mike_mccue

FastBikerBoy


Perhaps it is just my set up but I really don't understand what's wrong with the naming convention at the moment.

I think it could be improved by having a separate sub menu of mono & stereo inputs, but I can already name my inputs to whatever I want now, so I just don't get that part at all.  

This is the part where I mention that the addition of the suffix, or the prefix... I forget which... and the addition of the L and R nomenclature stuff isn't very friendly and you have the chance to reply "oh yes, if I were to mention that fact then my previous statement would actually be accurate."

Then you usually point out that I said suffix when I should have said prefix, or visa versa... I forget which it is... and then we go back to me thinking you are willing to forget about or celebrate all the SONAR work arounds and gotchas while you go back to thinking what ever it is that you actually like to think about.



It seems pretty obvious that you can not actually name the friendly names what you actually want unless you actually want the extra clutter that is the result of the super imposed  conventions for labeling that SONAR forces upon your choice.


I believe the need for Structural Reform of the Electronic Musical Instruments is a direct result of people thinking that seeming clever with excuse and denial is an effective way to distract people from reality.

I have brought up the friendly name issue, once again, because it is a classic example of a simple usability issue that should have been rolled out with no gotchas, but instead came with a great big "gotcha". 

The circumstance makes Roland and Cakewalk look like it can't seem to make an easy and obvious decision about a very simple and easy to anticipate expectation.

If you are going to roll out a feature named "friendly names" the names ought to actually seem friendly. Simple.




If Cakewalk can figure that out... well, that's a feature I would pay for, again. 




best regards,

mike

I'm not going to point out anything Mike, I'm simply stating that it works for me the way it is. I happen to want to know which input refers to what. Personally I'd like to see mono and stereo listed separately though.

If CW are going to remove the suffix and present system that's fine as well, I'd prefer an option to retain it as it is, or I'm going to have to enter the info manually.

Rather than this turn thread into another "Mike McCue is right on the internet and I can prove it thread" I'll concede right here and now that you are correct, I have no idea what I'm talking about at all and you can now sleep easy in that knowledge.

Let's move on eh?

daveny5

I'd like to see the ability to sort inputs as well. I really don't need my MCU & XT for playing MIDI tracks from.

Can't you just uncheck them then? 

Well I could but then I couldn't use the MCU or XT at all.

I have no problem with the way it is already. Can it be improved perhaps. 

I guess I know what my system consists of, what the inputs are and what the outputs are. 

I guess I know what my system consists of, what the inputs are and what the outputs are. 

Just don't ever try retiring your current audio/midi interface for a significantly different model. Things get ugly fast for existing projects. 

brundlefly

I guess I know what my system consists of, what the inputs are and what the outputs are. 

Just don't ever try retiring your current audio/midi interface for a significantly different model. Things get ugly fast for existing projects. 

I've done that and had no problems doing so. When one has projects going back to the Pro Audio days and their setups one would think it might present a problem but it doesn't for me. 

Even wrk files adjust to the setup as it is now. But I must admit I have kept the MIDI outs and ins in the same order all these years. I have gone through 3 different audio interface and 3 different MIDI interfaces without ever being unable to load a project and not have it play well. 

I think its that I am lazy thus I don't want to learn a whole new way of accessing my ins and outs. Then I also have much the same gear as far as hardware synths are concerned as I had years back. When I add something I do so by using an out and in in the proper order.

Even if I don't know the name of an in or out I know where it should be in relation to all the others. Then if I want to be truly neat I will put a friendly name to them. 

However, I am reminded that what I think of as a hassle may not be such to another and what another thinks is one I may not.

I keep looking at my MOTUs and there are no L or R labels on the line inputs.

The channels I use are labeled 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and ADAT 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 right on the hardware. Big white letters.


Every time I look in SONAR I am reminded that it can't hide the fact that, behind the scenes, SONAR insists on naming my MOTU's channel 5 the "Left-channel-of-something" when all I want to see in SONAR is something like "5" 



Sometimes when I look at my MOTU and I look at channel 5 I like to call it "Rupert Neve 5012 channel 1" because I don't really touch anything on the MOTU anymore... I just look at the MOTU's meters while I am adjusting the Rupert Neve 5012's Channel 1 that is hooked up to it.

On those occasions I am reminded that SONAR can't hide the fact that, behind the scenes, SONAR insists on naming my MOTU's channel 5 "Left-channel-of-something" when all I want to see in SONAR is "RND 5012 channel 1".


A lot of times when I am tracking with all 16 channels working and a room full of eager musicians I think to myself... 


"wow, I sure wish SONAR's friendly names didn't have all this extra stuff that I have no need for... why can't Cakewalk figure out that I just want to assign a name and see exactly the name I assigned with out the extra stuff?  Why... oh why?" 


I know a computer and a application can do this. I've seen it done the right way on all the DAWs I've been buying and or demoing since SONAR X was released.



Now that the market has finally demonstrated that it is time for Structural Reform of the Electronic Musical Instruments, I suggest that implementing a straight forward idea like this cold be a real good start on the reformation.

I'd pay, again, for a feature like friendly names... but this time I'm gonna wait until they are actually capable of being friendly.



best regards,
mike





edit spelling and grammar

bitflipper


Could you elaborate, Mike? Perhaps with an example. 

Friendly names seem adequately friendly to me already. Perhaps they should greet me by name...

Now THAT'S Funny! :)

Bob Bone

Have you put in a feature request Mike?

In the meantime if it makes it easier for you to understand try naming your inputs like this....

MOTU 1/2
MOTU 3/4
MOTU 5/6
etc...etc

Then when you see "Left MOTU 5/6", you can refer to the left prefix and relate that to the 5/6 suffix. Indicating it is input number 5. That may well help you to work out which input is which.

I hope they do sort it out soon but as I indicated earlier I hope they leave the present method as an option so I don't have to type left and right in front of my inputs. I've got 24 of them so that will be a considerable pain for me, especially if I have a room full of musicians waiting for me.....

HTH

If it makes it easier for you... you can always copy/paste ( I like to use ctrl C & ctrl V ) the "Left" to 12 of your 24 inputs instead of typing. 

Same for the "Right".


That's what I do when I want 4 of the channels to say something like "RND 5012 _"

HTH

That doesn't help at all Mike because AFAIK I can't do them all at once, I still have to change them one at a time. I suppose it could be argued that pressing Ctrl + V twenty four times is easier than typing left and right twelve times each though. Fortunately under the present system I don't have to do either. That's why I hope it's retained as an option if it does change.

Perhaps there's a feature request there somewhere? Have you put one in yet? The more that suggest it as a feature the more likely it is to happen, or so they say.

I appreciate you trying to help though Mike, thanks.