Thanks Brian I may do something similar

SPOT, a few days ago mentioned a special keyboard that has all the keyboard shortcut keys stamped on them.

You may get better results by going here.

http://www.rsvp.ca/rsvp2002/category_info.cfm?sc=14

They created a Vegas Shortcut pdf to advertise their site.

The vegas keyboard is reviewed here.
http://www.digitalvideoediting.com/2003/10_oct/reviews/jfisher_keyboard.htm

If you want it and you like the above Vegas pdf, the rsvp site sells the keyboard too. As does Safe Harbour and Videoguys.

Zcheema put a thread on earlier about the keyboard I just have one problem. I use a laptop. I like to recline back. If I sit straight for too long its painful because I have a loose facet joint from years of weight training but thanks for the input all good ideas

I once started making an excel sheet of all the shortcuts which might be useful to me. I ended up with that solution:

Vegas Control

Marco

Marco that looks really professional.

Off to bed now its 11.37 here night everyone.

One hour later here. The night is mine again ... ;-)

Marco

If you have back pain, have you checked out an excercise ball?

You can do some great stretches and excercises on them. I know several people who use them as their desk chair.

>>> You may get better results by going here.
http://www.rsvp.ca/rsvp2002/category_info.cfm?sc=14
They created a Vegas Shortcut pdf to advertise their site.<<<

You sure this was for an advertisment? I only ask because if you look around a bit you will find this ominus page -

============
[IMAGE OF VV 4 MANUAL]
We have just been informed that Sonic Foundry will not permit us to print the above manual. It is an excellent resource and I encourage you to contact Sonic Foundry for a copy in .pdf format. The Authors are Top Notch and this file is a huge recommendation !!! RSVP Multimedia appologizes for getting your hopes up :(

We would have loved to provide the Vegas community with this high calibre color output to compliment this extraordinarily powerful software package.
============

So was this pre-Sony or post-Sony buy out?

The Vegas shortcut PDF is, as far as I know, their own work.

The manual obviously is not. Also, you will note that the Shortcut PDF is still available while the manual is not.

I don't think that they want to create a bad relationship with Sofo/Sony.
I found this on the forum where I first found this pdf. It's from RSVP

"There are differences between the Manuals p27-32 layout and the Keyboard Commands foldout layout but most of the content is the same. The headers are different ( Command & Shortcut vs Description & Keys. The Event Editing commands and the Events selection ( manual ) are combined into one header ( Event Selection & Editing )(Foldout)

The Foldout also has a cover sheet. For the most part however, you'll be able to find (somewhere or another)the same content in both Docs. I prefer the Foldout Layout personally but that's IMHO. "

Marco! Just visited your site . . .Brilliant, clean setup! I love it . . I've printed it off . . I'm doing a small inhouse demo to some colleagues today, of the "ease" and functionality of Vegas 4 . . . I'll show what an edit area SHOULD look like . . honestly Marco, truly a plain and simple - although complex - setup - love it . . I now have a plan ;-)

G

Marco,

Your edit suite looks great! Just one question: how did you build a custom keyboard? Are there kits around for that purpose, or are you just really, really good at building computer hardware?

Is this something someone with no soldering or electronics manufacture experience should even attempt?

Color me green with envy....

Brian, I did not build it on my own. I found somebody who's skilled enough and who has lots of time ... ;-)
He bought the keyboard matrix and a controller, connected both. He used a milling machine to build the case and put in matrix and controller.

What I got was a prebuild case with matrix and controller, a plan which shows where to place which kind of keys, a couple of keys and a couple of transparent keycaps.
The controller is used to delegate key-functions from the original keyboard to the selfmade one. Even some key-combinations like "Ctrl+C" can be delegated to ONE key of the selfmade keyboard.
For further functionality I used a macro-software to have even complex keystroke sequences delegated to only one key on the selfmade keyboard. This enables me to have functions like that "Clip aktiv", "last Clip", "next Clip", which selects both video and audio of the clip lying under the timelinecursor (of selected track). Or things like "Render as ..." - it's just one keystroke there. Also you can have your scripts selected by one keystroke. I hate keystroke-combination which forces me to use both hands or which knots my fingers.

I made a plan how to configure it and then I made the key-labels using a text-editor.
Put it all together and - works like a charm. :-)

So - you should have some electronic and handcraft skills to build and put together case and controller. Rest is not that difficult.

Marco

>> you forgot to label the two middle keys

Chips and BEER??? - I take scotch whysky instead of the beer ... ;-)))

No, I left the "Shift"-functionality to these two buttons, because there are two functions on the selfmade keyboard which are still available only when combing them with "Shift" (it's "transition to cut" - on the right hand of the blank keys and "jump to region/markers" - on the left hand of the blank keys). I'm still working on optimizing these functions to have it on one single key each.

But Chips and Whisky would be rather nice to ...

Marco

Graham, I'm still working on it. Thinking of a way to have Shuttle and selfmade keyboard integrated in one element. Not sure yet if this is a good idea. Sometimes it's better to be flexible in placing such kind of devices. Gimme some days ... ;-)

Marco

Who said the William Morris Arts 'n Crafts movement was dead? HUH!!

Ooohhhh . . I could knit one out of cardboard or Muesli - nice . .

g

Marco,

Way cool. I could see you developing a little cottage industry for those of us who are electronically inept. If you and your buddy could build a generic keypad box with user-programmable keys, sticker sets, and say a USB connection, I bet you could sell a few for $50-$100 a pop. I'd probably buy one.

I've seen similar things for AutoCad and Point-of-Sale applications, but they're pretty pricey, and don't look to be as customizable. I can imagine a wide variety of software that could benefit from a customized keypad.....

Just a thought.

>> I bet you could sell a few for $50-$100 a pop

This might be the weakest point. The material itself is bit more than $150. Also count 3 days of work for each (building, programming and labeling).

Marco

Ouch. You need to outsource that labor to a nice sweatshop somewhere where they don't care about that pesky minimum wage, worker safety or environmental standards....;-)

Meanwhile, I found this:
http://www.xkeys.com/xkeys.htm

See, you have competition and you didn't even know you were in business!