caco.
PodianerI use a 1680×1050 widescreen display most of the time. I am running a dual screen setup with an additional 1450×1050 screen. But I must agree with Frits, when assuming that the majority of users out there use 1280×1024, because that is the native resolution of most 19″ and 20″ screens. But I think in studio environments, widescreens are more comfortable to work with, because the screen better fits to a sequencer’s tracks region.
jpleongI’m also running 1680×1050 native on a laptop.
JP
ZynewaveSince I first designed the track inspector years ago as a panel inside the tracks region, the inspector has grown in size with the addition of embedded plugin editors and the group panel. I’m considering moving the inspector out of the tracks region and instead embed it as a panel at the left edge of the browser window, similar to the “List” panel at the right edge. Imagine there is an “Inspector” tab at the top left corner, just before the project tab. This has the advantage that the inspector can be the full height of the window, and showing the mixer will not reduce the height.
What do you think?
Podianer@Zynewave wrote:
Since I first designed the track inspector years ago as a panel inside the tracks region, the inspector has grown in size with the addition of embedded plugin editors and the group panel. I’m considering moving the inspector out of the tracks region and instead embed it as a panel at the left edge of the browser window, similar to the “List” panel at the right edge. Imagine there is an “Inspector” tab at the top left corner, just before the project tab. This has the advantage that the inspector can be the full height of the window, and showing the mixer will not reduce the height.
What do you think?
Sounds good to me! 🙂
negativegOne thing to possibly consider is the fact that when I look at the new arrangement, I can’t tell that the Drums track (purple) goes through zMaster unless the track (or child) is selected. On the old arrangement, I can glance to see it goes through something.
Perhaps a visual clue might help, for example on the tracks with have ‘hidden effects’ as parents, maybe the arrow pointing to the parent could be a double arrow. So when you glance at an arrangement, I can see which tracks have these hidden effects/tracks.
ZynewaveOne thing to possibly consider is the fact that when I look at the new arrangement, I can’t tell that the Drums track (purple) goes through zMaster unless the track (or child) is selected. On the old arrangement, I can glance to see it goes through something.
I’m thinking about adding a miniature group panel to the track headers. This will show the mappings that are on the hidden tracks in the chain. Thus the zMaster plugin will appear on the master track header.
Conquistador@Zynewave wrote:
Since I first designed the track inspector years ago as a panel inside the tracks region, the inspector has grown in size with the addition of embedded plugin editors and the group panel. I’m considering moving the inspector out of the tracks region and instead embed it as a panel at the left edge of the browser window, similar to the “List” panel at the right edge. Imagine there is an “Inspector” tab at the top left corner, just before the project tab. This has the advantage that the inspector can be the full height of the window, and showing the mixer will not reduce the height.
What do you think?
I think that is a good idea but maybe putting it after the arrangement tab is better? I would think it is safe to assume a user would access the Inspector much more often than the Project or Arrangement tabs so placing it after the Arrangment tab makes more sense to me ( right next to it).
One thing to possibly consider is the fact that when I look at the new arrangement, I can’t tell that the Drums track (purple) goes through zMaster unless the track (or child) is selected. On the old arrangement, I can glance to see it goes through something.
Perhaps a visual clue might help, for example on the tracks with have ‘hidden effects’ as parents, maybe the arrow pointing to the parent could be a double arrow. So when you glance at an arrangement, I can see which tracks have these hidden effects/tracks.
That is an excellent observation. I totally agree. It would be very confusing to have the Inspector tab hidden or closed and then have to guess which FX is processing what track.
Ok the mixer will show that info by just double clicking the Mixer header to “auto slide” up the mixer but…with so much critical info going into the GP, it must be made obvious in Compact mode (at track level) what exactly is happening track wise, with some sort of visual icon.
I think negativeg’s idea is a good one. A small double arrow would work…maybe placed before the track name (to avoid problems with long track names) and with a number next to it that changes with tracks added above it or Group / parent tracks added above it.
So a track with NI’s Massive on it being processed by 3 tracks in compact mode would looke like this…
^^3 Massive
Instead of just “Massive” which would give no visual clue as to how many parent racks it has in Compact mode…that seems simple enough a solution IMO.
I’m thinking about adding a miniature group panel to the track headers. This will show the mappings that are on the hidden tracks in the chain. Thus the zMaster plugin will appear on the master track header.
I do like the sound of this suggestion but I would have to see a mock up to really get the idea. How much “mini” it would be is something I would really like to see..it sounds like it might work though…the other double arrow suggestion with numbers is also good IMO.
ZynewaveBeta 1 of the 1.95 release can now be downloaded from the download topic in the VIP lounge.
There are still things that needs to be fixed, and more features still to come. But since this release has been in development for a long time now, I would appreciate some feedback on the new stuff. Here’s a list of the changes so far:
• The arrangement properties dialog has a new “track layout mode” option which can be set to “compact” or “modular routing”. The modular routing mode is the same as the layout used in previous Podium versions. The new compact mode presents the tracks in a simpler form.
• In compact track layout mode, all parameter tracks are shown at the bottom of the track chains. Parameter tracks controlling plugins further up the chain is shown with the parameter name followed by the plugin name in parentheses.
• The tracks in the group panel are divided into blocks for each effect chain (e.g. master chain, group chain and audio/instrument chain). Each block has a menu button with shortcuts for selecting and creating new tracks within the parent group. At the bottom of the menu is a “move track” submenu, which has commands for moving the selected track within the parent group, moving the track to a different group, and moving a range of tracks into a new group.
• The track context menu in the group panel has been redesigned. New commands include “new effect track”, “new bounce track” and a “move track” submenu which allows moving tracks around in the chain.
• Added “use as group track” option to the track properties dialog. Group tracks will be available in the new group panel menus with commands for managing tracks in groups. Note that normal tracks will appear as group tracks, if you have used modular routing mode to set up more than one child track.
• The “hide track lane” track option is now available for all tracks in compact track layout mode. This makes it possible to e.g. hide the track lanes for bus returns, if you prefer to adjust bus returns in the mixer. Setting up busses in the new arrangement dialog now by default hides the bus return track lanes.
• Shortcuts Ctrl+PageUp and Ctrl+PageDn will move the focus track up and down within the parent group.
• Specifying a color for a track will apply to parent tracks in a track chain if a color is not specified for the parent tracks.
• The buttons in the track headers are tinted with the track color.
• Added “black/white key intensity” setting to the piano roll properties dialog. Setting this to 100% will paint solid black/white keys.
• Added “hide muted ghost notes” option to the piano roll region dialog.
• The project name written in the browser page tab will blink once, as confirmation when saving the project.
• The E shortcut key now closes the editor if the plugin window has focus.
• Fix: The merge sequence command was not working properly when used in arrangements configured for linear time resolution.
pernstI like the new compact track concept. It is very easy to un-clutter effect chains. Also, thank you for the option to hide ghost notes from muted tracks. It is a boon for my work. I will let you know if I find any issues. I must say, very impressive work Mr. Nielsen.
Peace
acousmodsome first impressions :
New Track problem, in both modular and compact modes :
– if I create a new arrangement with a any number of default tracks, including 0, there is no track, and I cannot create new ones
– if I open an arrangement which has already some tracks which are childs I cannot create new ones
– in the same arrangement, if I change the hierarchy position of one track I can create new ones
– in all cases I can create new effects tracks or bounce tracks with the right click option in the Inspector, so just the New track option via menu or shortcut is affected
– in modular mode there is no more hierarchy number in the Track Properties
Automation :
I appreciate that I can now record automation of more than one plugin in a chain and that all the automation tracks are grouped and show the waveform !
But in compact mode it is not obvious to do because :
– there is no indication that a track is in record mode if it is hidden
– a R button must be available together the X and E buttons in the Inspector
– something must be visible on the track
Others :
– when I create one or more track FX there is no indication on the track itself that it has FX or not
– in the Inspector it is not obvious to have to select a track with the little left edge, it must be more intuitive to do it when I click on the name and to open the insert menu with an arrow at its right edge or with the right click menu
As always I am sorry for my bad english and my laborious explainations…
acousmod• Fix: The merge sequence command was not working properly when used in arrangements configured for linear time resolution.
Thanks A LOT !!!
acousmodIs there a shortcut to switch between the modular and compact mode ?
Could the Arrangement Compact view could be used with the compact mode and the Modular view with the normal arrangement ?
Could the mode be saved in screensets ?
Zynewaveif I create a new arrangement with a any number of default tracks, including 0, there is no track, and I cannot create new ones
Please explain. I don’t see a problem here when creating new arrangements. Is your project set up properly with audio output mappings etc.?
But in compact mode it is not obvious to do because :
– there is no indication that a track is in record mode if it is hidden
– a R button must be available together the X and E buttons in the Inspector
– something must be visible on the track
I’ll get around to this. The same block that is shown for a track chain in the inspector will be shown on the track header. The record buttons will be available in this panel.
Is there a shortcut to switch between the modular and compact mode ?
No, and it is not stored in the screensets. You may find it necessary to switch between the two modes currently, but hopefully when compact mode is implemented fully it will not be necessary to switch to modular mode to do certain tasks.
acousmodPlease explain. I don’t see a problem here when creating new arrangements. Is your project set up properly with audio output mappings etc.?
Of course.
There is yet some working arrangements in the project.
I have used them for my previous test.
I simply select New Arrangement with default 4 track or other value, and there is no track in this new arrangement.
Then If I select New track, no track is created.
It is the same if I choose Compact or Modular.
I’ll get around to this. The same block that is shown for a track chain in the inspector will be shown on the track header. The record buttons will be available in this panel.
Perfect 🙂
hopefully when compact mode is implemented fully it will not be necessary to switch to modular mode to do certain tasks.
OK.
Actually, to be frank, I don’t like very much the Inspector and how to use it.
I prefer a lot to see what I do in the track view.
What I like a lot in the compact mode is :
– the new order of automation tracks and how I can record automation, collapsing the automation tracks without hidding the audio track
– the way how I can move a group of tracks simply without having to collapse it before
– there is no more risk to move accidentaly a track in the hierarchy
Something that is perhaps a bit strange : adding a group track in the track view and adding a Effect track in the Inspector is the same, no ?
Don’t you think that it must be the same word ?
Or is there some subtility ?
ZynewaveI simply select New Arrangement with default 4 track or other value, and there is no track in this new arrangement.
Then If I select New track, no track is created.
It is the same if I choose Compact or Modular.
Strange. Please email your project file.
Something that is perhaps a bit strange : adding a group track in the track view and adding a Effect track in the Inspector is the same, no ?
Don’t you think that it must be the same word ?
I have not made changes to the track header context menu so far. I’ve primarily focused on getting the track inspector functionality done. Eventually the track headers and the track menu will adopt the new features of the track inspector.