Topic: ? about folders

Most people will have no need for creating folders. You may want to organize plugins in category folders in the project start page device list. If you have a large number of arrangements and sounds you may also prefer to organize them into folders.

why create a function you don’t feel will be used?

Folder objects are used extensively in the devices folder, automatically created by the project creation. When you look at the maps panel in the track inspector, then the “Audio Outputs”, “Busses” etc. are folder objects. The user has the possibility to modify these. Probably the first thing you would need to manually create folders for, would be to organize plugins into folders such as “Effects”/”Instruments” or more elaborate categories. An essential feature if you have a large collection of plugins.

@Zynewave wrote:

An essential feature if you have a large collection of plugins.

My thoughts exactly. Highly useful for me.

@sam c wrote:

@Conquistador wrote:

@Zynewave wrote:

An essential feature if you have a large collection of plugins.

My thoughts exactly. Highly useful for me.

could you possibly elaborate?

Since you asked 😉

An example…
“I want two of folders in Podium, one for my Class A plugs the other for Class B”

Ok…lets say you have a VST folder with all your FX in one place. Not categorised in anyway. You then use Podiums “Import Plugins from Folder” option.

What you will now see is all your plugs listed as they are on your hard drive. If they are not already categorised then this is where folders can really help.

So you want a Class A folder and a Class B folder for the FX plugs you have just imported. What you could do is…

1. Right click on any of the folders or plugs you have imported that you would consider class A (like Nebula 3) 🙂

2. Select the “Move to new folder” option.

3. Name the folder Class A

4. Click OK

Podium has just created a folder and inserted the selected plug into it. You can now drag other plugs you consider Class A into that folder. Drag and drop.

You can even Ctrl click on each folder or plug you want to place in a new folder and then right click and choose “Move to a new folder”. So it does not have to be a case of dragging them one by one.

Once you have finished dragging more Class A plugs to that folder, you can then repeat steps 1 – 4 for the Class B folder creation. Only this time of course at step 3, name the folder Class B instead of Class A.

That is a pretty basic example.

One could of course create folders that identify plugs by developer (Acustica Audio, Voxengo e.t.c), or by type…Compressor, EQ, Delay, Reverb, or by function or purpose (Mastering, Warmth, Analysis e.t.c) the possibilities are probably endless. It depends on your taste.

Of course nothing is stopping you from having this kind of layout on your hard drive already. So when Podium scans your VST drive it’s all there nicely categorised.

But… even if you pre categorised your plugs you could simply save that project as a template from within Podium. Then change the FX layout to another type, say a list of plugs by type instead of developer and save that as another project template.

Another example…you could even delete all your FX plugs apart from the Mastering FX folder…then save that as a Mastering Project template.

This would mean once you have finished a project (with the normal layout of FX by type for instance) you could then export your work and open up the Mastering project template with just your Mastering FX listed, all ready to go. No need to scroll through 20 – 50 or more plugs.

I am sure there are many other examples but this should hopefully provide some idea as to the highly useful nature of folders in the devices menu. 😉

@ Frits…

While the folder system is clearly very useful it is one step away from being as intuitive as Windows. I don’t know why I have not brought this up before…

a. When a folder is created in Windows you can immeadiately drag and drop anything into it.

b. If you however choose the “New Folder”option from Podiums Devices Menu it will correctly create a new folder but…you cannot drag anything into it. Try it and see.

This will and likely has led to a good deal of confusion for new users certainly for me in the past as well.

The only way to “activate” that folder is to right click on it and “Move to a new folder”! Now you can drag anything into it. So clearly a new folder in Podium that is empty cannot be used for anything. New folder yes, but not a New active folder.

If I am missing something please let me know Frits. 🙂

An additional step is required to “activate” the folder. Once you create this new folder there is nothing to let you know it cannot be used for anything…until you insert it into another folder which is completely baffling.

This would give the impression the feature does not work properly or is buggy. A quick way to lose a potential customer. In any case I think the New Folder… option is not quite complete IMO.

Please let me know Frits, if there is a way to use a new folder in the devices menu created with the New Folder option I cannot find a way to do it without moving it to another new folder first.

Thanks.

@Zynewave wrote:

Please let me know Frits, if there is a way to use a new folder in the devices menu created with the New Folder option I cannot find a way to do it without moving it to another new folder first.

You need to hold the control key to drop objects into a folder. The highlighting under the mouse should indicate this, by either a shaded line between objects (for placing objects between the two neighbouring objects under the cursor), or a fully drawn line over the folder with control key held.

Thanks for clarifying that. It of course does work 🙂 but it should IMO work like Windows does. Create a folder…it’s ready for use without an additional step.

The process you decribed is IMO a needless additional step. More complicated than the standard Windows folder creation and usage process, which is just one step.

A very good feature but…could be improved on. 😉

Look at the explorer view of “favorites” in Firefox : you can put someting IN a folder when you drop it ON it, above or below when you drop it above/below, and open a folder when the mouse stays 2 seconds above a folder.
All of this can be possible without any modifier key.

That is said, the current way it works in Podium doesn’t disturb me. It is not very important.

@Zynewave wrote:

The additional step you mention, is just holding down the control (or shift or alt) key. Is this really a burden?

In Podium you can reorder folders and place ordinary objects between folders etc. You can’t do that in Windows file explorer (at least in list or details view mode), so it can automatically assume that you intend to drop something in a folder when you place the mouse over it. In Podium you need to use a key to tell if you want to drop into the folder or place the object next to the folder.

🙂 I would not call it a burden…you did 😆

No really it’s not a burden. There are other things I would like addressed before this. It is not a major problem, just an additional step. A low priority in the Podium Universe.

I have not tried Firefox’s folder management but Acousmod’s description is exactly how IMO Podiums could be. Without the need for a modifier key. Podium is one step from that.

I can quite happily use it “as is” really Frits. Just expressing my opinon on it. I have a far more pressing issue (CPU Spikes) that I would very much like to bring to your attention. (Will start another thread).

conquistador, that was an outstandingly helpful post.

thank you!

Happy to help. 😉