timidi
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Smart tool
I've been trying to get up to speed on splat (from 8.53) for a couple months now and I just don't get the 'smart tool'.
What used to be so simple is so way over complicated now.
Are there some tricks to using this thing?
Example: So, I zoom in (need help with that too). After finally centering the screen to where I thought I was zooming, I click the mouse wheel, see the smart box, scroll to clip automation, click to select clip gain. edit some clip gains. Need to split, hit 'S', nothing happens, oh, OK, mouse wheel clik, select clip, hit "S", nothing happens, clik, hit "S" splits. Yeaa! Back to clip envelope, edit a little. Oh, fade the split clip, look for little fade thingy, not there. hmm, mouse wheel clik, select clip, fades,
Etc. etc.
This is ridiculous. And, the "smart tool" doesn't do anything. I have to keep using the clip dropdown box.
Are there any decent, in depth tutorials anywhere?
Key bindings? shortcuts?
What am I missing?
And, while I'm here, how do you zoom in and out and have the zoom zoom to what is selected?
For example, I select tracks 43-50, go to the little +/- slider in the lower right. Start zooming and I'm looking at tracks 19-whatever.
Thanks
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chuckebaby
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Re: Smart tool
2016/09/11 13:27:06
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☄ Helpfulby John 2016/09/11 14:02:31
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John
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Re: Smart tool
2016/09/11 13:41:35
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The smart tool is sensitive to hot spots on the view you are using. This is true of the TV and the PRV. It is a very cool way to get a lot done quickly. However if you don't feel comfortable using it don't. Just use the tool you want from the tools module on the control bar. You can press T to bring up the tools HUD and select from it. Plus there are keyboard shortcuts to access various tools.
In Platinum one has a slew of options on how one wants to do things.
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Anderton
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Re: Smart tool
2016/09/11 17:50:13
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timidi
This is ridiculous. And, the "smart tool" doesn't do anything. I have to keep using the clip dropdown box.
That's an easy one. Refer to Week 92 in "Friday's Tip of the Week." Also to split, hold Alt and click with the Smart Tool. As to zooming, I put zoom in/out horizontal on keybindings. Saves a bunch of time.
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timidi
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Re: Smart tool
2016/09/15 12:36:38
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Thanks for the responses guys.
Still don't get it.
The video (all 2:30 minutes of it) is pretty ridiculous. I've watched it many times just trying to figure out what to say in this post. It's main premise is based around moving a clip, slip edits, fades, and a editing a pan envelope. Who friggin cares. Could do that very easily before without all the extra steps. Except now, it really screws up working with clip gain.
The whole idea of the 'smart tool' seems to have been invented just to look current in the DAW market. I guess it's important to at least look like Studio One. Same with the new browser vst add on thingy. What is the point?
It's all really sad and pathetic.
Sorry. I'm just pretty frustrated by it all.
JMO
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brundlefly
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Re: Smart tool
2016/09/15 13:31:20
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- Shift+click to change Edit Filter to match the object clicked (e.g. Clip, Vol Envelope, Pan Envelop, Clip Gain, etc.)
- Alt+click to split
- Ctrl+wheel to scroll the view
- Ctrl+Alt+wheel to zoom (I find having 'At Now Time' enabled in Track View Options preferable to 'At Cursor')
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timidi
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Re: Smart tool
2016/09/15 13:53:16
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Thanks Dave. I'll check those out.
My latest piss fest is: I've been tweaking a song and noticing levels just seem to change inadvertently. Come to find that Sonar has created static volume envelopes in the envelope lanes of all my tracks. WTF. I've been adjusting levels, come to find the volumes snap back to where the envelope is set. AARRGHHH...............
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brundlefly
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Re: Smart tool
2016/09/15 15:01:16
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Clicking the button to show automation lanes creates a volume automation envelope by default. Possibly you've been inadvertently clicking the automation lane button when you mean to show take lanes...? Shift+T toggles take lanes open and closed, which will help avoid hitting the wrong button as well as being more convenient in some cases (like when the track is minimized and the button doesn't show)
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chuckebaby
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Re: Smart tool
2016/09/15 15:36:42
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timidi
The video (all 2:30 minutes of it) is pretty ridiculous.
Sorry man. just trying to help. there are plenty of other videos out there on YouTube (on the smart tool)
post edited by chuckebaby - 2016/09/16 06:25:01
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timidi
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Re: Smart tool
2016/09/15 16:10:28
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No insult intended Chuck.
My displeasure was not directed at you or anyone else that is trying to help. Really, Sorry.
I've searched for and watched as many Smart tool videos that I can find.
I'm sorry again, but, they are all pretty lame (at least for a dimbulb like me I guess).
Dave. those kb shortcuts are great:) Thanks
As far as the envelopes, thanks for the default info. Certainly a good bit of knowledge there.
Geez. At some point, in this current project, I've looked in the envelopes lane on all tracks to see if anything there (like delay sends, mute, etc). Went about my business "mixing" LOL.. I'm tweaking away with the volumes, thinkin that sounds good, move on to the next, then the previous volume snaps back, I don't notice. etc etc.
No wonder I'm having such a time with this tune. GEEZ.. WOW.
Feature request: default Envelope lanes = blank..
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John T
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Re: Smart tool
2016/09/15 17:33:27
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There's definitely a transition from old Sonar to the X way of doing things, and it will seem weird at first. But seriously, you can teach yourself how to use the thing in about an hour, and you'll never look back.
Brundlefly's tip above about shift clicking on things to change edit modes is the key to your particular thing. Once you get into that habit, you can fly around. That's the main way I switch between clip editing and automation editing. Hardly ever use the drop-down.
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timidi
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Re: Smart tool
2016/09/15 18:52:50
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Yes John, Brundlefly's tip is very enlightening to the whole process.
any other good modifiers, or general splat tips like that.
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John T
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Re: Smart tool
2016/09/15 20:13:35
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I'm so long into it now, it's hard to think of any specific tips. I suppose I'd describe it like this.
Pre X-series, I used to have my hand constantly hovering over modifier keys, and I was pretty fast with all that. And when X1 came out, my reaction was a lot like yours: my awesome skillz were redundant, and everything was suddenly slower. But I got with it, and I really turned around. I acquired my current avatar somewhere in the midst of a long thread about this way back about five years ago. Started out as a hater, eventually became a high priest of the order :)
I think I'd say it's more a mindset thing. If you can get used to the whole thing about where the hit points are and so on, you'll find it taking a lot of stuff off your hands.
I will say this: I think Cakewalk never quite came out with a good "here's how this works" video, and what they did come out with was patchily linked and promoted. Sonar is really lacking a beginner's guide. I think they're starting to get better on that, but they've got a brilliantly designed, but under-explained, user interface, for my money.
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Anderton
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Re: Smart tool
2016/09/15 21:27:10
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John T
I will say this: I think Cakewalk never quite came out with a good "here's how this works" video, and what they did come out with was patchily linked and promoted. Sonar is really lacking a beginner's guide. I think they're starting to get better on that, but they've got a brilliantly designed, but under-explained, user interface, for my money.
I think Cakewalk would agree with you. I hope to help out in this regard, but that depends mostly on how much the other Gibson Brands need me in the months ahead.
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Anderton
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Re: Smart tool
2016/09/15 21:30:33
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As to the Smart Tool, what got me up to speed was reading the documentation. It has a learning curve, but once you learn it, the workflow becomes so much better. Just the ability to toggle between the different Smart Tool modes is very cool.
One trick I did was put a strip above the QWERTY function keys that shows the correlation to the tools. It became less relevant when I got a touch screen and put the control bar on the bottom, just above the QWERTY keyboard (best of both worlds - keyboard shortcuts and touch) but it did engrain the function keys in my brain.
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chuckebaby
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Re: Smart tool
2016/09/16 06:04:13
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timidi
No insult intended Chuck. My displeasure was not directed at you or anyone else that is trying to help. I understand, my comment was sincere. I can understand your frustration. another little trick I can offer is for zooming. I used this trick quite a bit before I bought a Mackie control (with built in zoom). 1- hover your mouse on the time line until your mouse cursor turns in to a magnifying glass. 2- then left click + Drag up or down to zoom in on all tracks. this shortcut is very useful because its not incorporated with the smart tool. its simply a way to zoom in and zoom out quickly.
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timidi
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Re: Smart tool
2016/09/19 13:46:24
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Thanks guys. Thought I'd post this as being some pretty good 'smart' tips. Starting around 5:00 on this video and some of the videos following. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PX6eVdvCQw0 Also, to clarify my position, I think the/my confusion lies in the fact that the "smart tool" is not an isolated tool but must be used in conjunction with the hud to have any percieved intelligence.
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Bristol_Jonesey
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Re: Smart tool
2016/09/19 14:26:40
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Yes Tim, this is very true.
I'm not sure if this is the default with other mice, (mouses?), but clicking the scroll wheel brings up the HUD giving immediate access to all the other tools.
But, I do find that as I grow more & more used to the Smart Tool, I find I can do 90% of all tasks without having to switch tools. Learning where the hotspots are takes you a BIG step towards using it properly
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RSMCGUITAR
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Re: Smart tool
2016/09/19 14:35:50
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Have you considered typing "smart tool" in help?
There is an incredibly detailed description on how to use the smart tool in any situation, including all modifiers.
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timidi
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Re: Smart tool
2016/09/19 18:11:12
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RSMCGUITAR
Have you considered typing "smart tool" in help?
There is an incredibly detailed description on how to use the smart tool in any situation, including all modifiers.
Well yea scott. When I search for smart tool in the sonar help, I get a spate of possible topics that mention smart tools but don't necessarily tell you how to use it.
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RSMCGUITAR
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Re: Smart tool
2016/09/19 18:36:10
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That's exactly what it tells you.
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timidi
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Re: Smart tool
2016/09/19 18:49:45
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RSMCGUITAR
That's exactly what it tells you.
I don't know what that means.
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notscruffy2
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Re: Smart tool
2016/09/19 19:13:08
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It's the tool that is "Smart" and it's up to the rest of us to get familiar with it. The docs provide the details.
It is easier to find the answer to "Can I use the smart tool to do ...?" than to find the answer to "Why is this so frustrating?", both here and in the docs.
I see you work on a laptop. Trust me you will love it. I use a trackball on a laptop 99% of the time.
Overcome,
AMK
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chuckebaby
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Re: Smart tool
2016/09/19 20:36:15
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RSMCGUITAR
Have you considered typing "smart tool" in help?
There is an incredibly detailed description on how to use the smart tool in any situation, including all modifiers.
I put the link in my very first post https://www.cakewalk.com/Documentation?product=SONAR%20X3&language=3&help=Tools.01.html I understand Tim's point. you can only take so much out of reading a document / help file / help tool. I can only speak for myself but I have a hard time following documented help. im sure its got to do with my dyslexia. which, anyone who has ever read my posts..they can verify that. 
post edited by chuckebaby - 2016/09/19 20:57:45
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timidi
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Re: Smart tool
2016/09/19 22:12:11
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Thanks for the link,,, Again Chuck..
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williamcopper
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Re: Smart tool
2016/09/20 16:27:55
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the smart tool is simply dumb, no getting around it; but you'll gradually learn to avoid some of the terrible things it can do to you and live with two clicks or key presses where you'd think one would be sufficient.
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Klaus
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Re: Smart tool
2016/09/20 17:04:54
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williamcopper
the smart tool is simply dumb, no getting around it; but you'll gradually learn to avoid some of the terrible things it can do to you and live with two clicks or key presses where you'd think one would be sufficient.
The Smart Tool is just a combination of different tools, without the need to switch between them. How can such a tool be dumb? Because all the combined tools are dumb, too? Sure, it can't read your mind but it's not that difficult to learn how it works. For me, it's a timesaver and I'm glad about having the option to use it.
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RSMCGUITAR
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Re: Smart tool
2016/09/20 17:07:24
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Klaus
The Smart Tool is just a combination of different tools, without the need to switch between them.
How can such a tool be dumb? Because all the combined tools are dumb, too?
Sure, it can't read your mind but it's not that difficult to learn how it works.
For me, it's a timesaver and I'm glad about having the option to use it.
I totally agree. If you can't figure it out by reading this article: https://www.cakewalk.com/Documentation?product=SONAR%20X3&language=3&help=Tools.04.html I would find it hard to believe you could work with a program as complicated as Sonar.
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John
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Re: Smart tool
2016/09/20 17:51:40
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Right. The Smart Tool is not dumb. It works very well indeed. However it may take a little getting use to.
I said it works with hot spots. This is your clue to how it works. Where you place it on a track or in the PRV determines what tool it will be. If one is uncomfortable with that use the individual tools from the HUD.
The smart tool was/is meant to speed up your work by eliminating the need to switch tools. One tip, if the track is too small in height it may make finding the hot spot difficult. Same applies to the notes in the PRV.
Setting things up to accommodate the hot spots will make using the smart tool much easier.
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williamcopper
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Re: Smart tool
2016/09/21 13:27:23
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Yes, sure, it works with hot spots. But is it really that "smart" to adjust your work flow and visual conception of a project solely because getting the hot spots clickable requires zooming to a different level? Sorry, don't think so, and I'm pretty familiar with all the various tools and hot spots by now. Is it that smart that an accurate right click on a note deletes it and an inaccurate click with a slight tremor selects it? It it that smart that a double click on a note, done exactly in the right place, opens up its properties, but if you miss a little bit you've created an unwanted note? You've also, unintentionally, changed the Now Time. Omg, where was I? What was I working on? Hmm... Is it that smart that a single click in the PRV sets the now time (REALLLY REAALY WISH IT WEREN'T SO .. but anyway) but a click with a slight muscle movement makes a 'drawn' note? And that drawn note does NOT change the Now Time ... so you are likely to pop back to a completely different area of the project next. All of it means, like so much else in Sonar, your attention is continually required to make sure that you haven't done something unintentional.
post edited by williamcopper - 2016/09/21 14:00:53
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