I have OCD and worry about all those smudges on the screen...
Zap!

I use touch screens at work.  Based on my experience, touch screens are rarely preferable to the keyboard and mouse.  It is usually slower as well.   After reaching up repeatedly, it is uncomfortable on your shoulders.  As mentioned above, there it always the sweaty/wet finger problem.  Just took a sip from your ice cold water bottle?  yep, gotta dry off the hand before the touch screen will work. 

Hand held phones work well with touch screens because you can place them at a comfortable height and adjust on the fly, with a monitor that is going to be an issue.  Monitor placement will be a huge consideration.

The place where I think touch screen DAW's would be handy is, when you are tracking alone from the "live" room and cannot reach the console, you can set up a remote touch screen to control the record, stop, undo etc functions.  As far as mixing, editing or doing any in depth and lengthy work in a DAW, I would not want touch.

I've been wondering about that. What if both monitors are touch screens? I like my Console View on my second monitor. Do multiple touch screens work or can you only use one at this time?

Hi Mike,


If you make the touch monitor the secondary display, the touch control gestures will affect the primary monitor's display.
Not what you want...    


At this time, you can (effectively) only have one touch monitor... and it has to be configured as the primary display.


I have a studio desk with upper/lower levels... using two 27" monitors (vertically).
The conventional monitor is on the top shelf.
The multi-touch monitor is on the lower shelf.
The Planar monitor can be setup almost flat (like a virtual console display)... or at any desired angle (continuously variable).
Works pretty well...

After reaching up repeatedly, it is uncomfortable on your shoulders. 

Ergonomics are extremely important.
I wouldn't want to use touch as a complete replacement for mouse/keyboard... but it is nice (with one of the better multi-touch units).
Touch support (hardware and software) will improve over time.

@ Zap:
I keep a container of monitor wipes on the studio desk.    

Fairly impressive.  It looks like it would fit right into work flow, but one does need to be concerned about tactile feedback.  I'm not sure how long it would take to get used to virtual faders and having to keep my eyes on them rather than just touching.  Still, once the price of flat tilt touchscreens come down, I'm in w/ my dirty little fingers.

@

Jim Roseberry

Desperately poking at a greasy screen seems counter to the ideal of making music while connecting with your inner muse.

Multi-touch is not a replacement for a mouse/keyboard...
But it is intuitive (for some things like zooming/scrolling)... especially after using a smart phone for a good while.

FWIW, just like with smart phones, if your finger is a bit sweaty (perspiration), it can affect the performance of the touch-screen.

I've got the same 27" Planar monitor here... and it works pretty well. 

It's funny. I have the odd bit of trouble with touch screens because my fingers are naturally too dry, not the other way round.

Bristol_Jonesey

Jim Roseberry

Desperately poking at a greasy screen seems counter to the ideal of making music while connecting with your inner muse.

Multi-touch is not a replacement for a mouse/keyboard...
But it is intuitive (for some things like zooming/scrolling)... especially after using a smart phone for a good while.

FWIW, just like with smart phones, if your finger is a bit sweaty (perspiration), it can affect the performance of the touch-screen.

I've got the same 27" Planar monitor here... and it works pretty well. 

It's funny. I have the odd bit of trouble with touch screens because my fingers are naturally too dry, not the other way round.

the moisture that forms on a real cold bottle of beer would be the obvious solution that, but I know that's hard to get in the UK ;-)

I love a really cold beer!

I'm more of a lager drinker than beer, so when I go drinking (rarely) ice cold fingers are the norm

No disrespect to those who are attracted to touchscreen DAW control, but I'd much prefer tactile faders, knobs and switches to do the job.  I don't have to keep my eye glued to the control surface to accomplish what I want to.  Maybe I'm too old school or too set in my ways, but I'd prefer to touch the controls barely looking at them, get my feedback from feel, and glance at the big monitor on the wall only if I need to.
 
Everybody else psyched about touchscreen, more power to you!  I'll admit there is a serious cool factor for sure.

Nope...I did not have already seen this.

But thanks for have bringing it to my attention.

Just joshin, ol pal:-)