Your Cubase layouts (workspaces)...

[disturb]

hi folks,

I've been trying hard to get away form sx, but i keep coming back to it... So i made myself a reason, i'll have to deal with it.
One of my biggest grudges was the ergonomics, UI wise.

So i was wondering what kind of layouts (now called workspaces i believe) you guys use to improve your workflow ?
Screenshots are welcome

cheers


PS : i've recently found a tool that might help too, it's called freeshade, and it allows one to roll up a window to its title bar by right clicking on it. It works within sx, and can be quite handy i believe.
http://www.hmmn.org/FreeShade/

[chagzuki]

My favorite arrangement is to have the application closed.


But when I do use it, I have the arrange window on my first monitor, the midi window on my second, the mixer on my third and any VSTs on my forth.

[disturb]

thanks, this was quite helpful...

[chagzuki]

No probs. The workspace still seems cramped though. Hopefully it'll be sorted when I get my 5th monitor.



Sorry. I haven't used SX since version 1. I understand where you're coming from. I never found a workflow that I was happy with.

[Occa]

I set every window there is in SX to "Always on top", once I'm done working in a window I close it and reopen it when I need it again. This also gets rid of the anoying Arrange window not being maximised when I switch back to it.

Not sure if you can call it a "workflow" but I like working that way.

[disturb]

No probs. The workspace still seems cramped though. Hopefully it'll be sorted when I get my 5th monitor.



Sorry. I haven't used SX since version 1. I understand where you're coming from. I never found a workflow that I was happy with.

I thought you were kidding with the 4 monitors setup lol.
What graphic card(s) do you use to do that?
I've always thought that 4 monitors for sx would be the bomb, but can't afford this atm.

[disturb]

I set every window there is in SX to "Always on top", once I'm done working in a window I close it and reopen it when I need it again. This also gets rid of the anoying Arrange window not being maximised when I switch back to it.

Not sure if you can call it a "workflow" but I like working that way.

Yeah this prevents from chasing windows around, i do this a lot too.

[chagzuki]

I was kidding. I don't think it's all that unusual to use 3 though.
ATM I'm working on a small laptop screen mostly.

[disturb]

I think matrox has a 3 outputs video card, so that and a pci one would make this setup quite feasible. If one has room, crt screen are pretty cheap, so for like 500 bucks you can have plenty of workspace (the virtual one, cause obviously there won't be much space left in the studio...).
Besides that, it's an obvious lack of ergonomics that we dream of 4 monitors setups and such. My dream host would be a cross between sx's depth and live's cleverness. But right now i still hope i can be clever and make the best use of sx's depth, cause that's what i need the most.

[proletkult]

I have 2 monitors(matrox dual card) because I'm usually using Live or Giga. I have one template I use a lot(partly cause its the best way to keep using my uc-33 controller) with 6 folder tracks. 3 contain 24 audio tracks, 3 have 24 midi. I convert midi almost immediately to audio and switch the vst off. Then I just use the one mixer to run audio. Or is this not what you mean when you talk about improved workflow?

[n-04:05:03:05:7]

Here's how I'm using screensets with 2 LDC screens:

Arrange window (left monitor) + Mixer 1 (Right monitor) --> shortcut key = 1
Arrange window (left monitor) + Battery (Right monitor) --> shortcut key = 2
Arrange window (left monitor) + Plug-ins (Right monitor) --> shortcut key = 3
Arrange window (left monitor) + Pool (Right monitor) --> shortcut key = 4
Arrange window (left monitor) + blank (Right monitor) --> shortcut key = 5

Custom transport bar + CPU meter always visible on the right monitor. Piano Roll maximized on top of the arrange window on demand, just like the drum editor. Same for the sample and tempo track editors but on the right monitor.

I found that assigning screensets to the numeric key pad was the best solution for me, it's so fast to switch between sets like that. And finally, I'm using lot's of shortcuts + buttons 4+5 on a wireless intellimouse explorer to switch between tools + the generic remote for MIDI control.

[disturb]

hey n-04...etc
I was wondering about your mouse shortcuts, how did you set them to switch tools? I have a logitech mouse, with next/back buttons on a web navigator, is this the same kinda thing ?

prolekult, when i talk about improving workflow, i mean accessing the things you use the most quicker, with a better ergonomy...

cheers

[n-04:05:03:05:7]

Hi disturb,

I'm using the Microsoft wireless intellimouse explorer 2.0 (great btw) which comes with the Intellipoint 5.2 drivers. These drivers allows you to assign specific commands/shortcuts for each buttons *and for each application*. And yes, by default theses buttons works as next/back in a web browser and in XP's explorer shell.
Just check your Logitech control panel, you probably have the option too.
In SX, you have to use the corresponding shortcuts for "previous tool" and "next tool" ; "W" and "X" in my case, but most of my shortcuts are customized so these are not the default ones.

[n-04:05:03:05:7]

By default, it seems that SX is configured like this:

Previous Tool = ;
Next Tool = not assigned

[disturb]

well unfortunately i can't freely assign these buttons, i'll consider buying one of microsoft's mice then, cause it seems really handy....
This makes me think, that my gamer of a cousin used to have one of these :

If it works the same way as your mouse, this could be really neat, cause one could assign most of his main shortcuts to it....