LOCK CONTROLS

Is there a simple way that I've missed to lock/unlock a tracks controls in console or track view to prevent inadvertently moving controls? (other than totally hiding track, and clip lock doesn't lock controls).
I would think right clicking on a track should bring up a menu option, to lock/unlock track controls, or a lock/unlock button on the track itself, no?
 

He's asking about being able to lock a track so no changes can be made to it by accident. By "controls", I'd assume he's talking about faders and dials and buttons and anything you could accidentally click on in the channel strip or prochannel...

Thanks Boscoe, exactly what I mean.  

Cant you just freeze the track ?
"Unfreeze Track= Discards the bounced audio, restores the original audio to the way it was before the last Freeze"
https://www.cakewalk.com/Documentation?product=SONAR%20X3&language=3&help=Mixing.23.html
 
you can lock clip data by using "locking clip"
https://www.cakewalk.com/Documentation?product=SONAR%20X3&language=3&help=Mixing.23.html
 
 
as far as faders, knob, exc... don't touch them
 
FR

Thanks Chucke, LOL, guess I'm not that perfect and at times lose track of mouse location, (and have some visual impairments), a lock/unlock option, just sounds like a simple logical option when your actively mixing many tracks.

Anderton
Actually SONAR has what I think is a better way than locking controls. For example with faders, right-click on the fader and choose Value > Set Snap-To = Current. You can still adjust the fader, but double-clicking on the fader returns it to the "locked" setting.
 
What I like about this is as the mix develops and I hit what I think are good levels, I set the faders for Snap-To = Current. That way I can always get back to the "locked" settings, while still being able to experiment if I want to make any tweaks. 

would be great for the whole track!

pwalpwal

Anderton
Actually SONAR has what I think is a better way than locking controls. For example with faders, right-click on the fader and choose Value > Set Snap-To = Current. You can still adjust the fader, but double-clicking on the fader returns it to the "locked" setting.
 
What I like about this is as the mix develops and I hit what I think are good levels, I set the faders for Snap-To = Current. That way I can always get back to the "locked" settings, while still being able to experiment if I want to make any tweaks. 

would be great for the whole track!

You can just minimize the track, and adjust the track pane width so nothing appears in the header; but for non-minimized tracks, you can adjust anything you want. Seems simpler than adding another function.
 
The other problem I see with Lock is what if you have automation on the track controls? Which moment along the automation continuum would be where you would lock the controls? Or would you have automation continue on in the background, which would override your lock setting? What if you wanted to mute or solo it? Then you'd have to lock and unlock. Minimizing seems like a much simpler solution because it already exists, and can hide the controls without having to hide the track.
 
 

Ok, fair enough I can see their would be various issues/complications with locking all track controls, with automation, mute, solos etc.. , Ill start using snap value thing, or hide track its mostly that pesky volume fader I find I've moved at some point, sometimes pan.

you can also choose the track widget manager and hide some widgets.
I do this when automating. I have my own custom preset that only show M/S/R buttons.
 
but I agree, it would be a nice feature request.
a check box that would lock all parameters of the track.
 

Anderton
I don't see how you could simultaneously lock a parameter to a value and have it respond to automation. Minimizing (not hiding) still seems simplest...if the fader isn't available, you can't mess with it.

if your referring to my post, what I meant was I hide most of the controls.
there for they cant be touched.
using the Track manager settings. I create a custom widget layout for track view.
only Solo, Mute and Record buttons are shown (for my automation screenset)
 
when doing automation, I don't need to see any of the widgets except for solo, mute (just to zone in and listen)
FX bin, Volume, all that other stuff is useless to me when automating.
so I hide it with my custom preset.
 
if you minimize a track, theres not much you can do edit wise (to see the wave form.
that's why I suggest using the track manager to hide it...but you know, if you still need those parameters for recording other tracks they cant be seen so Im out of ideas at this point.
 

I just save a Mix Scene with what I want to preserve.  Then I can recall whatever I want if I move things around.  That doesn't "lock" controls, but will allow me to set things back to a "known" state.
 
Paul

Anderton
I don't see how you could simultaneously lock a parameter to a value and have it respond to automation.

Rather than locking to a static value I think "prevent editing" is a better description, like a "read only" mode for the track, so whatever automation is already there still happens but can't be changed

Anderton

chuckebaby

Anderton
I don't see how you could simultaneously lock a parameter to a value and have it respond to automation. Minimizing (not hiding) still seems simplest...if the fader isn't available, you can't mess with it.

if your referring to my post, what I meant was I hide most of the controls.

 
No, I was referring to the OP saying he didn't want to hide the track. The widget concept works too, and as you know has applications beyond what the OP wants. But I think the "as far as faders, knob, exc... don't touch them" is probably the prime directive , and if you do "save current," you can at least get back to where you started if you get toooooo far off course.

+1
 
I agree Mr. A
 
accidents do happen but as you said with a good "Save current" there is no possible way I could ever get to the point of "What did I do".
 
I wish the same could be said for when I try to bake dinner for my family.
 
 

LJB
I have accidentally grabbed an entire mix and changed the gain... only to realise it five moves later.

yes but may I submit,
how many times have you done that ?
enough to warrant a new feature ?
my theory is cake would be better of using their resources on implementing other features. 
don't get me wrong, you have a point. but I have too run in to this situation and found a quick way out of it.
sometimes leading me to a better sound because of experimentation.

SquireBum
Hope this helps,

 
Yes, I understand the clarification from you and others that the goal is not really to lock controls, but to lock editing of the controls.
 
For this to happen there needs to be a clear proposal presented to Cakewalk of how they would do this. I think the simplest option would be variation on what already exists, e.g., ctrl+click on the Archive button to lock out editing. Doing this would basically "disconnect" all track controls, including things like bypass the effects bin, from any editing. The Archive button could have a specific color to indicate the locked state. 
 
However, I do question how necessary this is in the grand scheme of things, per Chuck's "yes but may I submit,
how many times have you done that? enough to warrant a new feature? my theory is cake would be better of using their resources on implementing other features. don't get me wrong, you have a point. but I have too run in to this situation and found a quick way out of it. sometimes leading me to a better sound because of experimentation." 
 
I still don't see why not simply minimize the track? In Track view, it's just one click to disable editing, in the sense that you can't access the controls. I can't think of any workflow that's easier than one click. Where this doesn't work is Console View, which would need a dedicated control. So if the majority of the people want this feature for Console View, then it makes sense. But again, there's still the question of which is more important: being able to lock editing, or being able to get back to a known state. The former doesn't allow for experimentation, the latter does and can be done with Mix Recall or recall current.
 
 
 

I was looking in X3 for such a feature. In console, if you right-click the volume in a MIDI track, there is an option to Lock Control. No such option in audio tracks.
But Lock Control doesn't seem to do anything; as soon as you move the slider, it moves.
Unless I'm misunderstanding what Control is in this case.