Modartt user forum - Controlling PianoTeq with a Bamboo or other touchpad?

Re: Controlling PianoTeq with a Bamboo or other touchpad?

2010-12-15T18:50:12Z

Sorry, I just noticed I misread the OP's message, you're interested in using the touch part of the new version of the Bamboo, not a pen. Not sure in that case.

Re: Controlling PianoTeq with a Bamboo or other touchpad?

2010-12-15T18:43:29Z

Thanks, I didn't know you could mouse up and down : ).

I've also got a Bamboo (old black version with blue LEDs) and I use it instead of a mouse for everything almost all of the time. Works very well with Pianoteq too. The Wacom tablets have sub-pixel accuracy (ie. they can detect movement much finer than a pixel), so they're as accurate as mice, and faster to use (if you can get used to the pen way of working) as you can instantly move the cursor anywhere.

The only downside to them is that when you press the pen (and also when you let it go), you inevitably end up moving the cursor a couple of pixels. This is fine in most programs, but some are not coded to ignore this minor movement. For example, some layout style programs, where you end up moving objects that you're just trying to click on with the pen (something the developers could fix, but they often don't use tablets so they never notice it, and if you try to explain it, they often don't care). It's worse on my system though as I use 4 monitors, so the small A6 tablet is covering a lot of pixels.

But anyway, even cheap tablets like the Bamboo rule and can replace mice for (almost) everything.

Re: Controlling PianoTeq with a Bamboo or other touchpad?

2010-12-07T11:03:53Z

Hi Jake,

I have a Bamboo Pen & Touch and just gave it a try with Pianoteq. I find it perfectly usable (the touch part - didn't bother trying the pen!)

The model I have has 4 buttons on the edge, two of which are assigned to left and right mouse buttons. I don't recall if "touch-only" tablets all have these buttons. I would highly recommend getting a model with assignable buttons: it's much easier to be able to point (touch) with one finger and click the mouse button as required with another finger.

Thanks to Pianoteq's clever dual granularities (mousing left and right on a slider changes the values "faster" while mousing up and down will fine-tune the value), it's no problem setting which ever value you wish using the touch pad.

HTH and good luck!
Chris

Re: Controlling PianoTeq with a Bamboo or other touchpad?

2010-12-07T09:55:32Z

I just tried my integrated laptop touchpad and it seems to work pretty well, FWIW. That Bamboo Touchpad would undoubtedly not be any worse than my touchpad - probably considerably better. Mind you, I would not enjoy using a touchpad to do lots of adjustments though.

Greg.

Controlling PianoTeq with a Bamboo or other touchpad?

2010-12-06T22:21:21Z

I'm thinking about getting one of the Wacom Bamboo pads that uses touch--a big touchpad, in other words. It would lie on top of my keyboard nicely, and like I like the idea of using it instead of a mouse.

But I worry about being to accurately pull down sliders and click on some of the smaller buttons in PianoTeq. (Using fingers, not a pen as on some Wacom slates.)

Does anyone have any experience in controlling PianoTeq with one of these touchpads? Thanks for any insights or suggestions.