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Methods of Production...How to be efficient?
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Djones
IsraTrance Senior Member
Started Topics :
267
Posts :
1766
Posted : Feb 17, 2009 15:46
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On 2009-02-17 14:05, ~d2~ wrote:
Keyboard stickers.....unleash the power of hot keys.
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Anyone know where to get those cheap?
I'm finding 30 Euros outragesly expensive for a bunch of stickers. |
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~d2~
Inactive User
Started Topics :
7
Posts :
751
Posted : Feb 17, 2009 15:50
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I'll try and dig out where I got mine from.
What DAW you using? |
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Colin OOOD
Moderator
Started Topics :
95
Posts :
5380
Posted : Feb 17, 2009 20:26
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If you're going to use stickers I'd recommend putting them on a spare keyboard and using that until you've learned them, then changing back to your good keyboard without the stickers. Better still (sorry d2!) leave the stickers out of the equation and print off a list of shortcuts, or just assign shortcuts every time you use a function you think you'll be using often (assigning your own is a good way to learn them rapidly).
You don't want to be hunting round the keyboard for a particular shortcut; this will take your attention away from the screen and the sound and you'll be no faster this way than using the mouse and menus. Shortcuts need to be under your fingers immediately you need a particular function, and having stickers on the keys longterm will just encourage you to use your eyes to find the shortcut rather than learn them by heart. Just $0.02 based on my own experience.
 Mastering - http://mastering.OOOD.net :: www.is.gd/mastering
OOOD 5th album 'You Think You Are' - www.is.gd/tobuyoood :: www.OOOD.net
www.facebook.com/OOOD.music :: www.soundcloud.com/oood
Contact for bookings/mastering - colin@oood.net |
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Dharma Lab
Started Topics :
8
Posts :
342
Posted : Feb 17, 2009 20:30
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Quote:
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On 2009-02-17 20:26, Colin OOOD wrote:
If you're going to use stickers I'd recommend putting them on a spare keyboard and using that until you've learned them, then changing back to your good keyboard without the stickers. Better still (sorry d2!) leave the stickers out of the equation and print off a list of shortcuts, or just assign shortcuts every time you use a function you think you'll be using often (assigning your own is a good way to learn them rapidly).
You don't want to be hunting round the keyboard for a particular shortcut; this will take your attention away from the screen and the sound and you'll be no faster this way than using the mouse and menus. Shortcuts need to be under your fingers immediately you need a particular function, and having stickers on the keys longterm will just encourage you to use your eyes to find the shortcut rather than learn them by heart. Just $0.02 based on my own experience.
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A developer friend of mine bought a blank keyboard to code with for exactly the same idea: with no labels you can no longer depend on your vision as a crutch.
Keep The Faith,
Christian K. |
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Nectarios
Martian Arts
Started Topics :
187
Posts :
5292
Posted : Feb 17, 2009 20:31
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Stickers are for n00bs.
I am also against making your own shortcuts, cause you never know when you are going to be making tunes with someone else who is used to the default shortcuts, and it can really get on your tits when the inspiration juices are flowing.
Its not that hard, if you are spending enough time making tunes, you'll learn them in no time.
http://soundcloud.com/martianarts |
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~d2~
Inactive User
Started Topics :
7
Posts :
751
Posted : Feb 17, 2009 20:38
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Quote:
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On 2009-02-17 20:26, Colin OOOD wrote:
If you're going to use stickers I'd recommend putting them on a spare keyboard and using that until you've learned them, then changing back to your good keyboard without the stickers. Better still (sorry d2!) leave the stickers out of the equation and print off a list of shortcuts, or just assign shortcuts every time you use a function you think you'll be using often (assigning your own is a good way to learn them rapidly).
You don't want to be hunting round the keyboard for a particular shortcut; this will take your attention away from the screen and the sound and you'll be no faster this way than using the mouse and menus. Shortcuts need to be under your fingers immediately you need a particular function, and having stickers on the keys longterm will just encourage you to use your eyes to find the shortcut rather than learn them by heart. Just $0.02 based on my own experience.
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That's like not having the letters printed on the keys.
Sorry I just don't buy that one. It is a dam sight faster than using a mouse alone. Don't take my word for it though. Just look at commercial studio facilities with their Protools keyboards. Not to mention Avid users in the TV & post production world.
Your the first person I have met who thinks contrary. 
http://www.dv247.com/assets/products/33441_l.jpg
Commercial facilitates don't throw money at things that will slow work flow down. It just doesn't make any sense. |
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Colin OOOD
Moderator
Started Topics :
95
Posts :
5380
Posted : Feb 17, 2009 20:54
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Quote:
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On 2009-02-17 20:38, ~d2~ wrote:
Quote:
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On 2009-02-17 20:26, Colin OOOD wrote:
If you're going to use stickers I'd recommend putting them on a spare keyboard and using that until you've learned them, then changing back to your good keyboard without the stickers. Better still (sorry d2!) leave the stickers out of the equation and print off a list of shortcuts, or just assign shortcuts every time you use a function you think you'll be using often (assigning your own is a good way to learn them rapidly).
You don't want to be hunting round the keyboard for a particular shortcut; this will take your attention away from the screen and the sound and you'll be no faster this way than using the mouse and menus. Shortcuts need to be under your fingers immediately you need a particular function, and having stickers on the keys longterm will just encourage you to use your eyes to find the shortcut rather than learn them by heart. Just $0.02 based on my own experience.
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That's like not having the letters printed on the keys.
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Exactly There's a reason why people learn to touch-type rather than hunt-and-peck; it's much faster and leaves the user's focus where it should be - on the expression and creativity rather than on the tech.
This isn't to denigrate the use of stickers as a learning-aid - I started that way. But in the end you'll stop using them or want to assign your own shortcuts, at which point it helps to have a nice un-stickered keyboard.
Mastering - http://mastering.OOOD.net :: www.is.gd/mastering
OOOD 5th album 'You Think You Are' - www.is.gd/tobuyoood :: www.OOOD.net
www.facebook.com/OOOD.music :: www.soundcloud.com/oood
Contact for bookings/mastering - colin@oood.net |
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~d2~
Inactive User
Started Topics :
7
Posts :
751
Posted : Feb 17, 2009 21:05
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Quote:
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On 2009-02-17 20:54, Colin OOOD wrote:
Quote:
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On 2009-02-17 20:38, ~d2~ wrote:
Quote:
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On 2009-02-17 20:26, Colin OOOD wrote:
If you're going to use stickers I'd recommend putting them on a spare keyboard and using that until you've learned them, then changing back to your good keyboard without the stickers. Better still (sorry d2!) leave the stickers out of the equation and print off a list of shortcuts, or just assign shortcuts every time you use a function you think you'll be using often (assigning your own is a good way to learn them rapidly).
You don't want to be hunting round the keyboard for a particular shortcut; this will take your attention away from the screen and the sound and you'll be no faster this way than using the mouse and menus. Shortcuts need to be under your fingers immediately you need a particular function, and having stickers on the keys longterm will just encourage you to use your eyes to find the shortcut rather than learn them by heart. Just $0.02 based on my own experience.
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That's like not having the letters printed on the keys.
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Exactly There's a reason why people learn to touch-type rather than hunt-and-peck; it's much faster and leaves the user's focus where it should be - on the expression and creativity rather than on the tech.
This isn't to denigrate the use of stickers as a learning-aid - I started that way. But in the end you'll stop using them or want to assign your own shortcuts, at which point it helps to have a nice un-stickered keyboard.
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And the Protools world? How do you account for them? Fixed hot keys and labeled keyboards.
Everyone I know prefers them. The irony is that these are Pro facilities, so quite how you can say this is a learning aid is beyond me. It just makes things faster and more efficient, hence the professionals use them.
Colin you seem like a reasonably knowledgeable person, I am just struggling to understand you on this one. Maybe all those Pro engineers that favour the specially marked keyboards are all wrong. Maybe there is some big conspiracy and they only pretend to find them useful.
Are you seriously telling me some keyboard stickers or a specially marked keyboard will hinder creativity? Thats a bit far fetched, even for the Isratrance forum!! |
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x-rayz
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
11
Posts :
576
Posted : Feb 17, 2009 21:12
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nah D, hes right, u dont need letters on keyboard.. BTW, did u watched Hackers? When they painted keyboard in military green? There were no letters on keyboards.. Pro dactilographs dont look at the keyboard when they type.. And that pro tools noobs are just showing off with fancy keyboards, no big deal..
Also that two monitor thingie, no need for two LCD, thats for lazy and unorganized..
Like I said, u cant work fast if ur not well organized, nor u cant see good if u dont organize your workspaces.. Most DAWs have very customizable workspaces which if used right replace dozens of LCDs..
http://www.facebook.com/xrayzproductions
http://www.myspace.com/xrayzproductions |
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x-rayz
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
11
Posts :
576
Posted : Feb 17, 2009 21:13
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Colin OOOD
Moderator
Started Topics :
95
Posts :
5380
Posted : Feb 17, 2009 21:19
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<shrugs>
I've just said what works for me; take it or leave it. It's made me lightning-fast on my DAW of choice (and is rapidly increasing my speed on those I don't use so often) and therefore it's something I wanted to recommend for consideration in this thread about 'how to be efficient'. From the other replies to this point it seems I'm not the only one to think this way. I don't think any of the pros you talk about actually need the stickers to find the shortcut they need any more; to my mind they wouldn't be particularly 'pro' if they did. Relying on your eyes to find a shortcut means constantly changing one's visual focus between the keyboard and screen and I find it hard to understand how this can in any way be considered an 'efficient way to work'. As for 'pro facilities vs. learning aid', I was referring to stickers being a learning aid for learning the shortcuts, not the facilities themselves as it seems you were saying.
In my view some people buy stickered keyboards to help shore up their own sense of being a 'pro' ("look at me, I've got a keyboard dedicated to 'Tools because I use it so often!!!11!"), and as you no doubt know from the work you've evidently done in large-scale commercial studios, these places are not above making small, cheap purchases which make the place look more impressive to prospective paying clients. Not that that's the only reason of course, but I bet you anything you like it's been a consideration for some.
But yes, in the long term, I think that relying on a visual aid such as stickers will hinder the rapidity with which the user becomes familiar enough with the keyboard layout to use it instinctively, which is the end goal.
Mastering - http://mastering.OOOD.net :: www.is.gd/mastering
OOOD 5th album 'You Think You Are' - www.is.gd/tobuyoood :: www.OOOD.net
www.facebook.com/OOOD.music :: www.soundcloud.com/oood
Contact for bookings/mastering - colin@oood.net |
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~d2~
Inactive User
Started Topics :
7
Posts :
751
Posted : Feb 17, 2009 21:19
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Quote:
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On 2009-02-17 21:12, x-rayz wrote:
nah D, hes right, u dont need letters on keyboard.. BTW, did u watched Hackers? When they painted keyboard in military green? There were no letters on keyboards.. Pro dactilographs dont look at the keyboard when they type.. And that pro tools noobs are just showing off with fancy keyboards, no big deal..
Also that two monitor thingie, no need for two LCD, thats for lazy and unorganized..
Like I said, u cant work fast if ur not well organized, nor u cant see good if u dont organize your workspaces.. Most DAWs have very customizable workspaces which if used right replace dozens of LCDs..
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OK then all those pro engineers that use them are making it up 
And all those studio managers who invest in them are making really bad business decisions.
I am not saying you have to use them. I am just questioning Colin's theory that they are for newbies. It just doesn't add up when you consider how many Pro facilities use them.
The thing is, if you do learn to touch type then what difference does it matter if you have them? And if you forget one, no need to grab a shortcut list. Look down at the keyboard. Its ridiculous to suggest that this would effect creativity. |
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Colin OOOD
Moderator
Started Topics :
95
Posts :
5380
Posted : Feb 17, 2009 21:21
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Colin OOOD
Moderator
Started Topics :
95
Posts :
5380
Posted : Feb 17, 2009 21:40
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~d2~
Inactive User
Started Topics :
7
Posts :
751
Posted : Feb 17, 2009 21:42
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Yeah maybe I should take my stickers off so I can get my creative juices back. Its amazing to think that a few stickers can impede my expressive capabilities so much.
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