Control surface? Why?

decrink wrote on 9/20/2003, 8:21 PM
In another thread 'WT' asks why a control surface interface would be worthwhile in Vegas. He suggests that it wouldn't fit with Vegas' current interface. I think its a good question. If there was interface support, why and what would be the point? How would it work?

I've worked with PT interface that allows mute, faders that move to memorize positions and much more.

How do users envision this in Vegas, if it is even possible.

Comments

pwppch wrote on 9/20/2003, 11:34 PM
I would also be interested in why _not_ to have external control surface support in Vegas.

Personally, once I got to using it in PTools (and tried in other apps such as Nuendo and SONAR) I can very much see the application. There is no need to map surface to UI components. The external surface should be viewed as an "alternate" UI to the GUI that the app provides. Vegas is not about emulating hardware in its UI. Rather it removes those restrictions that a physical DAW presents. However, the combination of a traditional hardware interface with the flexability and use of a software DAW/NLE makes for the best of both worlds.

Peter
WT wrote on 9/21/2003, 3:04 PM
I was just wondering how one could work such a thing into Vegas without resorting to the virtual mixing-board paradigm that clutters Steinberg et al's products. I took a look at Nuendo a couple weeks ago and was appalled how much real estate the bloody mixing board takes up. At least in Logic, you can fit what seems to be twice as many channel strips into the same space.

I'm intrigued by this idea of using the control surface as an "alternate" UI. Methinks you've had the time to think this through and have a good idea how to implement it. I'm sure SoFo's figured out a way to work control surface support in without wrecking the famous Vegas interface. Exciting times ahead, I think!

Don't get me wrong... I love the idea of grabbing faders and turning knobs. In fact, I'm considering picking up a Tascam DM24, and would love to be able to use it to control mixes in my DAW, but haven't really figured out how to do so in a way that doesn't actually impede my workflow.

Always good to hear from you, Peter. ; )

WT
Rednroll wrote on 9/22/2003, 12:56 PM
"I was just wondering how one could work such a thing into Vegas without resorting to the virtual mixing-board paradigm that clutters Steinberg et al's products. "

My vision is that Vegas's UI wouldn't have to resort to the paradigm mixer section, which I also hate within Steinberg and Protools. Vegas already has it's own mixer section located on to the left of the track data, with faders, Mute, Solo, insert buttons,pans, and sends. It also has the "mixer section" for audio buses, and FX busses. These are perfect in Vegas, because I can resize them, but they're always available. In other words, I don't have to goto the Menu, and open the "Master", or "channel" like in Steinberg products. This is very confusiing, because then I have to remember what song part is on each track. With Vegas, the slider is right next to the audio track with a scribble pad for making notes. What else would be needed?

My envisionment is also along the lines of what Peter stated. The control surface is just a paralel or "alternate" control of what is already there, thus I can move a track fader with my mouse via the software, or H/W via an external controler. Each would move, no matter which one I moved. I also don't think the volume and pan envelopes currently in Vegas need to be part of the control surface, it should be just an addition to the fader level, like it currently is, the only difference is now I have a physical knob to grab for the faders.