have to come to Unicornation just to do a fresh install and get up and running. IOW, BETTER COMMUNICATION.

6. A comprehensive troubleshooting guide that's kept up to date and easy to find on MOTU's web site. IOW, BETTER COMMUNICATION. If MOTU knows about it, then we should. Or at least a web-based knowledge base that is real-world, comprehensive and current.

7. Sends on master fader

8. A Real-world application guide, even if it costs. Or videos. Or PDF's. Explaining workflows, different ways of accomplishing tasks, e.g. spotting to video, detailed MIDI editing, etc. Might need different ones for different tasks...

9. With all its progress, DP seems more bloated every year. It would be nice to create a stripped down lean version if you don't use say, Polar, or Beat Detection or even MIDI itself, if all you do is audio recording, for example. Seems like whether it's the Mac and Dashboard or DP and Beat Detection, I spend as much time and energy trying to turn bells and whistles OFF than anything else.

Thanks to all for all the good suggestions -there have been some excellent ones posted without too much pissing and moaning

Phil

[carrythebanner]

As Shooshie said, DP is capable of a few of these things already ...

Originally posted by Mugambi:
2.Be able to copy volume, mute, etc., information and paste without erasing soundbites. Why do I have to make an extra move in the view filter when the correct view is in the SE window already?

- If you want to copy & paste volume data, switch to the volume layer.
- Hold Control and make your selection (or shift-click the desired nodes)
- Press Command-C to copy
- Hold the I key to get the I-beam, click at the desired insert point
- Press Command-M to merge

Originally posted by mistermarr:
5. ABILITY TO ASSIGN MULTIPLE TRACKS TO THE SAME COLOR IN LESS THAN FIVE STEPS. Right now it goes like this: Highlight, find Assign Color in pulldown menus, click "Same Color", choose color you want, hit "OK"

First, make sure that your Temporary Group type includes Color; do this under the Tracks Groups window's mini-menu.

- Select the desired tracks
- Hold the T key
- In the Tracks Overview window, click in the Color column. In the Sequence Editor, click on the track type icon to the left of the track name.
- Select the desired color: all selected tracks will change to that color.

Originally posted by Mario-C.:
6- Acess to markers from ALL windows

In the Control Panel, to the right of the Fast Forward and to the left of the meter, there is a downward-facing triangle. Click it for your markers, plus Sequence Start/End, Autorecord Start, and Memory Cycle start (the latter two only if they're enabled).

[Resonant Alien]

Originally posted by Mugambi:
[QB]Don't get me wrong. A lot of these wishes are really valid ones, and ones which I, too, echo. But it seems that in every list there are from one to a few which already exist. Others have work-arounds. Learn the software, folks![QB]

But that is one of the great by-products of a post like this.....people post something they want MOTU to add, and someone comes along and lets that person know that the s/w already does it, or that there is a workaround - that's a great thing, and I don't see it as bad! Most people are genuinely appreciative when that happens as well. I have been on both sides of that fence.

A lot of things are in the manual, some aren't, but it's unrealistic to expect everyone has the time to read the entire manual, and moreover to truly soak in everything that's in it and know exactly how to apply it.

Look at it this way - if everyone knew and understood everything that DP could do, this forum probably wouldn't be needed...

I say keep'em coming.

[chaim]

Great suggestions.

Here is my list some from you some my own:

Bug fixes:

In the Graphic Editor, moving MIDI notes up and down does not work properly anymore.

Features:

1. speed up the track freeze function -VERY priority - MOTU PLEASE!

2. dedicated plugins window that stays in front at all times
-option

3. Up/Down arrow key MIDI editing

4. columns and rows highlight when you click on an output name
(audio Bundles)

5. USER DEFINABLE AUTOMATED ACTION SCRIPTS

6. To be able to copy 2 mono tracks into 1 stereo track, and the other way too.

7. When highlighting a soundbite in the sequence editor it highlights in the the soundbite window.

8. The ability to hide tracks you are not using (or are just not working with at the moment.) Not just in the mixer, but in the tracks and edit window.

9. Solo button and volume fader in SE.

10. Pref to turn of DCPUM - or make it more intelligent - like looking ahead - or make it not spike and leave it the way it is.

[chaim]

11. the ability to increase and decrease amplitude (trim) of a soundbite by the click and move of a mouse up and down

12. The ability to drag multiple soundbites from the soundbites window on multiple tracks. -option

and when dragging multiple soundbites from SB window to SE or TO to go to the SAME track (the way it's now), the soundbites should line up one AFTER the other, and not one beneath the other
or at least an option

13. Support for SD2, AIF, and BWAV files simultaneously, as well as 16- and 24-bit files of the same sample rate.

14. When adding markers, a window should pop up with the name 'Marker 1' highlighted, making it easy to rename 'em right then - as an option

15. a way to view (right away) comments from the sequence window (or to write in on the sound bite itself; auto tune this bite)

16. a way to easily audition samples/loops/etc and add to 'track'

17. Create Track(s) from Soundbite(s), and name it with the soundbite name.

18. why does the green whipper disappear when you edge edit or time compress, I'd like to see as a pointer for where I am (faster then putting a marker's yellow line)

19. faster mp3 export

20. grouping soundbites

21. Better import window - and import to track or new track

22. when dragging tracks from clipping window - option not to ad 'copy' to name - and keep track groups

23. assign a given output/bus to several 'sends' (from multiple tracks) at once

[wonder]

Import audio to track

when inserting marker, a window to be able to name and edit marker point on the fly

(if not already available) ability to QUICKLY modify conductor track

[blue]

Originally posted by wonder:
when inserting marker, a window to be able to name and edit marker point on the fly

This would be most useful. It's kind of hard to believe it doesn't work that way now.

[qo]

A new option for the Counter in DP's Control Panel to display the text from the current Marker. Many times, I'm more interested in position in musical terms rather than in bar/beat or SMPTE time. That is, I want it to display "Chorus" "Verse2" etc so that I can see this from across the room if need be. This would also be useful when you're zoomed in and about to edit something to verify that you are, indeed, in the second verse rather than the third verse.

Related, I'd like the option to detach the Counter from the Control Panel and use any font I want. I want to make it HUGE if I'm working from across the room with a Frontier Tranzport.

<small>[ August 11, 2005, 10:56 AM: Message edited by: qo ]</small>

[Mugambi]

As Shooshie said, DP is capable of a few of these things already ... quote:
Originally posted by Mugambi:
2.Be able to copy volume, mute, etc., information and paste without erasing soundbites. Why do I have to make an extra move in the view filter when the correct view is in the SE window already?
- If you want to copy & paste volume data, switch to the volume layer.
- Hold Control and make your selection (or shift-click the desired nodes)
- Press Command-C to copy
- Hold the I key to get the I-beam, click at the desired insert point
- Press Command-M to merge


carrythebanner-

Thanks for the info! Is there a way to replace previous volume info without going to view filter? Also, as I followed your instructions, the volume layer had no information until I put some there. Is there a preference that turns that info on to mirror fader placement without an extra step? Please forgive me, I have to admit I'm a Protools user and many of these things are so much easier in Protools to me. DP definitely has its advantages too. That's why I'm trying it.

Thanks again. You too Shoosie. I think this is the most friendly and helpful forum on the web!

Mugambi

[mistermarr]

Originally posted by Shooshie:
Reading the various entries into this thread, I'm often surprised at how many of them already exist, but people don't know about them. I've tried to illuminate a few of those in some of my posts, but many, many more remain. I don't have time to do it, but I hope that you all will do some searching in the manual and the COMMANDS window. Also, check out our community tip sheet, which keeps getting lost down below. I'll bump it up to the top of the page for you.

Don't get me wrong. A lot of these wishes are really valid ones, and ones which I, too, echo. But it seems that in every list there are from one to a few which already exist. Others have work-arounds. Learn the software, folks! I know it's huge and in some ways it's getting formidable, but it's an amazing set of tools. Don't lose hope; keep learning!

Shooshie

Shooshie.
Thanks for pointing out the tip sheet. I've been reading this board for a long time and have never noticed it before.

Carrythebanner,
thanks for the "T" tip.

Shooshie, on the colors issue, I still don't understand what you're talking about... when I get to editing my color ranges the boxes are always set to either side of each color's horizontal row of shades, and I just end up with a bunch of shades of the same color.

I looked in the manual, which I haven't done since before colors existed in this software (I usually just read the "what's new packets" when I upgrade), and neither "colors" nor "assign colors" are in the index. I tracked down their discussion of this and it cleared some stuff up, but i still can't get this to work like I would like, which is just an automatic rainbow pallette with each track a different color, no shades. I went through and edited the rainbow pallette to get rid of the shades, but unless I tell it to assign colors randomly, which is unpredictable, I still get a whole block of orange and a whole block of red. I'm sticking with "randomly" for now.

As for your comment "Learn the software, folks!", I understand that there are some knuckleheads on this board but for the most part I think we all devote alot of time trying to do just that. If it happens on a wishlist thread, so be it. The value of bringing up things in this context is that if people who've been using the software for many years haven't figured them out, maybe Motu hasn't made everything as intuitive as it could be, and that could certainly lead to a more streamlined program down the road.

[Kind Of Loud]

Related, I'd like the option to detach the Counter from the Control Panel and use any font I want. I want to make it HUGE if I'm working from across the room with a Frontier Tranzport.

Shift J.....won't fill up the whole screen, but not bad.