If you had to stick to one DAW, which one would it be?

[jens]

The problem is that you quickly run out of letters. e.g. Should "M" be mute or should it turn the metronome on? Fortunately it is all completely customisable in Studio Pro, although I have found that, generally, changing things from the default ends up being confusing, so I tend to leave them as they are.

You touch a few relevant points/issues there...

Most DAWs come with a huge number of shortcuts predefined where the majority of them you'll most likely never need. Also, the more shortcuts you use, the more difficult and confusing it gets. For this reason I find it to be good practice to first (if possible at all) wipe these all clean, then to afterwards start defining my own shortcuts/macros (which partly will depend on the DAW in question). For that, I always tend to use the same shortcuts*, regardless of what DAW I use. (e.g. M is the mixer, C is the metronome (=click), crtl+m is clip-mute (I don't have a shortcut for track-muting but use the GUI-elements for it instead). L is loop on/off, X is snap on/off, S is split item (clip) at cursor, etc. . All in all I use probably ten to fiveteen shortcuts/macros. That feels like a good number to me.



*most of them still come from my good old energyXT 1.x days. (I.e. I've been using them for more than 20 years in any number of DAWs.)

[TheMaestro]

1. Reason 15
2. Windows
3. ScreamTracker
4. energyXT

[machinesworking]

Fortunately it is all completely customisable in Studio Pro, although I have found that, generally, changing things from the default ends up being confusing, so I tend to leave them as they are.

Same, but I make exceptions that make sense, like d for duplicate, and DP defaults to left right arrow keys to move MIDI notes forward and backward on the MIDI editor but doesn't default to up down arrow keys for moving notes up and down so I set that one up as well. I think that's the extent of my customization.

Oh, and I don't know many people who use the Apple mouse, almost zero really. I've used Logitech mice for 25 years with Mac OS, and this has to be the fifth or sixth time we've gone over this.

What's super helpful is a shortcut or function search feature that fires them off. DP and Bitwig excel there. Much better than searching through menu bar items,

Generally speaking, I don't like using a search function within an application, I prefer to learn how to find things myself. The kids at work, who grew up with search inside After Effects, have no f**king idea where anything is without it and because they always use it, they don't learn about handy things, like the fact that After Effects, like Photoshop, always puts the last used effect at the top of the menu so it's right there next time. At least I've taught them that they don't need a Wacom tablet to do their work, that it gets in the way more than it helps anything.

Mostly I avoid the top menu at all costs, I know where everything is, I'm just not interested in wrist damage for things I can memorize shortcuts for, are in contextual menus, or are accessible with a Run Command.

[BONES]

Wrist damage? I can't think that way, my wrist does what I f**king well tell it to, no discussion.

[VOODOO U]

Whereas I am much more inclined the ditch the keyboard.

The mouse has it's uses but if I can get it done with buttons all the better.

I think the best way to get familiar with new software is to take an project you made in your old software and rebuild it from scratch in the new application. Even if you are using the same plugins, you'll learn the host more quickly if you have a goal that requires you to use all the parts of the application you need to finish something.

As long as you don't get frustrated before developing a flow with the DAW.

Whilst I agree with the sentiment, the reason people used to make it work with tape and a razor blade was that they didn't have a DAW to work in.

They didn't bitch and moan about the gear or if they did it didn't stop music production because of any shortcomigs.
Lots nowadays don't finish anything because the DAW doesn't inspire them when it should be the music that inspires them to get shit done with Reaper. Or Tape 16 (whatever the f**k that new retro toy is called).

I don't understand why people are content to make something sound like it was done in the 70s or 80s when it could sound so much better.

I think it all sounds like shit now. It's way over prefected. The recordings are so polished it's piercing. The quantizing too stiff it's like a roller coaster with square turns as opposed to flowing curves. Even some drum machines back in the 80s had a loose swing to them.

[legendCNCD]

1. Reason 15
2. Windows
3. ScreamTracker
4. energyXT

1. Protracker 2.3f
2. Octamed SoundStudio !
3. Fasttracker II
... then come the other trackers

[Jim Roseberry]

For keyboard shortcuts and Macros, I like using a Streamdeck XL.

It's hard to remember 101 different key-commands... especially those beyond the most common.
With streamdeck (or similar), each is a dedicated button.
ie: I can zoom in/out with my left hand... and place the mouse where I want with the right.
For me, it helps speed-up navigation. Kind of a "smart extension" of the keyboard.
Waiting impatiently for Elgato to actually release the + XL (more buttons, knobs, and touch-screen).

Also thinking about picking up a Tour Box Elite (almost looks like a game controller).
Commonly used for Video/Photo editing... but can be used for other applications.
For me, this would be primarily for Davinci Resolve.

[elxsound]

I’m happy for when I don’t need to use the mouse. I’m a big fan of shortcuts.

I also use a Streamdeck XL which is very helpful.

I don’t think anything should only be accessible via shortcut, but I hope there’s keyboard shortcuts for most everything.

[audiojunkie]

With all of these suggestions, it has got me thinking. I could use a second keyboard (Bluetooth, wireless, or even wired for that matter), and use the key stickers, as has been mentioned, and have that keyboard just for the key commands. It wouldn't affect my regular keyboard, and would give me the things I need to improve my workflow, without having to "memorize" the key commands. I could still keep my on-screen custom mouse buttons, but this might be an additional option.

EDIT: I did some additional looking, and there are class compliant, "Macro Keypads" that do this too. So there are lots of options available that can make it easier for those who don't want to (or can't) memorize tons of keyboard shortcuts.

[EnGee]

Studio one/Pro has done a great job regarding the shortcuts. I don't have to memorise any. I just enable the info view (with the ? sign) in the toolbar and whenever I hover my mouse, it shows me the shortcuts available. Although, I'm already using several similar shortcuts from Cubase, but I find SP8 shortcuts even easier

With the days passing by, I'm sticking more and more with the Studio Pro 8. It has everything I need (score editor, great workflow and design, 5 activations, Windows/Mac/Linux support, good enough native plugins especially the Mustang and Rumble amps as I bought a bass guitar recently).

I have finally decided to sell my other DAWs and keep only Reason as my second DAW. I might buy another guitar (acoustic) with the money as I find learning Bass/Guitar more rewarding than spending time with soft synths

[machinesworking]

Wrist damage? I can't think that way, my wrist does what I f**king well tell it to, no discussion.

Are we being coy and pretending that wrist injuries aren't a common occurrence with mice or are you barreling through arthritis like a champ?

I've had the beginnings in the past, and mixing it up is 100% the best solution here. Another good reason to use the shortcuts that make sense to.

[BONES]

I don't really know anyone who has wrist problems with a mouse and I work in an industry where we all use a mouse 8+ hours a day. I've had shoulder issues on my mouse-hand side, caused by poor ergonomics, in the past but I sorted that out easily enough. The only time I had hand/wrist issues was with an Apple Magic mouse, which I used for one morning before going out in my lunch-hour and buying a proper mouse. That was more about cramps than joint issues, though.

To be fair, I seem to be made of sterner stuff than most. Pretty much all my old army colleagues have had at least one knee reconstruction/replacement, many have had both done, and a couple have had hip replacements but I haven't had any of those problems. Mind you, the trade-off is that I am the least flexible person I know, I've never in my life been able to touch my toes without bending my knees.

I recently started running again, at 67, and everyone keeps telling me how I have to look after my body but my attitude is, as expressed above, that my body does what I f**king tell it to and if I have to work through a bit of pain, then so be it.

[Seafire Mk2]

.

I recently started running again, at 67, and everyone keeps telling me how I have to look after my body

Totally pointless. You will do more harm than good.

A good stroll everyday is much better. And not being a lard arse, which you seem to be addressing.

You are fuckin old tho, and with your rage and weight problems, you should def keep exercise to a slow and steady regime.

You're welcome...

[legendCNCD]

I don't really know anyone who has wrist problems with a mouse and I work in an industry where we all use a mouse 8+ hours a day.

<offtopic>
Back in time, when I started doing UI graphics design I developed Epicondylitis https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epicondylitis ... almost a month away from work, heavy opiates for pain, pressure wrap and some muscle training.

Kinda funny I did 'normal' graphics work, but for some reason the UI graphics work tore my arm sore.
I've never had any problems with muscles until that came up.

[whyterabbyt]

but for some they get super annoyed every time they have to open a plugin window with the tiny icon on the subwindow because the command doesn't work until you "prime" it.

Just so you know, Nandi at Elizabeth Homeland just annnounced M4L device stuff that may be in that territory. Leverages a feature just added to the beta, so not yet for the 'consumer release of Live, though.

https://www.elisabethhomeland.com/colle ... ndows-pack

This MaxForLive pack contains 4 devices that lets you manage your Plugin floating windows in Ableton Live:

- Toggle the selected plugins window

- Create a snapshot of the currently opened plugin windows to recall it later.

- Toggle all plugin windows on the selected track

- Close every plugin window in Live.

These actions are Key, and MIDI mappable and accessible from Push.