[Ardour-Users] Hm...

[Joe Hartley]

On Tue, 31 Aug 2010 20:20:40 +0200
Ralf Mardorf <ralf.mardorf at alice-dsl.net> wrote:
> Not only all the studio hardware is expensive itself, but does need a
> lot of room. There isn't such room for the DAW using one or two screens.
              . . .
> Cutting a tape with a knife is very comfortable, 

I spent years splicing tape until I got my first computer with a
halfway decent sampling interface (an Amiga).  Once I made my first 
digital splice, I never went back!

> at least a jog wheel
> could add this real comfort to a DAW too and there are remote controls,
> some are less expensive and can be used with a lot of DAWs,
> http://www.korg.de/produkte/pc-tools/nanokon-produktinfo/nanokon-produktinfo-1.html.
              . . .
> I always prefer a "real" mixing console to any virtual, just because of
> the tactile 'feedback'

I have had a lot of success with the Behringer BCF2000, a MIDI control surface 
like the Korg noted above, but with flying faders that reflect the level!
I agree that having such a device makes it easier to do a number of tasks, 
but it also adds to the learning curve of a DAW up front.

> The problem is to get the Volkswagen studio to one screen or two screens
> around 1024x786. Than two learn how to use this design without tactile
> 'feedback' (don't know how to say on English).

The answer here (for me, at least), is virtual workspaces.  I use Fluxbox
as my window manager, but I know that both KDE and Gnome offer them as well.
I have 2 1600x900 monitors on the system.  When I'm recording or mixing, I'll
have Ardour on my primary workspace, with the editor on the left monitor and
the mixer on the right.

If I'm using plugins or digital synths, I add another workspace, and all those
windows are grouped together in that workspace.  Often I'll put them on the
right-hand monitor, and make the Ardour editor window "sticky" so that whatever
workspace I'm in, Ardour will still be immediately available to me.  The mixer
is usually less important since I'll use the BCF to control the mixing.

Even though I'd had years of experience with studio work and multitrack
recording, it took me a month or two before I was comfortable enough to
use Ardour for some real recording work.  I'm still learning it!  I have
gotten proficient enough at it now to be comfortable with my workflow and
how to most easily access the things I'll use frequently during a session.
That includes patching in my outboard processing gear!  There's a lot less
of it now, though - I got rid of most of my outboard processing gear because
the plugins available now are as good or better than what I had.

-- 
======================================================================
       Joe Hartley - UNIX/network Consultant - jh at brainiac.com
 Without deviation from the norm, "progress" is not possible. - FZappa