Here is the link to the composer using a pen and tablet.


http://www.youtube.com/cakewalksoftware#p/c/F6ABEA30E8F7DBF/22/JDUMbjMDyFU
I dont think it is just the pen alone as per Chappel's post. It looks like a combined pen and tablet and I think it is the Wacom Intuos3  9 x 12. (there are smaller tablets as well but I think his is the 9 x 12)

http://www.amazon.com/Wac...lic-Gray/dp/B0003009AI  or here

http://www.electronicwhit...com/intuos3_9_X_12.htm

There may be a model that includes the pen and the mouse which is also an interesting option too.

But the Intuos 3 is now the Intuos 4. You might be able to pick up a Intuos 3 model cheaper. But either way they are not cheap. I think they are a very nice way to navigate around. Very precise and would not effect your hand the same way as a mouse does. The mouse buttons are on the pen as well.

Typical mouse resolution I think is somewhere up to 400 to 500 dpi (you can get higher resolutions in mice though) but the tablet boasts over 5000 lines per inch so I am assuming the tablet is much more accurate. They are for sale on ebay as well. Less than half price for one in good condition. If you are buying one second hand make sure the surface of the tablet is in perfect condition and has no dents etc.

Seems like the ultimate way to control any program actually. In fact when you think of the things we have to do with our mice then the tablet looks like the only real way to go. Its a wonder we have not figured this out earlier. But I do realise it is quite an expensive way to go.
 

daveny5

A far as I know Cakewalk has never publicly acknowledged the issue or mentioned anything about improving touch support.

I just watched a video with a soundtrack composer and he was using a pen to control Sonar. I'd put the link here, but the search engine on this forum doesn't work very well.

I've watched that video and it doesn't appear that Jon Lee is using the pen to change any of the sliders/knobs in SONAR, only manipulate windows. Additionally, I think the graphics tablets use their own custom drivers instead of relying on the Windows built-in touch support which is what the OP was most likely referring to. I also believe that the custom drivers on graphics tablets more closely mimic mouse behavior than Windows built-in touch support does. 


There is also a different level of disconnect when using a graphics tablet & pen compared to interacting directly with the graphics on the screen as is supported by Windows 7 on tablet PCs. A graphics tablet may work for some people, but it is no substitute for SONAR's GUI fully supporting Windows built-in touch capabilities.


-eB

Wow - Watching john lee's video I saw something I never saw before with Sonar.  at 2:39 He was pressing keys which brought up different windows and views - like preset window configurations.  I didn't know you could do that.  How did he do that?  I know it is off topic - sorry

OK - I did a little more research and learned a few things.

1.   The OS matters. So far Windows 7-64bit is generally reported to support touchscreen the best. HOWEVER the IS a "touch pack" service pac or driver thing for XP that is reported to be very functional.

2.   Technology matters. There are 4 major touch-screen technologies and infra-red or "optical" appears to give the best touch-accuracy and clearest image quality. After reading enough reviews, I would say "optical" is the best way for us to go at this time.

The consensus seems to be that you need an "optical" monitor, Win7, and any other appropriate drivers to get good accuracy and responsiveness.

ACER makes a 23-inch high-def multi-touch that is only $329.00.  It seems well reviewed.
At that price I would like to just go buy one and test SONAR out on it, but finances SUCK this month!

http://www.amazon.com/Ace...-Display/dp/B002TLTEAA

Can some well funded friend here go out and buy one and give it a thorough testing please?  hee hee hee

~DPS

guitartrek


Wow - Watching john lee's video I saw something I never saw before with Sonar.  at 2:39 He was pressing keys which brought up different windows and views - like preset window configurations.  I didn't know you could do that.  How did he do that?  I know it is off topic - sorry

That feature is called Window Layouts. To access the feature, choose Views > Layouts. You can create your own layouts and even assign key bindings to them in the Options > Key Bindings dialog box.

Scott

--
Scott R. Garrigus - Author of the Cakewalk Sonar and Sony Sound Forge Power book series. Get Sonar 8 Power - Today! Go to: http://www.garrigus.com/  - http://www.musictechshop.com/ - http://www.cooltechshop.com/

Publisher of DigiFreq - free music technology newsletter. Win a free SoundTech Vocal Trainer Package, go to: http://www.digifreq.com/digifreq/

Publisher of NewTechReview - free consumer technology newsletter. Win a free i2i Stream Wireless Music Pack, go to: http://www.newtechreview.com/newtechreview/

Scott to the rescue AGAIN!!!!!!

Thanks Bro!

ACER makes a 23-inch high-def multi-touch that is only $329.00. It seems well reviewed. At that price I would like to just go buy one and test SONAR out on it, but finances SUCK this month!

 
I've got that 23" Acer TS Monitor...
It's great for playing gigs... where I've basically got everything setup... and I need basic mouse/keyboard function to switch "patches" (song setups).  Perfect for simple mouse/keyboard function
I wouldn't want to rely on the touch-screen to mix... or for detailed adjustments.
Also, if you're going to do any significant amount of typing, you can type far quicker on a qwerty keyboard.
The keyboard function is similar to using an iPhone.
 
The Acer TS combined with a standard mouse/keyboard is cool.
That way you can choose to use either (depending on the circumstances).  That's what I do when programming my live rig.
 

garrigus

guitartrek


Wow - Watching john lee's video I saw something I never saw before with Sonar.  at 2:39 He was pressing keys which brought up different windows and views - like preset window configurations.  I didn't know you could do that.  How did he do that?  I know it is off topic - sorry

That feature is called Window Layouts. To access the feature, choose Views > Layouts. You can create your own layouts and even assign key bindings to them in the Options > Key Bindings dialog box.

Scott

--
Scott R. Garrigus - Author of the Cakewalk Sonar and Sony Sound Forge Power book series. Get Sonar 8 Power - Today! Go to: http://www.garrigus.com/  - http://www.musictechshop.com/ - http://www.cooltechshop.com/

Publisher of DigiFreq - free music technology newsletter. Win a free SoundTech Vocal Trainer Package, go to: http://www.digifreq.com/digifreq/

Publisher of NewTechReview - free consumer technology newsletter. Win a free i2i Stream Wireless Music Pack, go to: http://www.newtechreview.com/newtechreview/

I was NOT able to KeyBind to a specific layout - only to the Layouts screen. Is that because I'm on PE7 as opposed to 8.5?

Hi Dane,

No, you should still be able to do it. In Options > Key Bindings, choose Global Bindings for the Bind Context menu. Then in the Function section, you'll see your layouts listed under the Global Layout Files section (near the bottom of the Function section list). You should see any layouts you've saved there. You can select one and create a key binding for it.

Scott

--
Scott R. Garrigus - Author of the Cakewalk Sonar and Sony Sound Forge Power book series. Get Sonar 8 Power - Today! Go to: http://www.garrigus.com/  - http://www.musictechshop.com/ - http://www.cooltechshop.com/

Publisher of DigiFreq - free music technology newsletter. Win a free SoundTech Vocal Trainer Package, go to: http://www.digifreq.com/digifreq/

Publisher of NewTechReview - free consumer technology newsletter. Win a free i2i Stream Wireless Music Pack, go to: http://www.newtechreview.com/newtechreview/

DOH!

THANKS SCOTT! ...(I didn't look closely enough at the bottom of the list)

"Foolish is he who questions Scott's knowledge of SONAR!"

Today I'd be that fool.....