PRV Shootout: CbB vs 2017.01

PRV Shootout: CbB vs 2017.01

Obviously, everyone has a different work flow so lets agree that my methods are mine, and not expected to be adopted by anyone else, and also that my opinion is totally subjective.

My personal bottom line of this is:
For me, any Sonar legacy newer than 2017.01 and also CbB are downgrades in work flow.

My specific reasons are below.
Granted, some of them are very minor but the sum of all is enough to keep me at 2017.01 unless there are changes made.

CbB PRV:
1) The Width of the right side track list column is set to snap at certain places making the ability to maximize horizontal screen space limited.
1b) The MSR buttons are on the far right necessitating loss of horizontal view.
2) SHFT+C No Longer works to Show a Hidden Controller pane.
3) In order to the see the notes of all tracks in the PRV at the same time we have to have every track highlighted.
CTRL+A no longer works to select all tracks.
We have to mouse wipe down across the numbers to select all tracks. (Mouse Needy)

Setting up a specific view of selected (highlighted) tracks in PRV and then locking the screenset doesn't retain that setting of selection upon reopening the project, even with a locked screenset. SPLAT 2017.01 is perfect in this respect.

The colours are weaker in CbB than in 2017.01.

4) In CbB Auto lock locks all but the selected track. It's no longer possible to lock tracks selectively.
In CbB locking tracks is not nearly as rigid as in SPLAT 2017.01.

Problem Example:
I have a solo viola line surrounded and sometimes overlapped by 6 wood wind tracks.
I want to be able to see all 7 tracks in full color and be able to change the wood wind harmony supporting the viola,
but have only the viola track locked to prevent editing, and I want to select the wood wind parts by clicking the notes in the PRV.
It's just Not possible. I have to keep auto lock off and be careful not to alter the viola track.
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Contrarily in SPLAT 2017.01:
1) The width of the right side track list is not snapped and is able to be placed to show as much horizontal real estate I need.
2) The MSR buttons are on the left side and easily accessible when the column is even only 1 inch wide.
3) All notes are always visible unless the track is hidden by ticking the color box for the track.
3b) Switching to one track only being visible is as easy as un-ticking the color box and typing a "V".
Returning to seeing all tracks is as easy as typing an "A".
4) Auto lock is selective on a per track basis and those tracks stay locked until intentionally unlocked
making editing unlocked tracks tightly interlaced with locked tracks a breeze.
That locked state stays intact upon reopening a project.
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The Controller Pane Comparison:
This section gets special detailed attention.
5) Controller pane - showing multiple lanes but different lanes per PRV instance.

Example: in SPLAT 2017.01
27 string tracks and 3 Instances of the PRV with all 27 tracks open in each.

PRV 1 is showing 4 lanes - Velocity, Modulation, Volume and Expression
PRV 2 is showing Velocity only with the controller pane 50% of the way up the screen.
PRV 3 is showing expression only with the controller pane 50% of the way up the screen.

When I reopen the project, everything is exactly the way I left it, (*&*&) as long as I:
1) Change to an other screenset and then back to my strings screenset.
2) Then lock the strings screenset.

Fast switching of Controller Views with no need for a mouse:
To switch to the view showing only velocity, from the view showing 4 lanes -
CTRL+SHFT+Arrow Right
Bip, bip bap - - - and there it is.
Never have to touch the mouse and it's as fast as greased lighting, and it's always exactly where I left it last save.( see *&*& above)
To switch to the view showing only expression, from the view showing 4 lanes -
CTRL+SHFT+Arrow Right(X2)
Bip, bip bap BAP - - - and there it is.
Never have to touch the mouse and it's as fast as greased lighting, and it's always exactly where I left it last save.( see *&*& above)
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Contrarily in CbB:
I set it to show multiple lanes and set up my 3 PRV
the same way by closing lanes in each PRV.
As soon as I touch a track in the track list on the right All Controller lanes come back.
I uncheck Show Multiple Lanes in one of the PRV and select Expression.
As soon as I change to an other track, expression is de-selected and velocity is selected.
So, in CbB I need to continually select my Expression lane every time I change to an other track by using a mouse,
and or the same for any controller other than velocity.
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Once again,
Obviously, everyone has a different work flow so lets agree that my methods are mine, and not expected to be adopted by anyone else, and also that my opinion is totally subjective.
However, I'd like to hear what you think about the above comparison, and if you have specific reasons why the new PRV is better for you work flow then please let me know. I might learn something.
Thank you,
Steve

2017.01 is totally pre new PRV. 
The new PRV started at 2017.02

I've never gone past 2017.01 because of the issues I mention above.

I was just compelled to clarify, for my own sake, that CbB is the same PRV as 2017.02 and forward,
sans the dark option when using themes other than Mercury.

Yea those are both attractive items.
I'd love it if they got the controller pane to behave more stably.

Kev999

Steve_Karl
...Setting up a specific view of selected (highlighted) tracks in PRV and then locking the screenset doesn't retain that setting of selection upon reopening the project, even with a locked screenset. SPLAT 2017.01 is perfect in this respect...

 
This is an important issue for me too. In most of my projects, I have several instances of PRV docked in the undocked multidock, each with a different filter applied. And I always have a particular screenset exclusively dedicated to drums, with PRV displaying the drum pane. When I updated to 2017.10 I found that PRV settings were not saved when the project was closed, so I ended up reverting back to an earlier version. I was hoping that the problem would have been fixed before the release of CbB. It's disappointing.

Anyway, thanks for the heads up. I wasn't able to test this myself as my CbB is stuck in demo mode.

Set your Lenses to "none"

Bristol_Jonesey

Kev999

Steve_Karl
...Setting up a specific view of selected (highlighted) tracks in PRV and then locking the screenset doesn't retain that setting of selection upon reopening the project, even with a locked screenset. SPLAT 2017.01 is perfect in this respect...

 
This is an important issue for me too. In most of my projects, I have several instances of PRV docked in the undocked multidock, each with a different filter applied. And I always have a particular screenset exclusively dedicated to drums, with PRV displaying the drum pane. When I updated to 2017.10 I found that PRV settings were not saved when the project was closed, so I ended up reverting back to an earlier version. I was hoping that the problem would have been fixed before the release of CbB. It's disappointing.

Anyway, thanks for the heads up. I wasn't able to test this myself as my CbB is stuck in demo mode.

Set your Lenses to "none"

 
I've never used Lenses. What happens when you set them to "none"?

Steve - I am totally with you, especially with regards to the lost horizontal space in the PRV from SPlat 2017.02 onwards, when right pane was made a lot wider. It's probably not an issue for people with big new screens, but I am still using dual old-school 1280x1024 monitors so I lose a lot of space. (I'm not going to waste the earth's resources by routinely replacing stuff that works!)
 
But most modern websites and more and more VST instruments tend to have very, VERY low information density so I suppose it's the way we're heading...

I really like the Transform tool as well, but I think the PRV should be optimized once again by BandLab, the remake last year left some rough workflow edges.

soens
For me Splat's new PRV Track pane was a pain from the start and I never figured out why they moved the MSR buttons. The original layout had it right and I loved it so why mess with it?!
 
Well, one day I happen to notice the new layout mirrors the main Track View layout and is probably using the same coding.
 
Perhaps this made design and layout easier from a coding stand point but it's not an improvement from a work flow stand point.
 
Both Controller Panes could use an upgrade. I love how SO3 lists each controller along the top of the pane. Just click the one you want.

Ahhh Studio One.
Does SO3 remember the last controller you pick and return you to that when you reopen the project?
Too bad it doesn't have Pro Channel or maybe I should say too bad I got hooked on Pro Channel just less than a year ago.

Just to say, For me the new PVR has improved my workflow and everything works the way I like it to work. I just hated the new dark background but I fixed that now buy transfering Splats Theme to CbB. I like the way you select different tracks now. But, I'm a mouse guy.